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Glenn Hults, a friend of Leonard's who said he knew about the plot beforehand but didn't call police, was sentenced to three years. I tried to ignore Mark Leonards history as much as I could, Robinson said. There's little remaining of Shirley's home (pictured at left) after Saturday's explosion. While still at the hotel, Mark asked her to call a heating & cooling company on Sunday, November 4, to see what they would charge to check on the heat because the house was too cold. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. But I dont feel bad for the deceased.. Thompson arrived on Monday or Tuesday, October 22-23, while Shirley's daughter was at school. The couple says their neighbor Bob Leonard was led away for questioning. Mark Leonard first mentioned trying to burn the house down in February 2012, according to Shirley. Man accused of murder in deadly house blast learns his fate - CBS News Much of the attention since the explosion has centered on Monserrate Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard, who lived at the house in the center of the blast area. 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.. There was discussion about: Should we cut all of those? 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. 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." 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. 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.. [29] He was sentenced to life in prison plus 75 years without parole on August 14, 2015. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. (WISH) Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. She moved to the United States when she was 25. After he was done, the fireplace worked properly and they never smelled any gas inside the home because of it. Shirley: "Yes. INTERACTIVE MAP|Residents relive Richmond Hill explosion, ViewExplosion Damaged Homesin a larger map, Download the new and improved RTV6 app to get the latest news on the go and receive alerts to your phone, Sign up to have the latest news headlines delivered straight to your email inbox, Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Indianapolis, IN Interactive Weather Radar, Full testimony: Monserrate Shirley takes the stand. She then spoke with another neighbor, who told her there had been an explosion. Snapped: Killer Couples - Wikipedia Roughly a week afterward, Mark asked Shirley for $500. She said that she hasn't been eating or sleeping well and that she has been taking Xanax to get what little sleep she can. Man convicted of murder in deadly Indiana house explosion According to Shirley, he said the house fire would happen, "even if I have to step in the living room and light up this house myself.". West's Mortuary, Inc. [16] On March 13, Leonard allegedly placed a call to a man who he believed to be a hit man. Shirley's next-door neighbors, John and Jennifer Longworth, died in the blast. She told him the attempt didnt work but that there would be another attempt. (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. "They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from destroyed homes to help determine the cause.". Even years later, Robinson says she doesnt know why Black brought the hitman allegations up. Worried that jurors might easily convict Leonard of the lesser charges against him, but not the larger ones that carried the life without parole sentence prosecutors were asking for, Robinson built her closing argument from the bottom up. All I can say is, I had one small role in this. It was a restaurant that had the name of a famous Italian poet who died young, but the restaurant only lasted for a year. She later pointed out she agreed to the plot under Mark Leonard's premise that it would be a small fire at just her home - not an explosion that would affect other people. I had a homicide detective crying on the stand. More than one-third of the families who lived in the neighborhood on the night of the blast have since moved away for good. It had three gas appliances - the water heater, the furnace and the fireplace. ", Minch: "At no time did she ever say she was involved in the explosion?" Prosecutors alleged Leonard was the mastermind behind the explosion, plotting with his. 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. While Shirley said he lost a lot, he pointed out the toll was much greater on his then-13-year-old daughter Brook. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. Ms. Shirley, 47, and Mark Leonard, 43, her boyfriend, were 100 miles away at a casino when their home blew up. monserrate is the name of the dish, as well as its chef and owner. Its because the life of the game itself is the life of the game itself. Prosecutors contend that the motorcycle was disassembled in Shirley's garage. "You can't even do a fire. While there had been some communications early on, we were not willing to offer Monserrate Shirley a significant deal for her cooperation, Robinson said. He faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Prosecutors alleged that the natural gas explosion was intentionally set to collect insurance money. HOW TO SOLVE ERROR CODE PII_EMAIL_DE03C2D55A4B639F558D. Mark and Bob stayed in the garage while they talked about what Bob's part would be, while Shirley stayed inside. [39] Glenn Hults received a three-year sentence.[40]. She later found out her neighbors didnt make it. "Mark can insult [Thompson], and he never does anything," Shirley said. Shirley said she was attracted to Mark Leonard, particularly noting he was well-dressed and had bleach blonde hair. I had seen it used in a couple of games, but I never knew it was the name of a real person. 'But for Monserrate Shirley:' Betrayal next door - WRTV Shirley may have been the prosecution's highest profile witness, but that doesn't mean they're done. Leonard later tried telling Shirley that the only reason Holts wouldn't talk about his own fire was because he didn't want Leonard to end up with more money than he had. I did my best. And I wanted to be able to tell them everything., TRANSCRIPT | The full testimony of Monserrate Shirley. [15], Prosecutors contended that the trio filled the house with natural gas and then used the spark from a microwave which could be set in advance to detonate it. They said they didn't know. Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. Your email address will not be published. Gary Thompsonwas handed a 30-year prison sentence, 20 years executed, for his role in the murderous insurance fraud scheme. Mark Leonard drove her home that night and stayed with her for what the defense characterized as a romantic, sexual night. So in the game of death, monserrate daughter is the Shirley of the game of death. wishtv.com your home page, Business, Equity and Opportunities Podcast with Scott Sander. Monserrate "Moncy" Shirley, a nurse, owned the home at the center of the explosion. She met Mark Leonard at a bar on November 12, 2011. Shirley claims Leonard coerced her involvement, testifying that he threatened her and her daughter. 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. She found a house with a floorplan she liked." 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. "That's not what you told me," she remembered saying to Mark. "He'll do anything I ask," Mark said of his brother. Follow his reporting on Twitter at @Jordan_RTV6 or on Facebook. The first time Shirley cried on the stand Wednesday was when she was asked about her neighbors. Their first trip together was to the Hollywood Casino roughly 3-4 months after they first met. [10] Included on the probable cause affidavit were complaints from several women claiming that Leonard scammed them out of thousands of dollars. They moved into a home they built in Richmond Hill toward the end of 2003. On December 21, 2012, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and his brother Bob Leonard were charged with 2 counts of felony murder and . Make The name was inspired by the work of the famous Italian poet Leonardo da Vinci, but it was actually a combination of the two that are so influential in the history of Italian cooking that the name was changed to monserrate. 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. That's whatwe'll be asking the jury to consider.". You're a piece of [expletive]. In her sentencing order, Judge Sheila Carlisle repeatedly stressed that Shirley could have stopped the plan at any time but didnt. Follow us on Twitter at @AOLRealEstate, or connect with AOL Real Estate on Facebook and Pinterest. Shirley said after he and his wife's divorce was finalized in July 2011, the last time he was at the home at 8349 Fieldfare Way was August of that year. Im thankful for my trial team for sticking with me. We again offer our condolences to the families of Dion and Jennifer Longworth and to those who suffered injury and loss. Its about becoming who you were meant to be. Its also the name of the game of death in which our monserrate daughter will be taking us on. 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 next morning, they went to Bob Leonard's mobile home. The Retaking Of Richmond Hill - Indianapolis Monthly Monserrate Shirley agrees to testify against ex boyfriend in Indiana Prosecutors then proposed an unusual strategy involving one trial, but three separate juries, one for each defendant. 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. To see the faces of the neighborhood people and the sense of relief and calmness when the verdicts came in was a good thing, Garza said. They decided to cut a piece of cardboard to block off the chimney path. Jordan Fischer is the senior digital reporter for RTV6. [6] Investigators said personal insurance on the home had recently been increased to $300,000. Indiana Man Convicted of Murder in Home Explosion Case - Insurance Journal The girlwas already out of the house while they cleared it of the sentimental items. She even took some leave from work to stay with him longer than her paid vacation time allowed. [6] One woman had previously won a $70,000 judgment against Leonard in a civil suit after lending him $53,000, which he never repaid. [16][17] The alleged motive for the arson was to collect insurance money to ease financial strain. If that timeline holds, final jury instructions would be given Monday, July 13 then deliberation would begin. Mark was a handsome man with sex appeal and a lot of money, judging by his stash of cash and fast luxury cars. While she was charged in December 2012 for her role in the explosion, she pleaded guilty to two felony conspiracy charges earlier this year in exchange for her testimony. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016. Four years after thedeadly Richmond Hill explosion, another chapter has closed. Thirty-three homes were damaged so severely they were deemed unrecoverable, and had to be torn down to the foundation. [1] Thirty-three homes were damaged severely enough to require demolition. 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. Aaron Carter. But ultimately I think we were able to accomplish what we needed to do for her.. Monserrate Shirley, Indianapolis Homeowner - AOL Real Estate Shirley had heard of Bob before, but had not met him before he came over Thursday, November 1. I didnt want it to affect the trial date, Robinson said. [7] Shirley told the police she never smelled any natural gas, but that her daughter had thought she did recently. 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. This may help explain why this dish is beloved by patrons like myself. Shirley: "No. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. I did everything to make him happy, Monserrate Shirley said in testimony. The blast killed two people and. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. ProjectEuler/Program.cs at master gknicker/ProjectEuler 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. 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. We did the right thing, for the right reason, and got the right result in the right way.. She will be 72 years old. [37] She is serving her sentence at Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in prison - YouTube 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. [30] He died on January 30, 2018, at an Indianapolis hospital, aged 48, of natural causes. After court adjourned for the day, Shircliff said he attacked her inconsistencies "to show that she can tell the truth as easily as she tells a lie, and it's hard for the jury to know the difference. The topic came up again around July 4. [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. Says Sen. Tom. Leonard started talking the next week about trying for a second time to burn down the home. "I am a nurse. I worked from the smaller charges to the larger ones to say, Of course its clear he did this, this and this, but heres how you get to here, Robinson said. One year of his sentences wassuspended, and the rest was to be split between jail and work release. The defendants requested that the trials be moved over concerns they would not receive a fair trial in Central Indiana due to the high-profile media coverage received by the case. FORT WAYNE, Ind. FORT WAYNE, Ind. Estimates for the total scope of the damage caused by the explosion exceeded $4.5 million. In court Wednesday, she said he turned on the gas, but never lit the fire. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. In exchange, she offered him the money in her 401K. Monserrate Shirley, 51, was one of five people charged in the explosion that left two people dead. 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. I didn't do nothing wrong.". Ultimately, she could end up serving 21 years if she maintains good behavior in prison. [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. Im telling the truth and nothing but the truth was a phrase repeated by Monserrate Shirley throughout the day. Much of Tuesdays testimony included accounts of Shirleys difficult childhood. Leonard was being held at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facilitybut was transferred to the hospital several days ago. She told them she didn't want anything to do with them anymore. Jurors will later hear that the golf bags and clubs were found at Bob Leonard's home after the explosion. 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Prosecutors entered all three into evidence Tuesday. Prosecutors alleged that the men conspired to submit an insurance claim for a stolen motorcycle. 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. Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. She didnt know anyone died, she said. Robinson has said she will argue for 50 when the time comes. SOUTH BEND, Ind. [28] The defense said that what became the Richmond Hill explosion was only supposed to be a "stupid and selfish insurance fraud that went horribly wrong", adding, "Precautions were taken to ensure people weren't harmed." We used to cook together, have dinner together.Very charming, very lovely man.". But she had no hesitation when asked to identify the Longworths as her neighbors. I certainly might feel bad for his family. Leonardwas placed under "imminent death watch" earlier this week. . Indianapolis explosion may have been caused by furnace, says owner of Dion and Jennifer Longworth, two occupants in the house at 8355 Fieldfare Way, died in the explosion; seven others were injured. And I look at all the opportunity she had where she could have gone for help and she never did.. Monserrate Shirley, 47, her boyfriend, Mark Leonard, 43, and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr., 54, are accused of intentionally leaking natural gas into the house and then using the kitchen's. Your email address will not be published. Jeff Wager, the lead homicide investigator in the case, talks about the surveillance and arrests of Mark Leonard and Monserrate Shirley: It was at a meeting with prosecutors in early 2015 that Richmond Hill residents learned of the plea deal being worked out with their former neighbor, Monserrate Shirley. Its an interesting concept. [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. "I feel like, you know, it would have been better off for me to be there [at the house when it exploded]," Shirley said. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. Shirley said she has been reeling from the pain of people blaming her for the tragic event. She talked about being Catholic and said it was in God's hands, but still, they should be punished.". The sentence accounts for time served and good time credit. Of the dozens and dozens of homes damaged by the blast, 33 were affected so severely they had to be demolished. 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. At the trial I had firefighters crying on the stand. "Cases are made up of hurdles all the time," Robinson said Wednesday. Leonard and Shirley went to the casino on Saturday, October 27, expecting Shirley's best friend and neighbor to call when the house caught fire. 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. Its quite obvious that monserrate is the source of the name in this case. I commend Det. During the course of this lengthy process, we have sincerely appreciated the cooperation and patience of these families. She was the nurse. Shirley: "No.". Monserrate Shirley is lead into her sentencing hearing in December 2016. 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 . I dont know why they did it. At the time of the explosion, Shirley says he was living in Noblesville. Leonards death doesnt change the fact that Jennifer and Dion died, Buxton said. The force of the blast shattered windows and ripped down garage doors at dozens of other homes in the neighborhood. JDK-8141210 : Very slow loading of JavaScript file with recent JDK She got in the van with them, and Mark asked her to give Bob $40. You're done.". . ", "Richmond Hill explosion suspects to get separate trials", "Attorneys: Change of venue likely in Monserrate Shirley case", "Richmond Hill suspect trial moved to South Bend", "Defendant in deadly Indiana explosion agrees to plea deal", "Richmond Hill trial: Informant says Mark Leonard wanted witness killed", "Home> U.S. Indianapolis House Explosion: Suspect Charged in Murder-for-Hire Plot", "Marion county prosecutor's office asks for life without parole sentences in richmond hill explosion", "Richmond Hill trial to focus on greed and desperation", "Mark Leonard convicted of murder in explosion scheme", "Mark Leonard gets life without parole for Richmond Hill explosion", "Richmond Hill explosion mastermind Mark Leonard dies", "Cause of death of Richmond Hill conspirator Mark Leonard determined", "Richmond Hill explosion culprit Mark Leonard dies at Indy hospital", "Leonard found guilty of all counts in Richmond Hill trial", "Indianapolis man get 2 life sentences in deadly house blast", "Psychologist Says Monserrate Shirley Was Abused as Child, Has 'Dependent Personality Disorder', "Monserrate Shirley sentenced to maximum 50 years in prison", "Gary Thompson sentenced in Richmond Hill explosion after pleading guilty to arson charge", "Glenn Hults sentenced to 3 years in deadly Richmond Hill blast", Affidavit of Probable Cause, Dec. 20, 2012, Affidavit of Probable Cause, April 14, 2015, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richmond_Hill_explosion&oldid=1133693717, November 2012 crimes in the United States, Articles with incomplete citations from March 2015, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 02:18.