Marcia Kelly
Encyclopedia
Marcia Gayle Kelly is a convicted American female murderer serving life without parole for orchestrating the murder of her husband James. She is incarcerated at the Mountain View Unit
in Gatesville, Texas
, and her inmate number is #1381826.
home. Initially, his stepdaughter Shaina Sepulvado and her friends Dallas Christian and Colton Weir were the prime suspects. All three were later charged in James' death. When interviewed however, James' widow, Marcia, was implicated in his death. The State of Texas alleged that Colton claimed Shaina and Marcia had orchestrated the plot to have James murdered, and was promised a vehicle in return for committing the crime. In a police statement, Marcia admitted that she overheard some of the juveniles make a statement about wanting to kill her husband, but did not admit to offering them anything to kill her husband. On October 26, 2005, Marcia is charged with capital murder.
policy on James. Prosecutors also stated that Marcia and James argued on how to punish Marcia's unruly daughter Shaina. Other testimony was presented at the trial from men who claimed Marcia had also solicited them to kill her husband, along with that of Colton Weir.
Marcia did not testify in her own defense, but her daughter Shaina did take the stand to defend her mother. On the stand, Shaina testified that she was responsible for the murder and that her mother was not involved. Shaina had also claimed that James had been beating and molesting her. Jurors did not believe her, and convicted Marcia of capital murder. Since the death penalty had not been sought against her, Marcia received an automatic sentence of life without parole.
. They are each serving life without parole.
Dallas Christian pled guilty to murder and was sentenced to 40 years in 2008.
Two other males, Billy Loftin and Gary Batchelor, were convicted of lesser charges of tampering with evidence, in connection with James Kelly's death.
Marcia Kelly's conviction was affirmed by the Twelfth District Court of Appeals on January 23, 2008.
Marcia's case was profiled on Snapped
on March 20, 2011. During the program, Marcia and Shaina discuss elements of the case.
Marcia still maintains her innocence
, and is seeking assistance in overturning her conviction.
Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison housing female offenders in Gatesville, Texas. The unit, with about of land, is located north of central Gatesville on Farm to Market Road 215. The prison is located in a 45 minute driving distance from Waco...
in Gatesville, Texas
Gatesville, Texas
Gatesville is a city in and the county seat of Coryell County in Central Texas, United States of America. The population was 15,591 at the 2000 census...
, and her inmate number is #1381826.
Crime
On October 23, 2005, truck driver James Kelly was shot to death in his Cushing, TexasCushing, Texas
Cushing is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, United States. The population was 612 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Cushing is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
home. Initially, his stepdaughter Shaina Sepulvado and her friends Dallas Christian and Colton Weir were the prime suspects. All three were later charged in James' death. When interviewed however, James' widow, Marcia, was implicated in his death. The State of Texas alleged that Colton claimed Shaina and Marcia had orchestrated the plot to have James murdered, and was promised a vehicle in return for committing the crime. In a police statement, Marcia admitted that she overheard some of the juveniles make a statement about wanting to kill her husband, but did not admit to offering them anything to kill her husband. On October 26, 2005, Marcia is charged with capital murder.
Trial
On July 31, 2006, Marcia Kelly's murder trial began. At the trial, prosecutors presented the jury with what they believed to be the motive. Marcia had a $100,000 life insuranceLife insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
policy on James. Prosecutors also stated that Marcia and James argued on how to punish Marcia's unruly daughter Shaina. Other testimony was presented at the trial from men who claimed Marcia had also solicited them to kill her husband, along with that of Colton Weir.
Marcia did not testify in her own defense, but her daughter Shaina did take the stand to defend her mother. On the stand, Shaina testified that she was responsible for the murder and that her mother was not involved. Shaina had also claimed that James had been beating and molesting her. Jurors did not believe her, and convicted Marcia of capital murder. Since the death penalty had not been sought against her, Marcia received an automatic sentence of life without parole.
Aftermath
Colton Weir in November 2006, and Shaina Sepulvado in April 2007, were each convicted of capital murder at separate subsequent trials in Nacogdoches County, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. They are each serving life without parole.
Dallas Christian pled guilty to murder and was sentenced to 40 years in 2008.
Two other males, Billy Loftin and Gary Batchelor, were convicted of lesser charges of tampering with evidence, in connection with James Kelly's death.
Marcia Kelly's conviction was affirmed by the Twelfth District Court of Appeals on January 23, 2008.
Marcia's case was profiled on Snapped
Snapped
Snapped is an American true crime television series that airs on the Oxygen Network. Snapped debuted on August 6, 2004 and is produced in conjunction with Jupiter Entertainment.-Synopsis:...
on March 20, 2011. During the program, Marcia and Shaina discuss elements of the case.
Marcia still maintains her innocence
Innocence Network
The Innocence Network is an affiliation of organizations dedicated to providing pro bono legal and investigative services to individuals seeking to prove innocence of crimes for which they have been convicted and working to redress the causes of wrongful convictions.Most organizations involved are...
, and is seeking assistance in overturning her conviction.