Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. Deputy prosecutor Denise Robinson returned from prosecuting the Richmond Hill cases to a pile of homicides waiting on her desk. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. At that point, Shirley and her co-defendants her boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr. had been sitting in jail for two years following their arrest on charges of murder, arson and attempted insurance fraud in connection with the explosion. 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. Eventually, hed be asked to repeat her answer at her boyfriends murder trial. Its quite obvious that monserrate is the source of the name in this case. We did what prosecutors are supposed to do. They laughed at her for asking, but it was switched back out. Residents, particularly the younger ones, report experiencing continued psychological trauma from the incident. Prosecutors then proposed an unusual strategy involving one trial, but three separate juries, one for each defendant. Mark. [38], Gary Thompson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In court Wednesday, she said he turned on the gas, but never lit the fire. There was discussion about: Should we cut all of those? 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. By the time wed got to trial, hed already been in jail for going on three years. After her 12 hour shift, she planned to see her daughter at the Holts' house and change there. . While we knew that Monserrate Shirley on her own would never have caused this crime, it couldnt have happened without her. So in the game of death, monserrate daughter is the Shirley of the game of death. Will they get to the felony murder?. . The home of Monserrate Shirley was the center of the explosion that resulted in the deaths of next-door neighbors John "Dion" Longworth and his wife Jennifer (ne Buxton), the injuries of seven others, and $4 million in property damage. "No one deserves what happened," she said. He told her one of the reasons she needed to upgrade the policy was he planned to bring in some nicer things and do some work around the house to improve it and they would need the extra coverage to match the upgrades. Prosecutors ended by asking Shirley if the Longworths or any of her other neighbors deserved what happened. [6] 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. On Monday, November 5, they changed out the thermostat for a "cheaper" model. Not until the following morning, when I went from this job to another job, did I get a text from a friend who thought it might be my house. Saturday morning, they headed to the casino and Mark played a blackjack table, then they went to the bar and sat, waiting to get the phone call their home had caught fire. For one thing, the trial team deputy prosecutors Denise Robinson and Mark Hollingsworth, plus two junior deputies would have to wade through an entire subdivision-worth of evidence to build, arguably, the largest criminal prosecution in Indiana history. Monserrate Shirley, 49, would have to testify against former boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother in the plea deal . She went to a bar on the south side of Indianapolis in November 2011 and they immediately noticed each other. 'But for Monserrate Shirley:' Betrayal next door - WRTV 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. This has to be done, Shirley testified. As stated previously, the investigation and prosecution of this matter has literally taken tens of thousands of hours of effort by numerous individuals. At the time her friends called her, Monserrate was at a casino with Mark Leonard. Gary Thompson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson and received a 30-year sentence, with 10 years suspended. 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. Woman pleads guilty in deadly Indianapolis explosion - CBS News This may help explain why this dish is beloved by patrons like myself. She remained in the house as the sole owner until the explosion. 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. While Shirley said he lost a lot, he pointed out the toll was much greater on his then-13-year-old daughter Brook. She grabbed a few pictures, including the canvas portrait of her daughterat age 5 that hung above the fireplace. Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. Prosecutors ask if Shirley was asked by police to identify personal property following the explosion. 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. 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. Crime scene photos from the Richmond Hill explosion During the course of this lengthy process, we have sincerely appreciated the cooperation and patience of these families. ", Minch: "At no time did she ever say she was involved in the explosion?" She met Mark Leonard at a bar on November 12, 2011. 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. I was scared for my life and the life of my daughter., Forgive me for my poor choices in life, she continued. Leonards death doesnt change the fact that Jennifer and Dion died, Buxton said. Defendant in Indiana house explosion gets maximum 50 years - FOX 5 Atlanta wishtv.com your home page, Business, Equity and Opportunities Podcast with Scott Sander. Monserrate Shirley: 'I did everything to make him happy' - WISH-TV She moved to the United States when she was 25. We have done that. Its an interesting concept. Leonard is the brother of Mark Leonard, who is dating Montserrate Shirley, who along with Mark Leonard, lives in the home . She told him the attempt didnt work but that there would be another attempt. The couple's steamy relationship lasted for about a month before they moved in together. Its also the name of the game of death in which our monserrate daughter will be taking us on. He couldn't get a card to play with so she got a card for him and played on his behalf. Mark then asked Bob twice to "go get the part that we need." The case was expected to be the largest and most expensive trial in Marion County history. Leonard died around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at an Indianapolis hospital,according to an Indiana Department of Correction spokesman. But while he was living in the home, the only problem he had with its gas appliances the furnace, water heater and fireplace was that their pilot lights would sometimes go out when a draft blew in from an open garage door. Four years after Richmond Hill explosion, Monserrate Shirley to be The Retaking Of Richmond Hill - Indianapolis Monthly Leonard told him Shirley was ready and she agreed. She was able to take that to the prosecutor and get a protective order against me. rosemary clooney george clooney relationship I cant give back what was taken from them on November 10. 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. [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. He asked whose name the house was under, and she said it was entirely in her name after the divorce. ", When asked if the attacks on Shirley's credibility would damage the State's case, Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson said, "If you think about anybody who gives a number of statements, and you think about inconsistencies when you're asked questions and you have to answer the questions that you're asked [no more, no less]. American Greed: Property, auto insurance fraud is $30B problem - WSAV-TV 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. ", "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. Many people may remember Shirley giving an interview to the media, including WISH-TV, after the explosion. The entire day she answered questions from attorneys, repeatedly crying. I should have been there.". Mark and Bob stayed in the garage while they talked about what Bob's part would be, while Shirley stayed inside. Later that same day, an attorney asked Shirley if the Longworths deserved what happened to them. 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. Yes, I didnt think it would be possible, Monserrate Shirley said.HUGE EXPLOSION. The meeting was difficult for me because I couldnt ethically tell them everything, Robinson said. "(Whoever is responsible will) have to pay for what they did to me and everybody else," Shirley said in the interview. Prosecuting Mark Leonard presented with some challenges. Monserrate Shirley sentencing: 'She is the worst of the bunch' - WTHR I look at a neighbor that I would have been happy to help if she would have just come across the street and said, man I got a problem will you give me a hand? When you come out and say, My client attempted to commit insurance fraud through a small fire and this just happened, he had no idea, what the jury doesnt realize, because Im not allowed to tell them, is attempted insurance fraud even if coupled with reckless homicide is a class C felony. Indianapolis blast: house owner, 2 others accused of deadly plot [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. 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. 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. I had to know I could make this case based on the evidence I had.. [3][4] Damage to homes in the neighborhood was estimated at $4 million. "I mean, I'm totally devastated like my neighbors are.". The home also had a microwave above the stove which had a programmable timer. It ended in the deaths of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. The jury found 46-year-old Mark Leonard guilty of all counts against him, including murder and felony murder. Prosecutors told Judge Marnocha Tuesday they will likely rest their case next Wednesday or Thursday. Having Shirley as a witness came with its own pitfalls, though. She said Leonard had bought it a few months beforehand at that point. In addition to his roofing business, Mastercraft, Leonard also flipped cars on the side. Minch: "You testified about some things you lost in the explosion. She and her daughterwent to the hotel, where Mark later joined them. She now faces 20-50 years, though a judge has the right to suspend some, or all of that time. [6] She claimed to have been horrified at the Longworths' deaths, as well as the massive destruction wrought by the explosion. Your email address will not be published. "I want $300,000. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016. 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.. Should I have accepted that stipulation? The man he called was actually an undercover agent. Indianapolis House Explosion Case Now a Criminal Homicide Investigation 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. Robinson says she didnt expect anything to change. In addition to the thousands of pieces of physical evidence, they had more than 200 witnesses lined up to testify. How to fix pii_email_029231e8462fca76041e Error Code? She even took some leave from work to stay with him longer than her paid vacation time allowed. They went home together that night and he moved in the first week of December. For Lt. Mario Garza, the Indianapolis Fire Department veteran tasked with leading the arson investigation, the Richmond Hill explosion will likely be the most significant challenge of his career. She was wearing a jail jumpsuit, was shackled and her hair had grown long, dark and curly.IM TELLING THE TRUTH. Most importantly, Shirleys testimony would further tip the scales against the Leonard brothers. You're done.". It was a good feeling.. At the time of the explosion, Shirley says he was living in Noblesville. She later worked at St. Francis and Community South. If Monserrate Shirley keeps up her part of the agreement, a judge will decide her sentence after all the Richmond Hill explosiontrials have been completed. Shirley said she was attracted to Mark Leonard, particularly noting he was well-dressed and had bleach blonde hair. Prosecutors alleged that the men conspired to submit an insurance claim for a stolen motorcycle. Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard, and three others were convicted and sentenced to prison on various charges, including felony murder for Leonard. The third weekends attempt was the one that killed the Longworths. She took care of all three. SOUTH BEND, Ind. On November 19, it was announced that the investigation had become a criminal investigation. 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. Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. The next morning, they returned to Indianapolis and saw the house was again still standing so Mark called Bob and told him to meet at a nearby parking lot. [36] Shirley was sentenced to 50 years in prison, the maximum possible under her plea agreement, on December 20, 2016. Shirley: "I moved out in February of 2011. So there wasnt a great deal of pressure on us, or desire by us, to offer her anything.. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. [29] He was sentenced to life in prison plus 75 years without parole on August 14, 2015. 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. ProjectEuler/Program.cs at master gknicker/ProjectEuler Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. When she arrived at the bar, she found Mark and Bob in the white van at a nearby gas station. 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. He was, however, eventually able to return to his hobby of umpiring softball. Shirley didn't hear anything more about a plot to start a fire that night, and nothing happened. 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. Roughly a week afterward, Mark asked Shirley for $500. Check those tickets! "I am a nurse. 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. One of the projects he took on was working on the gas line in the fireplace. Its a game that only you can play. . The shirley daughter is an Italian restaurant that takes more than 15 minutes to make you feel at home. But I dont feel bad for the deceased.. [2] Over sixty firefighters responded to the blaze. And that, Im sure, will never change.. 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 recalled a later conversation that she had with Bob and Mark Leonard, after the explosion. Its about remembering who you are. Officials did not release further information regarding his death. In a deposition before the trial, though, she reported saying, "I'm not doing this. Somebody knew that I was out of town. 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. Everything's under control.". 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. [24], On March 28, 2015, Mark Leonard was charged with conspiring to murder the key witness against him, Mark Duckworth. monserrate is the name of the dish, as well as its . Required fields are marked *. Wednesday in court, Shirley said that at the July 4th pool party, she called lighting the house on fire crazy. In court, Shirley testified Leonard had promised to show her how to make a lot of money. News, information &. The name comes from a restaurant that is on the run called theserie rossa which translates to the run of the wits. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. The topic came up again around July 4. She has already been behind bars for four years. Again, she said, "Because I was not able to tell him 'no'." [27], Mark Leonard's trial began in June 2015. How to fix the pii__email__cbd448bbd34c985e423c Error code? monserrate shirley daughter - Investigative Guide You're a piece of [expletive]. That presented a potential pitfall in the case, Robinson said. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. Shirley: "In order to pay a very large amount of child support, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Ms. Shirley, 47, and Mark Leonard, 43, her boyfriend, were 100 miles away at a casino when their home blew up. And then there was the arrangement that when I picked up my daughter I would get to take some of my belongings. "Mark can insult [Thompson], and he never does anything," Shirley said. The defense certainly offered to stipulate that 60 homes were damaged. "Shortly thereafter I moved some furniture into the apartment. 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. He never gave her money like that again, but did play with his own money, spending anywhere from $2,000 - 10,000 each trip. I had a homicide detective crying on the stand. More than 4 years later, Monserrate Shirley to be sentenced in Richmond [18], Prosecutors initially sought to try the suspects together, but the defendants were granted the right to separate trials. You were a mom. They said they didn't know. Leonard is charged with 53 counts of murder, arson and conspiracy. Make FULL STORY | Mark Leonards friend says he knew too much. He faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. He was working in Fishers on the night of the explosion. Gary Thompsonwas handed a 30-year prison sentence, 20 years executed, for his role in the murderous insurance fraud scheme. The first attempt was supposed to be carried out by Gary Thompson, but it failed. ", 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?" She then spoke with another neighbor, who told her there had been an explosion. Leonard said he talked to Gary Thompson without her, telling him they were ready to do it. But didnt the jury need to hear from the residents? 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.. For one: She had earned a reputation as a master liar, as Mark Leonards defense team would later call her. "Everything they were telling me, it could not be possible," Shirley said on the stand as she started to get emotional. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. FOLLOW|Rafael Sanchez on Twitter|Jordan Fischer on Twitter, RELATED LINKS |Richmond Hill Special Section|Mark Ray Leonard convicted on all counts. They enter into evidence two golf bags with clubs and a driver.

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