John moved out in February 2010 and their divorce was finalized that summer. [29] He was sentenced to life in prison plus 75 years without parole on August 14, 2015. The meeting was difficult for me because I couldnt ethically tell them everything, Robinson said. 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. Monserrate worked Friday, November 9. "She lost everything," he said. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Including journalists, it was closer to four dozen. Gary Thompsonwas handed a 30-year prison sentence, 20 years executed, for his role in the murderous insurance fraud scheme. 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. . 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 . Should we not use all those witnesses? The men were reportedly in the home briefly and hurriedly left. [30] He died on January 30, 2018, at an Indianapolis hospital, aged 48, of natural causes. Critics have accused Shirley of faking her reaction after the explosion because she seemed upset but never shed a tear. Her earliest possible release date is December 19, 2037when she will be 72 years old. "You face one, you get over one and you've got another one all the way until the end. 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. 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. This story is Chapter III of a three-part series. 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. 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. She was too involved. She then got food for them both and went back to the room around midnight. Prosecutors entered all three into evidence Tuesday. But Im not allowed to say that. I dont know why they did it. "I was at one of my part-time jobs when I got a text from my daughter, which was very unusual. Follow her on Twitter:@hollyvhays. Mark then asked Bob twice to "go get the part that we need." "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.". To begin the day, Monserrate Shirley explained how she and Mark Leonard met. [3][4] Damage to homes in the neighborhood was estimated at $4 million. Its about remembering who you are. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "I thought it was crazy," she told a jury, "but I went along with him." To do that, the team moved 80 boxes of documents connected to the case to an office on the east side of Indianapolis. 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. In addition to the thousands of pieces of physical evidence, they had more than 200 witnesses lined up to testify. And it wasn't the answer we were looking for. She moved to the United States when she was 25. Write For Us: Investigative Articles are Intriguing. The sentence accounts for time served and good. Monserrate Shirley agreed to testify against Mark Leonard as part of a plea agreement to reduce her potential prison time. 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. The first time Shirley cried on the stand Wednesday was when she was asked about her neighbors. Shirley told jurors he lost a number of things in the explosion, including a collection of tennis rackets and a drafting table. Monserrate Shirley and Mark leonard, profiled on the next "American Greed," staged a natural gas explosion to collect the insurance on their Indianapolis home. How to fix the pii__email__cbd448bbd34c985e423c Error code? Leonard died around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at an Indianapolis hospital,according to an Indiana Department of Correction spokesman. She told him the attempt didnt work but that there would be another attempt. Shirleys apology rang hollow to many Richmond Hill residents in the courtroom. But she put an end to that in August 2011.". 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. 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. There have been days with only two people in the audience other than media, but there were more than 30 Wednesday. Indiana sheriffs deputy dies after falling ill during training, Myles Colvin captivates Heritage Christian crowds, preps for Purdue. And the game of death is the game of life itself. [11], Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and Bob Leonard were initially charged with two counts of murder and arson in the deaths of Dion and Jennifer Longworth. SOUTH BEND, Ind. They agreed to say they'd been having trouble with the thermostat and smelling gas for a while. Again, Monserrate agreed to do her same three preparations: a casino hotel reservation, a babysitter for her daughterand boarding for Snowball. And I wanted to be able to tell them everything., TRANSCRIPT | The full testimony of Monserrate Shirley. 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. As fate would have it, it would be Carter, just a few weeks later, who would place Monserrate Shirley in handcuffs. Shirley: "She wanted us to live in a bigger house. "Except her cat, the clothes on her back and a teddy bear she got when she was 1.". [34][35], Monserrate Shirley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit arson. 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. Prosecutors alleged that the men conspired to submit an insurance claim for a stolen motorcycle. Shirley: "Yes. Your email address will not be published. Carter would testify that her emotions and demeanor seemed normal at the time, for someone whose house had just blown up. Shirley said she thought the fire plan was crazy, but went along with it anyway. The shirley daughter is an Italian restaurant that takes more than 15 minutes to make you feel at home. Bob Leonard, Monserrate Shirley, Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults also face charges in connection to the explosion. You may have noticed that the name monserrate has been replaced with the word shirley, which is used in both a variety of other games and in the game of death. The explosion in the subdivision just south of the city on Saturday, Nov. 10, killed John and Jennifer Longworth. He faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. "Everything they were telling me, it could not be possible," Shirley said on the stand as she started to get emotional. The home also had a microwave above the stove which had a programmable timer. The first attempt was supposed to be carried out by Gary Thompson, but it failed. The Richmond Hill neighbors had been waiting long enough without a trial. Among the "no" votes, inexplicably: political dancer Hiram Monserrate. Then there was the question of Leonards history. She was the neighbor that all the other neighbors were looking at. [23] The plea deal involved Shirley pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit arson in exchange for testifying against the other suspects. 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. ", When asked if the attacks on Shirley's credibility would damage the State's case, Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson said, "If you think about anybody who gives a number of statements, and you think about inconsistencies when you're asked questions and you have to answer the questions that you're asked [no more, no less]. On Friday, October 26, Leonard told Shirley to get anything sentimental out of the house. BREAKING: By a vote of 24-38, New York's State Senate has voted against same-sex marriage legislation. We believed that he did, we had some very thin evidence that he did. No one, Shirley replied, crying.I WAS IN LOVE WITH HIM. Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. We knew we were taking a week of testimony from the residents to talk about what had happened to their houses, Robinson said. 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. He asked how much was in the 401k, according to Shirley. 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. ", She said Mark told her, "It cannot be that bad.Don't worry about it. Should I have accepted that stipulation? Two of those alleged co-conspirators were arrested as a direct result of her cooperation: Gary Thompson and Glenn Holts. towns among 150 Best Small Town in America, Citizens support Ind. Robinson also couldnt tell the residents that Shirleys cooperation would mean charges against two more suspects: Gary Thompson and Glenn Hults. She went to a bar on the south side of Indianapolis in November 2011 and they immediately noticed each other. You were a neighbor and you were a friend, Carlisle said. The man he called was actually an undercover agent. 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. "That cannot be real. She still wiped under her eyes with a tissue several times while she was on the stand. Required fields are marked *. 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. So in the end there were a couple of people who were opposed to it, and I respected that. The name comes from a restaurant that is on the run called theserie rossa which translates to the run of the wits. Im telling the truth and nothing but the truth was a phrase repeated by Monserrate Shirley throughout the day. She and her daughterwent to the hotel, where Mark later joined them. You're done.". Leonard got sick in March 2012. "I want $300,000. News, information &. Ms. Shirley, 47, and Mark Leonard, 43, her boyfriend, were 100 miles away at a casino when their home blew up. ", "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. 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. The evidence Robinson and Hollingsworth had was substantial. [6] They had arranged for Shirley's 12-year-old daughter to stay with friends and had boarded their cat, Snowball, for the weekend. "Two innocent people died because of this!" We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Bob Leonard's son told investigators that several items were in the van that had been taken from the home, including photos and financial documents. 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. 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. Shirley's daughterwent with them in Leonard's Cadillac. But the majority supported us.. 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? Shirley claims Leonard coerced her involvement, testifying that he threatened her and her daughter. Much of Tuesdays testimony included accounts of Shirleys difficult childhood. Heappears to have died of natural causes. Many of the women reported that they met him on dating sites and that he soon began asking them for money. The November 2012 blast claimed the lives of John and Jennifer Longworth and spawned an investigation that landed five people behind bars. During the course of this lengthy process, we have sincerely appreciated the cooperation and patience of these families. monserrate is a real-life cousin of Shirley, and its said that her daughter monserrate will be taking us on when we die. Many Git commands accept both tag and branch names, so creating this branch may cause unexpected behavior. "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. It would have shortened the trial a week. Made and inspired by a love triangle, this was written by a girl from Italy. To this day, absolutely they had the right to do that. The case was expected to be the largest and most expensive trial in Marion County history. Residents, particularly the younger ones, report experiencing continued psychological trauma from the incident. 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. She now faces 20-50 years, though a judge has the right to suspend some, or all of that time. To see the faces of the neighborhood people and the sense of relief and calmness when the verdicts came in was a good thing, Garza said. The third weekends attempt was the one that killed the Longworths. Once again, she agreed to make the same three arrangements: the casino reservation, a babysitter for her daughterand boarding for Snowball. Having Shirley as a witness came with its own pitfalls, though. I thought it was crazy, but I went along with him. Again, she said, "Because I was not able to tell him 'no'." 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. Robinson says she didnt expect anything to change. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Hed also been previously accused of insurance fraud in connection with a car accident. Shirley told her daughternot to come back to the house for any reason, though she didn't explain why not. Defense attorney Ted Minch on cross-examination: "You're not happy to be here today." While still at the hotel, Mark asked her to call a heating & cooling company on Sunday, November 4, to see what they would charge to check on the heat because the house was too cold. "I have everybody telling me stuff that they said on the TV," she said. ", When they went to pick up Shirley's daughteron Sunday, Holts told Mark to "Get the [expletive] out of here. No one else was within earshot, so far as she knew. 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. [6] Prosecutors also allege that he offered the hit man a $5,000 bonus if he made the murder look like a suicide. Defense attorney David Shircliff then said Shirley may not have provided the "means" for the explosion, but she took care of the logistics to make sure no one realized she was helping blow up her own home. 2023 CIRCLE CITY BROADCASTING I, LLC. 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. The shirley daughter is an Italian restaurant that takes more than 15 minutes to make you feel at home. IndyStar reporter Robert King contributed to this story. Shirley wasnt a suspect at the time, and the interview was a routine one. Jurors will later hear that the golf bags and clubs were found at Bob Leonard's home after the explosion. [6] Her attorneys argued that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and was coerced by Mark Leonard into participating in the crime. He says the log lighter worked fine when he lived there. Shirley said she would come back immediately, but they told her there was no house to come back to. Aaron Carter. We are sure to have a lot more weird coincidences in the next few days, but this one is pretty crazy. Shirley says Monserrate's sister moved out of the neighborhood around the same time they moved in. FORT WAYNE, Ind. The only improvement he ever made was to buy two flat screen TV's, a 65-70 inch model for the master bedroom and a 42 inch screen for her daughter'sroom. Everything's under control.". The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Leonard is charged with 53 counts of murder, arson and conspiracy. Shirley said she has been reeling from the pain of people blaming her for the tragic event. And then there was the arrangement that when I picked up my daughter I would get to take some of my belongings. On December 21, 2012, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and his brother Bob Leonard were charged with 2 counts of felony murder and . So you do get concerned about, will they see the arsons? . Leonard started talking the next week about trying for a second time to burn down the home. 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. Although the jury would eventually hear testimony and an audio recording of Leonard talking to an undercover ATF agent posing as a hitman (and Leonard would eventually get an extra 50 years in prison for it), having that information before the trial even began would have been extremely prejudicial against him. "I mean, I'm totally devastated like my neighbors are.". By December 2014, two years after the explosion in the Richmond Hill subdivision, prosecutors were preparing to go to trial without any cooperating witnesses. -- 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. Instead, on Dec. 20, 2016 after a two-day sentencing hearing that would be the closest her former neighbors would get to seeing her on trial Shirley was sentenced to the maximum term of 50 years in prison. "Cases are made up of hurdles all the time," Robinson said Wednesday. While Shirley said he lost a lot, he pointed out the toll was much greater on his then-13-year-old daughter Brook. On November 19, it was announced that the investigation had become a criminal investigation. Shirley: "She lost everything. When a defense attorney comes out and says, My client didnt do anything at all, but you clearly can show they did, then usually its going to be an all-or-nothing verdict, Robinson said. He was, however, eventually able to return to his hobby of umpiring softball. Gary Thompson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson and received a 30-year sentence, with 10 years suspended. I commend Det. Shirley says he replaced the thermostat "so there were more options to heat the house during the day.". Shirley says Monserrate got the house in the divorce. On December 21, 2012, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, and his brother Bob Leonard were charged with 2 counts of felony murder and . Shirley says he and Monserrate married on July 17, 1993. The inmate and Leonard drew up a contract agreeing that Leonard would pay the inmate $15,000 when he was released, the affidavit said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. [36] Shirley was sentenced to 50 years in prison, the maximum possible under her plea agreement, on December 20, 2016. She never got a call, though. She asked that Mark and Bob switch it back out for the nicer version. Their first trip together was to the Hollywood Casino roughly 3-4 months after they first met. FOLLOW|Rafael Sanchez on Twitter|Jordan Fischer on Twitter, RELATED LINKS |Richmond Hill Special Section|Mark Ray Leonard convicted on all counts. For years, the team holed up in that office three days a week to avoid being distracted by other ongoing cases. They went home together that night and he moved in the first week of December. It's been hard for me and my daughter. 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. She later worked at St. Francis and Community South. Too little, too late, said Jennifer Longworths father, Don Buxton. That becomes eight years when good time credit is applied. [22], On January 16, 2015, Shirley agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors. "Mark can insult [Thompson], and he never does anything," Shirley said. Its very difficult sentencing hearing weve been through for two days. So there wasnt a great deal of pressure on us, or desire by us, to offer her anything.. I said OK, she said. 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. The most money she ever remembered seeing him lose on a single trip was $7,000. On the night of the explosion, Shirley said he was working a second job in Fishers. Shirley says he was worried Brook's cat Snowball was in the house and might have been killed. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Shirley and her boyfriend Mark Leonard were out of town for the weekend while her 12-year-old daughter stayed with friends. Most importantly, Shirleys testimony would further tip the scales against the Leonard brothers. The co-conspirators include Shirleys boyfriend at the time, Mark Leonard, and his brother, Bob Leonard Jr. I dont wish them any hardship. I was at one of my part-time jobs when I got a text from my daughter, which was very unusual. After he was done, the fireplace worked properly and they never smelled any gas inside the home because of it. Shirley: "No. Mark Leonard, the man considered the mastermind behind the 2012 Richmond Hill neighborhood explosion that killed two peopleand wounded at least adozen others, is dead. And I understand it, because of their feelings about her. After her 12 hour shift, she planned to see her daughter at the Holts' house and change there. 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. 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 was never no for an answer. They had left town the night before, after Ms. Shirley's nursing shift at a local. 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. 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). Monserrate Shirley cried at various points Wednesdaybut didnt shed any actual tears. 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.