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Powerball winner sold in central Indiana! And you said she was crying? Many people may remember Shirley giving an interview to the media, including WISH-TV, after the explosion. She was the nurse. Her house exploded on their third attempt of trying to claim insurance money. Shirley: "I moved out in February of 2011. 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. She then spoke with another neighbor, who told her there had been an explosion. Denise Robinson, the Marion County Prosecutor on the case, told the court she rarely asks for the maximum sentence. While Shirley and the Leonards had been sitting in jail, Robinson and Hollingsworth had been traveling to the ATF lab in Washington D.C. to learn about explosions and taking a crash course on natural gas. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. 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. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. He also told Bob to go get Gary Thompson. The now 49-year-old originally faced life in prison without parole. 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. Mr. Monserrate Morales was born on January 7, 1955 in Puerto Rico. He says he "was very surprised" to learn Snowball had been boarded on the night of the explosion. Shirley would receive over $300,000 in insurance money for the replacement of the home as well as personal items. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Indianapolis, IN Interactive Weather Radar, Mark Leonards friend says he knew too much, Opening statements in the trial of Mark Leonard. Although the jury would eventually hear testimony and an audio recording of Leonard talking to an undercover ATF agent posing as a hitman (and Leonard would eventually get an extra 50 years in prison for it), having that information before the trial even began would have been extremely prejudicial against him. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. He said that his daughter had mentioned that the furnace wasn't working, and he wondered whether a gas leak ignited the blast. She was an RN for more than 20 years, starting her career in Michigan where she attended college, before moving to Indianapolis after her then-husband John Shirley got a job offer there. I told them I dont even want to be a part of this, Shirley testified as telling the Leonards. This may help explain why this dish is beloved by patrons like myself. She would then go to a southside bar to meet Mark before they left for the casino. Everything's under control.". Snapped: Killer Couples (known as Killer Couples from seasons 7 to 15) is an American true crime television series currently airing on the Oxygen Network.The program details couples who commit crimes together. Your email address will not be published. . 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. Her sister had lived in the same housing complex. On Friday, October 26, Leonard told Shirley to get anything sentimental out of the house. Leonard went to pick up Thompson in the white van witnesses in the neighborhood have previously testified seeing in Shirley's driveway. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". And I understand it, because of their feelings about her. She told her daughter a friend had taken it to put a new frame on it. Investigators quickly honed in on the home's owner, Monserrate Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr., as the primary suspects. 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. That was the last time she saw Bob before they were arrested. The defense attorney told the judge without the jury in the room that he planned to use the video to show that Shirley had the same demeanor in the courtroom as she did while lying to reporters. [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016. Robinson could not tell them, for example, that Shirley would be facing a sentencing range of 20-50 years in prison. Bob Leonard, Monserrate Shirley, Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults also face charges in connection to the explosion. In an interview with former RTV6 reporter Stacia Matthews, Shirley suggested the explosion may have been an attempt on her life. An autopsy will be conducted by the Marion County coroner's office Wednesday, according to the DOC. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison on the arson charges on top of two life sentences for the murder charges. Bad food, non-first class flights drop Colts to middle-of-pack in player survey. 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. 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. They went home together that night and he moved in the first week of December. she said. After her 12 hour shift, she planned to see her daughter at the Holts' house and change there. ", "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. "I mean, sometimes I wish I was there and I'd be dead, and now I wouldn't have to be asked so many questions.". There was discussion about: Should we cut all of those? I said OK, she said. Im thankful for my trial team for sticking with me. They got to the room, but Mark wasn't feeling well so he stayed there while Shirley played slot machines for about an hour. Shirley struck a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. And in each of those categories, you betrayed your trust.. Leonard got sick in March 2012. Sgt. John moved out in February 2010 and their divorce was finalized that summer. Shirley: "In order to pay a very large amount of child support, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs. The family, he said, will never truly get closure. Robert Leonard, who was convicted of murder and multiple felonies, was sentenced to life without parole. They started looking around the house at potential ways to start the fire. Call 6 Investigator Rafael Sanchez and Senior Digital Correspondent Jordan Fischer will be in Fort Wayne covering the trial every day. Prosecutors alleged Leonard was the mastermind behind the explosion that damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes in Indianapolis, plotting with his then-live-in girlfriend Monserrate Shirley. He asked whose name the house was under, and she said it was entirely in her name after the divorce. When the relationship first started, she said, "He was a nice guy. I said, You guys are crazy, that my house is too big.. He was sentenced to two life sentences without parole, as well as 70 years from other charges, on March 18, 2016. Shirley says Monserrate's sister moved out of the neighborhood around the same time they moved in. Prosecutors alleged Leonard was the mastermind behind the explosion, plotting with his. . After speaking with detectives, they went to Mark's sister's home, where they spent the night. But in this case, Monserrate Shirley had already received leniency from the state when she entered into a plea agreement that dismissed a total of 50 charges, including murder. "I mean, I'm totally devastated like my neighbors are.". At the time her friends called her, Monserrate was at a casino with Mark Leonard. UPDATE: Search for accused Johnson County scammer ends in arrest, Men's challenges in fatherhood and marriage explored in new documentary, Live Doppler 13 Weather Blog: Record-breaking rain raises ongoing flood concerns, Saturday Sunrise Live Doppler 13 forecast March 4, 2023. The co-conspirators include Shirleys boyfriend at the time, Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr. [14] In April 2015, a fifth man, Glenn Hults, was charged with conspiracy to commit arson. On November 19, it was announced that the investigation had become a criminal investigation. 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. Its also the name of the game of death in which our monserrate daughter will be taking us on. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. He refused, though, and warned them, "You guys be careful, because I know someone who committed arson and got 75 years in prison. SOUTH BEND, Ind. [36] Shirley was sentenced to 50 years in prison, the maximum possible under her plea agreement, on December 20, 2016. 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. I had to know I could make this case based on the evidence I had.. 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 . Prosecutors ask if Shirley was asked by police to identify personal property following the explosion. Once they were alone, Leonard, Holts and Shirley started talking about the fire again while they sat around the pool drinking beer. The defense certainly offered to stipulate that 60 homes were damaged. Write For Us: Investigative Articles are Intriguing. Shirley says they were his. ", Minch: "You said you talked to Ms. Shirley on the 11th. [7] Shirley told the police she never smelled any natural gas, but that her daughter had thought she did recently. Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were out of town for the weekend while her 12-year-old daughter stayed with friends. The program is a spin-off of the Oxygen series Snapped and has a similar format to the Investigation Discovery program Wicked Attraction. He was sentenced in August to two life sentences, along with 75 years in prison. There have been days with only two people in the audience other than media, but there were more than 30 Wednesday. "The State asked questions about [the interview] andthe judge said on the record that he saw no difference in her demeanor [on the video] than what she did today and that was our whole point: that she can tell a lie as easy as she tells the truth.". I have morals.I love my patients and I would do anything for them. Shirley says he was worried Brook's cat Snowball was in the house and might have been killed. The crowd watched in grim silence as a Marion County judge entered not guilty pleas for Monserrate Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard. Most importantly, Shirleys testimony would further tip the scales against the Leonard brothers. She was too involved. 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. Officials did not release further information regarding his death. Shirley: "Back in August (2011) she just stopped taking my phone calls and letting me talk to Brook. By December 2014, two years after the explosion in the Richmond Hill subdivision, prosecutors were preparing to go to trial without any cooperating witnesses. When asked why she didn't take Leonard's hospitalization in March 2012 as an opportunity not to let him back into her home since she knew what he wanted to do by that point, she said she couldn't turn away a sick person. She grew up in Puerto Rico with a violently abusive father who would often beat Shirley as well as her siblings and mother. Monserrate Shirley detailed the multiple attempts made to set the house on fire prior to the explosion that leveled the home. Sometimes they would go during the week while her daughterwas at school and leave in enough time to pick her back up. . 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. 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. All I can say is, I had one small role in this. [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. Thirty-three homes were damaged so severely they were deemed unrecoverable, and had to be torn down to the foundation. On multiple occasions Wednesday, Shirley said she didnt say no to Mark Leonard because she loved him. I didnt want it to affect the trial date, Robinson said. While Leonard has been in slacks, a dress shirt and tie throughout the trial, Shirley walked into the courtroom in shackles and a prison jumpsuit. 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. Monserrate Shirley was given the house after her divorce. Investigators found that the couple had substantial debt, including $63,000 in credit card debt, and were in bankruptcy proceedings. "You face one, you get over one and you've got another one all the way until the end. 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. "Everything they were telling me, it could not be possible," Shirley said on the stand as she started to get emotional. 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. Deputy prosecutor Denise Robinson returned from prosecuting the Richmond Hill cases to a pile of homicides waiting on her desk. 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. 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. 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. IndyStar reporter Robert King contributed to this story. FOLLOW|Rafael Sanchez on Twitter|Jordan Fischer on Twitter, RELATED LINKS |Richmond Hill Special Section|Mark Ray Leonard convicted on all counts. From confusion to conviction, Richmond Hill blast recapped. [37] She is serving her sentence at Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. 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. He says he and Monserrate never boarded the cat when they were married. I always get the money.". We are sure to have a lot more weird coincidences in the next few days, but this one is pretty crazy. She and Mark then gassed up her car and drove to the casino. Marion County Superior Court Judge Sheila Carlisle sentenced Monserrate Shirley to spend the maximum sentence of 50 years in prison on Tuesday. [10] Included on the probable cause affidavit were complaints from several women claiming that Leonard scammed them out of thousands of dollars. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Download the RTV6 app to get the latest live blog posts as the proceedings unfold. Im telling the truth and nothing but the truth was a phrase repeated by Monserrate Shirley throughout the day. She transferred from her job in Michigan to the VA hospital in Indianapolis, where she worked for 17 years, focusing in the ICU. The shirley daughter is an Italian restaurant that takes more than 15 minutes to make you feel at home. (WISH) Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. Thats time served, and hes out. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Shirley didn't hear anything more about a plot to start a fire that night, and nothing happened. He never gave her money like that again, but did play with his own money, spending anywhere from $2,000 - 10,000 each trip. Federal grand jury indicts man on hate crime charges after he allegedly shot 2 Jewishmen in Los Angelesin February, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18, over dozen missing, Fishers firefighters assist car flipped NB over I-69. One year of his sentences wassuspended, and the rest was to be split between jail and work release. Prosecutors entered all three into evidence Tuesday. He couldn't get a card to play with so she got a card for him and played on his behalf. Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. 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 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. The human toll is harder to estimate. The here, in this case, was the knowing murder of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. The November 2012 blast claimed the lives of John and Jennifer Longworth and spawned an investigation that landed five people behind bars. ", She said Mark told her, "It cannot be that bad.Don't worry about it. Its because the life of the game itself is the life of the game itself. The home also had a microwave above the stove which had a programmable timer. They said they didn't know. "It's like waking up to this bad dream," Shirley said, her voice cracking as tears flowed down her cheeks. Its a difficult case. Defense attorneys tried to play that video for jurors Wednesday, but the judge wouldnt allow it. 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? But the majority supported us.. So there wasnt a great deal of pressure on us, or desire by us, to offer her anything.. Monserrate Shirley was ordered to serve out her sentence at the Indiana Womens Prison in Indianapolis. I don't want to be involved in any of this.". ", 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?" The most money she ever remembered seeing him lose on a single trip was $7,000. "They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from destroyed homes to help determine the cause.". 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. Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. When a defense attorney comes out and says, My client didnt do anything at all, but you clearly can show they did, then usually its going to be an all-or-nothing verdict, Robinson said. He gave her $3,000 to use, and they lost it all. It ended in the deaths of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. So in the game of death, monserrate daughter is the Shirley of the game of death. 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. Leonards death doesnt change the fact that Jennifer and Dion died, Buxton said. Today, Snowball, a white Persian cat, is in the care of John Shirley, Monserrate's ex-husband. Glenn Hults, the final defendant to stand trial for the explosion, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge last month that may result in no additional jail time. This time, Shirley's daughterwas at home, but she was upstairs. She gave it to him, and he used it to pay Bob. Prosecutors then proposed an unusual strategy involving one trial, but three separate juries, one for each defendant. 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. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. That's whatwe'll be asking the jury to consider.". Ultimately, she could end up serving 21 years if she maintains good behavior in prison. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. [30] He died on January 30, 2018, at an Indianapolis hospital, aged 48, of natural causes. Its a game that only you can play. Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. I got upset with her and sent her some derogatory texts. 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. She said Leonard had bought it a few months beforehand at that point. Leonard died around 9:15. It was a good feeling.. When she told him there was around $10,000-12,000 in it, he said that wasn't enough. ", When prosecutors asked if she was serious about the 401K offer, Shirley said, "I would have given him anything because I was in love with him.". They moved into a home they built in Richmond Hill toward the end of 2003. . She still wiped under her eyes with a tissue several times while she was on the stand. I cant give back what was taken from them on November 10. Mark. No one else was within earshot, so far as she knew. It's also possible she will walk free if the judge sentences. The stove was electric. "(Whoever is responsible will) have to pay for what they did to me and everybody else," Shirley said in the interview. [34][35], Monserrate Shirley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. Glenn Hults, who pleaded guilty to a felony for knowing about the plot but failing to report it to police, is scheduled for sentencing on December 28. Says Sen. Tom. Shirley's daughterwent with them in Leonard's Cadillac. You were a neighbor and you were a friend, Carlisle said. Leonard started talking the next week about trying for a second time to burn down the home. 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 [7], An investigation involving the Indianapolis Division of Homeland Security, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Indianapolis Fire Department was begun. He was, however, eventually able to return to his hobby of umpiring softball. No one, Shirley replied, crying.I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM. They agreed to say they'd been having trouble with the thermostat and smelling gas for a while. 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. TRANSCRIPT | Opening statements in the trial of Mark Leonard. Again, she said, "Because I was not able to tell him 'no'." Shirley met Mark Leonard. The case was expected to be the largest and most expensive trial in Marion County history. "No one.". Prosecutors alleged Leonard was the mastermind behind the explosion that damaged or destroyed more than 80 homes in Indianapolis, plotting with his then-live-in girlfriend Monserrate Shirley. 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/. [6] Prosecutors also allege that he offered the hit man a $5,000 bonus if he made the murder look like a suicide. . In a room inside IFD Station 63 less than a mile from the Richmond Hill subdivision Carter and Shirley talked about her whereabouts on the night of the explosion. Shed said similar things in an interview with IMPD Det. Minch: "Before that, you did have some problems with the pilot light on the furnace?" It had three gas appliances - the water heater, the furnace and the fireplace. To this day, absolutely they had the right to do that. I should have been there.". Shirley spent hours on the stand. The Richmond Hill explosion took place on November 10, 2012, in the Richmond Hill subdivision in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. "I have everybody telling me stuff that they said on the TV," she said. FORT WAYNE, Ind. "That cannot be real. Prosecutors told Judge Marnocha Tuesday they will likely rest their case next Wednesday or Thursday. She talked about being Catholic and said it was in God's hands, but still, they should be punished.".