", Minch: "You've had problems over the years with the furnace and the water heater. Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were out of town for the weekend while her 12-year-old daughter stayed with friends. She and her boyfriend, Mark Leonard, who also lived at the residence, told authorities they had left Friday night for a weekend at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. 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. Its quite obvious that monserrate is the source of the name in this case. She owned the house. On the night of the explosion, Shirley said he was working a second job in Fishers. Aaron Carter. Shortly thereafter I moved some furniture into the apartment. They claim that Leonard wanted the hit man to force the witness to call 9-1-1 and recant his statement before killing him. Call 6 Investigator Rafael Sanchez and Senior Digital Correspondent Jordan Fischer will be in Fort Wayne covering the trial every day. 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.. It would have shortened the trial a week. This time, Mark and Bob talked alone while Monserrate left to pick up her daughter. Later that same day, an attorney asked Shirley if the Longworths deserved what happened to them. 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.. She came into the courtroom looking much different than she did the weekend of the explosion in 2012. The courtroom was crowded Monday as the proceedings began, as those who were hurt or lost their homes, plus the parents of Dion and Jennifer Longworth wait to learn Shirley's . 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. "Our investigators believe natural gas is involved," the Indianapolis Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. It was the last time she would be in her home before the explosion. I care about people. To do that, the team moved 80 boxes of documents connected to the case to an office on the east side of Indianapolis. 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. She was the neighbor that all the other neighbors were looking at. Dion and Jennifer Longworth, two occupants in the house at 8355 Fieldfare Way, died in the explosion; seven others were injured. Every day I ask myself why I didnt stop this. she said. With good behavior, her earliest possible release date is Dec. 19, 2032. She was upset when she got home that night and saw her nicer digital thermostat sitting on the kitchen island and the new cheaper model on the wall. 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. I had seen it used in a couple of games, but I never knew it was the name of a real person. 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. In one case, she said the first attempt was supposed to be tied to gasoline not natural gas. Shirley: "She wanted us to live in a bigger house. "They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from destroyed homes to help determine the cause.". While questioning potential jurors, one of Leonards attorneys, Diane Black, brought up out of the blue that her client had tried to hire a hitman from jail to kill his friend, and potential witness against him, Mark Duckworth. Her earliest possible release date is December 19, 2037when she will be 72 years old. Estimates for the total scope of the damage caused by the explosion exceeded $4.5 million. He faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. They moved into a home they built in Richmond Hill toward the end of 2003. At the end of the interview, Carter asked Shirley what should happen to the person responsible for the explosion. I know it caught us by surprise and we had to react to it.. 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. How to fix pii_email_029231e8462fca76041e Error Code? Shirley: "No. But I dont feel bad for the deceased.. [9], Investigators discovered a number of allegations of insurance fraud and other scams by Leonard prior to the blast, particularly involving stolen or wrecked automobiles. . He looked over the insurance policy and said she was under-insured so she called the insurance company and doubled her policy from $150,000 to $300,000. And in each of those categories, you betrayed your trust.. I did my best. Are they going to get bored with it?. On December 21, 2012, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and his brother Bob Leonard were charged with 2 counts of felony murder and . Monserrate Shirley is lead into her sentencing hearing in December 2016. Monserrate Shirley agreed to testify against Mark Leonard as part of a plea agreement to reduce her potential prison time. 'But for Monserrate Shirley:' Betrayal next door - WRTV A tag already exists with the provided branch name. More: Richmond Hill: 'The scars still remain', More: Richmond Hill explosion: 'It's the toughest thing I've ever done in my career', More: Richmond Hill explosion: 7 keys that solved the case. PHOTOS: First Richmond Hill trial Mark Leonard is on. I certainly might feel bad for his family. Officials did not release further information regarding his death. Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. 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. Ms. Shirley, 47, and Mark Leonard, 43, her boyfriend, were 100 miles away at a casino when their home blew up. She was the nurse. Indiana Neighborhood Explosion: Two Questioned in Connection to Blast Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. Below, former IMPD Det. 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 entire day she answered questions from attorneys, repeatedly crying. Its about remembering who you are. But she had no hesitation when asked to identify the Longworths as her neighbors. She told her daughter a friend had taken it to put a new frame on it. [18], Prosecutors initially sought to try the suspects together, but the defendants were granted the right to separate trials. 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 . In Indianapolis, Search For Answers Continues After Massive - NPR After a while, Mark came back in and said Bob had agreed to help for $10,000, but never specified what exactly Bob would be doing. [6] Investigators said personal insurance on the home had recently been increased to $300,000. He was going to bring Thompson to their house so she could say she was okay to move forward, too. Including journalists, it was closer to four dozen. . SOUTH BEND, Ind. Leonard went to pick up Thompson in the white van witnesses in the neighborhood have previously testified seeing in Shirley's driveway. Gary Thompson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson and received a 30-year sentence, with 10 years suspended. -- 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. ", She said Mark told her, "It cannot be that bad.Don't worry about it. Homeowner Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years for role in - WTTV How to fix the pii__email__cbd448bbd34c985e423c Error code? Richmond Hill Explosion - indyencyclopedia.org Shirley didn't hear anything more about a plot to start a fire that night, and nothing happened. The first time Shirley cried on the stand Wednesday was when she was asked about her neighbors. Im telling the truth and nothing but the truth was a phrase repeated by Monserrate Shirley throughout the day. Denise Robinson, the Marion County Prosecutor on the case, told the court she rarely asks for the maximum sentence. Shirley told her daughternot to come back to the house for any reason, though she didn't explain why not. The family, he said, will never truly get closure. Their first trip together was to the Hollywood Casino roughly 3-4 months after they first met. The blast the product of an insurance fraud scheme killed two people and injured dozens of others. More than 4 years later, Monserrate Shirley to be sentenced in Richmond [36] Shirley was sentenced to 50 years in prison, the maximum possible under her plea agreement, on December 20, 2016. The couple's steamy relationship lasted for about a month before they moved in together. No one, Shirley replied, crying.I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He says he "was very surprised" to learn Snowball had been boarded on the night of the explosion. (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. They should go to jail. Gary Thompsonwas handed a 30-year prison sentence, 20 years executed, for his role in the murderous insurance fraud scheme. Monserrate Shirley detailed the multiple attempts made to set the house on fire prior to the explosion that leveled the home. Robinson says she didnt expect anything to change. The case was expected to be the largest and most expensive trial in Marion County history. But Im not allowed to say that. Mark had called her asking which credit card he could buy the thermostat with, but she didn't see him actually switch out the thermostat for the new one, nor did he ever say who did it. He said that his daughter had mentioned that the furnace wasn't . The problem was that none of that criminal history would be admissible at trial. 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). They are charged with. wishtv.com your home page, Business, Equity and Opportunities Podcast with Scott Sander. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. She then got food for them both and went back to the room around midnight. So there wasnt a great deal of pressure on us, or desire by us, to offer her anything.. Mark Leonard was the first to go on trial. 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. Indiana sheriffs deputy dies after falling ill during training, Myles Colvin captivates Heritage Christian crowds, preps for Purdue. Shed said similar things in an interview with IMPD Det. 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. At one point you replaced the thermostat." Prosecutors started by addressing her plea agreement. Prosecutors alleged that the natural gas explosion was intentionally set to collect insurance money. It was run by the daughter of a famous American actor who was very close to the owner. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". Shirley alleged that Hults initially came up with the idea. He asked how much was in the 401k, according to Shirley. One of the projects he took on was working on the gas line in the fireplace. 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. The Richmond Hill neighbors had been waiting long enough without a trial. As fate would have it, it would be Carter, just a few weeks later, who would place Monserrate Shirley in handcuffs. . After demands for a vote on the bill, we finally received one. Im thankful for my trial team for sticking with me. [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016. [37] She is serving her sentence at Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. After the first failure, Leonard decided he also wanted to bring in his half-brother, Bob. Sgt. Made and inspired by a love triangle, this was written by a girl from Italy. Bad food, non-first class flights drop Colts to middle-of-pack in player survey. "It's like waking up to this bad dream," Shirley said, her voice cracking as tears flowed down her cheeks. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. Write For Us: Investigative Articles are Intriguing. They agreed to say they'd been having trouble with the thermostat and smelling gas for a while. Shirley said she thought the fire plan was crazy, but went along with it anyway. (WISH) Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. On August 14, 2015, Mark Ray Leonard was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without parole, plus an additional 75 years, on 53 counts, including murder, arson and insurance fraud. "I don't know what happened. Its about not letting the person who was watching your game die ever have a say in your game. Robinson could not tell them, for example, that Shirley would be facing a sentencing range of 20-50 years in prison. 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. The two divorced on July 25, 2011. [34][35], Monserrate Shirley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. She wanted to put it on her plate. After speaking with detectives, they went to Mark's sister's home, where they spent the night. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Hults faces no prison time to three years . Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard, and three others were convicted and sentenced to prison on various charges, including felony murder for Leonard. Bob Leonard said, "Well, you're in it. arranged for her daughter to stay . Even years later, Robinson says she doesnt know why Black brought the hitman allegations up. They then worked to establish a pattern of poor decisions in her personal life and changing stories throughout the investigation. She grew up in Puerto Rico with a violently abusive father who would often beat Shirley as well as her siblings and mother. Mark Leonard is on trial in South Bend in connection to the explosion in the Richmond Hill neighborhood that killed Jennifer and Dion Longworth in November 2012. Start the day smarter Notable deaths in 2023 The world's largest war 2023 meteor showers Authorities blamed a natural gas explosion inside the home of Monserrate Shirley, who was away at the time of the explosion. A prosecuting attorney showed her a photo of the house that exploded and asked her who lived on either side of her. Richmond Hill trial: Monserrate Shirley testifies | wthr.com Neighbors seek max sentence in fatal home blast - USA TODAY We did the right thing, for the right reason, and got the right result in the right way.. Three charged with murder after 'setting off deadly Indiana house Richmond Hill explosion: Where are they now? - indystar.com Many people may remember Shirley giving an interview to the media, including WISH-TV, after the explosion. Shirley stated that her daughter had smelled gas during the week before the explosion. 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. Much of Tuesdays testimony included accounts of Shirleys difficult childhood. I always get the money.". He was working in Fishers on the night of the explosion. On Thursday, Shirley worked a 12 hour shift. An offhand comment would change that. While she was driving, Mark called to tell her to book a hotel room and to tell her daughter it was because the house was too cold to stay at. Mark and Bob stayed in the garage while they talked about what Bob's part would be, while Shirley stayed inside. They'd soon get a new roommate. 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. The sentence accounts for time served and good. But the plan went horribly awry when a vast amount of natural gas had built up in the home before something set inside a microwave oven ignited the blaze. Its an interesting concept. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Robinson, all-too-aware of the limitations of the justice system after decades as a prosecutor, says she is just glad they were able to get some amount of justice for the victims. 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. [20] The trials started in 2015. 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. Prosecutors ask if Shirley was asked by police to identify personal property following the explosion. 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. [28] Prosecutors expected to submit nearly 3,000 pieces of evidence, and potentially call up to 175 witnesses. So in the end there were a couple of people who were opposed to it, and I respected that. JDK-8141210 : Very slow loading of JavaScript file with recent JDK I should have been there.". 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. [5], The most damning piece of evidence was a witness statement from one of Mark Leonard's associates, who told investigators that the weekend before the explosion, Leonard told him that "the house blew up". Should I have accepted that stipulation? 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. "Everything they were telling me, it could not be possible," Shirley said on the stand as she started to get emotional. But these were good defense attorneys. Indianapolis House Explosion Case Now a Criminal Homicide Investigation Follow his reporting on Twitter at @Jordan_RTV6 or on Facebook. 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. It ended in the deaths of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. 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 they went to pick up Shirley's daughteron Sunday, Holts told Mark to "Get the [expletive] out of here. And you have to weigh that out? Defendant in Indiana house explosion gets maximum 50 years - FOX 5 Atlanta Robinson knew that. That was the last time she saw Bob before they were arrested. Deputy Prosecutor DeniseRobinson has said she will argue for 50 when the time comes. ", She re-iterated that she offered him her retirement savings in place of burning the home. This time, Leonard worked with Thompson instead of Thompson doing the work while Leonard stood next to him, watching and planning. Once they were alone, Leonard, Holts and Shirley started talking about the fire again while they sat around the pool drinking beer. ", "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. 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