- Melanie McGuire
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Melanie Lyn McGuire Born October 8, 1972 Conviction(s) First degree murder Penalty Life in prison Spouse Bill McGuire (deceased) Children Two sons Melanie McGuire (born Melanie Lyn Slate on October 8, 1972) is a New Jersey woman best known for being the perpetrator in the media-dubbed "suitcase murder." She was convicted of murdering her husband in April 2004 and was sentenced to life in prison on July 19, 2007. Melanie is serving her sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton, New Jersey. Barring a successful appeal, she will not be eligible for parole until she is 100 years old.[1]
Contents
Murder
In April 2004, Melanie McGuire and her husband Bill had been married for five years. She was a nurse at a fertility clinic and he was a computer programmer. The two were raising two sons in a Woodbridge, New Jersey apartment. That month however, the couple planned to move to a larger home in Warren County. Melanie and Bill closed on their new house on April 28, 2004, but never moved in. That night, Melanie drugged her husband, shot him twice to death, and then dismembered his body. Melanie later put his dismembered remains into three matching suitcases, which were later found in the Chesapeake Bay. The day after Bill's murder, Melanie started covering her tracks. She began establishing an alibi, claiming after a domestic argument, her husband tied her up in their bathroom, stuffed a dryer sheet in her mouth, and stormed off. On April 30, 2004, Bill's 2002 Nissan Maxima is found outside the Flamingo Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Five days later, the first suitcase containing Bill's remains is found near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. A murder investigation was launched.[2]
Investigation
On May 11, 2004, a second suitcase with Bill's remains is found, containing his head and torso. A third suitcase is recovered on May 16. Virginia Beach police released a composite sketch of the victim, which an acquaintance of Bill McGuire's recognized as being him. Melanie McGuire became the prime suspect in the investigation. Because the murder did not occur in Virginia however, authorities turned over their investigation to New Jersey police.[2] During the investigation, much incriminating evidence is uncovered against Melanie. On April 26, 2004, she purchased a .38 caliber handgun from a store in Easton, Pennsylvania. In addition, police also learned that Melanie had been having a long-term affair with a co-worker named Bradley Miller at the fertility clinic. Police believed that Melanie used a prescription from her work to drug her husband.[3]
Charges / Trial
On June 2, 2005, more than a year after the murder, Melanie McGuire was arrested at her new home in Brick, New Jersey and was charged with first-degree murder.[3] Melanie was immediately booked into the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center, but made her $750,000 bail. Through her attorneys, Joe Tacopina, Steve Turano, and Marc Ward, she pled not guilty to the charges.
After being released on bail, Melanie faced additional charges on October 11, 2005. A four-count indictment came down from a state grand jury. Melanie's bail was raised to $2.1 million, but was again released. More than a year later, on October 26, 2006 Melanie was charged with two counts of hindering apprehension for allegedly writing letters to police aimed to get them off her trail. She again pleads not guilty and is released after posting $10,000 bail.
Almost three years after the crime, Melanie McGuire's murder trial commenced at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey on March 5, 2007.[2] Prosecutors contended her motive for murder was to take up a new life with her lover, Bradley Miller. Melanie still persisted she was innocent however, and claimed her husband was a compulsive gambler who owed money, and believed her husband was killed by the Atlantic City mob.
Verdict
On April 23, 2007, Melanie McGuire's murder trial jury found her guilty of first-degree murder. She was also convicted of the lesser charges of perjury, desecration of human remains, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. However, Melanie was acquitted of the two counts of hindering apprehension, as well as tampering with evidence and possession of Xanax without prescription.[4]
On July 19, 2007, the 34-year-old mother of two was sentenced to life in prison.[5] In New Jersey, a life sentence is defined as a 75-year term, and under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, she must serve 85 percent of her sentence, or 63 3/4 years. In addition, the judge sentenced her to additional consecutive 2 1/2 year-term for perjury.[1]
Aftermath
Following her arraignment on murder charges, Melanie's case was dubbed as "the Suitcase murder" by various media outlets.
Author John Glatt wrote a book about the case, entitled "To Have and To Kill".[6]
Melanie's case has been profiled on Snapped and Dateline NBC.
Her conviction was affirmed by an appeals court on March 16, 2011. On September 20, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to even hear her further appeal.
References
- ^ a b . State of New Jersey Department of Corrections. 2011-06-11. https://www6.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/details?x=1380860&n=10. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ a b c Reid, Beverly M. (2007-07-17). "McGuire timeline". The Star-Ledger Archives. http://blog.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2007/07/mcguire_timeline.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ a b "Wife arrested in gory dismemberment murder". The Edison/Metuchen Sentinel. 2005-06-07. http://ems.gmnews.com/news/2005-06-07/Front_page/011.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ Craven, Laura (2007-04-23). "Jury: 4 guilty, 4 not guilty". Star-Ledger Updates. http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/04/jury_4_guilty_4_not_guilty.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ Din, Suleman E. (2007-07-19). "McGuire sentenced to life in prison for suitcase murder". Star-Ledger Updates. http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/07/mcguire_due_for_sentencing_in.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ "Author to sign copies of Melanie McGuire book". 2008-11-26. http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20081126/OPINION06/811260374/Author-sign-copies-Melanie-McGuire-book. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
Categories:- 1972 births
- American female murderers
- American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
- People convicted of murder by New Jersey
- Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by New Jersey
- Living people
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