Cosplay model claims she stabbed her fiancé in self-defense; prosecutors say security cameras prove otherwise

This story beforehand aired on Oct. 28, 2023.

Melissa Turner known as 911 saying she had found her fiancé Matthew Trussler mendacity unresponsive close to their swimming pool in Riverview, Florida. He was pronounced useless on the scene and an post-mortem later revealed he had died from stab wounds. It was Oct. 18, 2019, and Melissa initially informed detectives that the couple had been ingesting the night time earlier than, however that she might keep in mind few particulars. Nonetheless, when investigators discovered a safety digicam above a neighbor’s storage door that held clues to what occurred, her story modified. Prosecutors say Melissa could be heard screaming at Matthew on an audio recording from the digicam. She mentioned she stabbed her fiancé, performing in self-defense when he tried to choke her. Melissa Turner was ultimately arrested and charged with second diploma homicide with a weapon.

“I believed this was it. I believed he was going to kill me. And I stabbed him calmly within the again simply to get him off me,” Turner informed Moriarty. “I did not do what they’re saying I did. If I’ll jail, then I am taking place preventing.”

THE DAY MATTHEW TRUSSLER DIED

911 OPERATOR: Hillsborough County Hearth and Rescue. What is the handle of the emergency?

MELISSA TURNER: Please —

911 OPERATOR: Inform me what’s improper.

MELISSA TURNER: He’s nonresponsive.

Melissa Turner: I could not cease crying.

Melissa Turner can vividly describe the second as medics tried to revive her fiancé, Matthew Trussler.

Melissa Turner: I watched the EMTs unfold the sheet and, um, lay the white sheet over him.

Two years later, Melissa nonetheless struggles to speak concerning the day Matthew died.

Melissa Turner: And it was — it was when that occurred that I could not maintain within the tears and all the pieces.

It was round 8:30 a.m. when Melissa says she discovered Matthew unresponsive on the again patio of the home they shared in a suburb of Tampa, Florida.

Melissa Turner: I attempted to see if he was respiratory. And I attempted to — to begin CPR.

Only a couple hours later, nonetheless lined in blood, Melissa agreed to speak to the investigators on the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace. She says she wished to assist them determine what had occurred to Matthew.

Melissa Turner: I used to be simply saying “sure” and complying with no matter was type of mentioned or informed to me. … the world round me did not actually really feel actual in these moments.

MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): It is a lot much less glamorous than they make it on TV.

Melissa informed the detectives the couple’s day had began off similar to some other. They took care of their pets, did home chores as seen in beforehand posted Fb movies and went grocery purchasing. She admitted they have been additionally ingesting alcohol all through the day main into the night. 

MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): I imply, that is what we do. We had simply, we have been there on the home ourselves … We had drinks. He all the time appreciated ingesting. He was a drinker.

In accordance with Melissa, round 11 p.m. she acquired drained and informed Matthew she wished to fall asleep. He was nonetheless up.

MELISSA TURNER: I slept on that — that huge chair that is in my little workplace space downstairs. 

What she noticed when she awoke the following morning, Melissa informed investigators, did not make sense.

MELISSA TURNER: I noticed the — the kitchen was — I did not see him outdoors at first. … I went upstairs, and I checked the bed room … And I got here again down once more.

She says that is when she found Matthew outdoors on the patio and started CPR.

DETECTIVE: You have got his blood throughout you.

MELISSA TURNER: I do not perceive.

DETECTIVE: You have been making an attempt to present CPR and assist him.

Melissa is carrying latex gloves given to her by an officer on the scene.

DETECTIVE: He had you place them on due to the quantity of blood.

MELISSA TURNER: I used to be getting issues bloody trigger I used to be lined in his blood.

DETECTIVE 2: Do you wish to preserve carrying these gloves, or do you wanna take them off?

MELISSA TURNER: I am going to depart them on for now.

DETECTIVE: Do you might have any accidents in your individual?

MELISSA TURNER: No (cries). 

DETECTIVE: Any scratches or cuts or something?

MELISSA TURNER: Not that I’ve seen (cries). 

The detectives ultimately informed Melissa she would wish to take the gloves off so they might take pictures of her.

MELISSA TURNER (factors to her proper palm): I’ve just a little reduce proper right here. 

DETECTIVE: And that is from what?

MELISSA TURNER: I believe it is from grabbing the glass? Or — trigger there — I do know there was the damaged glass this morning. 

POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER: Open your palms just a little extra there. … Did that damage to open it up? Sorry.

MELISSA TURNER: Oh my gosh, I did not know.

DETECTIVE: That one’s sliced fairly good.

MELISSA TURNER: I did not even discover.

DETECTIVE: Oh, wow.

MELISSA TURNER: I had no concept that was there. 

As detectives labored to unravel what occurred, Matthew’s household was studying Matthew had died. His brother Sean Trussler acquired the decision from their mom. 

Sean Trussler: I acquired a name that he died in an accident is what they informed me.  

Sean known as his fiancée Jennifer instantly.

Jennifer Giles: He is sobbing so laborious and simply screaming on the high of his lungs, “He is gone. My brother, Mattie. Mattie’s gone. He is useless.” … I am getting chills simply talkin’ about this.

Sean and Matthew Trussler have been initially from Massachusetts. In 2015, Matthew adopted in his brother’s footsteps and moved to Florida to work with him within the development enterprise. Sean, who misplaced one in all his eyes as a result of a piece accident shortly after his brother’s demise, says the 2 made a very good workforce.    

Sean Trussler: I’ve labored Mattie very laborious. … He simply wanted to be led accurately. 

Matthew, or Mattie as Sean calls him, struggled with substance abuse and was wanting on the transfer to Florida as an opportunity to begin over. 

Sean Trussler: He was a very good child. … He labored so laborious. He had the largest coronary heart. He cherished all people and all the pieces.

Two years after his transfer, Melissa, then 24, met Matthew, 23 on an internet relationship app.

Melissa Turner: We met on Tinder … and I simply appreciated how completely different Matt handled me … he made me really feel extra vital. … he drew me in.

In 2019, the couple took an enormous step and purchased a home collectively.

Melissa Turner: We have been enthusiastic about the home … we have been selecting out, — paint colours for partitions and furnishings.

However Melissa says a number of months into their new lives, their relationship grew to become strained.

Melissa Turner: Matt’s ingesting was getting worse … It was simply changing into actually — extreme.

On the sheriff’s workplace, Melissa had been adamant that there have been no arguments between the couple that night time.

MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): We have been having a good time.

DETECTIVE: Was there something bodily, violent?

MELISSA TURNER: He was by no means violent. … He was all the time superb with me.

However Melissa did not know that the detectives had been tipped off by the responding officer that Melissa had informed him there had been an argument on the home the night time earlier than.

DETECTIVE: What have been you and Matthew arguing about final night time?

MELISSA TURNER: I do not actually keep in mind. I imply, we would have gotten in argument. Nevertheless it did not look like something … We weren’t, like, screaming at one another that I do know of.

DETECTIVE: You informed us that you simply guys have been there. It was solely the 2 of you. The 2 of you have been ingesting … my drawback is, is I acquired Matthew on the again porch with stab wounds.

MELISSA TURNER: Stab wounds?

In the meantime, one other detective, Ryan LaGasse, was knocking on doorways and canvassing the neighborhood for clues.

Ryan LaGasse: As I walked over right here, you have acquired … the digicam positioned instantly above the residence … throughout the road right here.

And what was captured by the house safety digicam, police say, would show Melissa knew greater than she was letting on.

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digicam audio): Stand up now! Stand up! Stand up! I hate you!

DIGITAL OBSERVERS

An eyewitness could be essential to fixing against the law, and simply hours into the investigation of Matthew Trussler’s demise, detectives found digital observers. There was an ADT digicam contained in the couple’s house, however at first look, it did not seem to indicate any uncommon exercise.

Ryan LaGasse: Most of our data got here from that digicam that is posted up above the storage.

It was a safety digicam on a neighbor’s storage that might show invaluable — an unblinking eye educated on the aspect of Melissa and Matthew’s house that recorded sights and sounds.

Ryan LaGasse: So, I began wanting on the footage.

LaGasse, a detective for the sheriff’s workplace on the time, noticed solely darkness and heard the close to silence of suburbia till round 4 a.m.

Ryan LaGasse: I began to listen to racketing. You recognize, issues that have been — appeared like they have been crashing. And, um, so then, I kinda zoomed in my senses just a little bit … After which, from there I began listening to voices … after which I hear what appears like screaming, um, yelling.

LaGasse says these voices have been coming from Matthew and Melissa’s home.

Erin Moriarty: How would you describe the tone of the voices that you simply heard?

Ryan LaGasse: So, the little little bit of male voice … was powerful to tell apart. However the feminine voice was very, um, very loud. Sounded very offended.

Erin Moriarty: What might you hear? What sort of phrases?

Ryan LaGasse: So, I heard —”Stand up.”  I heard — “So” after which there was an specific “die.”

Erin Moriarty: You heard, “So die”?

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digicam audio): “Go f***ing die!”

Ryan LaGasse:  After which I heard — , it appeared like … a feminine voice was crying, saying, “What — what did I do?”

LaGasse instantly reached out to his colleagues, who have been interviewing Melissa.

DETECTIVE: You mentioned that final night time you by no means awoke in any respect.

MELISSA TURNER: No. … I keep in mind laying down. I keep in mind waking up in the identical spot.

Investigators now believed they’d proof that Melissa wasn’t telling all she knew.

DETECTIVE: Inform me about what occurred round 4 o’clock this morning.

MELISSA TURNER: 4 o’clock? What occurred at 4 o’clock?

DETECTIVE: I do not know. That is why I am asking you.

MELISSA TURNER: I do not know both. Why?

DETECTIVE: Was there any arguing —

MELISSA TURNER: At 4 o’clock?

DETECTIVE: — 4 o’clock this morning?

MELISSA TURNER: Not that I do know of.

MELISSA TURNER: I consider I used to be asleep. … I’ve no reminiscence of any argument at 4 o’clock within the morning.

However after detectives confronted her with the proof, Melissa’s story modified.

DETECTIVE: I’ve some video surveillance … truly, yelling and screaming between a male and a feminine coming from your own home. 

DETECTIVE 2: What we’d like from you that might in all probability … make much more sense is to … inform us what that argument was about.

MELISSA TURNER: I’d say he woke me up and we acquired in an argument over that. As a result of he was nonetheless up at 4 within the morning ingesting.

DETECTIVE 2: OK. So, simply so I am clear, you do have reminiscence of what occurred, proper?

MELISSA TURNER: Sure.

DETECTIVE: At 4 o’clock.

MELISSA TURNER: Sure.

DETECTIVE: Why have been you yellin’ at him, “Bitch, rise up. Bitch, rise up”?

MELISSA TURNER: … truly, numerous the occasions each time he is ingesting and will get that drunk into the hours of the morning — he’ll simply fall over.

DETECTIVE: You additionally mentioned a few different issues like, “Keep down. So f***ing die.” what are you speaking about?

MELISSA TURNER: That was me being pissed off at him that he fell over.

DETECTIVE: You bought a slice in your hand — a slice. That is what that’s. How did that occur?

The investigators once more targeted on that reduce on Melissa’s hand.

DETECTIVE: It isn’t from glass. I can let you know that.

As soon as once more, her story modified.

MELISSA TURNER: He does get his knives out generally. … He wasn’t him anymore. … considering again on it, that is from me grabbing a knife out of his hand. … And issues acquired escalated from there.

Melissa later informed “48 Hours” she wasn’t making an attempt to cover the harm on her hand. The truth is, she had talked about it earlier to the 911 operator.

MELISSA TURNER (911 name): I’ve a reduce on my hand …

Melissa Turner: I barely remembered, even after mentioning it on the 911 name, that my hand was sliced open (cries).

A number of hours after Melissa positioned that 911 name, she was arrested and charged with second diploma homicide with a weapon. Sean and Jennifer realized Melissa was in custody for Matthew’s homicide from his mother, who known as Melissa by her center title, Rose.

Jennifer Giles: She mentioned, “Rose killed him.” … I keep in mind … we stood in my kitchen, and he simply begins bawling.

Up till then, Sean and Jennifer say the couple did not seem to have any issues, however Sean says that Melissa did put a wedge between him and Matthew.

Sean Trussler: She simply completely remoted him, and her, from the remainder of the world. … and the reality is, like … how controlling and manipulating Rose was.

Sean says he hadn’t seen Matthew over the past six months of his life. The brothers had had a falling out after Matthew stopped working with Sean at his development enterprise.

Sean Trussler: She took Mattie lengthy earlier than she took him endlessly.

Sean and Jennifer say Melissa had two sides: as Matthew’s live-in companion and as a cosplay mannequin, who dressed up in costume portraying well-known fictional characters.

Erin Moriarty: What’s that then? ( a photograph of Melissa)

Jennifer Giles: That’s truly from –

Sean Trussler: — “Scooby Doo.”

She made a dwelling by producing and performing in her personal grownup movies.

Jennifer Giles: Nevertheless it’s from a film clip the place she truly is performing, um, sexual acts.

And it wasn’t till after his demise that they realized Melissa had forged Matthew as her companion in her movies.

Jennifer Giles: And I actually really feel like — the strain, and the stress, and the truth that it was extra, and extra, and extra simply paid its toll on him.

Erin Moriarty: You suppose that perhaps he simply did not wish to do these movies anymore?

Jennifer Giles: Completely.

Sean Trussler: I believe he was finished along with her.

IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS

After Sean and his fiancée Jennifer discovered that Melissa had been arrested for Matthew’s homicide, they started an investigation of their very own.

Jennifer Giles: We got here throughout issues that have been fairly disturbing.

Sean and Jennifer consider Matthew was changing into disenchanted along with his position in these movies Melissa produced.

Jennifer Giles: I believe at first it was OK, as a result of he was seeing some fruits from his labor.

Sean Trussler: Cash. Actual cash.

Jennifer Giles: However I believe it acquired just a little a lot.

They now marvel if Melissa had been on the lookout for a companion for her movies when she noticed Matthew on that relationship web site.

Sean Trussler: Individuals write little bios about themselves.

Jennifer Giles: … she went out and located somebody with all the proper stuff, the appears to be like … the physique and all the pieces that goes with it.

Cameron Walega: She would not do issues and not using a bunch of analysis.

Cameron Walega, a former boyfriend of Melissa, met her earlier than she started her profession on the planet of grownup leisure.

Cameron Walega: She was very creative, so she was in a position to edit her personal movies, edit her personal footage … very enterprise pushed.

The 2 met in 2012 after they have been finding out make-up results at Douglas Training Heart close to Pittsburgh. Again then, Melissa was working a preferred health weblog after dropping 100 kilos, later documenting her transformation on social media.

Cameron Walega: … it saved her accountable … she had this viewers that was extremely invested in what she was doing … watching her evolve as an individual.

In 2013, Cameron and Melissa moved to Florida to pursue careers in particular results. There, Melissa confessed to Cameron that she had began a second weblog with racier content material.

Cameron Walega: … this was meant to be non permanent. This was supplemental.

However Cameron says Melissa quickly started incomes an honest dwelling doing what is named cam work, the place she carried out — in varied stage of costume — for her web followers who paid a payment.

Cameron Walega: She was so pleased with the place she acquired herself … “I was this extremely insecure woman. Now they’re paying me to have a look at me.”

He says he started to see a change in Melissa’s character as her enterprise grew.

Cameron Walega: It grew to become maniacal to some extent the place it was an entire obsession. And it was cash, cash, cash … And the an increasing number of success that she discovered, the an increasing number of unstable she grew to become.

Cameron Walega: She would scream at occasions that it might pierce your ear. … There have been occasions the place she was simply unpredictable. Completely unpredictable.

Sean and Jennifer now marvel if Melissa’s volatility could have escalated an argument with Matthew on the night time he died. Did he need out of the grownup leisure enterprise?

Sean Trussler: I believe perhaps that night time he was like “Yo, I am finished with this. I am washin’ my palms.”

Jennifer Giles: She did not like no matter he mentioned to her. And it made her blow her high.

However that is not the way it occurred, says Melissa.

Melissa Turner (cries): After he was upset for me eager to go to mattress — However I stayed downstairs … his demeanor would begin to get darker and darker from there.

Melissa Turner: Matt … had his knife out. It was the black — tactical switchblade.

Melissa Turner: There have been occasions the place he would get actually upset and he would try to apply it to himself. … and, so, it was a typical factor for me to try to take a knife away from him.

Melissa Turner: On this night time … He did not wish to let go of the knife.

Melissa says Matthew was drunk and despondent. They struggled over the knife, she says, however after she managed to take it away, she says Matthew grabbed her by the neck and squeezed — a element she failed to inform detectives throughout her interrogation.

Melissa Turner (cries): I believed this was it. I believed he was going to kill me. … After which I stabbed him calmly within the again simply to get him off me.

She says after she stabbed him as soon as within the again, Matthew pushed her into the kitchen counter, and he or she hit her head.

Melissa Turner: … he got here at me. And that is how I fell again and hit my head. … I … had a reasonably extreme head harm.

However that declare would later be challenged at her trial.

Melissa Turner: I remembered a number of blurry steps … in direction of my workplace. However that was it. I simply keep in mind passing out—blacking on the market.

John Trevena: She’s the actual sufferer … She’s the one which was struggling the abuse.

John Trevena is Melissa’s legal professional. He describes the couple’s relationship as poisonous.

John Trevena: … notably since she mentioned it was escalating. … His ingesting was escalating, his conduct points have been escalating … And it simply sadly escalated into this very odd incident.

John Trevena: I do not suppose it’s a homicide case. I believe it’s a case of — self-defense.

However Melissa’s model of occasions can be picked aside by prosecutors Katherine Fand and Chinwe Fossett at her trial.

Katherine Fand: There’s simply nothing to help her assertion.

Chinwe Fossett: She by no means mentions something about anybody strangling her or something, till days earlier than trial … you actually should take that into consideration.

In addition to the audio from the neighbor’s safety digicam, the state plans to current video from contained in the couple’s house. Keep in mind that ADT safety footage recovered by investigators? Prosecutors believed it did not present any suspicious exercise the night time of Matthew’s demise. However simply earlier than the trial, they found they misinterpret the time and date.

Katherine Fand: I will be sincere, I misunderstood the timing. It isn’t recorded in Japanese Normal Time. It’s recorded in Common Time.

And what the video did seize, say prosecutors, would undermine Melissa’s protection.

KATHERINE FAND (closing arguments) We’re gonna present you some ADT movies.  

KATHERINE FAND (closing arguments): He is calmly strolling … and you’ll see, she’s hunched over, she’s yelling. … She is offended and upset.

MELISSA TURNER TAKES THE STAND

On Valentine’s Day 2022, two years after Matthew Trussler was discovered useless on his patio, his fiancée Melissa Turner went on trial for homicide. 

Melissa had been out on bail since her arrest in 2019. But when she’s convicted, she is aware of she might spend the remainder of her life behind bars.

Melissa Turner: It’s going to be a world of weight off my shoulders for this trial to only be over.

The jury will hear nothing about her movies — her cosplay modeling and performing out fantasies on-line. The decide dominated it wasn’t related to the case. Prosecutor Chinwe Fossett sees it in another way.

Chinwe Fossett: I did suppose that the jury ought to’ve recognized that she was an actress. … And she or he was in a position to make herself into this victim-type individual, after which cry on demand.  

Melissa’s legal professional, John Trevena, informed the jury that she did not imply to kill Matthew. That she stabbed him in self-defense throughout that wrestle over the knife. 

JOHN TREVENA (in court docket): Who killed Matthew Trussler? Matthew Trussler killed Matthew Trussler. 

John Trevena: He did. He did it to himself due to his actions and his behaviors. … His ingesting, his emotional abuse.

Erin Moriarty: You are saying that Melissa had the proper to kill him as a result of he was drunk?

John Trevena: No. … Melissa had the proper to kill him to defend herself from being strangled.   

However Prosecutor Fosset says Matthew had no file or historical past of violence towards anybody. 

Erin Moriarty: Why do you consider that Melissa killed Matthew Trussler.

Chinwe Fossett: I believe she was intoxicated, and I do suppose that she went far past something she thought she would do. … Perhaps she was simply so pissed off along with his ingesting. … that she harms him so badly that he finally ends up dying.  

At trial, Melissa determined to take a danger and testify. She described Matthew as an alcoholic who had exhibited abusive and unsettling behaviors prior to now

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): There have been occasions the place he would push me … and punch the partitions beside my head. 

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): I had seen him reduce himself, burn himself, stab himself.

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): He would stare off at some nook … And he would inform me that “there is a demon standing proper there.” … There have been occasions the place … he would speak in a unique voice (cries).  

JOHN TREVENA: Did that frighten you?

MELISSA TURNER: God, sure. I used to be terrified.  

Erin Moriarty: And this was taking place on that night time?

Melissa Turner (cries): Yeah. … He simply had this little smile on his face. And he mentioned, “What’s a matter, little woman? Are you scared? ‘Trigger Matt’s not right here anymore.”

Authorities by no means checked Melissa’s blood alcohol degree, however Matthew’s was practically 5 occasions the authorized restrict in Florida. 

JOHN TREVENA: That degree of blood alcohol not solely is deadly, it could trigger hallucinations, the demon that we have heard about.

CHINWE FOSSETT: However the health worker did not say that he died of alcohol — intoxication … The reason for demise … is that he was stabbed, and he bled to demise.

In accordance with the health worker, Matthew had a number of small cuts and bruises and a potential defensive wound on his forearm. The deadly harm was not the stab wound to his again, however from a deep incision on his proper arm, which punctured a vein.

CHINWE FOSSETT (in court docket): You stabbed him within the again, right?

MELISSA TURNER: Right.

CHINWE FOSSETT: OK.

Melissa Turner: The one factor that I did was the again.

Erin Moriarty: How did he get reduce on his proper arm?

Melissa Turner: I — I could not let you know that. I’ve no clue. He might’ve fallen into one thing; he might’ve finished it himself. … And I stabbed him as soon as to get him off of me from strangling me.

Erin Moriarty: Why did not you inform the police that he had been making an attempt to strangle you?

Melissa Turner: … as a result of I could not keep in mind on the time. … I had complained a number of occasions a couple of headache.  

Prosecutor Fossett questioned Melissa about her reminiscences that returned earlier than the trial. 

CHINWE FOSSETT (in court docket): And so as we speak, in 2022, you now declare you had some type of head harm, right?

MELISSA TURNER: Umm, sure.

However against the law scene tech testified there was no proof of head harm. 

CHINWE FOSSETT: And now in 2022, you communicate of some type of blackout, right? Sure?

MELISSA TURNER: Right.

CHINWE FOSSET: OK.

The jury will not should rely simply on Melissa’s reminiscences as they weigh the proof. There’s additionally that video from contained in the couple’s house. Prosecutors say it proves Melissa was the aggressor that night time. At 3:38 a.m., Melissa is seen working in direction of her workplace. At 3:42 a.m., Matthew walks previous the digicam, Melissa follows him.

Chinwe Fossett: He is strolling calmly, unarmed within the ADT movies, and he or she’s following him hunched over offended.

At 4:01 a.m., the video reveals Melissa working from the path of the kitchen; she seems distressed. That is additionally across the time when the digicam throughout the road picks up audio of screaming and yelling. The subsequent video clip is at 4:08 a.m.

Katherine Fand: … she’s standing at a entrance door … and he or she’s seeming like she’s speaking to open air … and you’ll see on her hand, you may see the trace of purple … she already has the reduce.

Prosecutors say the reduce on her hand occurred when Melissa stabbed Matthew — they consider he was nonetheless alive at that time. Prosecutors say she might have left then for assist or known as 911.

Chinwe Fossett: That is not what she did. She … walks again to …the place he’s. 

Katherine Fand: She will not be in cheap worry of him. That is what’s clear.  

However Melissa’s legal professional John Trevena rejects the state’s timeline and disputes what prosecutors say is seen on that video.

John Trevena: I by no means noticed any reduce on her hand, and I do not suppose it reveals that.

The preventing continues, say prosecutors, as a result of round 4:30 a.m., they are saying the couple moved near an open window and that safety digicam throughout the road recorded a lady’s offended voice. 

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digicam audio): “You have got the ability to do one thing, so ****ing die.”

CHINWE FOSSETT (in court docket): You mentioned, 4:33 a.m., “So f***ing die.” Proper?

MELISSA TURNER: No. … I’ve no recollection of that. … I defined my aspect and why I did what I did (cries).  

CHINWE FOSSETT: You are crying proper now. Is that, is that what’s taking place? Are you crying proper now?

MELISSA TURNER: Are you aware what tears seem like?

CHINWE FOSSETT: Are you crying as a result of you may simply cry on cue?

MELISSA TURNER: I am crying as a result of, as a result of my life is on the road proper now.

Trevena says it is unattainable to obviously perceive what Melissa is saying on the neighbor’s safety digicam recording. And a former FBI audio forensic professional, Bruce Koenig, testified for the protection how he believed sections of the digicam audio had been, what he known as, “quantity enhanced.” 

JOHN TREVENA (in court docket): So, it might be that perhaps one voice on the recording was not amplified and that one other voice on the recording was significantly amplified.

BRUCE KOENIG: That is true.  

John Trevena: I discover it extremely suspicious that … Miss Turner’s voice is screeching loud. … However when it got here to — Matthew Trussler … you may barely hear mumbling. 

Prosecutors deny the audio was manipulated. 

Based mostly on the skin digicam, Prosecutor Fand says the confrontation ended at 5:11 a.m., when Matthew in some way acquired out to the pool space by way of a window. 

Katherine Fand: So, the window was truly open. However when he determined to flee from her he … pushed out the display screen and went out the window. 

Prosecutors say by the point Matthew collapsed by the pool, Melissa would have seen how injured he was.

Katherine Fand: He has already bled all that blood within the kitchen after which gone out.  

Chinwe Fossett: She is aware of that he wants assist. And she or he’s awake and he or she would not assist him. 

However Melissa says that is when she returned to her workplace and blacked out. 

Erin Moriarty: The argument ends someday round 5 o’clock. However you do not name 911 till 8:45.

Melissa Turner: Right, as a result of I used to be unconscious. 

One of many final ADT clips reveals Melissa at 8:35 a.m. strolling from the path of her workplace. Within the police report, her hair is described as “messy as if she simply awoke.” 

John Trevena: That was essentially the most … demonstrative of her not understanding he is useless. … Since you would not be go lookin’ for him if you happen to killed him. 

Erin Moriarty: Is it potential … that she did cross on the market? She’s been ingesting, no matter. And had no concept that he was dying at the moment?

Katherine Fand: She knew he was dying as a result of she noticed him bleeding out.  

Because the jury started their deliberations, one of many jurors, Donald Goodwin, was feeling the load of his determination. 

Erin Moriarty: How does the primary vote go?

Donald Goodwin: Two for responsible within the second-degree.  

Erin Moriarty: And the place have been you?

Donald Goodwin: Unknown.

A JURY DECIDES

Erin Moriarty: What do you hope the jury comes again with?

Melissa Turner (cries): What everybody hopes for, not responsible.

On Feb. 18, 2022, Melissa Turner’s homicide trial wrapped up after 5 days of testimony earlier than Decide Samantha Ward.

JUDGE WARD: Your responsibility is to find out if the defendant has been confirmed responsible or not in accord with the legislation …

Melissa is hoping the jury will consider her story about seeing Matthew alive earlier than blacking out.

Melissa Turner: He was nonetheless up and, and transferring round…

She says she had no concept of how badly he had been injured.

Melissa Turner: …So the final I remembered of him he was nonetheless up. 

Erin Moriarty: Is not it potential … that there could not have been actually — intent to kill anyone. It is this drunken battle and any individual finally ends up bleeding to demise.

Chinwe Fossett: That is a murder.

And Prosecutor Chinwe Fossett says this case is basically about home violence.

Chinwe Fossett: He was reduce and stabbed and left to die. I believe that is the very definition, particularly contemplating that this was by his fiancée.

In Florida, second-degree homicide instances are heard by six jurors. On this case, two girls and 4 males — one in all them, Donald Goodwin.

Donald Goodwin: You see a younger woman and also you’re already, like, your abdomen drops. You are like, Lord, simply let me do the proper factor … However behind the appears to be like of a younger woman, the reality was popping out shortly.

Donald Goodwin: When she went to the stand, I believe it damage her, huge time. … her tears have been so pretend. And you’ll inform.

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): I am crying as a result of I nonetheless keep in mind all these locations, all these plans …

Donald Goodwin: … She was tremendous offended and tremendous unhappy. Her feelings have been all over the place. I am like that tells me who she is.

Goodwin, a component time household pastor, says these safety digicam movies have been essential due to what he says was a scarcity of different proof.

Donald Goodwin: I seemed on the movies again and again, the ADT movies that is inside the home. … I seen purple on her palms. However I could not use it as proof as a result of the digicam wasn’t crystal clear.

Erin Moriarty: At that time, did you suppose he had already been stabbed?

Donald Goodwin: Sure.

Donald Goodwin: And I believe she snapped.

Erin Moriarty: You do not consider he was strangling her on the time?

Donald Goodwin: No. … I felt like she had sufficient … and attacked him.

And there was one clip of the audio recording that satisfied Goodwin Melissa knew Matthew was damage.

Donald Goodwin: … then she mentioned … “What did I do?” And I used to be, like, that proper there tells me precisely what is going on on now. … she knew he was gonna die, she knew it, and but, she known as no person.

And as for Melissa’s claims about hitting her head and blacking out?

Erin Moriarty: You do not consider that she may’ve handed out? 

Donald Goodwin: No. Under no circumstances. … there was no proof of head harm.

The jury deliberated for seven hours.

COURT CLERK: We the jury discover as follows as to the cost … the defendant is responsible of homicide within the second diploma.

Responsible of the homicide of Matthew Trussler.

JENNIFER GILES: I keep in mind Sean squeezing my hand, it was a contented feeling.

John Trevena: She was inconsolable. I imply, it was — it was very tough. I imply, she was crying profusely.

JUDGE WARD: She can be taken into custody presently. 

            On March 18, 2022, Melissa returned to court docket to study her sentence. She talked about what she had misplaced.

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket, cries) On October 18th, Matthew misplaced his life, and I misplaced a person that I cherished. I misplaced my future and my hopes and my goals.

However Matthew’s household additionally spoke, fighting each grief and anger.

JENNIFER GILES: Mattie … 25 years outdated, wow, a lot life nonetheless forward. The lifetime of a son, a brother, a brother-in-law, and an uncle. … Sean … won’t ever see his greatest good friend once more. He won’t ever be capable of change you.

MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN: The story that you’ve contrived has brought on me as a lot ache as his demise … If Matthew’s ingesting was escalating … it was due to the approach to life that you simply concerned him in. It was not in line with who he was and with the way in which that he was raised.

JUDGE WARD: This jury didn’t consider her claims of self-defense, nor does this court docket.  

Nonetheless, Decide Samantha Ward supplied Melissa some mercy, sparing her a life sentence.

JUDGE WARD: Based mostly on the jury’s verdict, you’re adjudicated responsible, sentenced to twenty.5 years within the Florida State Jail.

Melissa Turner can be eligible for launch earlier than she turns 50.

Erin Moriarty: What do you guys miss about Mattie essentially the most?

Jennifer Giles: Oh, my gosh.

Sean Trussler: His snort in all probability.

Jennifer Giles: He had an amazing snort.

Sean Trussler: He was a very good child, he was … He was simply beginning to be a person.

One life misplaced, one other ruined on an evening juror Goodwin says did not should occur.

Donald Goodwin: Matthew Trussler did not should die. … They might’ve walked away from one another and began a unique life. … Melissa Turner selected to kill Matthew Trussler. Do I believe it was premediated? Completely not. Do I believe she’s responsible? Completely.

The prosecutor says Matthew Trussler was a sufferer of home violence.

If you happen to or somebody wants assist, please contact the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or go to TheHotline.org.

 

Produced by Asena Basak. Ryan Smith, and Marc Goldbaum are the event producers. Jordan Kinsey is the sphere producer. Phil Tangel, Wini Dini and George Baluzy are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer

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