Are they going to get bored with it?. John Shirley, her ex-husband, who owns the home with her, told The Associated Press that he believed the home's faulty furnace could have led to the explosion. 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. When they arrived, Mark told her the fire would happen Saturday night so she needed to ask to keep their room a second night (Saturday night). On Monday, November 5, they changed out the thermostat for a "cheaper" model. Home owner, Monserrate Shirley; her boyfriend, Mark Leonard; and his brother, Bob Leonard, were arrested Friday and charged with murder and arson Prosecutors may seek the death penalty Fire. The home was owned by his girlfriend at the time, Monserrate Shirley, who testified earlier this month that Bob. She still wiped under her eyes with a tissue several times while she was on the stand. But she had no hesitation when asked to identify the Longworths as her neighbors. 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. 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. The co-conspirators include Shirleys boyfriend at the time, Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr. He never gave her money like that again, but did play with his own money, spending anywhere from $2,000 - 10,000 each trip. It also didnt carry much weight for the families of Dion and Jennifer Longworth, who died in the blast. ", Minch: "You said you talked to Ms. Shirley on the 11th. 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. Should we not use all those witnesses? Shirley struck a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The home also had a microwave above the stove which had a programmable timer. 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. I cant give back what was taken from them on November 10. But I dont feel bad for the deceased.. Monserrate Shirley detailed the multiple attempts made to set the house on fire prior to the explosion that leveled the home. I was scared for my life and the life of my daughter., Forgive me for my poor choices in life, she continued. I said OK, she said. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. Its a game that only you can play. 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. [16] On March 13, Leonard allegedly placed a call to a man who he believed to be a hit man. . Shirley said she was attracted to Mark Leonard, particularly noting he was well-dressed and had bleach blonde hair. 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." "That cannot be real. Her sister had lived in the same housing complex. [39] Glenn Hults received a three-year sentence.[40]. In the game of death, monserrate daughter is the only way to be reunited with the game of life. 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. The crowd watched in grim silence as a Marion County judge entered not guilty pleas for Monserrate Shirley, her boyfriend Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard. [19] Judge Shelia Carlisle rejected the proposal, noting that no Indiana law authorizes the use of concurrent jury trials. You're done.". [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 Shirley testified that Mark Leonard is the one who told her to increase the insurance on the contents of her house, and she also testified Mark Leonard brought up the idea of setting fire to her house for easy money. 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. She died at age 85 in 2014, but Shirley Temple's childrenand fans gathered in LA on Monday, April 23 to celebrate what would have been her 90th birthday. (They were) my neighbors for a very long time since we built the house, Shirley said. But didnt the jury need to hear from the residents? The defense certainly offered to stipulate that 60 homes were damaged. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. While Shirley said he lost a lot, he pointed out the toll was much greater on his then-13-year-old daughter Brook. The next time, Monserrate Shirley said Mark Leonards brother, Bob, was supposed to carry out the plan. Mark Leonard was convicted in 2015 of two counts of murder as well as a litany of other charges, including multiple counts of arson and conspiracy to commit arson. Leonard was being held at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facilitybut was transferred to the hospital several days ago. They are charged with. Monserrate Shirley and Mark leonard, profiled on the next "American Greed," staged a natural gas explosion to collect the insurance on their Indianapolis home. 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. Unresolved: Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed. He leaves to cherish his memory his daughters: Britney Morales (Malcolm Richardson) and Maria Morales: two step-daughters Latasha (Nathan) Roberts and Kizzy Carter; three grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. FULL STORY | Mark Leonards friend says he knew too much. Jordan Fischer is the senior digital reporter for RTV6. I didn't do nothing wrong.". [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. Monserrate Shirley was ordered to serve out her sentence at the Indiana Womens Prison in Indianapolis. Robinson also couldnt tell the residents that Shirleys cooperation would mean charges against two more suspects: Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults. She gave it to him, and he used it to pay Bob. I dont wish them any hardship. "Shortly thereafter I moved some furniture into the apartment. [10] Included on the probable cause affidavit were complaints from several women claiming that Leonard scammed them out of thousands of dollars. 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. I didnt give it any credibility. She then spoke with another neighbor, who told her there had been an explosion. The jury found 46-year-old Mark Leonard guilty of all counts against him, including murder and felony murder. Get caught up on the first two chapters here:Chapter I: The Night the Sky Caught Fire|Chapter II: The $4 Million Arson Plot. 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. I care about people. 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 daughters often watched the girl. BREAKING: By a vote of 24-38, New York's State Senate has voted against same-sex marriage legislation. Most importantly, Shirleys testimony would further tip the scales against the Leonard brothers. But their arrests wereonly the beginning of years of work to put them behind bars for good. You were a mom. Her house exploded on their third attempt of trying to claim insurance money. An autopsy will be conducted by the Marion County coroner's office Wednesday, according to the DOC. The topic came up again around July 4. Shirley would receive over $300,000 in insurance money for the replacement of the home as well as personal items. "Mark can insult [Thompson], and he never does anything," Shirley said. The game of death is a pretty popular one, but its not just because of the game of death; its also the game of life itself. Leonard is the brother of Mark Leonard, who is dating Montserrate Shirley, who along with Mark Leonard, lives in the home . 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 . Shirley testified in Fort Wayne at the trial of Bob Leonard, Jr. one of five people accused in the deadly 2012 Richmond Hill Explosion. They enter into evidence two golf bags with clubs and a driver. She said they should be punished, Carter testified. Shirley told jurors he lost a number of things in the explosion, including a collection of tennis rackets and a drafting table. Leonard is charged with 53 counts of murder, arson and conspiracy. Start the day smarter Notable deaths in 2023 The world's largest war 2023 meteor showers "She lost everything," he said. She has already been behind bars for four years. 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. Lisa Marie Presley's daughter Riley Keough wears a Graceland sweater as she . While Leonard has been in slacks, a dress shirt and tie throughout the trial, Shirley walked into the courtroom in shackles and a prison jumpsuit. Mark then asked Bob twice to "go get the part that we need." But ultimately I think we were able to accomplish what we needed to do for her.. But she put an end to that in August 2011.". He was working in Fishers on the night of the explosion. Shirley's next-door neighbors, John and Jennifer Longworth, died in the blast. 2012 explosion in Richmond Hill, Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "At least 2 killed, others injured in explosion, fire in Indianapolis neighborhood", "Family breaks ground on new home in Richmond Hill subdivision after Indianapolis home explosion", "36 homes critically damaged in explosion in south side neighborhood", "Homeowner at center of explosion feels lucky to be alive", "Authorities call Richmond Hill explosion a homicide case, seek details on white van", "Probable cause suggests pattern of fraud, details inconsistencies", "Richmond Hill suspect, friend face insurance fraud charges", "Affidavit: women say richmond hill blast suspect Mark Leonard has long history of scheming", "Shattered Subdivision Offers a Trail of Clues", "Life sentences without parole sought for Indianapolis explosion suspects", "4th person arrested in Indianapolis house explosion", "Fifth suspect charged in 2012 Indianapolis south side explosion", "Mark Leonard, Indy Blast suspect, pleads not guilty in murder plot", "Jim Voyles now representing Monserrate Shirley", "Home Explosion Case: Monserrate Shirley, Mark And Bob Leonard Due In Indianapolis Court", "Richmond Hill explosion: 3 trials for price of 1? Much of the attention since the explosion has centered on Monserrate Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard, who lived at the house in the center of the blast area. The next morning, they went to Bob Leonard's mobile home. 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. He refused, though, and warned them, "You guys be careful, because I know someone who committed arson and got 75 years in prison. At the end of the day, we still miss her and him, Dion, as much as ever, Buxton said. Mark and Bob stayed in the garage while they talked about what Bob's part would be, while Shirley stayed inside. 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 . 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. Shirley testified that friends called and told her there was a huge explosion. This story is Chapter III of a three-part series. In addition to his roofing business, Mastercraft, Leonard also flipped cars on the side. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. There's little remaining of Shirley's home (pictured at left) after Saturday's explosion. "I thought it was crazy," she told a jury, "but I went along with him." 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. But she put an end to that in August 2011.". Mark Leonard moved in with Monserrate Shirley about a month later. Make She later worked at St. Francis and Community South. She was inspired by the way Chef Alberto Marinovich put on this dish and it was a joy to serve. At the time her friends called her, Monserrate was at a casino with Mark Leonard. INTERACTIVE MAP|Residents relive Richmond Hill explosion, ViewExplosion Damaged Homesin a larger map, Download the new and improved RTV6 app to get the latest news on the go and receive alerts to your phone, Sign up to have the latest news headlines delivered straight to your email inbox, Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Indianapolis, IN Interactive Weather Radar, Full testimony: Monserrate Shirley takes the stand. It had three gas appliances - the water heater, the furnace and the fireplace. Aaron Carter. [6] Prosecutors also allege that he offered the hit man a $5,000 bonus if he made the murder look like a suicide. Before meeting Mark, Shirley had never been to a casino. In court Wednesday, she said he turned on the gas, but never lit the fire. So there wasnt a great deal of pressure on us, or desire by us, to offer her anything.. She went to a bar on the south side of Indianapolis in November 2011 and they immediately noticed each other. HS counselor at board meeting, Serial Indianapolis rapist pleads guilty to 9 counts, Mom speaks out after 2 kids killed by falling tree, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.