John Fern Rgs Newcastle Illness, Spectrum Center Section 117, Airbnb Houseboat Virginia, Kohl's Return Policy Cash Back, Hobart Football Coach Charged, Articles M

You were a neighbor and you were a friend, Carlisle said. Its quite obvious that monserrate is the source of the name in this case. In an interview with former RTV6 reporter Stacia Matthews, Shirley suggested the explosion may have been an attempt on her life. Shirley: "Back in August (2011) she just stopped taking my phone calls and letting me talk to Brook. [2] Over sixty firefighters responded to the blaze. FULL STORY | Mark Leonards friend says he knew too much. According to Shirleys account, she was struggling to stay financially afloat when she met Leonard, and within a month of dating, he came up with the idea. They said they didn't know. Shirley: "No. He never gave her money like that again, but did play with his own money, spending anywhere from $2,000 - 10,000 each trip. Crime scene photos from the Richmond Hill explosion "I want $300,000. In court Wednesday, she said he turned on the gas, but never lit the fire. When she told him, Holts said, "Between Mark and Gary, they're going to blow up the whole neighborhood.". The host family had a lot of horses, so Shirley's daughter went to play with them under the supervision of Holts' girlfriend, Sharon, whose teen . Shirley says he replaced the thermostat "so there were more options to heat the house during the day.". . Their challenge was to distill two-and-a-half years of research and investigation into a six week trial without losing the jury in the process. We used to cook together, have dinner together.Very charming, very lovely man.". Everything's under control.". Indianapolis trio accused of blowing up their home to collect insurance The defense team started their cross-examination by establishing Shirley's ability to make life-and-death decisions in high-pressure situations while a charge nurse in the ICU. It's also possible she will walk free if the judge sentences. Shirley said that she was at a casino bar at the time of the explosion, and her boyfriend and daughter -- who also live with her -- weren't home either. It was never no for an answer. Shirley had heard of Bob before, but had not met him before he came over Thursday, November 1. A tag already exists with the provided branch name. "He'll do anything I ask," Mark said of his brother. I was introduced to this once-a-year dish at a party and she was one of the first people to give it a shot. We again offer our condolences to the families of Dion and Jennifer Longworth and to those who suffered injury and loss. (They were) my neighbors for a very long time since we built the house, Shirley said. They got to the room, but Mark wasn't feeling well so he stayed there while Shirley played slot machines for about an hour. [14] In April 2015, a fifth man, Glenn Hults, was charged with conspiracy to commit arson. I didnt want to do anything that would cause that trial date to be continued.. Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. Im telling the truth and nothing but the truth was a phrase repeated by Monserrate Shirley throughout the day. Police became suspicious when they uncovered evidence that the couple had taken similar steps the previous weekend; the cat had been boarded and Shirley's daughter had been placed with a babysitter overnight before the couple went to the casino. Indianapolis explosion may have been caused by furnace, says owner of Monserrate Shirley leaves court after learning her sentence. Powerball winner sold in central Indiana! Bob Leonard, Monserrate Shirley, Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults also face charges in connection to the explosion. He occasionally worked on those cars at Shirley's home so she saw he had a wide array of tools. The sentence accounts for time served and good. Shirley's next-door neighbors, John and Jennifer Longworth, died in the blast. Mark Leonard moved in with Monserrate Shirley about a month later. He also told Bob to go get Gary Thompson. John Shirley, 50, of Noblesville, told The Associated Press that his daughter sent him a text message last week complaining that the furnace in the home where she lives with her mother and her. Richmond Hill Explosion - indyencyclopedia.org PREVIOUS | Full testimony: Monserrate Shirley takes the stand. Defendant in Indiana house explosion gets maximum 50 years - FOX 5 Atlanta The problem was that none of that criminal history would be admissible at trial. Shirley had earlier cooperated in providing testimony against alleged co-conspirators but. But these were good defense attorneys. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Jordan Fischer is the senior digital reporter for RTV6. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Leonard, his ex-girlfriend Monserrate Shirley, his half-brother Robert Leonard and Mark Leonards former employee blew up Shirleys home in the Richmond Hill subdivision to collect about $300,000 in insurance money to pay off the houses mortgage and Mark Leonards gambling and credit card debts. She asked Mark not to try the house fire plan again. "That's not what you told me," she remembered saying to Mark. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". Instead, on Dec. 20, 2016 - after a two-day sentencing hearing that would be the closest her former neighbors would get to seeing her on trial - Shirley was sentenced to the maximum term of 50 years in prison. Marion County Superior Court Judge Sheila Carlisle sentenced Monserrate Shirley to spend the maximum sentence of 50 years in prison on Tuesday. The original posters source was a little bit of a weird little coincidence, but the name was still alive and well. She now faces 20-50 years, though a judge has the right to suspend some, or all of that time. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Monserrate Shirley sentencing: 'She is the worst of the bunch' - WTHR He says sometimes strong winds would blow out the pilot light when someone opened the garage door. She gave it to him, and he used it to pay Bob. He asked whose name the house was under, and she said it was entirely in her name after the divorce. Again, she said, "Because I was not able to tell him 'no'." [39] Glenn Hults received a three-year sentence.[40]. FAIL: New York Senate Says NO to Gay Marriage - Queerty In November 2014, Glenn Olvey who was trapped with his family in his collapsing house finally gave up on rebuilding his home in the neighborhood. The sentence accounts for time served and good. Richmond Hill explosion: Where are they now? - indystar.com The two divorced on July 25, 2011. Shirley recalled a later conversation that she had with Bob and Mark Leonard, after the explosion. John Duncan was the one to call, saying something horrible had happened on her street and he wanted to make sure she and her daughterwere okay. The game of death is a pretty popular one, but its not just because of the game of death; its also the game of life itself. For their families, the tree is one last connection to the loved ones they lost on Nov. 10, 2012. I dont feel bad for Mr. Leonard, said Don Buxton, father of Jennifer Longworth, who was killed in the blast with her husband, Dion. "It's like waking up to this bad dream," Shirley said, her voice cracking as tears flowed down her cheeks. His defense team admitted that the blaze had been intentionally set, but told jurors it was only intended to be a small fire and that murder was never his intention. Follow her on Twitter:@hollyvhays. The next morning, they went to Bob Leonard's mobile home. Home owner, Monserrate Shirley; her boyfriend, Mark Leonard; and his brother, Bob Leonard, were arrested Friday and charged with murder and arson Prosecutors may seek the death penalty Fire. Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. She never got a call, though. Just to prepare the evidence list which eventually numbered more than 2,000 items Robinson said the entire four-person team worked 24 hours straight. "I feel like, you know, it would have been better off for me to be there [at the house when it exploded]," Shirley said. Thats time served, and hes out. He asked how much was in the 401k, according to Shirley. Her sister had lived in the same housing complex. After speaking with detectives, they went to Mark's sister's home, where they spent the night. Richmond Hill trial: Monserrate Shirley testifies | wthr.com [6] In 2017, Leonard wasconvicted and received an additional 50-year sentencein a murder-for-hire scheme authorities say he concocted from jail after his arrest. The meeting was difficult for me because I couldnt ethically tell them everything, Robinson said. Shirley would receive over $300,000 in insurance money for the replacement of the home as well as personal items. One small job. He was going to bring Thompson to their house so she could say she was okay to move forward, too. I said, You guys are crazy, that my house is too big.. At one point, after one of the failed attempts to burn the home, Monserrate Shirley said she offered Mark Leonard her 401k instead. PREVIOUS|Timeline of events|Gallery: The Richmond Hill Explosion|Where were you at 11:11 PM? Its about not letting the person who was watching your game die ever have a say in your game. Your email address will not be published. An Indianapolis woman said she asked her then-boyfriend's half-brother what he had done when she learned the fire they planned to ignite using natural gas had And I understand it, because of their feelings about her. She and her husband Gabriel Ferrer (son of Rosemary Clooney and Jos Ferrer, and a first cousin to George Clooney) had four children: Jordan Alexander Ferrer (born July 8, 1980), twin girls (Gabrielle Monserrate Ferrer & Dustin Boone Ferrer, born September 17, 1983), and Tessa Ferrer (born March 30, 1986). Monserrate Shirley, the Indianapolis homeowner whose house is suspected of being the source of a deadly explosion that damaged nearly 80 homes in her subdivision, was inconsolable Tuesday as she wept while speaking publicly for the first time about the horrific incident. "John Shirley, whose ex-wife Monserrate Shirley lives at the home with their 12 year-old-daughter, said he got a text from his daughter about a week-and-a-half ago telling him the heat. Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard: 'Killer Couples' Airs Richmond Hills It ended in the deaths of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. It was a good feeling.. I dont believe in vengeance and I know that my son is not a person that would accept vengeance and such things, he didnt live that way., I look at Monserrate Shirley and I see a wasted life, said Tony Burnett, who lived across the street from Shirley. "I don't know what happened. They then worked to establish a pattern of poor decisions in her personal life and changing stories throughout the investigation. "No one.". She found a house with a floorplan she liked." The program is a spin-off of the Oxygen series Snapped and has a similar format to the Investigation Discovery program Wicked Attraction. Homeowner Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in Richmond Hill The blast the product of an insurance fraud scheme killed two people and injured dozens of others. [28] Prosecutors expected to submit nearly 3,000 pieces of evidence, and potentially call up to 175 witnesses. Although prosecutors didnt need their blessing to go ahead with the plea, Robinson said they felt it was important to tell the residents as much as they could. Made and inspired by a love triangle, this was written by a girl from Italy. Shirley told her daughternot to come back to the house for any reason, though she didn't explain why not. ", She said Mark told her, "It cannot be that bad.Don't worry about it. While questioning potential jurors, one of Leonards attorneys, Diane Black, brought up out of the blue that her client had tried to hire a hitman from jail to kill his friend, and potential witness against him, Mark Duckworth. John did all the maintenance on the home - she never did any. Once again, she agreed to make the same three arrangements: the casino reservation, a babysitter for her daughterand boarding for Snowball. Prosecutors ask if Shirley was asked by police to identify personal property following the explosion. I have morals.I love my patients and I would do anything for them. This type of trial is unusual but not unheard of, and had been used in the trial of the Menendez brothers. But Im not allowed to say that. Shirley says Monserrate got the house in the divorce. The third weekends attempt was the one that killed the Longworths. Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were out of town for the weekend while her 12-year-old daughter stayed with friends. I see a con artist when I look at her., If she really is apologetic, then I accept the apology, said Dion Longworths father, John Longworth. He was sentenced in August to two life sentences, along with 75 years in prison. They are charged with. But ultimately I think we were able to accomplish what we needed to do for her.. On the other two days, Robinson still the head of the prosecutors homicide division would review pending cases and prepare for other trials on her plate. Monserrate Shirley agrees to testify against ex boyfriend in Indiana Leonard died around 9:15. Leonards death doesnt change the fact that Jennifer and Dion died, Buxton said. This time, Mark and Bob talked alone while Monserrate left to pick up her daughter. This time, Shirley's daughterwas at home, but she was upstairs. She said she did not tell officers at the time what happened because she was scared. A source who claimed to be in contact with the Shirley family told WISH-TV in Indianapolis that a family member had complained about smelling gas in the home at one time. More than 4 years later, Monserrate Shirley to be sentenced in Richmond For years, the team holed up in that office three days a week to avoid being distracted by other ongoing cases. Exasperated, Judge John Marnocha, who was assigned to oversee the trial, dismissed dozens of potential jurors and ended the day early with an admonition for Black and her co-counsel, David Shircliff. Shirley: "She wanted us to live in a bigger house. . [5], The most damning piece of evidence was a witness statement from one of Mark Leonard's associates, who told investigators that the weekend before the explosion, Leonard told him that "the house blew up". To do that, the team moved 80 boxes of documents connected to the case to an office on the east side of Indianapolis. Her role in the plan and execution of this act protected her own child and the family pet, but failed to consider the obvious danger it presented to anyone else. [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. The defense wrapped up a little more quickly than expected after Judge John Marnocha denied their request to play a video of Shirley's 2012 interview with the media. Inquiry Into Indianapolis Blast Suggests Scheme Gone Wrong - The New And then there was the arrangement that when I picked up my daughter I would get to take some of my belongings. Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in prison - YouTube After that, the fire wasn't mentioned again until the week before Halloween. Your email address will not be published. Robert Leonard, who was convicted of murder and multiple felonies, was sentenced to life without parole. He leaves to cherish his memory his daughters: Britney Morales (Malcolm Richardson) and Maria Morales: two step-daughters Latasha (Nathan) Roberts and Kizzy Carter; three grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Its because the life of the game itself is the life of the game itself. At least half a dozen marriages in the Richmond Hill neighborhood ended in divorce in the years immediately following the blast. At that point, Shirley and her co-defendants her boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr. had been sitting in jail for two years following their arrest on charges of murder, arson and attempted insurance fraud in connection with the explosion. From confusion to conviction, Richmond Hill blast recapped. SOUTH BEND, Ind. She told them she didn't want anything to do with them anymore. In fact, they said that at the time she raised her insurance policy to $300,000, she was roughly $300,000 in debt (more than $200K between her two mortgages on top of the bankruptcy settlement left over from her divorce). Shirley's sentencing started Monday morning at 9 a.m. She faces 20 to 50 years in prison for two counts conspiracy to commit arson. He says he and Monserrate never boarded the cat when they were married. Will they get to the felony murder?. I was introduced to this once-a-year dish at a party and she was one of the first people to give it a shot. The host family had a lot of horses, so Shirley's daughter went to play with them under the supervision of Holts' girlfriend, Sharon, whose teen daughters often watched the girl. "We had a lot of parties," the late. But didnt the jury need to hear from the residents? [3][4] Damage to homes in the neighborhood was estimated at $4 million. Leonard said he talked to Gary Thompson without her, telling him they were ready to do it. At the end of the day, we still miss her and him, Dion, as much as ever, Buxton said. And then there was the arrangement that when I picked up my daughter I would get to take some of my belongings. monserrate shirley daughter - Investigative Guide She told him the attempt didnt work but that there would be another attempt. HS counselor at board meeting, Serial Indianapolis rapist pleads guilty to 9 counts, Mom speaks out after 2 kids killed by falling tree, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She was wearing a jail jumpsuit, was shackled and her hair had grown long, dark and curly.IM TELLING THE TRUTH. In addition to his roofing business, Mastercraft, Leonard also flipped cars on the side. The defense said if prosecutors wrapped up early enough on Thursday, they could call all of their witnesses that day alone and closing arguments could be held Friday, July 10. [The residents] clearly knew the Leonards were the bad actors, and that we needed to do everything we could to get to them, Robinson said. she said. The November 2012 blast claimed the lives of John and Jennifer Longworth and spawned an investigation that landed five people behind bars. Mark was a handsome man with sex appeal and a lot of money, judging by his stash of cash and fast luxury cars. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Glenn Hults, the final defendant to stand trial for the explosion, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Bryce Young falls short: 5-10 . Until shed agreed and signed on the dotted line, there were things I could not tell them. That's whatwe'll be asking the jury to consider.". They claim that Leonard wanted the hit man to force the witness to call 9-1-1 and recant his statement before killing him. There's little remaining of Shirley's home (pictured at left) after Saturday's explosion. And you said she was crying? Leonard asked her to get a babysitter for her daughter, make a reservation at the casino's hotel for the two of them and to board the family cat, "Snowball." They decided to cut a piece of cardboard to block off the chimney path. Robinson, all-too-aware of the limitations of the justice system after decades as a prosecutor, says she is just glad they were able to get some amount of justice for the victims. She died at age 85 in 2014, but Shirley Temple's childrenand fans gathered in LA on Monday, April 23 to celebrate what would have been her 90th birthday. "[6] The witness also told investigators that Leonard talked about buying a Ferrari with the insurance money from the house. And the game of death is the game of life itself. Shirley says he was paying Monserrate $1,000 a month in child support and mortgage payments. I want everyone to know how sorry I am for this horrible tragedy, she said in court in front of Richmond Hill residents. [13] A fourth person, Gary Thompson, was charged in January 2015 on the same charges. Gary Thompson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson and received a 30-year sentence, with 10 years suspended. When you come out and say, My client attempted to commit insurance fraud through a small fire and this just happened, he had no idea, what the jury doesnt realize, because Im not allowed to tell them, is attempted insurance fraud even if coupled with reckless homicide is a class C felony. She will be 72 years old. She and her boyfriend, Mark Leonard, who also lived at the residence, told authorities they had left Friday night for a weekend at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The home also had a microwave above the stove which had a programmable timer. Leonardwas placed under "imminent death watch" earlier this week. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". Two of those alleged co-conspirators were arrested as a direct result of her cooperation: Gary Thompson and Glenn Holts. Dion and Jennifer Longworth, two occupants in the house at 8355 Fieldfare Way, died in the explosion; seven others were injured. But she had no hesitation when asked to identify the Longworths as her neighbors. Shirley says he was worried Brook's cat Snowball was in the house and might have been killed. On the night of the explosion, Shirley said he was working a second job in Fishers. It's been hard for me and my daughter. For Lt. Mario Garza, the Indianapolis Fire Department veteran tasked with leading the arson investigation, the Richmond Hill explosion will likely be the most significant challenge of his career. Shirley says they were his. Arguing for the maximum in this case, when you live with this case and you see the impact, and you know what devastating effect its had on these lives, it just compels you to argue for that, said Robinson. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". And I wanted to be able to tell them everything., TRANSCRIPT | The full testimony of Monserrate Shirley. Its about remembering who you are. The explosion leveled 8349 Fieldfare Way, the home at the center of the explosion, and severely damaged a number of other residences, including several (on either side) which were damaged by the ensuing fire. [34][35], Monserrate Shirley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. At the time of the explosion, Shirley says he was living in Noblesville. Its a difficult case. "Two innocent people died because of this!" John Shirley, her ex-husband, who owns the home with her, told The Associated Press that he believed the home's faulty furnace could have led to the explosion. Below, former IMPD Det. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. Their first trip together was to the Hollywood Casino roughly 3-4 months after they first met. But after a second round of boarding Snowball the cat, getting a babysitter for Shirleys daughter and setting hotel reservations, the house again was standing. SOUTH BEND, Ind. Robinson told the residents what she could: That they didnt need Monserrate Shirley as a witness, but that she would help fill in blanks they hadnt been able to. Four years after Richmond Hill explosion, Monserrate Shirley to be He told her one of the reasons she needed to upgrade the policy was he planned to bring in some nicer things and do some work around the house to improve it and they would need the extra coverage to match the upgrades. Man Gets Murder Conviction in Deadly Indiana House Blast Fraud Case Monserrate Shirley, Indianapolis Homeowner - AOL Real Estate [23] The plea deal involved Shirley pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson in exchange for testifying against the other suspects. Robinson has said she will argue for 50 when the time comes. As Mark Leonards defense team would point out repeatedly throughout his trial, there was a chance, however small, that Shirleys cooperation could end with her walking free at the end. Jeffrey Wager and IMPD investigators, Lt. Mario Garza and IFD investigators, agents of the Federal ATF, and our trial team for their commitment and perseverance to bring justice for the Richmond Hill residents.. She and her daughterwent to the hotel, where Mark later joined them. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. Leonard is the brother of Mark Leonard, who is dating Montserrate Shirley, who along with Mark Leonard, lives in the home . (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. News, information &. Shirley Temple's Children Remember Their Late Mother - Closer Weekly When she got home, Mark told her he and Bob had gone to the library to research other similar homes that had been set on fire without anyone getting hurt. Monserrate Shirley agreed to testify against Mark Leonard as part of a plea agreement to reduce her potential prison time. 2012 explosion in Richmond Hill, Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "At least 2 killed, others injured in explosion, fire in Indianapolis neighborhood", "Family breaks ground on new home in Richmond Hill subdivision after Indianapolis home explosion", "36 homes critically damaged in explosion in south side neighborhood", "Homeowner at center of explosion feels lucky to be alive", "Authorities call Richmond Hill explosion a homicide case, seek details on white van", "Probable cause suggests pattern of fraud, details inconsistencies", "Richmond Hill suspect, friend face insurance fraud charges", "Affidavit: women say richmond hill blast suspect Mark Leonard has long history of scheming", "Shattered Subdivision Offers a Trail of Clues", "Life sentences without parole sought for Indianapolis explosion suspects", "4th person arrested in Indianapolis house explosion", "Fifth suspect charged in 2012 Indianapolis south side explosion", "Mark Leonard, Indy Blast suspect, pleads not guilty in murder plot", "Jim Voyles now representing Monserrate Shirley", "Home Explosion Case: Monserrate Shirley, Mark And Bob Leonard Due In Indianapolis Court", "Richmond Hill explosion: 3 trials for price of 1?