The Fred Roehler case centers on the 1981 deaths of Verna Roehler and her son, Douglas Johnson, who drowned during a boating trip near the Channel Islands, California. Initially deemed an accident, suspicions arose due to inconsistencies in Fred Roehler's account and the discovery of head injuries on the victims. Investigations revealed substantial life insurance policies taken out by Roehler shortly before their deaths, providing a clear financial motive.

The subsequent trial featured expert testimony that challenged Roehler's version of events, particularly regarding the likelihood of the boat capsizing and the nature of the victims' injuries. Despite circumstantial evidence, the jury found Fred Roehler guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The case also brought to light the suspicious death of Roehler's first wife, further fueling the prosecution's narrative of a man driven by financial gain.

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