Melissa Turner, a cosplay model, claims she stabbed fiancé Matthew Trussler in self-defense; prosecutors say security cameras prove otherwise

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 instructed detectives that the couple had been consuming the night time earlier than, however that she may bear in mind few particulars. However, when investigators discovered a security digital camera above a neighbor’s storage door that held clues to what occurred, her story modified. Prosecutors say Melissa may be heard screaming at Matthew on an audio recording from the digital camera. She mentioned she stabbed her fiancé, appearing in self-defense when he tried to choke her. Melissa Turner was finally arrested and charged with second diploma homicide with a weapon.

“I thought this was it. I thought he was going to kill me. And I stabbed him lightly in the back just to get him off me,” Turner instructed Moriarty. “I didn’t do what they’re saying I did. If I’m going to prison, then I’m going down fighting.”

THE DAY MATTHEW TRUSSLER DIED

911 OPERATOR: Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue. What’s the deal with of the emergency?

MELISSA TURNER: Please —

911 OPERATOR: Tell me what’s flawed.

MELISSA TURNER: He is 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 in regards to the day Matthew died.

Melissa Turner: And it was — it was when that occurred that I could not maintain in the tears and every little thing.

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.

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

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

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

Melissa instructed the detectives the couple’s day had began off identical to another. They took care of their pets, did home chores as seen in beforehand posted Facebook movies and went grocery procuring. She admitted they have been additionally consuming 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 at all times preferred consuming. He was a drinker.

According to Melissa, round 11 p.m. she obtained drained and instructed Matthew she needed 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 wakened the subsequent morning, Melissa instructed 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 commenced CPR.

DETECTIVE: You have his blood throughout you.

MELISSA TURNER: I do not perceive.

DETECTIVE: You have been attempting to offer CPR and assist him.

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

DETECTIVE: He had you set 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 need to maintain carrying these gloves, or do you wanna take them off?

MELISSA TURNER: I’ll go away them on for now.

DETECTIVE: Do you’ve gotten any accidents in your particular person?

MELISSA TURNER: No (cries). 

DETECTIVE: Any scratches or cuts or something?

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

The detectives finally instructed Melissa she would wish to take the gloves off so they may take images of her.

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

DETECTIVE: And that is from what?

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

POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER: Open your arms 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 obtained the decision from their mom. 

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

Sean known as his fiancée Jennifer instantly.

Jennifer Giles: He’s sobbing so arduous and simply screaming on the prime of his lungs, “He’s gone. My brother, Mattie. Mattie’s gone. He’s dead.” … I’m 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 in the development enterprise. Sean, who misplaced considered one of his eyes because of a work accident shortly after his brother’s dying, says the 2 made a good group.    

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

Matthew, or Mattie as Sean calls him, struggled with substance abuse and was trying on the transfer to Florida as a probability to begin over. 

Sean Trussler: He was a actually good child. … He labored so arduous. He had the most important coronary heart. He cherished everyone and every little thing.

Two years after his transfer, Melissa, then 24, met Matthew, 23 on a web-based courting app.

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

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

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

But Melissa says a few months into their new lives, their relationship grew to become strained.

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

At 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 nice time.

DETECTIVE: Was there something bodily, violent?

MELISSA TURNER: He was by no means violent. … He was at all times superb with me.

But Melissa did not know that the detectives had been tipped off by the responding officer that Melissa had instructed 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 bear in mind. I imply, we would have gotten in argument. But it did not seem to be something … We weren’t, like, screaming at one another that I do know of.

DETECTIVE: You instructed us that you just guys have been there. It was solely the 2 of you. The two of you have been consuming … my drawback is, is I obtained Matthew on the again porch with stab wounds.

MELISSA TURNER: Stab wounds?

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

Ryan LaGasse: As I walked over right here, you’ve got obtained … the digital camera situated instantly above the residence … throughout the road right here.

And what was captured by the house security digital camera, police say, would prove Melissa knew greater than she was letting on.

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s security digital camera audio): Get up now! Get up! Get up! I hate you!

DIGITAL OBSERVERS

An eyewitness may be essential to fixing a crime, and simply hours into the investigation of Matthew Trussler’s dying, detectives found digital observers. There was an ADT digital camera contained in the couple’s residence, however at first look, it did not seem to indicate any uncommon exercise.

Ryan LaGasse: Most of our information got here from that digital camera that is posted up above the storage.

It was a security digital camera on a neighbor’s storage that will prove invaluable — an unblinking eye educated on the facet of Melissa and Matthew’s residence that recorded sights and sounds.

Ryan LaGasse: So, I began trying 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 know, issues that have been — appeared like they have been crashing. And, um, so then, I kinda zoomed in my senses a little bit … And then, 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 just heard?

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

Erin Moriarty: What may you hear? What type of phrases?

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

Erin Moriarty: You heard, “So die”?

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s security digital camera audio): “Go f***ing die!”

Ryan LaGasse:  And then 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 wakened in any respect.

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

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

DETECTIVE: Tell 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’s why I’m 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 imagine I used to be asleep. … I’ve no reminiscence of any argument at 4 o’clock in the morning.

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

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

DETECTIVE 2: What we’d like from you that will in all probability … make a lot extra sense is to … inform us what that argument was about.

MELISSA TURNER: I might say he woke me up and we obtained in an argument over that. Because he was nonetheless up at 4 in the morning consuming.

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

MELISSA TURNER: Yes.

DETECTIVE: At 4 o’clock.

MELISSA TURNER: Yes.

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

MELISSA TURNER: … really, a lot of the instances every time he is consuming and will get that drunk into the hours of the morning — he’ll simply fall over.

DETECTIVE: You additionally mentioned a couple of different issues like, “Stay 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 obtained a slice in your hand — a slice. That’s what that’s. How did that occur?

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

DETECTIVE: It’s not from glass. I can let you know that.

Once once more, her story modified.

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

Melissa later instructed “48 Hours” she wasn’t attempting to cover the damage on her hand. In reality, 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 couple 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 identify, Rose.

Jennifer Giles: She mentioned, “Rose killed him.” … I bear 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 without end.

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

Erin Moriarty: What is that then? (taking a look at a photograph of Melissa)

Jennifer Giles: That is definitely from –

Sean Trussler: — “Scooby Doo.”

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

Jennifer Giles: But it is from a film clip the place she really is performing, um, sexual acts.

And it wasn’t till after his dying that they realized Melissa had solid Matthew as her accomplice in her movies.

Jennifer Giles: And I actually really feel like — the stress, 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 need to do these movies anymore?

Jennifer Giles: Absolutely.

Sean Trussler: I feel he was performed together with her.

IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS

After Sean and his fiancée Jennifer came upon 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 imagine Matthew was turning into disenchanted together with his function in these movies Melissa produced.

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

Sean Trussler: Money. Real cash.

Jennifer Giles: But I feel it obtained a little a lot.

They now surprise if Melissa had been on the lookout for a accomplice for her movies when she noticed Matthew on that courting website.

Sean Trussler: People write little bios about themselves.

Jennifer Giles: … she went out and located somebody with all the fitting stuff, the seems … the physique and every little thing that goes with it.

Cameron Walega: She would not do issues with out a bunch of analysis.

Cameron Walega, a former boyfriend of Melissa, met her earlier than she started her profession in the world 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 two met in 2012 after they have been learning make-up results at Douglas Education Center close to Pittsburgh. Back then, Melissa was working a fashionable 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 a particular person.

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 short-term. This was supplemental.

But Cameron says Melissa quickly started incomes a first rate dwelling doing what is known as cam work, the place she carried out — in numerous stage of costume — for her web followers who paid a payment.

Cameron Walega: She was so happy with the place she obtained herself … “I used to be this incredibly insecure girl. Now they’re paying me to 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 a level the place it was a full obsession. And it was cash, cash, cash … And the increasingly success that she discovered, the increasingly unstable she grew to become.

Cameron Walega: She would scream at instances that it will pierce your ear. … There have been instances the place she was simply unpredictable. Absolutely unpredictable.

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

Sean Trussler: I feel perhaps that night time he was like “Yo, I’m done with this. I’m washin’ my hands.”

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

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

Melissa Turner (cries): After he was upset for me desirous to go to mattress — But 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 instances the place he would get actually upset and he would try to apply it to himself. … and, so, it was a widespread factor for me to try to take a knife away from him.

Melissa Turner: On this night time … He did not need 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. … And then I stabbed him flippantly in the again simply to get him off me.

She says after she stabbed him as soon as in the again, Matthew pushed her into the kitchen counter, and 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 fairly extreme head damage.

But that declare would later be challenged at her trial.

Melissa Turner: I remembered a few blurry steps … in the direction of my workplace. But that was it. I simply bear 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: … significantly since she mentioned it was escalating. … His consuming 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 feel it’s a case of — self-defense.

But Melissa’s model of occasions might 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.

Besides the audio from the neighbor’s security digital camera, the state plans to current video from contained in the couple’s residence. Remember that ADT security footage recovered by investigators? Prosecutors believed it did not present any suspicious exercise the night time of Matthew’s dying. But simply earlier than the trial, they found they misinterpret the time and date.

Katherine Fand: I’ll be trustworthy, I misunderstood the timing. It’s not recorded in Eastern Standard Time. It is recorded in Universal 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’s calmly strolling … and you may 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 if she’s convicted, she is aware of she may spend the remainder of her life behind bars.

Melissa Turner: It’ll be a world of weight off my shoulders for this trial to simply be over.

The jury will hear nothing about her movies — her cosplay modeling and appearing out fantasies on-line. The choose 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 identified that she was an actress. … And she was in a position to make herself into this victim-type particular person, after which cry on demand.  

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

JOHN TREVENA (in courtroom): 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 consuming, his emotional abuse.

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

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

But Prosecutor Fosset says Matthew had no report or historical past of violence towards anybody. 

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

Chinwe Fossett: I feel she was intoxicated, and I do suppose that she went far past something she thought she would do. … Maybe she was simply so annoyed together with his consuming. … that she harms him so badly that he finally ends up dying.  

At trial, Melissa determined to take a threat and testify. She described Matthew as an alcoholic who had exhibited abusive and unsettling behaviors in the previous

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

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

MELISSA TURNER (in courtroom): He would stare off at some nook … And he would inform me that “there’s a demon standing right there.” … There have been instances the place … he would discuss in a completely different 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 girl? Are you scared? ‘Cause Matt’s not here anymore.”

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

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

CHINWE FOSSETT: But the medical expert did not say that he died of alcohol — intoxication … The reason behind dying … is that he was stabbed, and he bled to dying.

According to the medical expert, Matthew had a number of small cuts and bruises and a potential defensive wound on his forearm. The deadly damage was not the stab wound to his again, however from a deep incision on his proper arm, which punctured a vein.

CHINWE FOSSETT (in courtroom): You stabbed him in the again, appropriate?

MELISSA TURNER: Correct.

CHINWE FOSSETT: OK.

Melissa Turner: The solely 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 may’ve fallen into one thing; he may’ve performed 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 attempting to strangle you?

Melissa Turner: … as a result of I could not bear in mind on the time. … I had complained a number of instances about a headache.  

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

CHINWE FOSSETT (in courtroom): And so at present, in 2022, you now declare you had some type of head damage, appropriate?

MELISSA TURNER: Umm, sure.

But a crime scene tech testified there was no proof of head damage. 

CHINWE FOSSETT: And now in 2022, you communicate of some type of blackout, appropriate? Yes?

MELISSA TURNER: Correct.

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 residence. Prosecutors say it proves Melissa was the aggressor that night time. At 3:38 a.m., Melissa is seen working in the direction of her workplace. At 3:42 a.m., Matthew walks previous the digital camera, Melissa follows him.

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

At 4:01 a.m., the video shows Melissa working from the course of the kitchen; she seems distressed. This can also be across the time when the digital camera 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 she’s seeming like she’s speaking to open air … and you may see on her hand, you possibly can see the trace of crimson … she already has the reduce.

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

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

Katherine Fand: She is just not in affordable concern of him. That’s what’s clear.  

But 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 say the couple moved near an open window and that security digital camera throughout the road recorded a girl’s offended voice. 

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s security digital camera audio): “You have the power to do something, so ****ing die.”

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

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

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

MELISSA TURNER: Do what tears appear like?

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

MELISSA TURNER: I’m 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 security digital camera recording. And a former FBI audio forensic knowledgeable, Bruce Koenig, testified for the protection how he believed sections of the digital camera audio had been, what he known as, “volume enhanced.” 

JOHN TREVENA (in courtroom): So, it could possibly be that perhaps one voice on the recording was not amplified and that one other voice on the recording was drastically amplified.

BRUCE KOENIG: That’s true.  

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

Prosecutors deny the audio was manipulated. 

Based on the surface digital camera, Prosecutor Fand says the confrontation ended at 5:11 a.m., when Matthew in some way obtained out to the pool space by means of a window. 

Katherine Fand: So, the window was really open. But 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 in the kitchen after which gone out.  

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

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

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

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

One of the final ADT clips reveals Melissa at 8:35 a.m. strolling from the course of her workplace. In the police report, her hair is described as “messy as if she just woke up.” 

John Trevena: That was probably the most … demonstrative of her not realizing he is useless. … Because 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 consuming, 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.  

As the jury started their deliberations, one of many jurors, Donald Goodwin, was feeling the burden of his choice. 

Erin Moriarty: How does the primary vote go?

Donald Goodwin: Two for responsible in 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 Judge Samantha Ward.

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

Melissa is hoping the jury will imagine 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 thought of how badly he had been injured.

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

Erin Moriarty: Isn’t it potential … that there might not have been actually — intent to kill anyone. It’s this drunken battle and someone finally ends up bleeding to dying.

Chinwe Fossett: That’s a murder.

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

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

In Florida, second-degree homicide circumstances are heard by six jurors. In this case, two girls and 4 males — considered one of them, Donald Goodwin.

Donald Goodwin: You see a younger girl and also you’re already, like, your abdomen drops. You’re like, Lord, simply let me do the fitting factor … But behind the seems of a younger girl, the reality was popping out shortly.

Donald Goodwin: When she went to the stand, I feel it damage her, huge time. … her tears have been so faux. And you possibly can inform.

MELISSA TURNER (in courtroom): I’m crying as a result of I nonetheless bear in mind all these locations, all these plans …

Donald Goodwin: … She was tremendous offended and tremendous unhappy. Her feelings have been in every single place. I’m like that tells me who she is.

Goodwin, a half time household pastor, says these security digital camera movies have been essential due to what he says was a lack of different proof.

Donald Goodwin: I appeared on the movies again and again, the ADT movies that is inside the home. … I seen crimson on her arms. But I could not use it as proof as a result of the digital camera wasn’t crystal clear.

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

Donald Goodwin: Yes.

Donald Goodwin: And I feel she snapped.

Erin Moriarty: You do not imagine 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 one.

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

Erin Moriarty: You do not imagine that she would possibly’ve handed out? 

Donald Goodwin: No. Not in any respect. … there was no proof of head damage.

The jury deliberated for seven hours.

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

Guilty of the homicide of Matthew Trussler.

JENNIFER GILES: I bear in mind Sean squeezing my hand, it was a completely satisfied feeling.

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

JUDGE WARD: She might be taken into custody right now. 

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

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

But 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 pal once more. He won’t ever have the ability to substitute you.

MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN: The story that you’ve contrived has prompted me as a lot ache as his dying … If Matthew’s consuming was escalating … it was due to the approach to life that you just concerned him in. It was not in line with who he was and with the best way that he was raised.

JUDGE WARD: This jury didn’t imagine her claims of self-defense, nor does this courtroom.  

Still, Judge Samantha Ward provided Melissa some mercy, sparing her a life sentence.

JUDGE WARD: Based on the jury’s verdict, you might be adjudicated responsible, sentenced to twenty.5 years in the Florida State Prison.

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

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

Jennifer Giles: Oh, my gosh.

Sean Trussler: His giggle in all probability.

Jennifer Giles: He had a nice giggle.

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

One life misplaced, one other ruined on a night time juror Goodwin says did not should occur.

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

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

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

 

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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 manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer