1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He was sentenced in August to two life sentences, along with 75 years in prison. [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. See also:Shantonia Heard of Atlanta Left Her 2 Children Alone With No Power and Gas Oven On, Police Say Apartment Fire Safety Tips Man Killed as Gas Explosion Destroys Connecticut Home. To begin the day, Monserrate Shirley explained how she and Mark Leonard met. The family, he said, will never truly get closure. 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). "I don't know what happened. He was working in Fishers on the night of the explosion. 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. After speaking with detectives, they went to Mark's sister's home, where they spent the night. The stove was electric. She was able to take that to the prosecutor and get a protective order against me. When she got home, Mark told her he and Bob had gone to the library to research other similar homes that had been set on fire without anyone getting hurt. That becomes eight years when good time credit is applied. Robert Leonard, who was convicted of murder and multiple felonies, was sentenced to life without parole. The force of the blast shattered windows and ripped down garage doors at dozens of other homes in the neighborhood. We used to cook together, have dinner together.Very charming, very lovely man.". She wanted to put it on her plate. She agreed that's what happened, but insisted she only said what Mark told her to say. Shirley met Mark Leonard. Somebody knew that I was out of town. I cant give the Olveys back a peace of mind. "Two innocent people died because of this!" Prosecutors ended by asking Shirley if the Longworths or any of her other neighbors deserved what happened. And you have to weigh that out? The sentence accounts for time served and good. 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. Again, Monserrate agreed to do her same three preparations: a casino hotel 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. 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. On Thursday, Shirley worked a 12 hour shift. 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. Mr. Monserrate Morales was born on January 7, 1955 in Puerto Rico. Its because the game of death is the game of life itself. 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. The human toll is harder to estimate. [16] On March 13, Leonard allegedly placed a call to a man who he believed to be a hit man. And then there was the arrangement that when I picked up my daughter I would get to take some of my belongings. Leonard was being held at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facilitybut was transferred to the hospital several days ago. She even took some leave from work to stay with him longer than her paid vacation time allowed. This type of trial is unusual but not unheard of, and had been used in the trial of the Menendez brothers. She and her daughterwent to the hotel, where Mark later joined them. Her house exploded on their third attempt of trying to claim insurance money. The most money she ever remembered seeing him lose on a single trip was $7,000. I was scared for my life and the life of my daughter., Forgive me for my poor choices in life, she continued. 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. But she put an end to that in August 2011.". Follow us on Twitter at @AOLRealEstate, or connect with AOL Real Estate on Facebook and Pinterest. Then there was the question of Leonards history. "Mark can insult [Thompson], and he never does anything," Shirley said. Mark was a handsome man with sex appeal and a lot of money, judging by his stash of cash and fast luxury cars. 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. Mark Leonard was the first to go on trial. Including journalists, it was closer to four dozen. She now faces 20-50 years, though a judge has the right to suspend some, or all of that time. [3][4] Damage to homes in the neighborhood was estimated at $4 million. 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. I dont feel bad for Mr. Leonard, said Don Buxton, father of Jennifer Longworth, who was killed in the blast with her husband, Dion. I went into the breakroom and texted my ex about what happened. He says the log lighter worked fine when he lived there. News, information &. [6] She claimed to have been horrified at the Longworths' deaths, as well as the massive destruction wrought by the explosion. No one else was within earshot, so far as she knew. Her earliest possible release date is December 19, 2037when she will be 72 years old. She was too involved. Most importantly, Shirleys testimony would further tip the scales against the Leonard brothers. Every day I ask myself why I didnt stop this. Once the trial began, rather than trying to claim their client was innocent, Black and Shircliff instead told the jury up front that he was guilty but of trying to start a small fire, not cause an explosion. John did all the maintenance on the home - she never did any. 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. 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. Estimates for the total scope of the damage caused by the explosion exceeded $4.5 million. Follow his reporting on Twitter at @Jordan_RTV6 or on Facebook. ", 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.". 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 original posters source was a little bit of a weird little coincidence, but the name was still alive and well. [22], On January 16, 2015, Shirley agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors. Monserrate Shirley, 49, would have to testify against former boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother in the plea deal . Even years later, Robinson says she doesnt know why Black brought the hitman allegations up. The Richmond Hill neighbors had been waiting long enough without a trial. But she had no hesitation when asked to identify the Longworths as her neighbors. Monserrate Shirley cried at various points Wednesdaybut didnt shed any actual tears. Shirley struck a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. 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. Prosecutors started by addressing her plea agreement. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. It started as a bad headache, but quickly grew until he was hospitalized with an autoimmune disease serious enough he would need a blood transfusion. Leonard asked her to get a babysitter for her daughter, make a reservation at the casino's hotel for the two of them and to board the family cat, "Snowball." He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. [21] Mark Leonard was granted a change of venue and was tried in South Bend. The blast the product of an insurance fraud scheme killed two people and injured dozens of others. The here, in this case, was the knowing murder of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. At least three of his possessions did survive, however: two golf bags, with clubs, and a driver he'd been gifted. She found a house with a floorplan she liked." "Our investigators believe natural gas is involved," the Indianapolis Department of Homeland Security said in a statement. Robinson knew that. [6] One woman had previously won a $70,000 judgment against Leonard in a civil suit after lending him $53,000, which he never repaid. The defense certainly offered to stipulate that 60 homes were damaged. Prosecutors then proposed an unusual strategy involving one trial, but three separate juries, one for each defendant. Im thankful for my trial team for sticking with me. Thompson arrived on Monday or Tuesday, October 22-23, while Shirley's daughter was at school. No one involved in this investigation or prosecution will forget the stories of this tragedy and the continuing fear and trauma that it caused to the survivors. It was run by the daughter of a famous American actor who was very close to the owner. [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. A second home was reduced to rubble as well, and other houses were half-collapsed. The blast killed two people and. I had a homicide detective crying on the stand. More on AOL Real Estate:Find homes for rent in your area.Find out how to calculate mortgage payments.Find homes for sale in your area.Find foreclosures in your area. How to fix the pii__email__cbd448bbd34c985e423c Error code? This time, Leonard worked with Thompson instead of Thompson doing the work while Leonard stood next to him, watching and planning. Says Sen. Tom. She owned the house. 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. Shirley is originally from Puerto Rico. The girlwas already out of the house while they cleared it of the sentimental items. Hed also been previously accused of insurance fraud in connection with a car accident. Shirley had heard of Bob before, but had not met him before he came over Thursday, November 1. 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. In a deposition before the trial, though, she reported saying, "I'm not doing this. Shirley said that she was at a casino bar at the time of the explosion, and her boyfriend and daughter -- who also live with her -- weren't home either. She told him the attempt didnt work but that there would be another attempt. This time, Mark and Bob talked alone while Monserrate left to pick up her daughter. A prosecuting attorney showed her a photo of the house that exploded and asked her who lived on either side of her. I don't want anyone to get hurt," then started cooking dinner. Shirley and Leonard had gone on television on multiple occasions following the blast to state their innocence, and to ask for privacy. I had seen it used in a couple of games, but I never knew it was the name of a real person. Shirley says the house had three gas appliances when he lived there: furnace, water heater and fireplace. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. 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. On December 21, 2012, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and his brother Bob Leonard were charged with 2 counts of felony murder and . Carter would testify that her emotions and demeanor seemed normal at the time, for someone whose house had just blown up. 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. Shirley wasnt a suspect at the time, and the interview was a routine one. The program is a spin-off of the Oxygen series Snapped and has a similar format to the Investigation Discovery program Wicked Attraction. But ultimately I think we were able to accomplish what we needed to do for her.. Leonard said he talked to Gary Thompson without her, telling him they were ready to do it. At the time her friends called her, Monserrate was at a casino with Mark Leonard. and one-eighth, Zionsvilles Brian Mason will be Colts coordinator, Indy east side fire kills dog, injures multiple people, Record breaking weather week in central Indiana, Indiana state trooper hit, killed in the line of, New billboard in Fountain Square tackles antisemitism, Trooper killed on I-69, speeding driver arrested, Everything you need to know about the 2023 Academy, Congressman Baird calls for pause on toxic shipments, Congress works to tackle military spouse unemployment, Indy man gets 16 years after shooting wife in arm, Spencer man killed in rollover crash on I-70, 3 Ind. 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. (WISH) - Monserrate Shirley told jurors Wednesday she would do anything for Mark Leonard, because she was in love with him. The sentence accounts for time served and good. It ended in the deaths of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison on the arson charges on top of two life sentences for the murder charges. . But she put an end to that in August 2011.". The next time, Monserrate Shirley said Mark Leonards brother, Bob, was supposed to carry out the plan. Its a game that only you can play. 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. He was sentenced to two life sentences without parole, as well as 70 years from other charges, on March 18, 2016. It's also possible she will walk free if the judge sentences. Shirley: "In order to pay a very large amount of child support, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs. In the game of death, monserrate daughter is the only way to be reunited with the game of life. They laughed at her for asking, but it was switched back out. The men were reportedly in the home briefly and hurriedly left. [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. He says he "was very surprised" to learn Snowball had been boarded on the night of the explosion. She was the neighbor that all the other neighbors were looking at. Bob Leonard said, "Well, you're in it. It also didnt carry much weight for the families of Dion and Jennifer Longworth, who died in the blast. In an interview with former RTV6 reporter Stacia Matthews, Shirley suggested the explosion may have been an attempt on her life. He says he and Monserrate never boarded the cat when they were married. "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.". 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. Mark Leonards trial at the St. Joseph County Courthouse was eventful before it even started. [31][32][33] Bob Leonard was convicted on all 51 counts, including murder and conspiracy to commit arson, on February 24, 2016. When she told him, Holts said, "Between Mark and Gary, they're going to blow up the whole neighborhood.". Its quite obvious that monserrate is the source of the name in this case. 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. She and Mark then gassed up her car and drove to the casino. By the time wed got to trial, hed already been in jail for going on three years. 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. I got upset with her and sent her some derogatory texts. [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." I care about people. 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. Jurors will later hear that the golf bags and clubs were found at Bob Leonard's home after the explosion. 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. 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. Shirley told her daughternot to come back to the house for any reason, though she didn't explain why not. Below, former IMPD Det. ", She re-iterated that she offered him her retirement savings in place of burning the home. Gary Thompsonwas handed a 30-year prison sentence, 20 years executed, for his role in the murderous insurance fraud scheme. There was discussion about: Should we cut all of those? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Monserrate worked Friday, November 9. She grew up in Puerto Rico with a violently abusive father who would often beat Shirley as well as her siblings and mother. 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. He was, however, eventually able to return to his hobby of umpiring softball. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". Ultimately, she could end up serving 21 years if she maintains good behavior in prison. PREVIOUS|Timeline of events|Gallery: The Richmond Hill Explosion|Where were you at 11:11 PM? Ms. Shirley, 47, and Mark Leonard, 43, her boyfriend, were 100 miles away at a casino when their home blew up. The topic came up again around July 4. He told her to tell Holts, though, that they would be trying the fire again that night (Sunday night). Richmond Hill explosion: 'It's the toughest thing I've ever done in my career', Richmond Hill explosion: 7 keys that solved the case, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Defense attorney Ted Minch on cross-examination: "You're not happy to be here today." 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. The Richmond Hill explosion took place on November 10, 2012, in the Richmond Hill subdivision in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. 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. They'd soon get a new roommate. Prosecutors alleged that the natural gas explosion was intentionally set to collect insurance money. She was the one who got her daughter and her cat out of the situation and left her neighbors in the situation. Shirley says he was paying Monserrate $1,000 a month in child support and mortgage payments. Prosecutors told Judge Marnocha Tuesday they will likely rest their case next Wednesday or Thursday. 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. And I understand it, because of their feelings about her. 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. He occasionally worked on those cars at Shirley's home so she saw he had a wide array of tools. 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. One small job. At the time of the explosion, Shirley says he was living in Noblesville. They started looking around the house at potential ways to start the fire. ", "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 know it caught us by surprise and we had to react to it.. Aaron Carter. Shirley says he was worried Brook's cat Snowball was in the house and might have been killed. [10] Included on the probable cause affidavit were complaints from several women claiming that Leonard scammed them out of thousands of dollars. And in each of those categories, you betrayed your trust.. [19] Judge Shelia Carlisle rejected the proposal, noting that no Indiana law authorizes the use of concurrent jury trials. 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. 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. 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. . As his court date neared, the workload ramped up. 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. Neighbors, family testify in sentencing hearing of Monserrate Shirley, owner of the home. 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. Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. After court adjourned for the day, Shircliff said he attacked her inconsistencies "to show that she can tell the truth as easily as she tells a lie, and it's hard for the jury to know the difference. Many people may remember Shirley giving an interview to the media, including WISH-TV, after the explosion. With good behavior, her earliest possible release date is Dec. 19, 2032. Bob had been asking for his $10,000 payment before the explosion even happened. And that, Im sure, will never change.. monserrate is a real-life cousin of Shirley, and its said that her daughter monserrate will be taking us on when we die. 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. Sgt. [39] Glenn Hults received a three-year sentence.[40]. Prosecutors alleged that the men conspired to submit an insurance claim for a stolen motorcycle. 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. 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. On the night of the explosion, Shirley said he was working a second job in Fishers. Shirley testified Leonard asked to see the insurance policy on the home within a few weeks of moving in. Shirley: "Yes. Leonard started talking the next week about trying for a second time to burn down the home. (Item updated.) He reportedly said, "[T]he tsunami winds came down the chimney, blew out the fire in the fireplace and the gas kept running and the house blew up. 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. Glenn Hults, who had known of the scheme and kept Shirleys daughter Brooke out of the house, pleaded guilty on Dec. 28, 2016, to one count of assisting a criminal. After he was done, the fireplace worked properly and they never smelled any gas inside the home because of it. At the trial I had firefighters crying on the stand. And you said she was crying? IndyStar reporter Robert King contributed to this story. "I moved out in February of 2011," he said. We are sure to have a lot more weird coincidences in the next few days, but this one is pretty crazy. It was unclear when the complaint was made and whether the utility company was alerted. Monserrate Shirley, 49, said she became distraught when neighbors telephoned her after the November 2012 explosion and told her that her home was destroyed. [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.
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