FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP): An Indianapolis woman whose house exploded, killing two people, told a jury her then-boyfriend’s half-brother was promised $10,000 to blow up the house so they could collect $300,000 in insurance.
Monserrate Shirley told the jury she and Mark Leonard couldn’t afford to pay Bob Leonard the $1,200 advance he requested.
Bob Leonard is charged with murder, arson, conspiracy and other charges in the November 2012 explosion in that killed Jennifer and John “Dion” Longworth. Mark Leonard was convicted on the same 53 charges and sentenced in August to life in prison without parole.
Shirley told the jury her neighbors, the Longworths, “didn’t deserve it.”
Shirley has pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges and faces up to 50 years in prison.
The trial is being held in Fort Wayne.
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