Edith Ann Haynes murder by Michael Bryant

Much of the evidence used to charge and ultimately convict Michael Bryant was circumstantial. There was none of the definitive physical evidence investigators hope to discover at the crime scene – the burnt trailer Edith Ann Haynes occupied. Things like fingerprints, shoe impressions, surveillance footage, and DNA could've cemented a case against Bryant. But instead, prosecutors were required to make their case based on witness testimony, evidence of firefighting training, and motive. But the timing of the fire was in stark opposition with Bryant's seemingly solid alibi.

The episode cited that Bryant's overreaction during the phone call he received after the movie was part of his undoing. He'd been told that Haynes' mobile home had burned down, and Bryant supposedly gasped and cried. It seemed he knew or believed Edith Ann Haynes had been killed, but the caller had not relayed this information. But it wasn't stated that Bryant actually disclosed the "inadvertent" hold-back knowledge of Ann's death – only that Bryant's reaction was inappropriate.

Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files

It should be considered that only two people would have the knowledge of Bryant's improper reaction – the caller himself (or herself) and his wife. In providing this information to police, they could only characterize Bryant's disposition and offer their judgement on its propriety. The call wasn't recorded, so investigators did not see Bryant's "performance" firsthand. To me, this begins to feel like hearsay evidence.

Delayed ignition and arson investigation

It was stated that Bryant's knowledge of how to build a delayed ignition and how arsonists think came from his training for the fire brigade at his company. This seemed asinine to me at first – I believed that a company's training wouldn't supersede that which the military provides, and a full week of firefighting training during bootcamp had covered none of those concepts. But reading through the details from an appeal filed by Bryant proved me wrong. It seems it'd been an extensive course to qualify for the fire brigade, teaching "fire ignition and arson awareness" and "training in delayed-ignition devices constructed from household items".

Fire expert Mike Lane was tasked to determine if the fire that burned Haynes' home (and body) was an act of arson. The idea that Bryant used a delayed ignition device was fueled by the discovery of detonation cord at his home. Interestingly, this type of explosive is considered a "high-speed" fuse and is often used in commercial demolition where multiple explosive charges are synchronized. Whether or not Bryant employed the detonation cord in his delayed trigger, his possession surely hurt his case.

Lane explained that there are multiple ways to create a delayed ignition device and didn't share any for fear of educating future arsonists. But regard John Orr's signature device in the episode Point of Origin (s09e21). By simply securing matches and paper to a lit cigarette with a rubber band, Orr easily made an effective delayed trigger. While it didn't have the 2-3 hour delay that Bryant's device must have, it did allow John Orr to set hundreds of fires in the Los Angeles area.

When the outcome of a case, or more importantly the future of a person, relies on only one type of evidence, things get dangerous. Especially if that type is arson investigation. With nothing against Mike Lane and his experience, there have been multiple articles recently about flaws in the scientific certainty of this type of examination. Multiple convictions have been overturned when a second, more scientific look is taken at the evidence available. Forensic Files covers multiple cases which exonerate someone, including Terri Hinson in Fire Dot Com (s06e06), Jean Long in Trial by Fire (s10e01), and Paul Camiolo in Up in Smoke (s10e04). The ABA Journal shared a comprehensive article debunking myths about arson investigation in December 2015.

It was interesting learning about the processes used to analyze evidence collected at the scene of the fire. The experts described the various steps to isolate the potential accelerant and indicated 750 various compounds it could be compared to. But after all of that, their result of simple gasoline was underwhelming. The presence of mind to have both gasoline and detonation cord with him on November 15, 2000 spoke to Bryant's actual plan when he met up with Edith Ann Haynes to finally pay the debt he owed. Even his then-wife at the time believed Bryant was going elsewhere that day.

Dinner and a movie

Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files

The YouTube commenters were vocal about the episode's assertion that saving a movie ticket stub was preposterous. Over the years, each time I'd seen this episode, I agreed. In fact, I have years of movie (and other event) ticket stubs in a small binder – a keepsake album. But I finally internalized the episode's narrative. It wasn't that Bryant had saved a movie ticket stub – it was the only movie ticket stub he'd ever saved. In this context, its purpose of supporting an alibi was clearer. If he'd done more planning, he'd have established a pattern of saving all his movie ticket stubs. Then this instance wouldn't be out of the ordinary.

Of course, Bryant and his wife had seen Charlie's Angels. The image truncated the movie's title, so I searched to see if this might have been the sequel. But it was the original Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Lu film from 2000. I recall somewhat enjoying this movie. But while checking, I found a reboot was made in 2019, and I watched its trailer. I'm not sure Bryant would've saved the ticket stub from this trainwreck, even to support a murder alibi.

Bryant supposedly reclaimed the $25,000 check he'd given Ann before the fire was set. He seemed to actually believe he'd be able to keep the deed to her house, but not pay her estate what he still owed. Hayes' family had to sue Bryant, getting a judge to order him to pay his debt. If he was trying to give police an additional reason to suspect his role in Ann's death, this was a good strategy.

I had to wonder why Ann had signed the deed over to Michael Bryant while he still owed her $25,000. Apparently, he had taken on (or paid off) the two mortgages on Ann's home, and he'd begun repairs on her mobile home. So a warranty deed was executed and filed. Then, instead of paying Ann for the accumulated equity in the home, Michael Bryant ghosted Ann for an entire month. When she finally threatened to find another buyer, Bryant remitted the check, but repeatedly asked Ann to not deposit it due to his financial struggles. He'd even failed to secure a hardship loan from his 401k plan.

Image credit: Episode screen capture from Forensic Files

My last thoughts about the case have to do with what detectives learned about Michael Bryant during their investigation and as a result of their search warrant. In 1995, while married to his previous wife (Melissa Carter), Michael Bryant's home and car were destroyed in a fire of mysterious origin. Even Carter suspected Bryant of starting the fire – recall he'd urged (forced) her to take their dog and spend the night at her parents' house. He'd also secured an apartment prior to the fire, unbeknownst to his wife. If the circumstantial evidence in the Haynes case led to Bryant's conviction, it seems the circumstantial evidence from the 1995 arson could've potentially precluded him from an insurance payout.

And what was with the budget alter in Bryant's attic? I haven't spent any time studying devil worship, but a few candles and a half-assed pentagram probably doesn't go far in impressing Satan.

Where is Michael Bryant now in 2024?

Michael Bryant was indicted in 2001 and eventually convicted on malice murder, arson, and burglary. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years. In 2007, an appeal filed citing insufficient evidence was denied. He is currently incarcerated in Rogers State Prison, a medium-security prison for men in Reidsville, Georgia.