8. Detective Steve Deffibaugh
Detective Deffibaugh was the lead investigator from the Collin County Sheriff’s Department in charge of the case.
Steve Deffibaugh was just a young deputy with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office when he was tapped to lead the high-profile investigation. Instead of getting caught up in the town’s frantic rumors, he ran a tight ship from day one. He kept the media at bay and let the physical evidence—fingerprints, blood patterns, and witness statements—do the talking. It was his methodical police work that ultimately uncovered the secret affair and pointed the finger straight at Candy Montgomery.
A Marine Corps veteran, Deffibaugh brought military-level precision and a rock-solid, calm demeanor to a completely chaotic case. He didn’t let the national spotlight or the media circus rattle him.
He went on to have a long, respected career in local government long after the cameras left Wylie. He stayed with Collin County, eventually serving as the Fire Marshal from 1996 to 2011, and later stepped up as a Princeton City Council member and Mayor Pro Tempore.
Fun fact: in Hulu’s miniseries Candy, Deffibaugh is famously played by Justin Timberlake, who portrays him as the straight-laced cop trying to find the truth in a case that totally defied logic.
