Melanie McGuire
Encyclopedia
Melanie McGuire is a New Jersey woman best known for being the perpetrator in the media-dubbed "suitcase murder." She was convicted of murdering her husband in April 2004 and was sentenced to life in prison on July 19, 2007. Melanie is serving her sentence at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women
in Clinton, New Jersey
. Barring a successful appeal, she will not be eligible for parole until she is 100 years old.
and he was a computer programmer. The two were raising two sons in a Woodbridge, New Jersey apartment. That month however, the couple planned to move to a larger home in Warren County
. Melanie and Bill closed on their new house on April 28, 2004, but never moved in. That night, Melanie drugged her husband, shot him twice to death, and then dismembered his body. Melanie later put his dismembered remains into three matching suitcases, which were later found in the Chesapeake Bay
. The day after Bill's murder, Melanie started covering her tracks. She began establishing an alibi
, claiming after a domestic argument, her husband tied her up in their bathroom, stuffed a dryer sheet in her mouth, and stormed off. On April 30, 2004, Bill's 2002 Nissan Maxima
is found outside the Flamingo Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. Five days later, the first suitcase containing Bill's remains is found near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. A murder investigation was launched.
police released a composite sketch of the victim, which an acquaintance of Bill McGuire's recognized as being him. Melanie McGuire became the prime suspect in the investigation. Because the murder did not occur in Virginia however, authorities turned over their investigation to New Jersey police. During the investigation, much incriminating evidence is uncovered against Melanie. On April 26, 2004, she purchased a .38 caliber handgun from a store in Easton, Pennsylvania
. In addition, police also learned that Melanie had been having a long-term affair with a co-worker named Bradley Miller at the fertility clinic. Police believed that Melanie used a prescription from her work to drug her husband.
. Through her attorneys, Joe Tacopina, Steve Turano, and Marc Ward, she pled not guilty to the charges.
After being released on bail, Melanie faced additional charges on October 11, 2005. A four-count indictment came down from a state grand jury
. Melanie's bail was raised to $2.1 million, but was again released. More than a year later, on October 26, 2006 Melanie was charged with two counts of hindering apprehension for allegedly writing letters to police aimed to get them off her trail. She again pleads not guilty and is released after posting $10,000 bail.
Almost three years after the crime, Melanie McGuire's murder trial commenced at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey
on March 5, 2007. Prosecutors contended her motive for murder was to take up a new life with her lover, Bradley Miller. Melanie still persisted she was innocent however, and claimed her husband was a compulsive gambler who owed money, and believed her husband was killed by the Atlantic City mob.
, desecration
of human remains, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. However, Melanie was acquitted of the two counts of hindering apprehension, as well as tampering with evidence and possession of Xanax without prescription.
On July 19, 2007, the 34-year-old mother of two was sentenced to life in prison. In New Jersey, a life sentence is defined as a 75-year term, and under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, she must serve 85 percent of her sentence, or 63 3/4 years. In addition, the judge sentenced her to additional consecutive 2 1/2 year-term for perjury.
Author John Glatt wrote a book about the case, entitled "To Have and To Kill".
Melanie's case has been profiled on Snapped
and Dateline NBC
.
Her conviction was affirmed by an appeals court on March 16, 2011. On September 20, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to even hear her further appeal.
Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women
Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women is a prison facility for women of the state of New Jersey Department of Corrections, located in Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, near Clinton. Its official abbreviation is EMCFW. The facility was named for Edna Mahan Edna Mahan Correctional...
in Clinton, New Jersey
Clinton, New Jersey
Clinton is a Town in Hunterdon County, New Jersey on the South Branch of the Raritan River. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 2,719....
. Barring a successful appeal, she will not be eligible for parole until she is 100 years old.
Murder
In April 2004, Melanie McGuire and her husband Bill had been married for five years. She was a nurse at a fertility clinicFertility clinic
Fertility clinics are staffed medical clinics that assist couples, and sometimes individuals, who want to become parents but for medical reasons have been unable to achieve this goal via the natural course...
and he was a computer programmer. The two were raising two sons in a Woodbridge, New Jersey apartment. That month however, the couple planned to move to a larger home in Warren County
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
. Melanie and Bill closed on their new house on April 28, 2004, but never moved in. That night, Melanie drugged her husband, shot him twice to death, and then dismembered his body. Melanie later put his dismembered remains into three matching suitcases, which were later found in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. The day after Bill's murder, Melanie started covering her tracks. She began establishing an alibi
Alibi
Alibi is a 1929 American crime film directed by Roland West. The screenplay was written by West and C. Gardner Sullivan, who adapted the 1927 Broadway stage play, Nightstick, written by Elaine Sterne Carrington, J.C...
, claiming after a domestic argument, her husband tied her up in their bathroom, stuffed a dryer sheet in her mouth, and stormed off. On April 30, 2004, Bill's 2002 Nissan Maxima
Nissan Maxima
The first car to wear the Maxima name was introduced in 1981. It was essentially a Japanese-market Bluebird 910 with a longer nose. The car was offered as the 810 Deluxe or 810 Maxima that first year, and all 810s became Maximas for 1982...
is found outside the Flamingo Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. Five days later, the first suitcase containing Bill's remains is found near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. A murder investigation was launched.
Investigation
On May 11, 2004, a second suitcase with Bill's remains is found, containing his head and torso. A third suitcase is recovered on May 16. Virginia BeachVirginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
police released a composite sketch of the victim, which an acquaintance of Bill McGuire's recognized as being him. Melanie McGuire became the prime suspect in the investigation. Because the murder did not occur in Virginia however, authorities turned over their investigation to New Jersey police. During the investigation, much incriminating evidence is uncovered against Melanie. On April 26, 2004, she purchased a .38 caliber handgun from a store in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
. In addition, police also learned that Melanie had been having a long-term affair with a co-worker named Bradley Miller at the fertility clinic. Police believed that Melanie used a prescription from her work to drug her husband.
Charges / Trial
On June 2, 2005, more than a year after the murder, Melanie McGuire was arrested at her new home in Brick, New Jersey and was charged with first-degree murder. Melanie was immediately booked into the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center, but made her $750,000 bailBail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
. Through her attorneys, Joe Tacopina, Steve Turano, and Marc Ward, she pled not guilty to the charges.
After being released on bail, Melanie faced additional charges on October 11, 2005. A four-count indictment came down from a state grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
. Melanie's bail was raised to $2.1 million, but was again released. More than a year later, on October 26, 2006 Melanie was charged with two counts of hindering apprehension for allegedly writing letters to police aimed to get them off her trail. She again pleads not guilty and is released after posting $10,000 bail.
Almost three years after the crime, Melanie McGuire's murder trial commenced at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
on March 5, 2007. Prosecutors contended her motive for murder was to take up a new life with her lover, Bradley Miller. Melanie still persisted she was innocent however, and claimed her husband was a compulsive gambler who owed money, and believed her husband was killed by the Atlantic City mob.
Verdict
On April 23, 2007, Melanie McGuire's murder trial jury found her guilty of first-degree murder. She was also convicted of the lesser charges of perjuryPerjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
, desecration
Desecration
Desecration is the act of depriving something of its sacred character, or the disrespectful or contemptuous treatment of that which is held to be sacred or holy by a group or individual.-Detail:...
of human remains, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. However, Melanie was acquitted of the two counts of hindering apprehension, as well as tampering with evidence and possession of Xanax without prescription.
On July 19, 2007, the 34-year-old mother of two was sentenced to life in prison. In New Jersey, a life sentence is defined as a 75-year term, and under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, she must serve 85 percent of her sentence, or 63 3/4 years. In addition, the judge sentenced her to additional consecutive 2 1/2 year-term for perjury.
Aftermath
Following her arraignment on murder charges, Melanie's case was dubbed as "the Suitcase murder" by various media outlets.Author John Glatt wrote a book about the case, entitled "To Have and To Kill".
Melanie's case has been 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:...
and Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
.
Her conviction was affirmed by an appeals court on March 16, 2011. On September 20, 2011, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to even hear her further appeal.