Media zeros in on Bechler case

Greg Risling

Although he has kept quiet since his arrest in October, 32-year-old Eric

Bechler, charged with murdering his wife for financial gain, won’t have

much trouble finding someone to hear his story.

The disappearance and presumed death of his 38-year-old wife, Pegye, two

years ago during a boating trip, has garnered national attention. Media

outlets far and wide have taken a particular interest in the case that

some consider ripe for a made-for-television movie.

Most recently, the popular tabloid The National Inquirer splashed the

story on a two-page spread in its Jan. 4 edition. The story, topped with

a headline that reads “Mystery of the Missing Wife ... and the Sexy Model

Who Helped Nail Playboy for Murder,” shows there is a good chance the

publicity won’t die down before the trial.

“We knew it was a big story for the county and the state,” said Tori

Richards, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

“Based on the dynamics of the case, we thought we might get some [media]

inquiries from outside the county. We were kind of surprised the tabloids

are interested.”

The questions asked concerning the case have not come from the tabloids

alone. Richards said the D.A.’s office has fielded calls from People

Magazine, 60 Minutes and 20/20.

Besides all of the daily newspapers in Orange County that have taken

particular interest in the case, Pegye’s hometown newspaper in Roswell,

N.M., has kept pace with the coverage. Pegye’s parents, Glenn and June

Marshall, live nearby in a small town called Dexter.

The investigation into Pegye’s murder has prompted a footrace to uncover

more details about her husband’s arrest. Eric Bechler was arrested in

connection with his wife’s 1997 disappearance while the couple was on a

boating trip four miles off the Newport coast. Bechler maintains he was

bodyboarding behind a rented powerboat when a wave knocked him

underwater. When Bechler surfaced, his wife who was driving the boat, was

missing, he said.

Rescue crews searched the area, but Pegye’s body was never found.

Authorities arrested Bechler when he allegedly made incriminating

statements in a taped conversation with his girlfriend, Tina New.

New, who is prominently featured in the Inquirer article, once believed

Bechler killed his wife but later recanted her statements. An aspiring

model and actress, New has been brought up frequently by representatives

of other media organizations when they call the D.A.’s office.

“Everyone has been asking about her when they call,” Richards said.

“They’ve heard different things about her and want to know if we can

verify it.”

Richards added that she expects many news organizations to attend

Bechler’s Jan. 28 preliminary hearing, which should provide a good

glimpse of the evidence against the accused killer.