At the end of the day, we still miss her and him, Dion, as much as ever, Buxton said. "That cannot be real. "No one deserves what happened," she said. They said they didn't know. Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. They enter into evidence two golf bags with clubs and a driver. He said there wouldn't be a problem because it would be a small fire so no one would get hurt, and since she had a long history with the insurance company and no criminal record, they would get the money almost immediately. Indianapolis trio accused of blowing up their home to collect insurance And that, Im sure, will never change.. Its also the name of the game of death in which our monserrate daughter will be taking us on. He was sentenced in August to two life sentences, along with 75 years in prison. I did everything to make him happy, Monserrate Shirley said in testimony. Shirley and her boyfriend were hoping to collect $300,000 in insurance . 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. Shirley wasnt a suspect at the time, and the interview was a routine one. Another woman reported that she had loaned him about $5,000 for a construction job, which he had yet to pay back. I dont know why they did it. 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. Dont make that kind of joke, Shirley testified. Shirley had heard of Bob before, but had not met him before he came over Thursday, November 1. . Indiana Neighborhood Explosion: Two Questioned in Connection to Blast Man Gets Murder Conviction in Deadly Indiana House Blast Fraud Case Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. During the course of this lengthy process, we have sincerely appreciated the cooperation and patience of these families. 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. 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. [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 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. His sentencing is set for December 28, 2016 at 1 p.m. Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry issued the following statement: We respect the Courts decision ordering Monserrate Shirley to serve a fifty-year prison sentence for her participation in this senseless conspiracy. Follow her on Twitter:@hollyvhays. She was wearing a jail jumpsuit, was shackled and her hair had grown long, dark and curly.IM TELLING THE TRUTH. Bob Leonard, Monserrate Shirley, Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults also face charges in connection to the explosion. (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. The topic came up again around July 4. Richmond Hill explosion: Where are they now? - indystar.com The Richmond Hill neighbors had been waiting long enough without a trial. An autopsy will be conducted by the Marion County coroner's office Wednesday, according to the DOC. 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. "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.". She gave it to him, and he used it to pay Bob. 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. 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. The defense said if prosecutors wrapped up early enough on Thursday, they could call all of their witnesses that day alone and closing arguments could be held Friday, July 10. While there had been some communications early on, we were not willing to offer Monserrate Shirley a significant deal for her cooperation, Robinson said. She moved to the United States when she was 25. Leonard, his ex-girlfriend Monserrate Shirley, his half-brother Robert Leonard and Mark Leonards former employee blew up Shirleys home in the Richmond Hill subdivision to collect about $300,000 in insurance money to pay off the houses mortgage and Mark Leonards gambling and credit card debts. For her cooperation with the prosecutions of the Leonard brothers, and the information she provided that led to the convictions of Hults and Thompson, Monserrate Shirley was spared the possibility of life without parole. Shirley: "Yes. Follow his reporting on Twitter at @Jordan_RTV6 or on Facebook. FULL STORY | Mark Leonards friend says he knew too much. The sentence accounts for time served and good. In an interview with former RTV6 reporter Stacia Matthews, Shirley suggested the explosion may have been an attempt on her life. This has to be done, Shirley testified. She could face 20-50 years in prison. You were a nurse. They moved into a home they built in Richmond Hill toward the end of 2003. They got to the room, but Mark wasn't feeling well so he stayed there while Shirley played slot machines for about an hour. Iwas scared. Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. [27], Mark Leonard's trial began in June 2015. And you have to weigh that out? Defense attorney Ted Minch on cross-examination: "You're not happy to be here today." Four years after thedeadly Richmond Hill explosion, another chapter has closed. She later worked at St. Francis and Community South. Their funeral was held earlier today. I know it caught us by surprise and we had to react to it.. 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. 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. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. She said she did not tell officers at the time what happened because she was scared. "I am a nurse. Denise Robinson, the Marion County Prosecutor on the case, told the court she rarely asks for the maximum sentence. There have been days with only two people in the audience other than media, but there were more than 30 Wednesday. Shirley's daughter went with them in Leonard's Cadillac. The next morning, they drove back and saw the house was still standing so they went on to Thompson's house where Leonard confronted him. Richmond Hill explosion - Wikipedia Roughly a week afterward, Mark asked Shirley for $500. Indiana Man Convicted of Murder in Home Explosion Case - Insurance Journal Should we not use all those witnesses? Although prosecutors didnt need their blessing to go ahead with the plea, Robinson said they felt it was important to tell the residents as much as they could. As of summer 2022 the show has aired sixteen . I thought it was crazy, that cannot be done, and I asked Mark, Thats not what you told me, theres an explosion in there, (theres) people, my neighbors, that cannot be real, Shirley said. PREVIOUS | Full testimony: Monserrate Shirley takes the stand. Shirley Temple's Children Remember Their Late Mother - Closer Weekly Among the "no" votes, inexplicably: political dancer Hiram Monserrate. Leonardwas placed under "imminent death watch" earlier this week. When we got in this case, we were asked to save her life, said defense attorney James Voyles. More than 4 years later, Monserrate Shirley to be sentenced in Richmond ", She said Mark told her, "It cannot be that bad.Don't worry about it. . Did you see her on TV a few days later? Its a difficult case. Woman pleads guilty in deadly Indianapolis explosion - CBS News Monserrate Shirley, who had initally pleaded not guilty after she and two men were charged in late 2012, appeared Tuesday before a Marion County judge in a courtroom filled with current and. This time, Shirley's daughterwas at home, but she was upstairs. Mark Leonards trial at the St. Joseph County Courthouse was eventful before it even started. Prosecuting Mark Leonard presented with some challenges. If I could bring Dion and Jennifer back, I would do that in a heartbeat, she said. Mark and Bob stayed in the garage while they talked about what Bob's part would be, while Shirley stayed inside. I don't want anyone to get hurt," then started cooking dinner. She said Leonard had bought it a few months beforehand at that point. Monserrate Shirley, 49, would have to testify against former boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother in the plea deal . 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. Shirley said she thought the fire plan was crazy, but went along with it anyway. He was sentenced to two life sentences without parole, as well as 70 years from other charges, on March 18, 2016. Her earliest possible release date is December 19, 2037when she will be 72 years old. 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. You're a piece of [expletive]. 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. Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. 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. Residents, particularly the younger ones, report experiencing continued psychological trauma from the incident. One year of his sentences wassuspended, and the rest was to be split between jail and work release. Mark was a handsome man with sex appeal and a lot of money, judging by his stash of cash and fast luxury cars. I always get the money.". I got upset with her and sent her some derogatory texts. Its an interesting concept. 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. It was a restaurant that had the name of a famous Italian poet who died young, but the restaurant only lasted for a year. I told them I dont even want to be a part of this, Shirley testified as telling the Leonards. Mark then asked Bob twice to "go get the part that we need." [20] The trials started in 2015. She found a house with a floorplan she liked." 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. Monserrate Shirley agrees to testify against ex boyfriend in Indiana At the time her friends called her, Monserrate was at a casino with Mark Leonard. When she told him, Holts said, "Between Mark and Gary, they're going to blow up the whole neighborhood.". 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. The sentence accounts for time served and good time credit. Its about your game being the only game that matters. Estimates for the total scope of the damage caused by the explosion exceeded $4.5 million. [6] And in each of those categories, you betrayed your trust.. [6] Investigators said personal insurance on the home had recently been increased to $300,000. The next time, Monserrate Shirley said Mark Leonards brother, Bob, was supposed to carry out the plan. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Its about not letting the person who was watching your game die ever have a say in your game. 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. [6] They had arranged for Shirley's 12-year-old daughter to stay with friends and had boarded their cat, Snowball, for the weekend. . They then worked to establish a pattern of poor decisions in her personal life and changing stories throughout the investigation. Robinson knew that. Shirley testified that friends called and told her there was a huge explosion. She grew up in Puerto Rico with a violently abusive father who would often beat Shirley as well as her siblings and mother. A second mortgage had been taken out on the home for $65,000 in addition to the original mortgage of $116,000. I didnt want it to affect the trial date, Robinson said. 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. Shirley says he replaced the thermostat "so there were more options to heat the house during the day.". She and her husband Gabriel Ferrer (son of Rosemary Clooney and Jos Ferrer, and a first cousin to George Clooney) had four children: Jordan Alexander Ferrer (born July 8, 1980), twin girls (Gabrielle Monserrate Ferrer & Dustin Boone Ferrer, born September 17, 1983), and Tessa Ferrer (born March 30, 1986). Bob Leonard said, "Well, you're in it. Leonard is the brother of Mark Leonard, who is dating Montserrate Shirley, who along with Mark Leonard, lives in the home . 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. Marion County Superior Court Judge Sheila Carlisle sentenced Monserrate Shirley to spend the maximum sentence of 50 years in prison on Tuesday. Robert Leonard, who was convicted of murder and multiple felonies, was sentenced to life without parole. 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. ", Holts then asked who would get the money if they went through with it and Mark said, "Of course, me. I dont believe in vengeance and I know that my son is not a person that would accept vengeance and such things, he didnt live that way., I look at Monserrate Shirley and I see a wasted life, said Tony Burnett, who lived across the street from Shirley. But a whole days-worth of potential jurors would end up tainted anyway not by media coverage, but by Leonards defense team. By this time, Shirley's daughterhad noticed her portrait was no longer above the fireplace and asked Monserrate about it. 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. The girlwas already out of the house while they cleared it of the sentimental items. You're done.". She said Mark didn't actually want anyone to come to the house, he just wanted a trail they could point to after the fire so they could explain why they were in the hotel. 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. Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. But ultimately I think we were able to accomplish what we needed to do for her.. I didnt give it any credibility. At sentencing, St. Joseph Superior Court Judge John Marnocha said Leonard demonstrated a sheer indifference for the safety of others., The motivation here is greed, Marnocha said. "I mean, I'm totally devastated like my neighbors are.". Shirley alleged that Hults initially came up with the idea. The problem was that none of that criminal history would be admissible at trial. 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. She will not learn her fate until after all four of her alleged co-conspirators has been tried. On multiple occasions Wednesday, Shirley said she didnt say no to Mark Leonard because she loved him. RICHMOND HILL: Shirley's ex takes the stand - WRTV At 11:11 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2012, a two-story home on the south side of Indianapolis exploded with the force of as much as 5 tons of TNT. Mark Leonard moved in with Monserrate Shirley about a month later. He told her his friend Glenn Holts had done the same at his own house with help from Gary Thompson, who worked for Leonard at the time. The first attempt was supposed to be carried out by Gary Thompson, but it failed. I said OK, she said. [25] Leonard allegedly asked another inmate at the Marion County jail if he could put him in contact with a hitman, according to the probable cause affidavit. When testimony moved to the night of the explosion that killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth, Monserrate Shirley had a difficult time staying composed. -- John Shirley told jurors Tuesday that, while his relationship with his ex-wife Monserrate was severely damaged by the time he moved out, the gas appliances in their home were not. Robinson also couldnt tell the residents that Shirleys cooperation would mean charges against two more suspects: Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults. 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. This story is Chapter III of a three-part series. And I wanted to be able to tell them everything., TRANSCRIPT | The full testimony of Monserrate Shirley. [18], Prosecutors initially sought to try the suspects together, but the defendants were granted the right to separate trials. 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. 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. On the day of the explosion, another neighbor saw a white van pull into the driveway of Shirley's residence between 2:00 and 3:00p.m. There's little remaining of Shirley's home (pictured at left) after Saturday's explosion. 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. Monserrate Shirley sentencing: 'She is the worst of the bunch' - WTHR Monserrate Shirley agreed to testify against Mark Leonard as part of a plea agreement to reduce her potential prison time. 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. Once they were alone, Leonard, Holts and Shirley started talking about the fire again while they sat around the pool drinking beer. monserrate shirley daughter - Investigative Guide That was the last time she saw Bob before they were arrested. After he was done, the fireplace worked properly and they never smelled any gas inside the home because of it. HOW TO SOLVE ERROR CODE PII_EMAIL_DE03C2D55A4B639F558D. . To this day, absolutely they had the right to do that. She continued handling some of Marion Countys most heinous crimes until January 2017, when her former boss, then-Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill, called her up and asked her to join him at the Indiana Statehouse, where he had just been elected attorney general. The original posters source was a little bit of a weird little coincidence, but the name was still alive and well. The jury found 46-year-old Mark Leonard guilty of all counts against him, including murder and felony murder. . She never got a call, though. [14] In April 2015, a fifth man, Glenn Hults, was charged with conspiracy to commit arson. [6] Prosecutors also allege that he offered the hit man a $5,000 bonus if he made the murder look like a suicide. Shirley: "In order to pay a very large amount of child support, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs. (Item updated.) Leonard was being held at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facilitybut was transferred to the hospital several days ago. It was a good feeling.. Prosecutors ask if Shirley was asked by police to identify personal property following the explosion. 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. Your email address will not be published. "Mark can insult [Thompson], and he never does anything," Shirley said. [2] Over sixty firefighters responded to the blaze. The brothers were sentenced to terms of life without parole for spearheading the conspiracy. 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. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. Amazingly, despite the force of the explosion, a hybrid pear tree planted by Dion Longworth still grows in the yard where he and his wife Jennifers house once stood. Made and inspired by a love triangle, this was written by a girl from Italy. The inmate and Leonard drew up a contract agreeing that Leonard would pay the inmate $15,000 when he was released, the affidavit said. Deputy Prosecutor DeniseRobinson has said she will argue for 50 when the time comes. Shirley spent hours on the stand. [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. He was going to bring Thompson to their house so she could say she was okay to move forward, too. monserrate is a real-life cousin of Shirley, and its said that her daughter monserrate will be taking us on when we die. Get caught up on the first two chapters here:Chapter I: The Night the Sky Caught Fire|Chapter II: The $4 Million Arson Plot. Ultimately, she could end up serving 21 years if she maintains good behavior in prison. Holts invited Leonard and Shirley to his friend's house for a pool party in the Geist neighborhood. [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." 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. She took care of all three. Attorneys walked Shirley through a number of conversations she had with Mark Leonard from the time they met until the house exploded. We firmly believed that Gary Thompson played a role, but until she cooperated, we couldnt prove that, Robinson said. I dont feel bad for Mr. Leonard, said Don Buxton, father of Jennifer Longworth, who was killed in the blast with her husband, Dion. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. The co-conspirators include Shirleys boyfriend at the time, Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr. 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. The case was expected to be the largest and most expensive trial in Marion County history. Shirley: "No.". The cat, nicknamed Snowy, was a birthday gift for their daughter, he said, and "she misses him.". Sgt. 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. [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. The evidence Robinson and Hollingsworth had was substantial. John Shirley, 50, of Noblesville, told The Associated Press that his daughter sent him a text message last week complaining that the furnace in the home where she lives with her mother and her. Check those tickets! Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Once again, she agreed to make the same three arrangements: the casino reservation, a babysitter for her daughterand boarding for Snowball. 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. [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. Again, Monserrate agreed to do her same three preparations: a casino hotel reservation, a babysitter for her daughterand boarding for Snowball. Shirley recalled a later conversation that she had with Bob and Mark Leonard, after the explosion. 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. wikipedia.en/Richmond_Hill_explosion.md at main - github.com "Cases are made up of hurdles all the time," Robinson said Wednesday. rosemary clooney george clooney relationship 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. Today, Snowball, a white Persian cat, is in the care of John Shirley, Monserrate's ex-husband. In fact, they said that at the time she raised her insurance policy to $300,000, she was roughly $300,000 in debt (more than $200K between her two mortgages on top of the bankruptcy settlement left over from her divorce). While we knew that Monserrate Shirley on her own would never have caused this crime, it couldnt have happened without her. Prosecutors told Judge Marnocha Tuesday they will likely rest their case next Wednesday or Thursday. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. They went home together that night and he moved in the first week of December. PHOTOS: First Richmond Hill trial Mark Leonard is on. Shirley: "Yes. [24], On March 28, 2015, Mark Leonard was charged with conspiring to murder the key witness against him, Mark Duckworth. Shirley says Monserrate got the house in the divorce. Shirley says he was working at Eli Lilly at the time, and Monserrate was working as an RN at the VA hospital.