An all-new episode of ID’s Seduced to Slay will revisit Janie Ballard’s murder case and the sensational trials of Leslie MacKool and Mike MacKool. The episode titled “The Good Girl” airs on the network on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 10 p.m. ET.
The official synopsis says, “When recently widowed Janie Ballard is found brutally murdered in her home, police suspect it’s a home invasion gone wrong; when detectives learn that Janie’s husband left her with a sizeable estate, their list of suspects turns personal.”
Janie Ballard’s murder case began on September 13, 2003, when a friend found her body inside her Little Rock home. Seduced to Slay describes the 58-year-old’s murder as “a blitz attack,” per Fox News. Police initially suspected her son-in-law, Mike MacKool, who had a shady past. Eventually, the daughter, Leslie MacKool, confessed to the crime.
Janie Ballard’s murder case: How did she die & what happened to her killers?
Former Little Rock Police Department detective Steve Moore described the crime scene to Fox News. He recalled that Janie Ballard had “close to 70 stab wounds on her. There was blood all over the floor” as well as “on the furniture.” He claimed the victim’s throat was slashed from ear to ear, to the point where she was nearly decapitated. Moreover, the phone line was cut, the cabinet doors were open, and jewelry was scattered around.
Investigators soon learned that Ballard’s daughter, Leslie MacKool, was married to Mike MacKool then. They also found out about Mike’s shady past—he once faced manslaughter charges for causing a friend’s death.
The outlet reported that investigators initially suspected Mike’s involvement in the crime after learning about the couple’s financial woes. Moreover, Ballard’s attorney told them that she had her will amended, leaving Leslie with $25,000 of her father’s $1.5 million to $2 million estate. Her family had the will revised after she became involved with Mike, who initially thought she would be getting $750,000.
However, in a twist of events, during a questioning session, Leslie MacKool finally admitted to murdering the 58-year-old. She confessed, “I did it—I killed my mother.” NBC News reported that Leslie’s lawyer later claimed that Mike’s controlling nature led her to the crime. She was allegedly afraid that her husband would kill her if she mishandled the murder. Both faced capital murder charges in Janie Ballard’s murder case.
NBC’s report further stated that deputy prosecutor W.A. McCormick said the couple thought they would receive up to a $2 million inheritance if Ballard died within 30 days of Leslie MacKool’s father’s death. McCormick alleged that the crime was premeditated. He said Leslie hid outside Ballard’s home dressed in dark clothing, including black face paint and a wig. Then, she attacked her mother, knocking her down and stabbing her at least 70 times.
McCormick stated that after murdering her mother, Leslie cut the phone line and went upstairs to steal jewelry and a valuable coin set belonging to her father. After this, the prosecutor said, “She [Leslie] goes down to her mother, and for good measure, turns her over and slashes her throat.”
The outlet also reported that Leslie’s attorney, Bill James, argued she committed the crime because of her husband, Mike MacKool. “He [Mike] said, ‘You better not mess this up. You better do this right. If you don’t, I’ll kill you,’” James told jurors. The attorney further added that Mike made her buy dark clothes and oversized shoes. After the murder, Leslie drove her mother’s red Cadillac to a church parking lot; meanwhile, Mike hid some of her clothes to stop her from talking.
According to The Cinemaholic, a jury convicted Leslie MacKool of capital murder and property theft in May 2004. She received a life sentence without parole for an additional 60 months. Elsewhere, Mike MacKool also stood trial in Janie Ballard’s murder case. This resulted in his conviction on a first-degree murder count along with one count of property theft. He received a 40-year term for the murder charge and 20 years for theft. He is serving both sentences consecutively.
ID’s Seduced to Slay airs with Janie Ballard’s murder case on December 18, 2023.