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On Oct. 18, 2019, Melissa Turner frantically referred to as 911 saying she discovered her fiancé, Matthew Trussler, laying in a pool of blood on the patio of their suburban Tampa, Florida, residence. “We had loads of drinks final night time and we went to mattress drunk,” Turner advised the 911 operator. “… wakened this morning and he was bloody and out of doors this morning.”
Assembly on an app
Turner advised “48 Hours,” they’d met on Tinder in April 2017. From that second their relationship blossomed into an engagement. However, in October 2019, authorities escorted Melissa to the sheriff’s workplace for extra questioning.
Melissa’s police interrogation
A few hours after that frantic 911 name, investigators interviewed Turner about their drunken night time. Melissa says she and Trussler had been consuming and she or he ultimately fell asleep. She says she wakened and located Matthew useless. Nevertheless, she did not know that investigators had been tipped off a couple of surveillance digicam that captured greater than what she revealed.
An essential clue
Whereas Turner was on the sheriff’s workplace, Det. Ryan LaGasse canvassed the neighborhood for clues. He says he observed a neighbor’s surveillance digicam that was pointing straight on the couple’s residence and determined to see if it had important info. When the proprietor shared the footage, he heard sounds of a yelling from two voices. One of many voices, which sounded feminine, stated “so f***ing die!” Detective LaGasse instantly shared this with different investigators.
The couple’s accidents
When Trussler’s physique was examined, the medical expert stated he had a defensive wound on his proper forearm, a big laceration to his chest, a small lower to the correct shoulder, and a big wound on his again that’s in line with a stab wound. The medical expert famous the reason for loss of life as “incised wound to arm with perforation of cephalic vein.” Turner had a lower on her hand.
Searching for the reality
Again on the sheriff’s workplace, investigators requested Turner in regards to the video displaying sounds of an argument from her home. At first she stated, “I’ve no reminiscence of any argument…” Nevertheless, just a few hours into the investigation Melissa’s story modified utterly. She might now bear in mind what unfolded between them.
Melissa’s perspective
Turner advised investigators Trussler woke her up and he was nonetheless intoxicated. She was indignant from being woken up and so they started to argue. Melissa says Matthew was holding a knife and she or he tried to seize it and issues escalated. “If it was an accident, then I might have referred to as 911, and never simply let him die,” Turner advised investigators.
Arrest for homicide
Throughout the identical day of that frantic 911 name Turner positioned, authorities arrested her for second diploma homicide with weapon. She was taken to the native jail.
Matthew’s household
When Matthew Trussler’s household heard the information, they had been in shock. Matthew’s older brother Sean and his fiancé, who additionally lived close to Matthew and Melissa, instantly had their suspicions. “She took Mattie lengthy earlier than she took him ceaselessly,” Sean Trussler advised “48 Hours.”
Pictured from left: Matthew’s mom Margaret, brother Sean, Sean’s fiancé Jennifer and Matthew Trussler.
Melissa’s previous
Cameron Walega, a person who says he dated Turner, recalled her curiosity in health since she misplaced 100 kilos. He additionally remembers when she created a second weblog with sexually express content material.
Cosplaying efficiency
Turner’s second weblog featured her cosplaying as numerous characters, corresponding to Daphne from “Scooby Doo” and Misty from “Pokemon,” whereas partaking in sexual acts in line with her ex-boyfriend Cameron Walega. He says he observed a change in her character shortly after beginning that weblog. “And the increasingly success that she discovered, the increasingly unstable she turned,” he advised “48 Hours”. Ultimately the couple parted methods.
The trial begins
On Feb. 14, 2022, two years after Matthew Trussler’s loss of life, Melissa Turner went on trial for homicide. Turner’s legal professional, John Trevena, stated it is a case of self-defense. “She did have a historical past of abuse and that there was abuse on this relationship, and that she acted in self-defense.”
Nevertheless, prosecutors did not consider that narrative. “I feel she was intoxicated and I do suppose she went far past something she thought she would do,” Assistant District Legal professional Chinwe Fossett advised “48 Hours.” “Perhaps she was simply so pissed off together with his consuming … that she harms him so badly that he finally ends up dying.”
Melissa takes the stand
Turner determined to testify on the trial. She described Trussler’s points with alcohol. That night time his alcohol stage was almost 5 instances the authorized restrict in Florida. She additionally described his unusual conduct prior to now. “He would stare off at some nook … and he would inform me that ‘there is a demon standing proper there.’”
Regardless of not remembering how Trussler ended up with wounds in numerous components of his physique, Turner stated she might solely bear in mind stabbing him as soon as within the again. “I stabbed him as soon as to get him off of me from strangling me.”
An knowledgeable’s testimony
A key piece of proof was the neighbor’s surveillance footage that seize sounds of an argument from Melissa and Matthew’s residence. Audio knowledgeable Bruce Koenig testified that sections of the audio had been quantity enhanced. Protection legal professional John Trevena believed the audio had been tampered with. “I discover it extremely suspicious that…Ms. Turner’s voice is screeching loud. However when it got here to, you understand, Matthew Trussler … you can barely hear mumbling.”
The decision
On Feb. 18, 2022, jurors deliberated for seven hours earlier than reaching a call. Melissa Turner was discovered responsible of homicide within the second diploma.
Donald Goodwin, who was one of many jurors, stated he thought Melissa had snapped. “… she knew he was gonna die, she knew it, and but, she referred to as no one,” he advised “48 Hours.”
Melissa’s sentencing
A month after the decision, on March 18, 2022, Turner returned to court docket to obtain her sentencing.
“Primarily based on the jury’s verdict, you might be adjudicated responsible, sentenced to twenty.5 years within the Florida State Jail,” Choose Samantha Ward advised Melissa in court docket.
Household response
Trussler’s sister-in-law, Jennifer Giles, believes justice was served. “I’ll say that’s justice to a level,” she advised “48 Hours.”
Sean Trussler says he misses his brother. “He was child. He was simply beginning to be a person.”
Juror Donald Goodwin says each lives had been ruined that night time. “Matthew Trussler did not need to die,” he advised “48 Hours.” “They might’ve walked away from one another and began a unique life.”
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