Jeffrey told police that 4 intruders entered his house, three men and a woman, and attacked the entire family. He also told police he was able to fight the intruders off by using his pajama top and wrapping it around over his head. But police weren’t buying Jeffrey’s story. 

On May 1, 1970, the Army formally charged Jeffrey MacDonald with the murder of his entire family. Because the murders occurred on a military base and Jeffrey was an active U.S. Army officer, Jeffrey was entitled to an Article 32 hearing. On October 13, 1970, Colonel Rock formally issued a report that recommended the charges be formally dismissed against Jeffrey.

Jeffrey MacDonald began making contradictory and even outlandish claims about the crimes while making several TV and media appearances. Colette’s family no longer believed their son-in-law was innocent of the crimes and filed a citizen’s complaint through the U.S. Justice Department.

On January 24, 1975, a grand jury voted to indict Jeffrey MacDonald for the triple homicide. The forensic evidence leading towards Jeffrey’s guilt was too overwhelming. Forensic experts were able to show that the stab wounds found on Colette’s bodies were consistent with the holes discovered on Jeffrey’s pajama top. Jeffrey placed his pajama top over Colette’s chest and stabbed her 48 times. Finally, on August 29, 1979, Jeffrey was convicted of one count of first-degree murder in the death of his daughter, Kristen, and two counts of second-degree in the deaths of Colette and Kimberely.

He was sentenced to life in prison for each murder.