Wife Discovers Husband's Shocking Affair with Her Mother,

In this gripping episode of True Crime Case Files, we delve into the shocking story of Becky Frederickson, a beloved San Antonio bakery owner brutally murdered by her husband, Michael, after she discovered his affair with her own mother, Ruth Breedlove. Uncover the dark secrets, twisted love triangle, and chilling events that led to this tragic crime.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to True Crime Case Files, where we delve deep
into the most shocking and unsettling criminal cases. Today's episode
takes us to San Antonio, Texas, where a beloved baker's
life was cut tragically short. As the investigation unfolded, it
revealed a web of deceit, betrayal, and a shocking affair
that you have to see to believe. Rebecca Becky Frederickson

(00:23):
was a thirty one year old woman living in San Antonio, Texas.
She was known throughout her community for her warm personality
and her incredible talent for baking. Becky owned and operated
Sweet Treats, a popular local bakery that had become a
staple in the neighborhood. Her shop was known for its
delicious pastries, especially her famous chocolate chip cookies and punkin
spice muffins, a trendy treat beloved by millennials everywhere. Becky

(00:47):
had a loyal customer base, many of whom had been
coming to her bakery since it first opened. Becky's love
for baking started at a young age, inspired by her grandmother,
who had raised her. Her grandmother had taught her everything
she knew about baking, passing down family recipes, and, most importantly,
a rolling pin that had been in the family for generations.
Becky often credited her grandmother for her success, and the

(01:09):
bakery was a tribute to her memory. Becky was married
to Michael Frederickson, a thirty five year old financial adviser.
They had been married for five years after meeting in
a friend's wedding, and on the surface, their life seemed perfect.
They lived in a cozy, one story home not far
from the bakery, and were well liked in the community,
with Becky often donating cakes and other big goods to

(01:31):
local schools and events like the annual San Antonio Christian's Parade. However,
in the months leading up to her death, Becky had
been feeling a growing sense of unease. She noticed that
Michael had become distant, often coming home late from work
and showing little interest in their marriage, even after Becky,
who had always dreamed of starting a family, was diagnosed
with endometriosis, which made it difficult for her to conceive.

(01:54):
Despite these challenges, Becky remained hopeful. She threw herself into
her work, staying late at the bakery to perfect new recipes.
In September twenty nineteen, Becky was preparing for the busy
holiday season. She had just begun planning the bakery's Halloween
Tien treats, which were always a big hit with customers.
But even as she focused on her business, Becky couldn't

(02:17):
shake the feeling that something was wrong in her personal life.
She tried to talk to Michael about her concerns, but
he always brushed them off, leaking Becky to wonder what
was really going on. Becky's friends and customers described her
as sweet, generous, and hard working. She was the kind
of person who would go out of her way to
help others, and her warm smile was a welcome sight

(02:37):
to everyone who knew her. Her death would leave a
void in the community that would be hard to fill.
On September fifteenth, twenty nineteen, at approximately seven thirty am,
the lifeless body of Rebecca Becky Frederickson was discovered in
the kitchen of her San Antonio home. It was a
warm Sunday morning and the city was just starting to
wake up. Becky's neighbor, Karen Simmons, a fifty six year

(03:01):
old retired school teacher, was the one who found her.
Karen had noticed that Becky's bakery Sweet Treats hadn't opened
on time that morning. This was unusual. Becky's bakery was
almost always bustling with customers eager for her famous cookies
and cakes. Concerned, Karen decided to check on Becky. She
walked the short distance to Becky's home, which was just

(03:21):
around the corner from the bakery. When she arrived, she
found the front door slightly ajar, which immediately set off
alarm bells. Becky was always careful about locking up, especially
after a few break ins had been reported in the
neighborhood earlier that year. Karen hesitated, but then pushed the
door open and called out Becky's name. There was no answer.
She stepped inside and noticed a strange silence. The house

(03:44):
was neat and tidy, except for the kitchen. As Karen
entered the kitchen, her heart sank. Becky was lying on
the floor surrounded by a pool of blood. The rolling pin,
which Becky always kept on the kitchen counter, was on
the floor beside her, staying with blood. The sight was horrified.
The once warm and welcoming kitchen, where Becky had baked
so many treats, was now a crime scene. Karen was

(04:06):
in shock, but managed to dial nine one one. Her
hands trembled as she gave the dispatcher of the address
and explained what she had found. She stayed on the
line until the police arrived, all the while trying to
hold back tears. Karen later told investigators that Becky's face
was stowed badly injured that she could hardly recognize her.
When the police arrived, they found Karen standing outside, visibly

(04:28):
shaken and in tears. She could barely speak, and the
officers had to help her to a nearby bench to
sit down. The neighborhood quickly buzzed with nudes of Becky's death,
leaving everyone in disbelief. How could such a kind and
gentlewoman meet such a violent end. When the San Antonio
Police Department received the nine one one call on September fifteenth,

(04:48):
twenty nineteen, officers arrived at the scene within minutes. The
responding officers were surgeont Maria Diez, a forty two year
old veteran with a reputation for being thorough and compassionate,
and Officer James O'Neil, a twenty eight year old who
had only been on the force for three years but
was eager to learn, they quickly secured the area, setting
up yellow crime scene tape around Becky Frederickson's small, single

(05:12):
story home. The quiet neighborhood, typically filled with the scent
of fresh pastries from Becky's bakery, was now overtaken by
the flashing lights of police cars and the hum of
emergency radios. As they entered the house, the officers were
struck by the eurie silence. The living room was untouched,
with cozy furniture and framed photos of Becky's wedding day

(05:33):
displayed on the walls, But as they approached the kitchen,
the scene changed dramatically. The kitchen, once a place of
warmth and comfort, was now a gruesome crime scene. Becky's
body lay in the center of the room, her blood
spattered the white tiled floor, and the rolling pin, a
symbol of her love for baking, was lying nearby, covered
in blood. Surgeon de has his experience kicked in as

(05:56):
she began to assess the situation. The scene indicated a
violent struggle. Chairs were knocked over and a mixing bowl
had fallen to the floor, its contents spilled out. Becky's
apron was stained with blood, and her hands showed defensive wounds,
suggesting she had fought hard for her life. Officer O'Neil
took photos of the scene while Dias carefully noted the details.

(06:18):
The forensic team arrived soon after. Led by the team
collected fingerprints, blood samples, and any other evidence that might
help piece together what had happened. The medical examiner, doctor
Lillian Pang, and no nonsense fifty five year old with
decades of experience, arrived to examine the body. She noted
that Becky had suffered multiple blunt force injuries to her

(06:38):
head and the time of death was estimated to be
between ten pm and midnight the previous evening. The brutality
of the attack shocked everyone present, including the seasoned investigators outside.
The news of Becky's death spread quickly. Neighbors gathered, whispering
in disbelief. Many of them knew Becky personally, having bought
her baked goods for years. The sight of police cars

(07:01):
and the knowledge of what had happened inside the house
left the community in a state of shock and mourning.
As the investigation continued, the police focused on gathering every
piece of evidence they could find. They knew that the
crime scene held the key to solving this brutal murder.
They needed to find out who could have committed such
a heinous act against a beloved member of the community.

(07:22):
The investigation into Becky Frederickson's murder quickly turned its focus
on her husband, Michael Frederickson. Michael thirty five, was a
well known financial adviser in San Antonio. To his clients,
he was the picture of professionalism, calm, dependable, and trustworthy.
He had a strong reputation in the community, often seen
at networking events and charity functions. However, behind closed doors,

(07:45):
Michael's was far from every woman's dream husband. He was
completely different, Angry with an unsatiable sexual appetite his wife
could never fulfill. He was a man of secrets, deeply
unhappy with his life and marriage. In the days following
Becky's death, investigators dug into Michael's personal life. They learned
that the Frederickson's marriage had been strained for quite some time.

(08:08):
Becky's indometriosis diagnosis had not only shattered her dream of
starting a family, but also placed significant strain on the
sexual aspect of their relationship. Michael, who had once been
an attentive and loving husband, grew distant and frustrated. He
began spending more time at work and less time at home,
often coming back late at night or even after unexplained

(08:29):
absences of several days. Colleagues noticed that he seemed stressed,
but Michael brushed off their concerns, saying it was just
life stuff. The real shock came when police uncovered Michael's
affair with Becky's own mother, Margaret Ruth Breedlove. Ruth, who
had re entered Becky's life only a few years earlier,
was forty eight and still possessed a charismatic charm, and

(08:50):
smoldering sexually or somewhat restrained daughter couldn't match. The affair
had started as a harmless flirtation, but quickly escalated into
something much more serious. Michael and Ruth had been secretly
seeing each other for sex, even having sex on Becky's
bed when she wasn't home. The affair shocked the investigation,
painting a picture of a man caught between a troubled

(09:11):
mother daughter relationship and a tangled web of deceit. During
his interrogation, Michael initially denied any involvement in Becky's murder.
He maintained that he had been at the office late
working on a client's portfolio, and had come home to
find Becky already dead. However, as detectives pressed him about
his secret sexual relationship with Ruth, Michael's calm demeanor began

(09:33):
to crack. He became defensive, insisting that the affair had
nothing to do with Becky's death, But when detectives confronted
him with evidence of his infidelity, including explicit text messages
and naked pictures sent between him and Ruth, Michael's composure shattered.
Police noted that Michael's behavior was suspicious, his answers were evasive,

(09:54):
and he struggled to provide a clear timeline of his
actions on the night of the murder. Investigators also found
odd that Michael showed little emotion when discussing Becky's death,
often speaking about her in a detached manner, as if
she was just some dead person you saw on the news.
Despite his attempts to distance himself from the crime, Michael's
affair with Ruth provided a strong motive for murder. The

(10:15):
pressure on Michael was mounting, and detectives were determined to
get to the truth. As the investigation into Becky Frederickson's
murder deepened, police turned their attention to Margaret Ruth Breedlove,
Becky's forty eight year old mother. Ruth had a complicated
history that raised several red flags for detectives. She had
re entered Becky's life just a few years earlier after

(10:36):
spending decades living a free spirited and often reckless lifestyle.
Ruth had moved from Oakland, California, to San Antonio to
reconnect with her daughter, but her arrival had brought more
turmoil than healing. Ruth was a striking woman who had
always enjoyed being the center of attention. Even in her
late forties, she maintained a youthful appearance and a sexually

(10:56):
magnetic personality that drew people to her. After giving birth
to Becky at the tender age of seventeen and leaving
her in the care of her own mother when Becky
was just a child, Ruth had spent years drifting from
one job to another and from one relationship to the next.
She had worked as a house painter in Oakland, where
she was known for her bold, fashioned choices and colorful personality.

(11:17):
Ruth's life took a dramatic turn when she joined a
cult known as the Sunshine Family in the late nineteen nineties,
a decision that led her to lose contact with Becky
for nearly two decades. When Ruth finally resurfaced in Becky's life,
it was clear that she had not changed much. She
was still the same flirtatious, sexual attention seeking woman she
had always been, and she quickly became a disruptive force

(11:39):
in Becky's marriage. Ruth openly flirted with Becky's husband, Michael,
even going so far as to make out with him
in front of her daughter. This behavior strained the new
and already fragile relationship between mother and daughter. During her interrogation,
Ruth was candid about her affair with Michael, admitting that
sex she had been having with Michael was quote marvel.

(12:00):
She described the relationship as a passionate, all consuming love
affair that had given her a sense of purpose she
had not felt in years. Ruth justified her actions by
insisting that Michael was sexually unfulfilled in his marriage and
that she was simply offering him the excitement and fulfillment
he craved. To Ruth, the affair was not just a fling.
It was a deep soul to sole connection that she

(12:22):
believed was meant to be. However, Ruth denied any involvement
in Becky's murder. She claimed that she had been at
home on the night of the killing, watching Real Housewives
and sipping a glass of red wine. Her tone during
the interrogation was defiant, almost as if she believed that
her actions were justified. Detectives noted that Ruth showed little
remorse for the affair and seemed more concerned about how

(12:44):
the revelation of the relationship would affect her than about
her daughter's death. Ruth's lack of empathy in her affair
with Michael made her a strong suspect, but there was
no direct evidence linking her to the crime. Despite her
claims of innocence, investigators were not convinced, and they continue
scrutinizer every move in the investigation of Becky Frederickson's murder.

(13:05):
Police also turned their attention to a third suspect, Danny
La Calebra Hernandez Basco. Danny twenty two was a figure
with a notorious reputation in San Antonio. Originally from tom Alipas, Mexico,
Danny had a long criminal record that included theft, assault,
and drug related charges. His nickname La Calebra, which means

(13:25):
the snake in English, was a reflection of his slippery,
dangerous nature. Danny was known to be a rough and
intimidating presence in the community. He had been spotted near
Becky's Bakery several times in the weeks leading up to
her murder, leading to rumors that he was involved in
some sort of criminal activity in the area. Witnesses reported
seeing him lurking around the neighborhood, often dressed in dark

(13:47):
clothing and keeping to the shadows. He was the kind
of person who made people nervous, someone who seemed always
to be on the edge of violence. When police brought
Danny in for questioning, they were prepared for a difficult interrogation. Danny, however,
surprised them by maintaining his innocence. He claimed he had
nothing to do with Becky's murder and that he was
simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. According

(14:09):
to Danny, he had been in the area to meet
up with some old friends from his neighborhood who had
recently emigrated to the United States, not to cause any trouble.
He insisted that he had never even met Becky and
had no reason to harmer. Throughout the interrogation, Danny's demeanor
was defensive. He was angry and frustrated, lashing out at
the detectives who questioned him. He accused them of targeting

(14:31):
him because of his criminal past and his Mexican nationality,
calling the investigation a witch hunt. Despite his protests, police
remained suspicious of Danny. His violent history and proximity to
the crime scene made him a person of interest. However,
as the interrogation continued, it became clear that there was
little evidence to tie Danny directly to Becky's murder. There

(14:53):
were no witnesses who could place him at the scene
at the time of the crime, and no physical evidence
connected him to the murder. While his presence in the
area was suspicious, it wasn't enough to charge him. Danny
was eventually released, but police kept him under close surveillance,
aware that his volatile nature and criminal background made him
a potential threat. As the investigation into Becky Frederickson's murder

(15:15):
dragged on without a clear suspect, frustration began to set
in for the detectives. But on the morning of September eighteen,
twenty nineteen, a breakthrough came when Margaret Ruth Breedlove made
a shocking revelation that changed the course of the case. Ruth,
during a follow up interview with detectives, disclosed that she
was pregnant and the father was none other than her

(15:36):
own son in law, Michael Frederickson. This revelation stunned the police.
It added a new layer of complexity to an already
tangled web of relationships. Detectives knew that this revelation could
be the key to understanding the motive behind Becky's brutal murder.
The news of Ruth's pregnancy was a bombshell, suggesting that
the affair between Ruth and Michael wasn't just a flame,

(15:57):
but something far more serious. With this new information in hand,
the police doubled down on their investigation. They decided to
re examine the crime scene and the evidence collected earlier,
hoping to uncover any overlooked details. On September twenty, twenty nineteen,
two days after Ruth's confession, detectives revisited Becky's house where
the murder had taken place. Inside, the crime scene remained

(16:20):
eerily untouched, a stark reminder of the violence that had
occurred there. The detectives carefully calmed through the area, focusing
on the rolling pin that had been used as the
murder weapon. Forensic experts reanalyzed the rolling pin, this time
looking for any traces of DNA or fingerprints that might
have been missed during the initial examination. Meanwhile, detectives also

(16:41):
turned their attention to Michael Frederickson. Armed with the knowledge
of Root's pregnancy, they began to put together a timeline
of events leading up to Becky's murder. They learned that
Michael had been increasingly anxious in the weeks before the crime,
reportedly distancing himself from both his wife and Ruth. He
had also made uncharacteristic mistakes at work, which coworkers later

(17:03):
attributed to his distracted state of mind. Could he have
known Ruth was pregnant with his child? And could Becky
have known this shocking secret. The breakthrough king when detectives
discovered a series of deleted text messages on Michael's phone,
which they were able to recover with the help of
digital forensic experts. These messages revealed a heated argument between

(17:23):
Michael and Becky on the night of her death. In
the texts, Becky confronted Michael about his affair with Ruth,
adding the Binkie emoji, and Michael, in a panic, admitted
to the relationship. The argument escalated quickly, and the final
message from Michael suggested he was going to quote f
you to death. With this new evidence, the police had
what they needed to tie Michael directly to the murder.

(17:47):
The text provided a clear motive. Michael had killed Becky
in a desperate attempt to escape the fallout from his
affair and Ruth's pregnancy on the evening of September twenty one,
twenty nineteen. After uncovering the damning text messages and learning
about Ruth's pregnancy, police were confident that they had enough
evidence to arrest Michael Frederickson Michael thirty five was a

(18:08):
successful financial adviser in San Antonio, known for his calm
and collected demeanor. However, beneath the surface, he was a
man trapped by his own secrets and sexual desires. His
affair with his mother in law, Ruth and the news
that she was pregnant with his child had driven him
to a breaking point. The detectives decided to approach Michael
at his home a modest house in a quiet San

(18:30):
Antonio neighborhood. They arrived just after eight pm, when they
knew Michael would likely be home. The air was thick
with tension as they knocked on the door. When Michael answered,
the TV set to how to videos about child raising,
he appeared tired and on edge, a stark contrast to
the composed image he usually projected. The lead detective informed

(18:51):
Michael that they needed to talk about new developments in
the case. Michael hesitated, but allowed them inside. The detectives
wasted no time confronting him with them the evidence, the
recovered text messages, Ruth's pregnancy, and the clear motive that
had emerged. As they laid out the details, Michael's calm
facade began to crumble. At first, he tried to deny everything,

(19:12):
claiming that the messages were taken out of context and
that he and Becky had simply argued as many couples do.
But when Detective Dias mentioned Ruth's pregnancy, Michael's expression changed.
The color drained from his face, and he became visibly agitated,
pacing the room and avoiding thy contact. Realizing that the
police had him cornered, Michael finally broke down. He confessed

(19:33):
to the affair and admitted that on the night of
Becky's murder, he had lost control when Becky confronted him
about the affair. After Ruth literally waived her positive pregnancy
test in her infertile daughter's face, he panicked. In a
fit of rage and desperation, he grabbed the rolling pin
from the kitchen counter and beat her to death with it.
He explained that he believed eliminating Becky would somehow solve

(19:55):
his problems, allowing him to start a new life with
Ruth and their unborn child. The detectives arrested Michael on
the spot, reading him his rights as they placed him
in handcuffs. Michael offered no resistance, his head hung low
in resignation as the police led him out of the house.
Neighbors gathered on their porches, shocked to see the man
they knew being taken away for such a brutal crime.

(20:17):
The extended Frederickson family, devastated by the news, struggled to
comprehend how their once loving husband and son in law
could commit such a heinous act. For them, the arrest
marked the beginning of a long and painful journey toward justice.
Michael Frederickson's trial began on December thirty, twenty nineteen, at
the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio. The case quickly

(20:39):
drew attention from local news outlets like KSA twelve and
the San Antonio Express. News. Reporters lined up outside the
court house, eager to cover every detail of the shocking
murder case involving a respected financial adviser, his wife, and
her mother. The prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorney
Lisa Perez Brudo, a sharp, no nonsense prosecutor known for

(21:01):
her methodical approach in the courtroom. Perez Britto painted a
chilling picture of Michael as a man driven to murder
by the pressure of his affair with Ruth Breedlove and
her unexpected pregnancy. She argued that Michael, unable to face
the consequences of his actions, brutally killed Becky in a
desperate attempt to escape his crumbling life. Perez's case was

(21:22):
built around the text messages recovered from Michael's phone, Ruth's pregnancy,
and Michael's own confession to the police. On the other side,
the defense attorney Mark Caldwell tried to portray Michael as
a man under extreme emotional distress. Caldwell, known for his
ability to sway juries with his empathetic approach, argued that
Michael never intended to kill Becky. Instead, Caldwell claimed that

(21:44):
the crime was a tragic accident, the result of a
heated argument that spiraled out of control. He urged the
jury to consider Michael's previously clean record and the stress
he was under at the time. Throughout the trial, Becky's
family sat in the courtroom their grief. They listened intently
as witnesses took the stand recounting the events leading up

(22:05):
to Becky's death. When the text messages were read aloud
in court, Becky's mother, who had raised her wept openly,
devastated by the betrayal and the loss of her beloved daughter.
After a week of testimony, the jury deliberated for only
six hours before reaching a verdict. On January seven, twenty twenty,
Michael Frederickson was found guilty of first degree murder. The

(22:26):
judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility
of parole, a decision that was met with relief from
Becky's family, who felt that justice had been served. The
verdict brought some closure to Becky's loved ones, but the
emotional scars left by the crime would take much longer
to heal. The case left the San Antonio community in shock,
a stark reminder of how quickly a seemingly perfect life

(22:48):
can unravel. In the aftermath of the trial, the lives
of everyone involved in the case changed dramatically. Michael Frederickson
began his life sentence at the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice's William P. Hobbyewmett, a stark contrast to the comfortable
life he once knew. Behind bars, Michael had plenty of
time to reflect on the choices that led him to

(23:09):
this point. His reputation in San Antonio was ruined, and
he became a symbol of betrayal and deceit. Ruth Breedlove,
reeling from the revelations that had come to light during
the trial, found herself ostracized by the community. The affair
with Michael, once a secret passion, was now public knowledge.
Ruth moved out of San Antonio, seeking to start over

(23:30):
in a new city where no one knew her story. However,
the emotional toll of the trial and the loss of
her daughter weighed heavily on her. The pregnancy, once a
source of excitement, became a painful reminder of the destruction
she had helped cause. Ruth ultimately decided to give the
child up for adoption, believing it was the best way
to ensure a better future. As the months passed, the

(23:52):
story of Becky Frederickson's murder became another tragic chapter in
San Antonio's history, But for those who had known her,
the loss was wound that would never fully heal.