Husband arrested in 'Woodchipper Murder' On this day, Jan. 11, in 1987, Connecticut police arrested the husband of a missing flight attendant in the case that became known as the "Woodchipper Murder."

The case later inspired the Coen brothers to write the film "Fargo."

When Helle Crafts, 39, disappeared in November 1986, her husband, Richard, told different stories to friends who asked about her whereabouts.

A witness came forward to say he had seen a man operating a woodchipper in the middle of a snow storm near the Housatonic River.

Divers found a chainsaw, which had human hair and tissue in its teeth. Detectives thawed the snow and found 2,660 hairs, one fingernail, one toe nail, two teeth, one tooth cap and five droplets of blood.

Crafts was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

- Scott McCabe

Scott McCabe