The Verdict

The verdict came after more than thirteen hours of deliberation by the nine-woman, three-man jury. The jurors had listened to 76 witnesses and reviewed over 1,200 exhibits during the course of the seven-week trial. When it was announced by the judge that the jury had finally come to its verdict Melanie McGuire burst into tears. Followers of the case said this was the first sign of any emotion from the defendant. Commentators on the Court TV network jokingly referred to her as an “Ice Queen” because she was so cold and emotionless throughout the entire trial. Perhaps if she had expressed her feelings to the jury, even if she still chose not to testify, they may have been more likely to acquit. During deliberation the jury asked to view footage from a parking lot surveillance camera that was evidence in the case. The jury also requested to view emails that were sent between Melanie McGuire and her friend from nursing school James Finn. There was also wire-tapped conversations between these two as well that were submitted into evidence. The emails, however, were much more incriminating than their verbal discussions. Then on Tuesday, April 23, 2007, after four days of deliberation, Melanie McGuire was found guilty on four of the eight counts brought against her. She was charged with first-degree murder, desecrating human remains, unlawful possession of a firearm, and perjury. Her bond was immediately revoked once she was found guilty. Actually, it was her patients from the fertility clinic that all chipped in money to cover the cost of bail. Her parents took out a second mortgage on their home to help cover court costs. There were many people that had faith in her innocence but they were all sadly mistaken. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2007 but the defense plans on appealing the case. Perhaps the saddest part of this tragic story is that by Melanie McGuire murdering her husband their two sons are left without any parents to raise them.

More incriminating evidence...

Another aspect of the case was that she was having an affair with her boss, Dr. Bradley Miller, for years prior to her husband’s murder and had discussed leaving William to be with this man. There was also a strange incident that occurred. Melanie drove down to Atlantic City, where William’s car was found, went to the parking lot where her husband’s car was parked, moved his vehicle, and then took a taxi back to her residence. The taxi fare was a couple hundred dollars, however, she took a taxi back down to Atlantic City the following day to pick up her car and then drive it all the way back to her home. Her claims are that she moved his car to pull a prank on her husband and she used the taxi service because she was too tired to drive. But perhaps the strangest part of this case is the package that was sent directly to the Prosecution. It contained a list of “ways to frame her”, her being Melanie, and it is believed that she is in fact the one who wrote it in an effort to point blame on her sister-in-law. There was also an “anonymous” letter sent to the defense lawyers which basically said Melanie could not have murdered her husband because I did. This letter was meant to sound like it was from a gangster to whom William owed gambling money. This letter is also thought to have been written by Melanie McGuire. This is also why she is being charged with tampering with evidence, because if she did write both of these letters she was trying to throw police off the trail of the case. The trash bags found in the suit cases were the exact make up of the trash bags found in the McGuire household. Also, there were fibers and hairs belonging to Melanie and her husband attached to tape found on the trash bags in the suitcases. Another suspicious element in the case was that when investigators were searching their house for evidence they were unable to find and DNA traces at all in the bathroom. The McGuire’s have two kids and the fact that there was no DNA found means that that bathroom was cleaned from top to bottom very thoroughly.

Is circumstantial evidence enough to convict?

This is a very interesting case because all the evidence the Prosecution has to convict this woman is circumstantial. I have followed most of the case and have watched the courtroom footage. All of the circumstantial evidence against her is very strong. William was shot prior to being dismembered. His wife, Melanie, purchased a gun only days before his disappearance. Also, the bullets that killed him were the same type of bullets she purchased with the handgun. The suitcases he was found in matched the luggage set owned by the McGuire’s. The blanket that William’s head was wrapped in that was found in one of the suitcases is made by the same company that provides blankets to the hospital where she worked. Then there was the family computer that was confiscated when she was arrested. The computer contained Google searches for such things as undetectable poison and murder and suicide.

Background of the Case

There is currently a major court case being tried in New Jersey. This trial has been going on for several weeks now. This is a murder case involving the defendant Melanie McGuire v. the State of New Jersey. Melanie McGuire is a 34-year-old fertility nurse being charged with the murder and dismemberment of her husband William McGuire. The body of William McGuire, age 39, was chopped up, wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket and stuffed into a set of suitcases and was found floating in the Chesapeake Bay. She is also being convicted of seven other charges as well. If she is found guilty, she could face a minimum of thirty years to life in prison on the murder charge alone.