This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The family, he said, will never truly get closure. ", Minch: "You said you talked to Ms. Shirley on the 11th. JDK-8141210 : Very slow loading of JavaScript file with recent JDK She gave it to him, and he used it to pay Bob. Shirley had earlier cooperated in providing testimony against alleged co-conspirators but. The first time Shirley cried on the stand Wednesday was when she was asked about her neighbors. She remained in the house as the sole owner until the explosion. It would have shortened the trial a week. [3][4] Damage to homes in the neighborhood was estimated at $4 million. The men were reportedly in the home briefly and hurriedly left. ", Minch: "You've had problems over the years with the furnace and the water heater. We knew we were taking a week of testimony from the residents to talk about what had happened to their houses, Robinson said. [14] Shirley admitted raising the limit on her insurance coverage at Mark Leonard's urging, and only went along with the plot out of love for him. (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. At a routine pretrial hearing, deputy prosecutor Denise Robinson, not thinking much of it, told Monserrate Shirleys defense counsel that if their client wanted anything other than a trial seeking life without parole, they had better work something out by the end of January 2015. [29] He was sentenced to life in prison plus 75 years without parole on August 14, 2015. On November 19, it was announced that the investigation had become a criminal investigation. 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. American Greed: Property, auto insurance fraud is $30B problem - WSAV-TV Prosecuting Mark Leonard presented with some challenges. Its an interesting concept. Wednesday in court, Shirley said that at the July 4th pool party, she called lighting the house on fire crazy. The first time Gary Thompson first came over to discuss starting a fire, she told him, "I'm ready, as long is this is a small fire. I said I think theres ($10,000) or $12,000 in there, and he said, That was not enough, I want $300,000, Shirley said. 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. The case was expected to be the largest and most expensive trial in Marion County history. Its very difficult sentencing hearing weve been through for two days. Shirley struck a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. monserrate is the name of the dish, as well as its . Prosecutors said Leonard planned to pay a person he thought was a hit man $15,000, giving him a $5,000 bonus if a witness in the case called police to say he had lied about information he had given investigators. Shirley: "She wanted us to live in a bigger house. A class C felony carries 2-8 years. ", She re-iterated that she offered him her retirement savings in place of burning the home. Monserrate Shirley was a divorced Puerto Rican mother whose exotic looks quickly attracted Mark Leonard. I got upset with her and sent her some derogatory texts. There's little remaining of Shirley's home (pictured at left) after Saturday's explosion. She wanted to put it on her plate. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". 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.. Shirley told jurors he lost a number of things in the explosion, including a collection of tennis rackets and a drafting table. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. Richmond Hill explosion - Wikipedia Investigators have ruled out a natural gas leak from the home's underground pipelines, the Star reported, and they are now focusing on whether there may have been a leak from one of the gas appliances inside three homes that were obliterated in the explosion. The topic came up again around July 4. She even took some leave from work to stay with him longer than her paid vacation time allowed. (They were) my neighbors for a very long time since we built the house, Shirley said. Critics have accused Shirley of faking her reaction after the explosion because she seemed upset but never shed a tear. [38], Gary Thompson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. arranged for her daughter to stay . We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Shirley says he was working at Eli Lilly at the time, and Monserrate was working as an RN at the VA hospital. Shirley says he was paying Monserrate $1,000 a month in child support and mortgage payments. We believed that he did, we had some very thin evidence that he did. The only improvement he ever made was to buy two flat screen TV's, a 65-70 inch model for the master bedroom and a 42 inch screen for her daughter'sroom. In another, she said Mark Leonard turned on the gas line and actually lit the fire during the second attempt. 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. Having Shirley as a witness came with its own pitfalls, though. 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. It was a restaurant that had the name of a famous Italian poet who died young, but the restaurant only lasted for a year. 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. She asked Mark not to try the house fire plan again. "I was at one of my part-time jobs when I got a text from my daughter, which was very unusual. Estimates for the total scope of the damage caused by the explosion exceeded $4.5 million. [10] Included on the probable cause affidavit were complaints from several women claiming that Leonard scammed them out of thousands of dollars. Richmond Hill Explosion - indyencyclopedia.org She was 11 years old at that point. "In order to pay a very large amount of child support, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs," he said. She asked Mark and Bob what happened that made it be an explosion instead of a fire. And the water heater." But these were good defense attorneys. He couldn't get a card to play with so she got a card for him and played on his behalf. Robinson has said she will argue for 50 when the time comes. Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in prison - YouTube Shirley gave 12 interviews and statements between the explosion and Wednesday's testimony - some for law enforcement, others for attorneys and one for the media - and defense attorneys pointed out inconsistencies between some of those. Ms. Shirley ultimately took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty and provided important information during the investigation. Her house exploded on their third attempt of trying to claim insurance money. Its about your game being the only game that matters. They started looking around the house at potential ways to start the fire. He was sentenced to two life sentences without parole, as well as 70 years from other charges, on March 18, 2016. 2023 CIRCLE CITY BROADCASTING I, LLC. The truth is, I was scared.. At the time of the explosion, Shirley says he was living in Noblesville. Officials did not release further information regarding his death. Shirley Temple's Children Remember Their Late Mother - Closer Weekly It was unclear when the complaint was made and whether the utility company was alerted. Shirley claims Leonard coerced her involvement, testifying that he threatened her and her daughter. 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. She was too involved. Even years later, Robinson says she doesnt know why Black brought the hitman allegations up. I didn't do nothing wrong.". The home was owned by his girlfriend at the time, Monserrate Shirley, who testified earlier this month that Bob. They went home together that night and he moved in the first week of December. There have been days with only two people in the audience other than media, but there were more than 30 Wednesday. rosemary clooney george clooney relationship Below, former IMPD Det. She came into the courtroom looking much different than she did the weekend of the explosion in 2012. . Shirley and her boyfriend were hoping to collect $300,000 in insurance . and one-eighth, Zionsvilles Brian Mason will be Colts coordinator, Indy east side fire kills dog, injures multiple people, Record breaking weather week in central Indiana, Indiana state trooper hit, killed in the line of, New billboard in Fountain Square tackles antisemitism, Trooper killed on I-69, speeding driver arrested, Everything you need to know about the 2023 Academy, Congressman Baird calls for pause on toxic shipments, Congress works to tackle military spouse unemployment, Indy man gets 16 years after shooting wife in arm, Spencer man killed in rollover crash on I-70, 3 Ind. But their arrests wereonly the beginning of years of work to put them behind bars for good. "(Whoever is responsible will) have to pay for what they did to me and everybody else," Shirley said in the interview. And I understand it, because of their feelings about her. When we got in this case, we were asked to save her life, said defense attorney James Voyles. The next morning, they went to Bob Leonard's mobile home. [30] He died on January 30, 2018, at an Indianapolis hospital, aged 48, of natural causes. Eventually, hed be asked to repeat her answer at her boyfriends murder trial. And I look at all the opportunity she had where she could have gone for help and she never did.. He never gave her money like that again, but did play with his own money, spending anywhere from $2,000 - 10,000 each trip. [2] Over sixty firefighters responded to the blaze. She told him the attempt didnt work but that there would be another attempt. Leonard then tried to get Thompson to talk about what he did at Holts' home, but he refused, saying they shouldn't talk about it. [23] The plea deal involved Shirley pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson in exchange for testifying against the other suspects. All I can say is, I had one small role in this. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. How to fix pii_email_029231e8462fca76041e Error Code? Robinson knew that. In exchange, she offered him the money in her 401K. In her sentencing order, Judge Sheila Carlisle repeatedly stressed that Shirley could have stopped the plan at any time but didnt. So in the end there were a couple of people who were opposed to it, and I respected that. I tried to ignore Mark Leonards history as much as I could, Robinson said. PREVIOUS | Full testimony: Monserrate Shirley takes the stand. More on AOL Real Estate:Find homes for rent in your area.Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.Find homes for sale in your area.Find foreclosures in your area. While Thompson checked the digital thermostat, Shirley heard him and Leonard say they could use it to trigger the fireplace as the source of the fire, but they never directly gave her any specifics on how they were going to do it. On multiple occasions Wednesday, Shirley said she didnt say no to Mark Leonard because she loved him. By this time, Shirley's daughterhad noticed her portrait was no longer above the fireplace and asked Monserrate about it. Write For Us: Investigative Articles are Intriguing. Mark Leonard, the man considered the mastermind behind the 2012 Richmond Hill neighborhood explosion that killed two people and wounded at least a dozen others, is dead. She grabbed a few pictures, including the canvas portrait of her daughterat age 5 that hung above the fireplace. Shirley's next-door neighbors, John and Jennifer Longworth, died in the blast. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". But no other problems. She was inspired by the way Chef Alberto Marinovich put on this dish and it was a joy to serve. She moved to the United States when she was 25. Its because the game of death is the game of life itself. 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. [13] A fourth person, Gary Thompson, was charged in January 2015 on the same charges. The inmate and Leonard drew up a contract agreeing that Leonard would pay the inmate $15,000 when he was released, the affidavit said. The couple's steamy relationship lasted for about a month before they moved in together. Prosecutors contend that the motorcycle was disassembled in Shirley's garage. Im thankful for my trial team for sticking with me. You're done.". With good behavior, her earliest possible release date is Dec. 19, 2032. They agreed to say they'd been having trouble with the thermostat and smelling gas for a while. The Retaking Of Richmond Hill - Indianapolis Monthly Start the day smarter Notable deaths in 2023 The world's largest war 2023 meteor showers 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 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. 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 . A prosecuting attorney showed her a photo of the house that exploded and asked her who lived on either side of her. [24], On March 28, 2015, Mark Leonard was charged with conspiring to murder the key witness against him, Mark Duckworth. In an interview with former RTV6 reporter Stacia Matthews, Shirley suggested the explosion may have been an attempt on her life. I did my best. Deputy prosecutor Denise Robinson returned from prosecuting the Richmond Hill cases to a pile of homicides waiting on her desk. "Our investigators believe natural gas is involved," the Indianapolis Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. The force of the blast shattered windows and ripped down garage doors at dozens of other homes in the neighborhood. He gave her $3,000 to use, and they lost it all. Should we not use all those witnesses? After the first failure, Leonard decided he also wanted to bring in his half-brother, Bob. Much of Tuesdays testimony included accounts of Shirleys difficult childhood. Yes, I didnt think it would be possible, Monserrate Shirley said.HUGE EXPLOSION. He says he "was very surprised" to learn Snowball had been boarded on the night 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 . Neighbors seek max sentence in fatal home blast - USA TODAY 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. She said he also told her not to worry because he took out the step-down valve on the gas line, "and put it away where no one else would ever find it. Holts invited Leonard and Shirley to his friend's house for a pool party in the Geist neighborhood. When the relationship first started, she said, "He was a nice guy. [8], Prosecutors alleged that on the Friday before the explosion, Leonard and his brother Bob spoke with a neighbor who was a Citizens Energy employee, asking that person about the differences between natural gas and propane. [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016. 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. The here, in this case, was the knowing murder of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. 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. Dion and Jennifer Longworth, two occupants in the house at 8355 Fieldfare Way, died in the explosion; seven others were injured. Thompson said he'd been pulled over by a cop so he couldn't get to the house. Man convicted of murder in deadly Indiana house explosion Leonard started talking the next week about trying for a second time to burn down the home. . The shirley daughter is an Italian restaurant that takes more than 15 minutes to make you feel at home. Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/11/14/monserrate-shirley-speaks-about-indianapolis-house-explosion/, emmy rossum jay z and beyonce the big chill tony blankley charles barkley beyonce troy polamalu, http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/11/14/monserrate-shirley-speaks-about-indianapolis-house-explosion/. Prosecutors started by addressing her plea agreement. Mark Leonard moved in with Monserrate Shirley about a month later. Your email address will not be published. "No one deserves what happened," she said. I didnt want to do anything that would cause that trial date to be continued.. They moved into a home they built in Richmond Hill toward the end of 2003. 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. After her 12 hour shift, she planned to see her daughter at the Holts' house and change there. [6] A friend of the couple reported that Mark Leonard had lost $10,000 at the casino approximately three weeks before the explosion. [6] Both the prosecution and defense attorneys asked Shirley if she thought Hults was joking. I have morals.I love my patients and I would do anything for them. How to fix the pii__email__cbd448bbd34c985e423c Error code? I know it caught us by surprise and we had to react to it.. Monserrate Shirley, 51, was one of five people charged in the explosion that left two people dead. Its about becoming who you were meant to be. They went to the casino and waited for the call that a fire had broken out, but again, the call never came. I should have been there.". She would then go to a southside bar to meet Mark before they left for the casino. towns among 150 Best Small Town in America, Citizens support Ind. Shirley says he replaced the thermostat "so there were more options to heat the house during the day.". Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were out of town for the weekend while her 12-year-old daughter stayed with friends. He eventually improved enough to return home, but Shirley had to continue caring for him for several months. Indiana Man Convicted of Murder in Home Explosion Case - Insurance Journal Mark. Taking them at face value, taking them at what they told the court, they believed that since it was going to come up in the trial they should talk about it during jury selection, Robinson said. At least half a dozen marriages in the Richmond Hill neighborhood ended in divorce in the years immediately following the blast. I did everything to make him happy, Monserrate Shirley said in testimony. The cat, nicknamed Snowy, was a birthday gift for their daughter, he said, and "she misses him.". When she arrived at the bar, she found Mark and Bob in the white van at a nearby gas station. Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. She now faces 20-50 years, though a judge has the right to suspend some, or all of that time. Her sister had lived in the same housing complex. Monserrate and John had the home in Richmond Hill built in 2003. Mark Leonard was convicted in 2015 of two counts of murder as well as a litany of other charges, including multiple counts of arson and conspiracy to commit arson. 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. Shirley didn't hear anything more about a plot to start a fire that night, and nothing happened. 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.. 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. That hit man was later revealed to be an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ProjectEuler/Program.cs at master gknicker/ProjectEuler Witness: Indianapolis man promised $10K for home explosion [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. A copy of her plea agreement was entered into evidence and handed out to each member of the jury. Call 6 Investigator Rafael Sanchez and Senior Digital Correspondent Jordan Fischer will be in Fort Wayne covering the trial every day. But Im not allowed to say that. 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. Follow us on Twitter at @AOLRealEstate, or connect with AOL Real Estate on Facebook and Pinterest. Will they get to the felony murder?. Prosecutors entered all three into evidence Tuesday. Shirley testified in Fort Wayne at the trial of Bob Leonard, Jr. one of five people accused in the deadly 2012 Richmond Hill Explosion. Indiana Neighborhood Explosion: Two Questioned in Connection to Blast Glenn told me, Between Mark and Gary, theyre going to explode the whole neighborhood. I said, Dont play like that. 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. SOUTH BEND, Ind. Bob Leonard's son told investigators that several items were in the van that had been taken from the home, including photos and financial documents.
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