monserrate shirley daughter

Shirley: "She wanted us to live in a bigger house. Saturday morning, they headed to the casino and Mark played a blackjack table, then they went to the bar and sat, waiting to get the phone call their home had caught fire. Denise Robinson, the Marion County Prosecutor on the case, told the court she rarely asks for the maximum sentence. 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. Shirley testified in Fort Wayne at the trial of Bob Leonard, Jr. one of five people accused in the deadly 2012 Richmond Hill Explosion. Will they get to the felony murder?. The home of Monserrate Shirley was the center of the explosion that resulted in the deaths of next-door neighbors John "Dion" Longworth and his wife Jennifer (ne Buxton), the injuries of seven others, and $4 million in property damage. She now faces 20-50 years, though a judge has the right to suspend some, or all of that time. ", Minch: "You said you talked to Ms. Shirley on the 11th. An autopsy will be conducted by the Marion County coroner's office Wednesday, according to the DOC. Sometimes they would go during the week while her daughterwas at school and leave in enough time to pick her back up. Monserrate Shirley: 'I did everything to make him happy' - WISH-TV Follow his reporting on Twitter at @Jordan_RTV6 or on Facebook. The sentence accounts for time served and good time credit. Police arrest Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard and Robert Leonard for [29] He was sentenced to life in prison plus 75 years without parole on August 14, 2015. 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. Glenn told me, Between Mark and Gary, theyre going to explode the whole neighborhood. I said, Dont play like that. "No one.". This time, Leonard worked with Thompson instead of Thompson doing the work while Leonard stood next to him, watching and planning. 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. Defense attorneys later pointed out she allowed him to move in and eventually drive her daughter to school despite knowing he was serving house detention for a DUI charge. Its a difficult case. [6] She claimed to have been horrified at the Longworths' deaths, as well as the massive destruction wrought by the explosion. Monserrate Shirley, 49, said she became distraught when neighbors telephoned her after the November 2012 explosion and told her that her home was destroyed. This time, Shirley's daughterwas at home, but she was upstairs. The explosion in the subdivision just south of the city on Saturday, Nov. 10, killed John and Jennifer Longworth. Psychologist Dr. Stephanie Callaway diagnosed her with dependent personality disorder, but stated under cross-examination that, while the diagnosis explains Shirley's actions, it does not absolve her of responsibility. Mark Leonard drove her home that night and stayed with her for what the defense characterized as a romantic, sexual night. Monserrate Shirley and her boyfriend, Mark Leonard, who lived in the home, along with Leonard's brother, Robert Leonard, were arrested Friday on 48 charges, including murder and arson. She grabbed a few pictures, including the canvas portrait of her daughterat age 5 that hung above the fireplace. She found a house with a floorplan she liked." Man accused of murder in deadly house blast learns his fate - CBS News Shirley testified Leonard asked to see the insurance policy on the home within a few weeks of moving in. Deputy prosecutor Denise Robinson returned from prosecuting the Richmond Hill cases to a pile of homicides waiting on her desk. If Monserrate Shirley keeps up her part of the agreement, a judge will decide her sentence after all the Richmond Hill explosiontrials have been completed. [23] The plea deal involved Shirley pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson in exchange for testifying against the other suspects. The third weekends attempt was the one that killed the Longworths. And the water heater." Indianapolis trio accused of blowing up their home to collect insurance Monserrate Shirley, 51, was one of five people charged in the explosion that left two people dead. arranged for her daughter to stay . I tried to ignore Mark Leonards history as much as I could, Robinson said. You're a piece of [expletive]. "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. See also:Shantonia Heard of Atlanta Left Her 2 Children Alone With No Power and Gas Oven On, Police Say Apartment Fire Safety Tips Man Killed as Gas Explosion Destroys Connecticut Home. It's been hard for me and my daughter. And I wanted to be able to tell them everything., TRANSCRIPT | The full testimony of Monserrate Shirley. "[6] The witness also told investigators that Leonard talked about buying a Ferrari with the insurance money from the house. Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in prison - YouTube Charged in the deadly Richmond Hill Fire RTV6 News brings you the best breaking news coverage in Indiana. She was 11 years old at that point. Once again, she agreed to make the same three arrangements: the casino reservation, a babysitter for her daughterand boarding for Snowball. monserrate shirley daughter - Investigative Guide But I cant do that, and everybody knows you cant do that, but sometimes theres this perception that getting through the justice system will make things better. Three charged with murder after 'setting off deadly Indiana house In her sentencing order, Judge Sheila Carlisle repeatedly stressed that Shirley could have stopped the plan at any time but didnt. Shirley alleged that Hults initially came up with the idea. Indianapolis blast: house owner, 2 others accused of deadly plot Monserrate Shirley cried at various points Wednesdaybut didnt shed any actual tears. When they arrived, Mark told her the fire would happen Saturday night so she needed to ask to keep their room a second night (Saturday night). [12] Though the trio was eligible for the death penalty under Indiana law, prosecutors chose to pursue life sentences without parole because they believed a jury would be unlikely to impose the death penalty without any evidence that the suspects intended to cause the deaths. "You can't even do a fire. Many Git commands accept both tag and branch names, so creating this branch may cause unexpected behavior. Jordan Fischer is the senior digital reporter for RTV6. She was the neighbor that all the other neighbors were looking at. Mark Leonard, the man considered the mastermind behind the 2012 Richmond Hill neighborhood explosion that killed two peopleand wounded at least adozen others, is dead. Its not the only weird coincidence Ive noticed in the past few months, but the name shirley was the one that stood out to me most. Make I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. 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. He reportedly said, "[T]he tsunami winds came down the chimney, blew out the fire in the fireplace and the gas kept running and the house blew up. But these were good defense attorneys. They went home together that night and he moved in the first week of December. As his court date neared, the workload ramped up. At the final tally, the explosion meant to allow Shirley and Leonard to collect $300,000 in insurance money caused more than $4 million-worth of property damage. We used to cook together, have dinner together.Very charming, very lovely man.". 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. Monserrate Shirley, who had pleaded not guilty after she and two men were charged in late 2012, appeared before a Marion County judge in a courtroom filled with current and former residents of the . After the second failed attempt to burn the home, Monserrate Shirley said she went to the home of Glenn Hults to pick up her daughter. (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. She remained in the house as the sole owner until the explosion. This type of trial is unusual but not unheard of, and had been used in the trial of the Menendez brothers. 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. He gave her $3,000 to use, and they lost it all. Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. She would then go to a southside bar to meet Mark before they left for the casino. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. Richmond Hill trial: Monserrate Shirley testifies | wthr.com John moved out in February 2010 and their divorce was finalized that summer. Many people may remember Shirley giving an interview to the media, including WISH-TV, after the explosion. Shirley said she has a condition with her tear ducts that makes her unable to produce tears, so people dont think Im crying for real.. I got upset with her and sent her some derogatory texts. She told her daughter a friend had taken it to put a new frame on it. Until shed agreed and signed on the dotted line, there were things I could not tell them. In court, Shirley testified Leonard had promised to show her how to make a lot of money. Defense attorneys tried to play that video for jurors Wednesday, but the judge wouldnt allow it. He was sentenced to two life sentences without parole, as well as 70 years from other charges, on March 18, 2016. [5], Monserrate "Moncy" Shirley, a nurse, owned the home at the center of the explosion. On December 21, 2012, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and his brother Bob Leonard were charged with 2 counts of felony murder and . Shirley struck a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. This has to be done, Shirley testified. [39] Glenn Hults received a three-year sentence.[40]. Mark Leonard is on trial in South Bend in connection to the explosion in the Richmond Hill neighborhood that killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth in November 2012. The now 49-year-old originally faced life in prison without parole. Shirley stated that her daughter had smelled gas during the week before the explosion. 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. 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. [34][35], Monserrate Shirley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. When we got in this case, we were asked to save her life, said defense attorney James Voyles. Richmond Hill explosion: 'It's the toughest thing I've ever done in my career', Richmond Hill explosion: 7 keys that solved the case, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We firmly believed that Gary Thompson played a role, but until she cooperated, we couldnt prove that, Robinson said. I cant give the Olveys back a peace of mind. Its about not letting the person who was watching your game die ever have a say in your game. Thompson arrived on Monday or Tuesday, October 22-23, while Shirley's daughter was at school. Mr. Monserrate Morales was born on January 7, 1955 in Puerto Rico. Leonard asked Holts to tell the story of his own fire, how easily he'd gotten the money and to re-assure Shirley everything would be alright if they did it at her house. They went to the casino and waited for the call that a fire had broken out, but again, the call never came. In addition to the thousands of pieces of physical evidence, they had more than 200 witnesses lined up to testify. It would have shortened the trial a week. Shortly thereafter I moved some furniture into the apartment. But Im not allowed to say that. Woman agrees to testify against others in Indianapolis house explosion Robinson says she didnt expect anything to change. By this time, Shirley's daughterhad noticed her portrait was no longer above the fireplace and asked Monserrate about it. Shirley claims Leonard coerced her involvement, testifying that he threatened her and her daughter. The entire day she answered questions from attorneys, repeatedly crying. She was wearing a jail jumpsuit, was shackled and her hair had grown long, dark and curly.IM TELLING THE TRUTH. Should I have accepted that stipulation? She will not learn her fate until after all four of her alleged co-conspirators has been tried. PREVIOUS | Full testimony: Monserrate Shirley takes the stand. He never gave her money like that again, but did play with his own money, spending anywhere from $2,000 - 10,000 each trip. News, information &. Leonard was being held at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facilitybut was transferred to the hospital several days ago. Every day I ask myself why I didnt stop this. We knew somebody else was involved, and he was the only one whose name consistently came up, but it was only after she cooperated that we were able to charge Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults.. We have done that. ", Minch: "You testified that you only used a babysitter maybe once a month, because your lifestyle with Ms. Shirley wasn't such that you went out every weekend?" When she told him there was around $10,000-12,000 in it, he said that wasn't enough. ", When they went to pick up Shirley's daughteron Sunday, Holts told Mark to "Get the [expletive] out of here. Shirley's daughter went with them in Leonard's Cadillac. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. "They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from destroyed homes to help determine the cause.". Two mental health experts testified that her childhood could have contributed to her decision to stay with Mark Leonard and go along with his plan to blow up her house for insurance money. Shirley: "No.". [3][4] Damage to homes in the neighborhood was estimated at $4 million. That's whatwe'll be asking the jury to consider.". At the center of the case, Mark Leonard, a womanizer with gambling debts who preyed on divorcees, hatched an arson plot for money with his girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley. For years, the team holed up in that office three days a week to avoid being distracted by other ongoing cases. "Shortly thereafter I moved some furniture into the apartment. Defense counsel said the deposition version showed she was actually in favor of burning the house down, she just didn't want to get caught. On multiple occasions Wednesday, Shirley said she didnt say no to Mark Leonard because she loved him. Richmond Hill Explosion - indyencyclopedia.org Shirley told her daughternot to come back to the house for any reason, though she didn't explain why not. Minch: "Before that, you did have some problems with the pilot light on the furnace?" ", She re-iterated that she offered him her retirement savings in place of burning the home. Get caught up on the first two chapters here:Chapter I: The Night the Sky Caught Fire|Chapter II: The $4 Million Arson Plot. On Thursday, Shirley worked a 12 hour shift. He also told Bob to go get Gary Thompson. I dont know why they did it. That presented a potential pitfall in the case, Robinson said. 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. I didnt want to do anything that would cause that trial date to be continued.. Monserrate Shirley testified that Mark Leonard is the one who told her to increase the insurance on the contents of her house, and she also testified Mark Leonard brought up the idea of setting fire to her house for easy money. 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. Mark Leonards trial at the St. Joseph County Courthouse was eventful before it even started. Shed said similar things in an interview with IMPD Det. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". Homeowner Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in Richmond Hill BREAKING: By a vote of 24-38, New York's State Senate has voted against same-sex marriage legislation. When testimony moved to the night of the explosion that killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth, Monserrate Shirley had a difficult time staying composed. How to fix pii_email_029231e8462fca76041e Error Code? But no other problems. More than one-third of the families who lived in the neighborhood on the night of the blast have since moved away for good. [14] In April 2015, a fifth man, Glenn Hults, was charged with conspiracy to commit arson. So while I had that, I pretty quickly set it aside and put it in a file marked Mark Leonard and never looked at it, because I couldnt allow that to influence me in the decision. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. I don't want anyone to get hurt," then started cooking dinner. The human toll is harder to estimate. And then there was the arrangement that when I picked up my daughter I would get to take some of my belongings. On Monday, November 5, they changed out the thermostat for a "cheaper" model. But she put an end to that in August 2011.". Robinson knew that. 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. How to fix the pii__email__cbd448bbd34c985e423c Error code? Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1. This story is Chapter III of a three-part series. The group researched methods of how to destroy the home and made more than one attempt at doing so before succeeding, authorities said. Including journalists, it was closer to four dozen. I said, You guys are crazy, that my house is too big.. Woman pleads guilty in deadly Indianapolis explosion - CBS News Shirley agreed to plead guilty to two counts conspiracy to commit arson and testify against the co-conspirators in exchange for having all other charges dropped. After a while, Mark came back in and said Bob had agreed to help for $10,000, but never specified what exactly Bob would be doing. The force of the blast shattered windows and ripped down garage doors at dozens of other homes in the neighborhood. She grew up in Puerto Rico with a violently abusive father who would often beat Shirley as well as her siblings and mother. (WISH) Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. By December 2014, two years after the explosion in the Richmond Hill subdivision, prosecutors were preparing to go to trial without any cooperating witnesses. He refused, though, and warned them, "You guys be careful, because I know someone who committed arson and got 75 years in prison. Critics have accused Shirley of faking her reaction after the explosion because she seemed upset but never shed a tear. But didnt the jury need to hear from the residents? After he was done, the fireplace worked properly and they never smelled any gas inside the home because of it. I look at a neighbor that I would have been happy to help if she would have just come across the street and said, man I got a problem will you give me a hand? Its quite obvious that monserrate is the source of the name in this case. The problem was that none of that criminal history would be admissible at trial. One of the projects he took on was working on the gas line in the fireplace. Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. I know it caught us by surprise and we had to react to it.. She told them she didn't want anything to do with them anymore. [20] The trials started in 2015. No one, Shirley replied, crying.I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM. But their arrests wereonly the beginning of years of work to put them behind bars for good. More: Richmond Hill: 'The scars still remain', More: Richmond Hill explosion: 'It's the toughest thing I've ever done in my career', More: Richmond Hill explosion: 7 keys that solved the case. I told them I dont even want to be a part of this, Shirley testified as telling the Leonards. Mark started telling Shirley they needed to get their stories straight before police started asking questions. We've got a few more.". Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. Out of fear that a Marion County jury would be too tainted by extensive media coverage of the case, the trial had been moved to South Bend, Indiana. But the majority supported us.. 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." FORT WAYNE, Ind. Indiana sheriffs deputy dies after falling ill during training, Myles Colvin captivates Heritage Christian crowds, preps for Purdue. 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? Shirley testified that friends called and told her there was a huge explosion. [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016.

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