This story beforehand aired on Oct. 28, 2023.
Melissa Turner referred to 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 ingesting the night time earlier than, however that she might keep in mind few particulars. Nevertheless, when investigators discovered a safety digital camera above a neighbor’s storage door that held clues to what occurred, her story modified. Prosecutors say Melissa will be heard screaming at Matthew on an audio recording from the digital camera. She mentioned she stabbed her fiancé, performing 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 Hearth and Rescue. What’s the deal with of the emergency?
MELISSA TURNER: Please —
911 OPERATOR: Inform me what’s improper.
MELISSA TURNER: He’s nonresponsive.
Melissa Turner: I couldn’t 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 couldn’t maintain within the tears and every 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 respiration. And I attempted to — to start out 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 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 didn’t actually really feel actual in these moments.
MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): This can be 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 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’s what we do. We had simply, we have been there on the home ourselves … We had drinks. He at all times favored ingesting. He was a drinker.
In accordance with Melissa, round 11 p.m. she bought drained and instructed Matthew she needed to fall asleep. He was nonetheless up.
MELISSA TURNER: I slept on that — that huge chair that’s in my little workplace space downstairs.
What she noticed when she wakened the following morning, Melissa instructed investigators, didn’t make sense.
MELISSA TURNER: I noticed the — the kitchen was — I didn’t 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’s when she found Matthew outdoors on the patio and commenced CPR.
DETECTIVE: You’ve gotten his blood throughout you.
MELISSA TURNER: I don’t perceive.
DETECTIVE: You have been making an attempt to present CPR and assist him.
A few hours after that frantic 911 name, investigators interviewed Melissa Turner in regards to the couple’s drunken night time. They’re arduous to see, however she is carrying latex gloves given to her by an officer on the scene.
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
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 wish to hold carrying these gloves, or do you wanna take them off?
MELISSA TURNER: I’ll depart them on for now.
DETECTIVE: Do you’ve gotten any accidents in your individual?
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 might take pictures of her.
MELISSA TURNER (factors to her proper palm): I’ve a bit of reduce proper right here.
DETECTIVE: And that’s from what?
MELISSA TURNER: I feel it’s from grabbing the glass? Or — trigger there — I do know there was the damaged glass this morning.
POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER: Open your fingers a bit of extra there. … Did that damage to open it up? Sorry.
MELISSA TURNER: Oh my gosh, I didn’t know.
DETECTIVE: That one’s sliced fairly good.
MELISSA TURNER: I didn’t even discover.
DETECTIVE: Oh, wow.
MELISSA TURNER: I had no concept that was there.
As detectives labored to resolve what occurred, Matthew’s household was studying Matthew had died. His brother Sean Trussler bought the decision from their mom.
Sean Trussler: I bought a name that he died in an accident is what they instructed me.
Sean referred to 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 within the development enterprise. Sean, who misplaced one in every of his eyes as a consequence of a piece accident shortly after his brother’s loss of life, says the 2 made a superb group.
Sean Trussler: I’ve labored Mattie very arduous. … He simply wanted to be led appropriately.
Matthew, or Mattie as Sean calls him, struggled with substance abuse and was wanting on the transfer to Florida as an opportunity to start out over.
Sean Trussler: He was a extremely good child. … He labored so arduous. He had the most important coronary heart. He liked all people and every thing.
Melissa Turner instructed “48 Hours,” she and Matthew Trussler met on Tinder in April 2017.
Melissa Turner
Two years after his transfer, Melissa, then 24, met Matthew, 23 on a web-based relationship app.
Melissa Turner: We met on Tinder … and I simply favored how totally different Matt handled me … he made me really feel extra essential. … he drew me in.
In 2019, the couple took an enormous step and acquired a home collectively.
Melissa Turner: We have been enthusiastic about the home … we have been choosing out, you understand — paint colours for partitions and furnishings.
However Melissa says just a few months into their new lives, their relationship grew to become strained.
Melissa Turner: Matt’s ingesting was getting worse … It was simply turning 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 at all times superb with me.
However Melissa didn’t 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 don’t actually keep in mind. I imply, we would have gotten in argument. However it didn’t seem to be something … We weren’t, like, screaming at one another that I do know of.
DETECTIVE: You instructed 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 bought 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’ve bought … the digital camera positioned straight above the residence … throughout the road right here.
And what was captured by the house safety digital camera, police say, would show Melissa knew greater than she was letting on.
MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digital camera audio): Stand up now! Stand up! Stand up! I hate you!
DIGITAL OBSERVERS
An eyewitness will be essential to fixing against the law, and simply hours into the investigation of Matthew Trussler’s loss of life, detectives found digital observers. There was an ADT digital camera contained in the couple’s house, however at first look, it didn’t seem to point out any uncommon exercise.
Ryan LaGasse: Most of our info got here from that digital camera that’s posted up above the storage.
It was a safety digital camera on a neighbor’s storage that may show invaluable — an unblinking eye skilled on the aspect of Melissa and Matthew’s house that recorded sights and sounds.
Ryan LaGasse: So, I began wanting on the footage.
Matthew Trussler homicide: Contained in the case
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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 realize, issues that have been — gave the impression of they have been crashing. And, um, so then, I kinda zoomed in my senses a bit of bit … After which, from there I began listening to voices … after which I hear what seems 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 differentiate. However the feminine voice was very, um, very loud. Sounded very indignant.
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 digital camera audio): “Go f***ing die!”
Ryan LaGasse: After which I heard — you understand, it gave the impression of … 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 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 don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you.
MELISSA TURNER: I don’t 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 within the morning.
However 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 home.
DETECTIVE 2: What we want from you that may most likely … make much more sense is to … inform us what that argument was about.
MELISSA TURNER: I’d say he woke me up and we bought 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’m 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, get up. Bitch, get up”?
MELISSA TURNER: … really, a whole lot of the instances every time he’s 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, “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 bought a slice in your hand — a slice. That’s what that’s. How did that occur?
The investigators once more targeted on that reduce on Melissa’s hand.
DETECTIVE: It’s not 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. … pondering again on it, that is from me grabbing a knife out of his hand. … And issues bought escalated from there.
Melissa later instructed “48 Hours” she wasn’t making an attempt to cover the harm 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).
Throughout the identical day of that frantic 911 name, authorities arrested Melissa Turner for second diploma homicide with a weapon.
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
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 discovered Melissa was in custody for Matthew’s homicide from his mother, who referred to 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 didn’t 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 eternally.
Sean and Jennifer say Melissa had two sides: as Matthew’s live-in associate and as a cosplay mannequin, who dressed up in costume portraying well-known fictional characters.
Sean Trussler and Jennifer say Melissa Turner had two sides: as Matthew’s live-in associate and as a cosplay mannequin, who dressed up in costume portraying well-known fictional characters, like Daphne from “Scooby Doo.”
Meliisa Turner/Tumblr
Erin Moriarty: What’s that then? (taking a look at a photograph of Melissa)
Jennifer Giles: That’s really from –
Sean Trussler: — “Scooby Doo.”
She made a residing by producing and performing in her personal grownup movies.
Jennifer Giles: However it’s from a film clip the place she really is performing, um, sexual acts.
And it wasn’t till after his loss of life that they discovered Melissa had solid Matthew as her associate 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 didn’t wish to do these movies anymore?
Jennifer Giles: Completely.
Sean Trussler: I feel he was accomplished 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 imagine Matthew was turning into disenchanted together with his position 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: Cash. Actual cash.
Jennifer Giles: However I feel it bought a bit of a lot.
Initially from Massachusetts, in 2015 Matthew Trussler adopted in his brother Sean’s footsteps and moved to Florida to work with him within the development enterprise.
Trussler household
They now surprise if Melissa had been on the lookout for a associate 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 best stuff, the appears to be like … the physique and every thing that goes with it.
Cameron Walega: She doesn’t do issues with no bunch of analysis.
Cameron Walega, a former boyfriend of Melissa, met her earlier than she started her profession on the earth of grownup leisure.
Cameron Walega: She was very creative, so she was in a position to edit her personal movies, edit her personal photos … very enterprise pushed.
The 2 met in 2012 after they have been learning make-up results at Douglas Schooling Middle close to Pittsburgh. Again then, Melissa was operating a well-liked health weblog after dropping 100 kilos, later documenting her transformation on social media.
Cameron Walega: … it stored 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 momentary. This was supplemental.
However Cameron says Melissa quickly started incomes an honest residing doing what is named cam work, the place she carried out — in numerous stage of gown — for her web followers who paid a charge.
Cameron Walega: She was so happy with the place she bought herself … “I used to be this incredibly insecure girl. Now they’re paying me to look at me.”
In 2013, Melissa Turner moved from Pittsburgh to Florida. On the time she was operating a well-liked health weblog. “She was very artistic, so she was able to edit her own videos, edit her own pictures … very business driven,” mentioned former boyfriend Cameron Walega.
Melissa Turner/Fb
He says he started to see a change in Melissa’s persona 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 instances that it could pierce your ear. … There have been instances the place she was simply unpredictable. Completely unpredictable.
Sean and Jennifer now surprise 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 feel perhaps that night time he was like “Yo, I’m done with this. I’m washin’ my hands.”
Jennifer Giles: She didn’t like no matter he mentioned to her. And it made her blow her prime.
However that’s not the way it occurred, says Melissa.
Melissa Turner (cries): After he was upset for me eager to go to mattress — However you understand I stayed downstairs … his demeanor would begin to get darker and darker from there.
Melissa Turner instructed investigators on Oct. 18, 2019, Matthew Trussler woke her up and he was nonetheless intoxicated. She was indignant from being woken up and so they started to argue. Melissa mentioned Matthew was holding a knife and he or she tried to seize it and issues escalated.
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
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 standard factor for me to try to take a knife away from him.
Melissa Turner: On this night time … He didn’t 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 flippantly 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’s 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 just a few blurry steps … in the direction of my workplace. However that was it. I simply keep in mind passing out—blacking on the market.
John Trevena: She’s the true 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 ingesting was escalating, his habits points have been escalating … And it simply sadly escalated into this very odd incident.
John Trevena: I don’t suppose it’s a homicide case. I feel 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 assist her assertion.
Chinwe Fossett: She by no means mentions something about anybody strangling her or something, till days earlier than trial … you actually must take that into consideration.
Moreover the audio from the neighbor’s safety digital camera, 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 didn’t present any suspicious exercise the night time of Matthew’s loss of life. However simply earlier than the trial, they found they misinterpret the time and date.
Katherine Fand: I’ll be sincere, I misunderstood the timing. It’s not recorded in Jap Commonplace 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’s calmly strolling … and you’ll see, she’s hunched over, she’s yelling. … She is indignant 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’ll be a world of weight off my shoulders for this trial to only be over.
Melissa Turner
Melissa Turner/Fb
The jury will hear nothing about her movies — her cosplay modeling and performing out fantasies on-line. The choose dominated it wasn’t related to the case. Prosecutor Chinwe Fossett sees it in a different way.
Chinwe Fossett: I did suppose that the jury ought to’ve identified that she was an actress. … And he or she was in a position to make herself into this victim-type individual, after which cry on demand.
Melissa’s legal professional, John Trevena, instructed the jury that she didn’t 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 ingesting, his emotional abuse.
Erin Moriarty: You’re saying that Melissa had the best to kill him as a result of he was drunk?
John Trevena: No. … Melissa had the best to kill him to defend herself from being strangled.
However Prosecutor Fosset says Matthew had no report or historical past of violence in opposition to 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. … Possibly she was simply so annoyed together with his ingesting. … 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 up to now
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 distinct 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.”
Melissa Turner instructed detectives she and Matthew have been ingesting alcohol all through the day main into the night. Authorities by no means checked Melissa’s blood alcohol degree, however Matthew’s was almost 5 instances the authorized restrict in Florida.
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
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 may possibly trigger hallucinations, the demon that we’ve heard about.
CHINWE FOSSETT: However the medical expert didn’t say that he died of alcohol — intoxication … The reason for loss of life … is that he was stabbed, and he bled to loss of life.
In accordance with the medical expert, Matthew had a number of small cuts and bruises and a attainable 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 courtroom): You stabbed him within the again, appropriate?
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 couldn’t let you know that. I’ve no clue. He might’ve fallen into one thing; he might’ve accomplished it himself. … And I stabbed him as soon as to get him off of me from strangling me.
Erin Moriarty: Why didn’t you inform the police that he had been making an attempt to strangle you?
Melissa Turner: … as a result of I couldn’t keep in mind on the time. … I had complained a number of instances a couple of headache.
Prosecutor Fossett questioned Melissa about her recollections that returned earlier than the trial.
CHINWE FOSSETT (in courtroom): And so right now, in 2022, you now declare you had some type of head harm, appropriate?
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, appropriate? Sure?
MELISSA TURNER: Right.
CHINWE FOSSET: OK.
The jury gained’t must rely simply on Melissa’s recollections 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 operating in the direction of her workplace. At 3:42 a.m., Matthew walks previous the digital camera, Melissa follows him.
At 3:42 a.m., Matthew Trussler, left, is seen strolling previous the ADT digital camera as Melissa Turner follows him. “He’s walking calmly, unarmed in the ADT videos, and she’s following hunched over angry,” prosecutor Chinwe Fossett instructed “48 Hours.”
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
Chinwe Fossett: He’s strolling calmly, unarmed within the ADT movies, and he or she’s following him hunched over indignant.
At 4:01 a.m., the video exhibits Melissa operating from the course of the kitchen; she seems distressed. That is additionally 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.
At 4:08 a.m., the ADT digital camera exhibits Melissa Turner standing and staring on the entrance door.
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
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 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 might have left then for assist or referred to 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.
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 don’t suppose it exhibits that.
The combating 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 digital camera throughout the road recorded a girl’s indignant voice.
MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety 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.” 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’re 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 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’s unimaginable to obviously perceive what Melissa is saying on the neighbor’s safety digital camera recording. And a former FBI audio forensic professional, Bruce Koenig, testified for the protection how he believed sections of the digital camera audio had been, what he referred to as, “volume enhanced.”
JOHN TREVENA (in courtroom): So, it might be that perhaps one voice on the recording was not amplified and that one other voice on the recording was vastly amplified.
BRUCE KOENIG: That’s 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 would barely hear mumbling.
Prosecutors deny the audio was manipulated.
Primarily based on the skin digital camera, Prosecutor Katherine Fand says the confrontation ended at 5:11 a.m., when Matthew Trussler in some way bought out to the pool space via a window.
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
Primarily based on the skin digital camera, Prosecutor Fand says the confrontation ended at 5:11 a.m., when Matthew in some way bought out to the pool space via a window.
Katherine Fand: So, the window was really 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 he or she’s awake and he or she doesn’t assist him.
However Melissa says that’s when she returned to her workplace and blacked out.
Erin Moriarty: The argument ends someday round 5 o’clock. However you don’t name 911 till 8:45.
Melissa Turner: Right, as a result of I used to be unconscious.
One of many final ADT clips exhibits Melissa Turner at 8:35 a.m. strolling from the course of her workplace. Her hair is described as “messy as if she just woke up,” within the police report. “That was the most … demonstrative of her not knowing he’s dead,” mentioned protection legal professional John Trevena. “Because you wouldn’t be go lookin’ for him if you killed him.”
Protection Legal professional John Trevena
One of many final ADT clips exhibits Melissa at 8:35 a.m. strolling from the course of her workplace. Within the police report, her hair is described as “messy as if she just woke up.”
John Trevena: That was essentially the most … demonstrative of her not realizing he’s useless. … Since you wouldn’t be go lookin’ for him if you happen to killed him.
Erin Moriarty: Is it attainable … that she did move 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 burden 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 Choose Samantha Ward.
JUDGE WARD: Your responsibility is to find out if the defendant has been confirmed responsible or not in accord with the regulation …
Matthew Trussler and Melissa Turner
Melissa Turner
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 shifting 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 attainable … that there could not have been actually — intent to kill anyone. It’s this drunken struggle and any individual finally ends up bleeding to loss of life.
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’s 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 ladies and 4 males — one in every of them, Donald Goodwin.
Donald Goodwin: You see a younger woman and also you’re already, like, your abdomen drops. You’re like, Lord, simply let me do the best 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 feel it damage her, huge time. … her tears have been so faux. And you’ll inform.
MELISSA TURNER (in courtroom): I’m crying as a result of I nonetheless keep in mind all these locations, all these plans …
Donald Goodwin: … She was tremendous indignant and tremendous unhappy. Her feelings have been in all places. I’m like that tells me who she is.
Goodwin, an element time household pastor, says these safety digital camera movies have been essential due to what he says was an absence of different proof.
Donald Goodwin: I seemed on the movies again and again, the ADT movies that’s inside the home. … I seen crimson on her fingers. However I couldn’t 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: Sure.
Donald Goodwin: And I feel she snapped.
Erin Moriarty: You don’t 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 you understand precisely what’s happening now. … she knew he was gonna die, she knew it, and but, she referred to as no one.
And as for Melissa’s claims about hitting her head and blacking out?
Erin Moriarty: You don’t imagine that she would possibly’ve handed out?
Donald Goodwin: No. In no way. … 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 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 person that I liked. I misplaced my future and my hopes and my desires.
However Matthew’s household additionally spoke, battling each grief and anger.
JENNIFER GILES: Mattie … 25 years previous, 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 exchange you.
MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN: The story that you’ve got contrived has brought about me as a lot ache as his loss of life … If Matthew’s ingesting was escalating … it was due to the life-style that you simply concerned him in. It was not according to 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.
Nonetheless, Choose Samantha Ward supplied Melissa some mercy, sparing her a life sentence.
JUDGE WARD: Primarily based 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.
“He was a really good kid,” Sean Trussler mentioned of his brother. “He worked so hard. He had the biggest heart. He loved everybody and everything.”
Matthew Trussler/Fb
Erin Moriarty: What do you guys miss about Mattie essentially the most?
Jennifer Giles: Oh, my gosh.
Sean Trussler: His chortle most likely.
Jennifer Giles: He had an ideal chortle.
Sean Trussler: He was a superb child, he was … He was simply beginning to be a person.
One life misplaced, one other ruined on an evening juror Goodwin says didn’t must occur.
Donald Goodwin: Matthew Trussler didn’t must die. … They might’ve walked away from one another and began a distinct life. … Melissa Turner selected to kill Matthew Trussler. Do I feel it was premediated? Completely not. Do I feel she’s responsible? Completely.
The prosecutor says Matthew Trussler was a sufferer of home violence.
In the event you or somebody you understand 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 sector 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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