[20] The trials started in 2015. Below, find a transcript of John Shirley's testimony from Tuesday's hearing: 2:22 p.m. John Shirley, Monserrate Shirley's ex-husband, called as witness. 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. Monserrate Shirley sentenced to 50 years in prison - YouTube Authorities blamed a natural gas explosion inside the home of Monserrate Shirley, who was away at the time of the explosion. FULL STORY | Mark Leonards friend says he knew too much. You're a piece of [expletive]. The defense certainly offered to stipulate that 60 homes were damaged. 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. So while I had that, I pretty quickly set it aside and put it in a file marked Mark Leonard and never looked at it, because I couldnt allow that to influence me in the decision. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". "I am a nurse. Shirley testified in Fort Wayne at the trial of Bob Leonard, Jr. one of five people accused in the deadly 2012 Richmond Hill Explosion. [29] He was sentenced to life in prison plus 75 years without parole on August 14, 2015. Indianapolis trio accused of blowing up their home to collect insurance [14] In April 2015, a fifth man, Glenn Hults, was charged with conspiracy to commit arson. "They are currently in the process of recovering the appliances from destroyed homes to help determine the cause.". Monserrate Shirley, 49, would have to testify against former boyfriend Mark Leonard and his brother in the plea deal . But Im not allowed to say that. They moved into a home they built in Richmond Hill toward the end of 2003. Bob had been asking for his $10,000 payment before the explosion even happened. Estimates for the total scope of the damage caused by the explosion exceeded $4.5 million. The couple's steamy relationship lasted for about a month before they moved in together. It also didnt carry much weight for the families of Dion and Jennifer Longworth, who died in the blast. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I said I think theres ($10,000) or $12,000 in there, and he said, That was not enough, I want $300,000, Shirley said. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Leonard asked Holts to tell the story of his own fire, how easily he'd gotten the money and to re-assure Shirley everything would be alright if they did it at her house. Prosecutors started by addressing her plea agreement. At one point, after one of the failed attempts to burn the home, Monserrate Shirley said she offered Mark Leonard her 401k instead. Shirley: "She wanted us to live in a bigger house. She met Mark Leonard at a bar on November 12, 2011. It was unclear when the complaint was made and whether the utility company was alerted. ", Minch: "At no time did she ever say she was involved in the explosion?" Prosecutors ended by asking Shirley if the Longworths or any of her other neighbors deserved what happened. [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 next morning, they drove back and saw the house was still standing so they went on to Thompson's house where Leonard confronted him. I did my best. I thought it was crazy, but I went along with him. "That's not what you told me," she remembered saying to Mark. The shirley daughter is an Italian restaurant that takes more than 15 minutes to make you feel at home. None of them had given any indication they were willing to take a plea under the terms prosecutors were offering. She was the neighbor that all the other neighbors were looking at. Mark started telling Shirley they needed to get their stories straight before police started asking questions. Monserrate Shirley: 'I did everything to make him happy' - WISH-TV 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. Holts invited Leonard and Shirley to his friend's house for a pool party in the Geist neighborhood. American Greed: Property, auto insurance fraud is $30B problem - WSAV-TV Thompson left after a few hours and Shirley didn't hear anything else before the first attempt that Saturday. Its because the game of death is the game of life itself. Richmond Hill Explosion - indyencyclopedia.org He says he and Monserrate never boarded the cat when they were married. The original posters source was a little bit of a weird little coincidence, but the name was still alive and well. Four years after thedeadly Richmond Hill explosion, another chapter has closed. Call 6 Investigator Rafael Sanchez and Senior Digital Correspondent Jordan Fischer will be in Fort Wayne covering the trial every day. 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. 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 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 . Monserrate and John had the home in Richmond Hill built in 2003. Your email address will not be published. Jeff Wager, the lead homicide investigator in the case, talks about the surveillance and arrests of Mark Leonard and Monserrate Shirley: It was at a meeting with prosecutors in early 2015 that Richmond Hill residents learned of the plea deal being worked out with their former neighbor, Monserrate Shirley. He said that his daughter had mentioned that the furnace wasn't working, and he wondered whether a gas leak ignited the blast. Then there was the question of Leonards history. But no other problems. Shirley and Leonard had gone on television on multiple occasions following the blast to state their innocence, and to ask for privacy. 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. On November 19, it was announced that the investigation had become a criminal investigation. I certainly might feel bad for his family. It was never no for an answer. Man Gets Murder Conviction in Deadly Indiana House Blast Fraud Case Monserrate worked Friday, November 9. She was the one who got her daughter and her cat out of the situation and left her neighbors in the situation. Required fields are marked *. "He'll do anything I ask," Mark said of his brother. 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. Iwas scared. 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. 2023 CIRCLE CITY BROADCASTING I, LLC. When she told him there was around $10,000-12,000 in it, he said that wasn't enough. [13] A fourth person, Gary Thompson, was charged in January 2015 on the same charges. 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? The defense wrapped up a little more quickly than expected after Judge John Marnocha denied their request to play a video of Shirley's 2012 interview with the media. "No one deserves what happened," she said. You're done.". At least three of his possessions did survive, however: two golf bags, with clubs, and a driver he'd been gifted. At the end of the interview, Carter asked Shirley what should happen to the person responsible for the explosion. Its been around since the late 80s, but Im sure well find more of it on our own site. Mark Leonard moved in with Monserrate Shirley about a month later. Shirley may have been the prosecution's highest profile witness, but that doesn't mean they're done. A class C felony carries 2-8 years. As Mark Leonards defense team would point out repeatedly throughout his trial, there was a chance, however small, that Shirleys cooperation could end with her walking free at the end. monserrate is the name of the dish, as well as its . Too little, too late, said Jennifer Longworths father, Don Buxton. . [8], Prosecutors alleged that on the Friday before the explosion, Leonard and his brother Bob spoke with a neighbor who was a Citizens Energy employee, asking that person about the differences between natural gas and propane. Check those tickets! It was a good feeling.. Shirley: "Yes. 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 contend that the motorcycle was disassembled in Shirley's garage. Hed also been previously accused of insurance fraud in connection with a car accident. 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. Carter would testify that her emotions and demeanor seemed normal at the time, for someone whose house had just blown up. So there wasnt a great deal of pressure on us, or desire by us, to offer her anything.. Officials did not release further information regarding his death. Shirley: "No. Her sister had lived in the same housing complex. We believed that he did, we had some very thin evidence that he did. She never got a call, though. ProjectEuler/Program.cs at master gknicker/ProjectEuler She will not learn her fate until after all four of her alleged co-conspirators has been tried. ", 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?" INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. She said Leonard had bought it a few months beforehand at that point. Witness: Indianapolis man promised $10K for home explosion She was able to take that to the prosecutor and get a protective order against me. At one point you replaced the thermostat." SOUTH BEND, Ind. They claim that Leonard wanted the hit man to force the witness to call 9-1-1 and recant his statement before killing him. By the time wed got to trial, hed already been in jail for going on three years. An Indianapolis woman said she asked her then-boyfriend's half-brother what he had done when she learned the fire they planned to ignite using natural gas had I didn't do nothing wrong.". At sentencing, St. Joseph Superior Court Judge John Marnocha said Leonard demonstrated a sheer indifference for the safety of others., The motivation here is greed, Marnocha said. At 11:11 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2012, a two-story home on the south side of Indianapolis exploded with the force of as much as 5 tons of TNT. 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. PREVIOUS|Timeline of events|Gallery: The Richmond Hill Explosion|Where were you at 11:11 PM? Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. [38], Gary Thompson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Most importantly, Shirleys testimony would further tip the scales against the Leonard brothers. Thompson returned to their home to plan their next attempt. Monserrate Shirley was a divorced Puerto Rican mother whose exotic looks quickly attracted Mark Leonard. Gary Thompsonwas handed a 30-year prison sentence, 20 years executed, for his role in the murderous insurance fraud scheme. They'd soon get a new roommate. Bob Leonard said, "Well, you're in it. She said they should be punished, Carter testified. On the day of the explosion, another neighbor saw a white van pull into the driveway of Shirley's residence between 2:00 and 3:00p.m. 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. 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. Later that same day, an attorney asked Shirley if the Longworths deserved what happened to them. Shirley: "No.". By this time, Shirley's daughterhad noticed her portrait was no longer above the fireplace and asked Monserrate about it. . 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. She wanted to put it on her plate. The Retaking Of Richmond Hill - Indianapolis Monthly He also told Bob to go get Gary Thompson. Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. And in each of those categories, you betrayed your trust.. He couldn't get a card to play with so she got a card for him and played on his behalf. Made and inspired by a love triangle, this was written by a girl from Italy. "I don't know what happened. 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. Neighbors, family testify in sentencing hearing of Monserrate Shirley, owner of the home. We used to cook together, have dinner together.Very charming, very lovely man.". She transferred from her job in Michigan to the VA hospital in Indianapolis, where she worked for 17 years, focusing in the ICU. The brothers were sentenced to terms of life without parole for spearheading the conspiracy. They got to the room, but Mark wasn't feeling well so he stayed there while Shirley played slot machines for about an hour. [37] She is serving her sentence at Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis. But I dont feel bad for the deceased.. PHOTOS: First Richmond Hill trial Mark Leonard is on. A source who claimed to be in contact with the Shirley family told WISH-TV in Indianapolis that a family member had complained about smelling gas in the home at one time. She and her daughterwent to the hotel, where Mark later joined them. Its about becoming who you were meant to be. You were a nurse. 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. Leonard is the brother of Mark Leonard, who is dating Montserrate Shirley, who along with Mark Leonard, lives in the home . "John Shirley, whose ex-wife Monserrate Shirley lives at the home with their 12 year-old-daughter, said he got a text from his daughter about a week-and-a-half ago telling him the heat. With good behavior, her earliest possible release date is Dec. 19, 2032. Shirley had earlier cooperated in providing testimony against alleged co-conspirators but. This type of trial is unusual but not unheard of, and had been used in the trial of the Menendez brothers. Mark then asked Bob twice to "go get the part that we need." 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. Shirley says Monserrate got the house in the divorce. "In order to pay a very large amount of child support, I was working a full-time job and two part-time jobs," he said. He occasionally worked on those cars at Shirley's home so she saw he had a wide array of tools. It was the last time she would be in her home before the explosion. The topic came up again around July 4. I dont wish them any hardship. Two mental health experts testified that her childhood could have contributed to her decision to stay with Mark Leonard and go along with his plan to blow up her house for insurance money. Their first trip together was to the Hollywood Casino roughly 3-4 months after they first met. [16][17] The alleged motive for the arson was to collect insurance money to ease financial strain. She didnt know anyone died, she said. Monserrate Shirley and Mark leonard, profiled on the next "American Greed," staged a natural gas explosion to collect the insurance on their Indianapolis home. I had to know I could make this case based on the evidence I had.. Your email address will not be published. I always get the money.". This is too risky." So in the end there were a couple of people who were opposed to it, and I respected that. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. That's whatwe'll be asking the jury to consider.". Should we not use all those witnesses? ", Minch: "You've had problems over the years with the furnace and the water heater. "Two innocent people died because of this!" Shirley stated that her daughter had smelled gas during the week before the explosion. I didnt want it to affect the trial date, Robinson said. 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). Snapped: Killer Couples - Wikipedia [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. Of the dozens and dozens of homes damaged by the blast, 33 were affected so severely they had to be demolished. I got upset with her and sent her some derogatory texts. Monserrate Shirley is lead into her sentencing hearing in December 2016. Both the prosecution and defense attorneys asked Shirley if she thought Hults was joking. 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. Thompson arrived on Monday or Tuesday, October 22-23, while Shirley's daughter was at school. The home was owned by his girlfriend at the time, Monserrate Shirley, who testified earlier this month that Bob. When she left that morning, her daughterand Snowball were still there (Mark was going to take them to school and the kennel). Monserrate Shirley sentencing: 'She is the worst of the bunch' - WTHR Monserrate "Moncy" Shirley, a nurse, owned the home at the center of the explosion. Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were out of town for the weekend while her 12-year-old daughter stayed with friends. Denise Robinson, the Marion County Prosecutor on the case, told the court she rarely asks for the maximum sentence. Monserrate Shirley was ordered to serve out her sentence at the Indiana Womens Prison in Indianapolis. Shirley: "Yes. She testified Wednesday she has a condition that prevents her tear ducts from actually producing tears. Ms. Shirley ultimately took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty and provided important information during the investigation. Shirley is originally from Puerto Rico. monserrate shirley daughter - Investigative Guide The Insurance Scam That Blew Up A Neighborhood - Medium In one case, she said the first attempt was supposed to be tied to gasoline not natural gas. And the water heater." Robinson knew that. Monserrate Shirley spent the entire day on the stand Wednesday, and the anticipation of her testimony was evident in courtroom attendance. He says the log lighter worked fine when he lived there. Shirley didn't hear anything more about a plot to start a fire that night, and nothing happened. She has already been behind bars for four years. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison on the arson charges on top of two life sentences for the murder charges. 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. . Shirley: "She lost everything. [28], Mark Leonard was found guilty on all 53 counts, including murder and felony murder charges, on July 14. Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard: 'Killer Couples' Airs Richmond Hills 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. Gary Thompson, who had helped with the first two unsuccessful attempts to blow up Monserrate Shirleys house, pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2016, to conspiracy to commit arson and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She was crying and hysterical and said the house blew up.". When the relationship first started, she said, "He was a nice guy. 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. He told her to tell Holts, though, that they would be trying the fire again that night (Sunday night). She later worked at St. Francis and Community South. Leonard was being held at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facilitybut was transferred to the hospital several days ago. While Shirley said he lost a lot, he pointed out the toll was much greater on his then-13-year-old daughter Brook. She, at first, struggled to identify her other neighbors. Richmond Hill explosion: Where are they now? - indystar.com "Cases are made up of hurdles all the time," Robinson said Wednesday. Monserrate Shirley, who had pleaded not guilty after she and two men were charged in late 2012, appeared before a Marion County judge in a courtroom filled with current and former residents of the . Seven months later, on March 18, 2016, his brother Bob Leonard Jr. received his own sentence of life without parole in a courtroom in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The couple says their neighbor Bob Leonard was led away for questioning. Monserrate Shirley, 49, said she became distraught when neighbors telephoned her after the November 2012 explosion and told her that her home was destroyed. To this day, absolutely they had the right to do that. Shirley: "Back in August (2011) she just stopped taking my phone calls and letting me talk to Brook. Marion County Superior Court Judge Sheila Carlisle sentenced Monserrate Shirley to spend the maximum sentence of 50 years in prison on Tuesday. Richmond Hill Explosion - indyencyclopedia.org [30] He died on January 30, 2018, at an Indianapolis hospital, aged 48, of natural causes. 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.. They laughed at her for asking, but it was switched back out. 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. "You face one, you get over one and you've got another one all the way until the end. [22], On January 16, 2015, Shirley agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors. [1] Thirty-three homes were damaged severely enough to require demolition. Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1. A second home was reduced to rubble as well, and other houses were half-collapsed. 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. IndyStar reporter Robert King contributed to this story. 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. [14] Shirley admitted raising the limit on her insurance coverage at Mark Leonard's urging, and only went along with the plot out of love for him. He questioned her about the multiple boardings of her cat, Snowball, which he found odd. She explained that Snowball had anxiety.