His crimes were discovered in May 1980, when a maid at a Hasbrouck Heights motel heard Cottingham's next intended victim an 18-year-old woman screaming from inside his room. Whatever Happened To The Suitcase Killer Melanie McGuire's Two - MSN David Cooper, in a mugshot after the death of Latasha Goodman, and his recent prison photo. Then he hired congregant Len Jenoff and Paul Danielsto beat his wife to death and make it look like a botched robbery. (AP Photo/Department of Corrections). The circumstantial evidence against Melanie McGuire was mounting by this point, but investigators were still having trouble finding any physical evidence that would link Melanie McGuire to her husband's murder, according to Sacks. (Photos from file and state Department of Corrections), Convicted killer of 2 young women seeking DNA test to clear him of slaying. "I won't be home until my oldest is 18 and my youngest is 16," she told EW. Melanie gives authorities theories about her husband's death but what's the truth? (File photos). What's happened with their appeals? Like, how could somebody think that I did that? Melanie McGuire told ABC News Amy Robach in a rare interview from prison for "20/20.. We looked very closely at Dr. Miller, said Prezioso. I still feel bothered. So where are New Jersey's infamous felons now? Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Kanka's death inspired Megan's Law statutes at the federal level and in states throughout the country, requiring sex offenders to register with local authorities. Like, how could somebody think that I did that? A jury found the killing was self defense. Women who have killed: 12 of New Jersey's most notorious Follow her on Twitter@rebeccajeverett. The podcast, hosted by Fairleigh Dickinson University criminology professors Meghan Sacks and Amy Schlosberg questions Melanie McGuire's guilt and suggests that there is evidence in the case that never received the legal scrutiny it deserved. A state appeals court in 2011 rejected McGuire's argument she was denied a fair trial. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, State Superior Court Judge Angela Borkowski gave Locane more time after the punishment, Wrong Turn: The tragic story of former It Girl Amy Locane, Amy Locane to be re-sentenced for fatal auto crash, Amy Locane recalls drunk-driving crash in post-prison interview. She pleaded not guilty. Whatever Happened To The Suitcase Killer Melanie McGuire's Two - MSN State Superior Court Judge Angela Borkowski gave Locane more time after the punishmentfor her original conviction (second-degree vehicular homicide and assault by an auto), which was deemed too lenient. Following the 2018 investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at the prison, the DOC released a statement in April, 2020, saying reforms were introduced at the prison to make it easier for inmates to report sexual abuse. After all these years, I still feel hurt," McGuire told "20/20", For some, it mightve seemed like a real-life episode of The Sopranos.. She must serve 63 years of the sentence before she is eligible for parole. Where are they now? Bill McGuire, 39, disappeared April 28, 2004, shortly after announcing to his friends that he and his wife had just closed the sale of their first home, according to an appeal filed in her case. I have a book that I can look in that doesn't leave an internet history, Melanie McGuire told "20/20.". She said her husband left and that she never saw him again. What's happened with their appeals? On April 26, 2004, Melanie had purchased a .38 caliber handgun from a store in Easton, Pennsylvania; Bill had been killed with a .38 caliber handgun with wadcutter bullets. Melanie McGuire Today: Where Is the Suitcase Killer Now in 2020? The chart below captures the current COVID cases within the inmate and staff population, following Phase 2 testing, which includes retesting those individuals who were previously negative. New Jersey Department of Corrections/Find a Grave Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the six life sentences Charles Cullen faces in Pennsylvania. She will not be eligible for parole until she has served 66 years in prison. Crime: Autumn Pasquale, 12, disappeared after riding her bike to Robinson's home in Clayton, where he promised to work on her bike in 2012. The New Jersey Supreme Court has denied her petition for sentence relief. [1], By April 2004, the McGuires had been married for five years. Melanie and Bill McGuire pictured hugging at an unknown date. Creato hasn't filed any appeals, but his father vowed to hire a private investigator to find "the real killer.". Where are they now? NJ will close Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, Gov. Murphy says Video Podcasters believe Melanie McGuire is wrongfully - ABC News She didn't contact Bill or report him as a missing person, which some of Bill's friends found suspicious. Miller agreed to cooperate with investigators and was never charged in the crime. may be available from PACER. She put his remains into a 3-piece suitcase set, and those three pieces were later found in Chesapeake Bay. What's happened with their appeals? His conviction and sentence was upheld in 1999. Cooper appealed for post-conviction relief, taking his case to the state's Supreme Court, but the court ruled against him in 2006. Case Details Parties Documents Dockets Case Details Case Number: 21-1750 Filing Date: 04/19/2021 Case Status: After a nearly month and a half long trial, Melanie McGuire was found guilty. Bergrin appealed his convictions and sentence, saying he was denied a fair trial for several reasons. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Robinson admitted he was the one who strangled Pasquale to death claiming in a 2017 interview with NJ.com that she started hitting him first and his brother pleaded guilty to obstruction. got caught dumping the trunk into a river. She purchased a gun just two days before he was shot, so the timing was suspicious but she claimed Bill had asked her to buy the gun for him, and she agreed. [9] Police believed that she used a syringe and prescription from her work to obtain the drug used as a means to incapacitate her husband.[11]. Sentence: 17 years in prison. Youre talking about hours [of driving] and there isnt enough time, said McGuire. The Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women near Clinton, New Jersey, made headlines for allegations of sexual abuse and for the recent spread of the coronavirus, New Jersey Spotlight News reported. As Melanie tells it, Bill accused her of not watching their child while doing laundry, saying that there was a choking hazard from a dryer sheet (via YouTube). Melanie recounted an example when Bill got a speeding ticket, he became so enraged that he told her he was going to return home and kill her. Her earliest possible parole date is May 20, 2073, according to the Department of Corrections. "He said he was leaving, and he wasn't coming back, and I could tell my children they didn't have a father." Melanie McGuire, currently serving her prison sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County. "There was no evidence connecting him to this crime.. After all these years, I still feel hurt. [5], Melanie Lyn Slate grew up in Ridgewood and Middletown Township, New Jersey, attending Middletown High School South. McGuire got the unfortunate luggage nickname after she was convicted of drugging her husband, shooting him to death, and stuffing his dismembered body into three dark green suitcases that were later found in the Chesapeake Bay. The New Jersey couple occasionally had fights and broke up from time to time but always got back together (via YouTube). N.J.'s most infamous killers behind bars: Then and now - nj.com As My Central Jersey reports, Melanie McGuire allegedly dismembered Bill's body and brought the trio of suitcases to a bridge. He ran tests, but he didn't do all the tests that you actually need to definitively say whether these bags match, added Sacks. McGuire, now 47, was convicted of killing and dismembering her husband after a lengthy trial in 2007. And my answer is I can't explain because I don't think it makes any sense either," Wronko told EW earlier this month. At least the prison conversations won't be, ahem, boring for Amy Locane. Watch the full story on "20/20" Friday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. Creato was accused of killing Brendan, 3,because his 17-year-old girlfriend didn't like that he was a dad and was breaking up with him. [9] Bill and Melanie owned a green couch, and investigators theorized that the murderer used a pillow or couch cushion as a makeshift silencer to shoot Bill. She said in a moment of admitted irrationality she decided to drive down there and look for his car. Bill became a computer technician, while Melanie sought out a career path as a fertility clinic nurse. The couple's fights began to escalate, leading to a quarrel on April 29, 2004 (via ABCNews). She was sentenced to life in prison. I believe that the evidence presented to the jury told the jury what happened," Prezioso said. Dr. On 04/19/2021 Melanie McGuire filed a Prisoner - Other Prisoner lawsuit against Attorney General New Jersey. McGuire told 20/20 she did not commit the crimes for which she was convicted. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Her earliest release date is Aug. 3, 2044. Last year,a judge rejected a separate request for post-conviction relief in which McGuire had claimed her defense attorney provided ineffective counsel. Cullen is incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, according to correctional records. There were five lands and grooves that my weapon was said to have made based on the company's website. While on death row, Harris punched, kicked and stomped to death a fellow death row inmate, Robert "Mudman" Simon, who had been convicted of killing Franklin Township police Sgt. [9] Similarly, a medical grade towel found with Bill's body matched those stocked at the clinic where Melanie worked. Melanie McGuire, now 47, maintains her innocence from the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton, New Jersey, the state's only women's prison where there are approximately 500 . [9] McGuire persisted in claiming she was innocent, and claimed her husband had become increasingly moody and unpredictable and was a compulsive gambler. Subscribe to Justia's Free Newsletters featuring summaries of federal and state court opinions. ABC dug into the case and interviewed McGuire in prison for their two-hour 20/20 special, Suitcase Killer, which airs at 9 p.m. Eastern time Friday, September 25, 2020. Women inmates move between the areas of the maximum and medium security compounds at the Edna Mahan Women's Correctional Facility. A four-count indictment came down from a state grand jury. The investigation began after the body parts were discovered and Melanie McGuire was identified as a main suspect. What Happened To Melanie McGuire, The Suitcase Killer? Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for WomenMelanie McGuire prison record. Sentence? He said he was leaving and he wasnt coming back and [that] I could tell my children they didnt have a father.. Per Asbury Park Press, the "suitcase killer," Melanie McGuire, has returned to court most recently in 2014. My job is to convince the jury. Days later, an unidentified man, believed by many to be her stepfather, also contacted E-ZPass and attempted to have the charge removed. [24][25] On April 29, 2014, McGuire filed a motion for post-conviction relief, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and newly discovered evidence. The Melrose Place actresswho is now serving a second sentence at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in New Jerseyshares a prison cell with Melanie McGuire, the infamous "Suitcase Killer." Through record tracing, they found out that the chloral hydrate was picked up at a Walgreens pharmacy just down the road from the McGuire children's daycare on the morning that Bill McGuire disappeared. On June 5, 2005, authorities arrested Melanie McGuire on first-degree murder charges. Podcasters believe Melanie McGuire is wrongfully convicted: Part 10. Watch the full story on "20/20" Friday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. The appellate court upheld the decision and theSupreme Court declined to hear it in 2016. ", Credit: Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage; ABC, Amy Locane's prison cell roommate is the notorious Suitcase Killer. Then, they looked in Pennsylvania. It also promised to better educate staff and inmates about the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, and said it had set up an early-warning system to identify problematic behavior by staff. (Matt Rainey & The Star-Ledger/Department of Corrections), Man killed, dismembered 2 because of message from God. She says he then pinned her to the wall, hit her, and tried to choke her with the dryer sheet. Before she was charged with murder, Melanie contacted E-ZPass and attempted to have the $0.90 charge removed from her account history. This stuff exists, she said on the show. [9] Police released a facial reconstruction sketch of the victim, which an acquaintance of Bill McGuire's recognized. https://directappealpodcast.com/. She's now a 47-year-old inmate at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Clinton, New . Where are they now? Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story premieres Saturday, June 18 on Lifetime. He probably would have broken my cheek if [the hit] had been a closed fist, Melanie McGuire said. Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story Lifetime Candice King - MEAWW Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women (formerly the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women) [1] is a prison facility for women of the state of New Jersey Department of Corrections, located in Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, [2] [3] near Clinton. Watch new at 9/8c on ABC. Meghan Sacks, host of podcast "Direct Appeal" and Fairleigh Dickinson University criminology professor questions Melanie McGuire's guilt. He took her out of the yard, sexually assaulted and strangled her, and left her body in a nearby yard. "It turned out that when the record check was done with Pennsylvania, a record came back that Melanie McGuire had purchased a gun," said Patti Prezioso, the lead investigator and prosecutor at Melanie McGuire's trial. Brothers Jonathan Zarate (top left and top right) and his little brother James Zarate (bottom left and bottom right) were convicted of killing their neighbor in 2005 in Randolph. Her body was found in a recycling bin nearby days later, and both Robinson, 15, and his brother, Dante Robinson, 17, were arrested. McGuire maintains her innocence, and wants her two adult sons to look into the case for themselves. Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women Facility Type State Prison Authority New Jersey Department of Corrections Address 30 County Road 513 PO Box 4004, Clinton, NJ, 08809 Phone 908-735-7111 Capacity 909 Date Established 1913 Offender Gender Female Offenders Security Level Maximum, medium and minimum City Clinton Postal Code 8809 State McGuire, now 46 years old, is serving a life sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility. Protesters call for transgender women to be removed from all-female NJ If youre willing to wear a wire, well believe you, said Sacks. ", a judge rejected a separate request for post-conviction relief. A man then says, "who does this to another human being?". Some got reduced sentences in plea dealsor just did their time, and they left prison and restarted their lives on the outside. Prezioso said the evidence presented by the states computer forensic expert at trial was robust and Melanie McGuires legal team presented their own expert as well. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Upon further investigation, police discovered a security video of the car being moved in the early morning hours of April 30, 2004. It took four years and two trials the first jury hung for federal prosecutors to convict him in 2013 of the 23 charges facing him. . To this day, Melanie, the mother of William's two sons, is serving her sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Clinton, New Jersey. Koedatich, who just turned 70 behind bars, is incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, according to correctional records. In 2004, Bill McGuire was found dismembered in three separate dark green Kenneth Cole suitcases that were found in and around the Chesapeake Bay, near Virginia Beach, Virginia. People explains that she did this all in an effort to maintain her relationship with Mills. https://t.co/ZGewROXCaQ pic.twitter.com/hlzcKR96Ss. Melanie McGuire claimed that her gun could not have been the murder weapon since the numbers of lands and grooves on the bullets that came out of Bill McGuire didn't match the number that the manufacturing website said it had made her gun with. In June 2005, Melanie McGuire was arrested and charged with Bill's murder . She adds, Is she trying to say that the man who was so excited to be buying this house, because he wanted to have this house for the wife that he loved and his children, that at the same time trying to kill her? After being released on bail, Melanie faced additional charges on October 11, 2005. It was hard. (Robert Sciarrino/Alex Remnick/Department of Corrections), Brothers caught dumping body after grisly killing of teen girl. This stuff exists. The one where EW follows up with the cast. She was found guilty and the former nurse remains held at the troubled Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton, where she is serving a life sentence. Melanie McGuire - Wikipedia They recorded her calls with family and friends, including Miller, with whom she was having the affair. When Bill McGuires body was found with bullet wounds, prosecutors pointed to the fact that Melanie McGuire had purchased a gun in Pennsylvania just two days before her husband was reported missing. Supreme Court declined to hear it in 2016. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia. [9] Police received a tip from a private towing company employee who said he towed a 2002 Nissan Maxima (Bill McGuire's car) from the Flamingo Motel in Atlantic City, on May 8, 2004. It's out there," she said. What Happened To Melanie McGuire, The Suitcase Killer. [6][7] She enrolled at Rutgers University with a double major in math and psychology and graduated in 1994. What's happened with their appeals? Neulander, 76, is at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. (File photo/Department of Corrections), It took a quarter century to convict mom who killed 5-year-old son. Melanie did not incapacitate, shoot [or] use a saw to dismember her husband, said Sacks. Have a tip? "Direct Appeal," a 20-episode Apple podcast hosted by criminologists, examined her case once more, suggesting that much of the evidence against Melanie was circumstantial. More than a year later, on October 26, 2006, McGuire was charged with two counts of hindering apprehension for allegedly writing letters to police aimed at getting them off her trail. "Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story" starring Candice King as McGuire, is set to premiere at 8 p.m. June 18 on the Lifetime network. What's happened with their appeals? What's happened with their appeals? In 2015, Seidle chased his wife, Tamara Wilson-Seidle, and opened fire on her car on an Asbury Park street, even though one of his children was in the car with her. Prosecutors said Melanie McGuire then stuffed her husband's remains into weighted suitcases she later dumped into the Chesapeake Bay. Next: What is the Lifetime movie Dirty . Seidle, who pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, losthis appeal of his 30-year sentence in 2017. of Corrections) WOODBRIDGE, NJ For anyone. Prezioso is certain that Bill McGuires murderer is the woman who was convicted and is now sitting in prison. 31 Guards Suspended at a Women's Prison Plagued by Sexual Violence