Talhotblond

Plot

Thomas Montgomery (screen name: marinesniper), a 47-year-old married man, pleaded guilty to murdering his 22-year-old co-worker Brian Barrett (screen name: beefcake). The two men were involved in a love triangle with "Jessi," who they thought to be an 18-year-old girl with the screen name 'talhotblond'. While both men knew each other from work, neither had ever met "Jessi" in person.

In the beginning of their online relationship, Thomas presented himself as an 18-year-old man named "Tommy" who was in basic training and later deployed. His wife ended the deception when she discovered Thomas' online relationship and wrote "Jessi," letting her know that there was no "Tommy." The two continued to chat, even after this.

It ultimately turned out however, that Thomas was not the only one that wasn't being truthful about his identity. "Jessi" was a real person, but it was actually her mother, Mary Shieler, who was posing as her daughter, online. Jessi was unaware of her mother's actions until after Barrett had been murdered and her mother's role in the case became widely known.

Production

The film's TV rights were sold to MSNBC. Paramount Studios bought all remaining rights. Directed and written by Emmy award winning journalist Barbara Schroeder, the film features appearances by convicted murderer Thomas Montgomery, clinical psychologist and attorney Dr. Rex Julian Beaber, Erie County prosecutor Ken Case, Erie County Sheriff Ron Kenyon; Oak Hill, West Virginia Sgt. Lee Kirk; the parents of Brian Barrett, and Tim Shieler. Dr. Beaber serves throughout the film as a commentator on the social-psychological dimensions of the case.

Awards

Winner of the Seattle International Film Festival's 2009 Best Documentary Grand Jury Award and a finalist at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.

Lifetime movie

On June 23, 2012, Lifetime aired a TV movie based on the story, Tall Hot Blonde (also known as TalhotBlond), directed by Courteney Cox, with Garret Dillahunt as Thomas and Laura San Giacomo as Carol (this character's name is different from that of the real-life wife), the busy wife and mother who slowly starts feeling disconnected from her husband. Brian Barrett, Montgomery's young coworker, was portrayed by Brando Eaton.

Cox appeared in the film as well, as Carol's friend, coworker, and confidante. The names of Jessi and Mary Shieler were changed to Katie (played by Ashley Hinshaw) and Beth (played by Molly Hagan) Brooks, respectively. The Shielers' location was moved from West Virginia to Indiana.