“There is a Monster In Me”: 20/20 Reports on Susan Woods Homicide July 25 2025

On Friday, July 25, 2025, ABC’s 20/20 aired an encore presentation of its investigative special There is a Monster In Me, chronicling the chilling 1987 murder of Susan Woods in Stephenville, Texas. Hosted by Chris Connelly, the two-hour program delves into the decades-long search for her killer and the tragic misdirection that nearly cost an innocent man his future. With new insights, firsthand interviews, and the posthumous writings of the man eventually identified as the perpetrator, the episode offers a comprehensive view of one of Texas’s most haunting cold cases.

The story begins in the summer of 1987, when Susan Woods, 30, was found murdered in her bathtub with her hands bound. The gruesome scene shocked the small town and launched an investigation that would span decades, implicate the wrong man, and end with a startling confession found after the killer’s death.

The Life and Death of Susan Woods

Susan Woods was a quiet, hard-working woman navigating the early stages of divorce from her husband, Michael Woods, when her life was brutally cut short. Known for her reserved personality and dedication to her job, Susan had recently separated from Michael, a musician who struggled to find work and fit in with Stephenville’s cowboy culture.

On July 28, 1987, Susan’s father discovered her lifeless body slumped over the bathtub. She was naked, her hands were tied behind her back with twisted fabric, and there were signs of strangulation and a violent struggle. The scene showed no signs of forced entry, suggesting she knew her attacker. Cigarette butts and snack items near the TV indicated a guest had been in her home shortly before her death.

The initial investigation focused heavily on her estranged husband. Authorities believed he may have returned secretly from Indiana to carry out the murder. Michael Woods left behind vulgar notes and a bitter cassette tape berating Susan, further deepening suspicion. Yet, his fingerprints did not match those found at the scene, and no conclusive evidence tied him to the crime.

The Long Shadow of Suspicion

Despite the lack of physical evidence, Michael Woods remained under scrutiny for nearly 20 years. His life was marked by depression and public doubt, compounded when Susan’s family filed and won a wrongful death lawsuit against him. Even though he professed his innocence, few believed him, and the investigation stagnated.

Michael’s movements and behavior remained of interest to police. Detectives investigated his attempts to sell Susan’s personal items and scrutinized his Indiana residence for further clues. But nothing linked him to the murder. Over time, the case went cold, and Susan’s real killer remained at large.

In 2005, a concerned friend of Michael contacted police to reopen the investigation. Lt. Don Miller, a retired officer, took on the case and began re-examining old evidence. He had the foresight to send the cigarette butts and fingerprints from the scene to new forensic databases. The results would change the course of the investigation.

The Break in the Case: Hatley Identified

In 2006, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System delivered a match: Joseph Scott Hatley. Hatley had been arrested in Las Vegas in 1988 for armed robbery, which had placed his fingerprints in the system. Investigators soon discovered that Hatley was not only a local man but the cousin of one of Susan’s closest friends. He had attended her funeral, which further disturbed those who had known both of them.

Miller also uncovered prior allegations against Hatley. A year after Susan’s death, a 16-year-old girl named Shannon Myers accused him of kidnapping, rape, and physical assault. Though charges were never filed, she remembered Hatley telling her he had killed before. Her statement, dismissed for years, took on a new significance in light of Hatley’s DNA match to the crime scene.

When confronted, Hatley claimed he had visited Susan’s house that night, but denied harming her. He said they drank, smoked, and “fooled around,” but he denied having sex or engaging in violence. Despite his denials, Hatley’s DNA was confirmed on the cigarette butts at the scene, and his physical description matched the suspect.

Legal Proceedings and Unanswered Questions

Facing overwhelming evidence, Hatley accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2007. He served only 11 years before being paroled in 2018 under laws that applied at the time of the crime. He died in 2021, reportedly from cancer, without ever fully explaining why he killed Susan Woods.

Though justice was technically served, many questions remained unanswered. Why had Hatley chosen Susan as his victim? Why did he hide in plain sight for so many years? For Susan’s loved ones and for Michael Woods, the conclusion brought limited peace. The lack of a full confession and Hatley’s early release left lingering frustration and emotional scars.

That frustration eased somewhat in 2022 when Miller received a call from someone who had purchased Hatley’s trailer. Inside, the new owner found Hatley’s handwritten journals—over 260 pages of dark, confessional writing. These journals shed light on Hatley’s violent tendencies and offered graphic details of the night he killed Susan Woods.

The Journals of a Killer

Hatley’s journals provided a disturbing view into his psyche. He described an abusive upbringing, intense feelings of alienation, and a fascination with violence from a young age. He confessed to contemplating the murder of his mother and wrote about discovering the power of fear.

Regarding Susan Woods, Hatley recounted a visit to her home where he believed she was flirting with him. After she allegedly rejected his advances and slapped him, he flew into what he described as a rage. He admitted to suffocating her with a pillow and watching her die, even though he had the chance to stop. He did not.

The writings also contained details about the attack on Shannon Myers and confirmed the threats he had made to her. Hatley described himself as a “walking demon” and claimed he lacked remorse. He admitted to continuing his life as if nothing had happened, even as others were wrongly accused.

These confessions offered closure for many involved, especially for Shannon Myers, who said the revelations allowed her to reclaim her power and identity after years of trauma.

A Community Haunted and Changed

Susan Woods’ case is a reminder of how justice delayed can affect lives in profound ways. Michael Woods lived for decades under suspicion. Shannon Myers carried the trauma of her assault with little validation. And the Woods family spent years pursuing a false narrative while the real killer remained free.

20/20’s There is a Monster In Me captures the emotional depth and complexity of the case. Through methodical detective work, forensic science, and the eventual emergence of written confessions, the episode highlights how long justice can take—and how it can come in unexpected forms.

Susan Woods’ story, though tragic, underscores the importance of never giving up on the truth. It also reminds viewers of the resilience of those left behind, who continue to seek justice and peace in the aftermath of unspeakable violence.