Ep 14. Michelle Michael
- PG
- April 6, 2008
Michelle Michael was a Florida-based elementary school teacher who was accused of killing her husband James Michael in December 1997. The couple had been married for five years and had two children together. However, their relationship was tumultuous, and there were several instances of domestic violence reported by both parties.
On December 14, 1997, Michelle claimed that she heard a noise in her home and found her husband lying on the bathroom floor, shot dead. She immediately called 911 and reported the incident. However, the police were suspicious of her story and began to investigate her as a suspect.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Michelle had taken out a $50,000 life insurance policy on her husband just a few months before his death. She also had a history of mental health issues and had been hospitalized in the past for suicidal tendencies. Additionally, there were inconsistencies in her story, and forensic evidence suggested that the scene may have been staged.
Michelle was eventually arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During her trial, the prosecution argued that Michelle had killed her husband for the insurance money and had staged the scene to make it look like a burglary gone wrong.
The defense, on the other hand, claimed that Michelle was innocent and that the evidence against her was circumstantial. They argued that the police had rushed to judgment and had not thoroughly investigated other potential suspects.
After a lengthy trial, Michelle was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She maintained her innocence throughout the trial and continues to do so to this day.
Overall, this episode of Snapped tells the story of a woman who was accused of murdering her husband and explores the evidence, motive, and possible explanations for the crime. It also sheds light on the domestic violence issues that existed in the couple's relationship and the impact it may have had on the events leading up to James Michael's death.
