GUILTY IN - Melinda Lindsey, 23, shot to death, Porter County, 16 Jan 2015 - #2

[HistoryNut]

I totally agree.

I've been thinking about this too. And I can't remember where it was talked about, here or in the paper; But it seems that when he was fired from his job there was some indication there was a girlfriend, or at the very least some cheating going on. The company he'd been working for took his work truck before SL had a chance to clean it out and they found condoms and some other stuff.

Usually in cases like this the prosecution likes to "ramp it up" and leave the jury with the most powerful evidence last so it stays on the juror's minds. This is because the defense comes in after them. So as bad as it's been, I would imagine it's about to get much, much worse for Mr. Lindsey.

So let me throw this one out there...IF he had a girlfriend, was it the same woman who said Mike Manning killed Melinda? Manning has a tight alibi and said she was psychotic, but why would she just appear out of the blue (right before the trial starts) and say he did it?

 

[Tina Grant]

So let me throw this one out there...IF he had a girlfriend, was it the same woman who said Mike Manning killed Melinda? Manning has a tight alibi and said she was psychotic, but why would she just appear out of the blue (right before the trial starts) and say he did it?

Maybe she has a grudge against Manning for some reason. He has a tight alibi, but he still had to disrupt his life and take the time and trouble, and bear the expense, of traveling to Valpo to testify.

 

[molly1255]

So let me throw this one out there...IF he had a girlfriend, was it the same woman who said Mike Manning killed Melinda? Manning has a tight alibi and said she was psychotic, but why would she just appear out of the blue (right before the trial starts) and say he did it?

Perhaps I've read between the lines but I'm also wondering the same thing. As for her coming out of the blue, perhaps she had an argument with Manning and wanted to somehow get even? Psychotic women (and men) do crazy things!

 

[molly1255]

Agree that his alibi is extremely tight. The prosecution, if I recall, called it an iron-clad alibi.

 

[molly1255]

I hear you Arabian lover! I hope your take on this is correct. Still, I recall, upon hearing the verdicts in the above trials, being in disbelief. And the public were in disbelief. But so far no credible reasonable doubt has been presented, that I can see.

I also recall being in disbelief over those verdicts. I have to admit, though, I was surprised that Scott Peterson was convicted. If I remember right, all of the evidence in that case was circumstantial, though I did feel and still feel the jury got it right.

In this case here, I agree that no credible reasonable doubt has been presented.

 

[Mercurial]

As I recall, SL lost his job because of the condoms and drinking on the clock, too? Or am I mixing up cases? I thought the company was watching and caught him in a bar, driving the company car?

 

[Safeguard]

Actually Four murders if you count the unborn child (yet to be confirmed I believe), though I think before an unborn child can be considered murder it has to be X? months duration. I think Melinda's child, if there was one, was fairly early on.

And as sad as euthenizing the dogs, it probably is legal, otherwise the vet would not do it.

So, he is responsible for the death of four lives, but stands trial for only one

I don't think Melinda was pregnant. She may have felt she was, that happens a lot. But surely, in the hospital, or at autopsy, that would have become evident, right? I think we would be hearing of it by now.

 

[Tina Grant]

As I recall, SL lost his job because of the condoms and drinking on the clock, too? Or am I mixing up cases? I thought the company was watching and caught him in a bar, driving the company car?

The company was watching him and caught him drinking in a bar on company time. He was driving the company car, so they took the keys when he came out of the bar and searched the car. It was then they found the condoms in the car.

 

[ArabianLover]

As I recall, SL lost his job because of the condoms and drinking on the clock, too? Or am I mixing up cases? I thought the company was watching and caught him in a bar, driving the company car?

The company was watching him and caught him drinking in a bar on company time. He was driving the company car, so they took the keys when he came out of the bar and searched the car. It was then they found the condoms in the car.

Yup. That's right. And he tried to lie and say he was drinking Mountain Dew or something in the bar. Lol

 

[ArabianLover]

In regards to those other cases, you have to remember the jury wasn't always privy to everything that "we" were. A lot of the information we heard didn't get in or the prosecution didn't use it.

That's why it is so important for the prosecution to put these cases together correctly. You hear so much talk about the "hard evidence". The DNA, fingerprints, video, eye-witness testimony, etc. But I am one who really believes that many times a circumstantial case can be much stronger than a case with hard evidence.

A great prosecutor can put all of those factors together and it really paints a picture about what was really going on, and what happened. It's almost like the process of elimination. This case is perfect for that.

I don't know if there is any hard evidence. And in this case, it really wouldn't matter. The victim & the accused lived together in the same house. So their DNA would be intermingled all over the place. She was shot with her own gun. His fingerprints on the gun really wouldn't mean much. The gun belonged to "them" as a couple. So one could assume they both handled it. He wasn't covered with blood. And even if he showered and they found evidence of her blood in the drains, it could be argued she had cut herself shaving her legs a couple days before, etc, etc.

But the circumstantial evidence is PILING UP. And it is telling a very, very ugly story about SL, who he is, how he behaves, and how he treated Melinda. And next week it's only going to get more ugly.

Any of these things by themselves wouldn't mean much. A $1.1M life insurance policy on a 22 yo house wife that was about the expire. A husband behind on child support to ex-wife and about to face contempt charges. Suspicious "stalking" reports made by the couple right before the murder. A controlling husband. A wife afraid of her husband. A husband with no job. A "home invasion" with the flimsy husband's story, him left unharmed, and his wife shot dead in the head.

There's more, but you get the gist. You start piling all of those things together and you just can't excuse it all to coincidence. It's too much.

 

[Safeguard]

In regards to those other cases, you have to remember the jury wasn't always privy to everything that "we" were. A lot of the information we heard didn't get in or the prosecution didn't use it.

That's why it is so important for the prosecution to put these cases together correctly. You hear so much talk about the "hard evidence". The DNA, fingerprints, video, eye-witness testimony, etc. But I am one who really believes that many times a circumstantial case can be much stronger than a case with hard evidence.

A great prosecutor can put all of those factors together and it really paints a picture about what was really going on, and what happened. It's almost like the process of elimination. This case is perfect for that.

I don't know if there is any hard evidence. And in this case, it really wouldn't matter. The victim & the accused lived together in the same house. So their DNA would be intermingled all over the place. She was shot with her own gun. His fingerprints on the gun really wouldn't mean much. The gun belonged to "them" as a couple. So one could assume they both handled it. He wasn't covered with blood. And even if he showered and they found evidence of her blood in the drains, it could be argued she had cut herself shaving her legs a couple days before, etc, etc.

But the circumstantial evidence is PILING UP. And it is telling a very, very ugly story about SL, who he is, how he behaves, and how he treated Melinda. And next week it's only going to get more ugly.

Any of these things by themselves wouldn't mean much. A $1.1M life insurance policy on a 22 yo house wife that was about the expire. A husband behind on child support to ex-wife and about to face contempt charges. Suspicious "stalking" reports made by the couple right before the murder. A controlling husband. A wife afraid of her husband. A husband with no job. A "home invasion" with the flimsy husband's story, him left unharmed, and his wife shot dead in the head.

There's more, but you get the gist. You start piling all of those things together and you just can't excuse it all to coincidence. It's too much.

And that's it right there. ^ There's no other logical direction this case can take.

 

[pappa rob]

Actually Four murders if you count the unborn child (yet to be confirmed I believe), though I think before an unborn child can be considered murder it has to be X? months duration. I think Melinda's child, if there was one, was fairly early on.

And as sad as euthenizing the dogs, it probably is legal, otherwise the vet would not do it.

So, he is responsible for the death of four lives, but stands trial for only one

In Indiana if the unborn child is killed during a homicide attempt there is no age limit.
Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-2-16 (2009) allows the state to seek an additional fixed term of imprisonment if a person, while committing or attempting to commit murder, caused the termination of a pregnancy. Prosecution of the murder or attempted murder and the enhancement of the penalty for that crime does not require proof that the person committing or attempting to commit the murder had knowledge or should have had knowledge that the victim was pregnant or that the defendant intended to cause the termination of a pregnancy. The additional consecutive term of imprisonment may be between six and 20 years. (2009 Ind. Acts, P.L. 40, SB 236)
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/fetal-homicide-state-laws.aspx

 

[BarryW]

In Indiana if the unborn child is killed during a homicide attempt there is no age limit.
Ind. Code Ann. § 35-50-2-16 (2009) allows the state to seek an additional fixed term of imprisonment if a person, while committing or attempting to commit murder, caused the termination of a pregnancy. Prosecution of the murder or attempted murder and the enhancement of the penalty for that crime does not require proof that the person committing or attempting to commit the murder had knowledge or should have had knowledge that the victim was pregnant or that the defendant intended to cause the termination of a pregnancy. The additional consecutive term of imprisonment may be between six and 20 years. (2009 Ind. Acts, P.L. 40, SB 236)
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/fetal-homicide-state-laws.aspx

Since, as far as I know, he is not facing charges on this, it is possible that she was not pregnant.

 

[DisneyFan]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_ff9ab819-536a-5204-8d6e-c6df8c8a9e53.html

 

[DisneyFan]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_ff9ab819-536a-5204-8d6e-c6df8c8a9e53.html

Defense attorney Larry Rogers has worked over the past two weeks to raise doubt about Steven Lindsey's guilt by introducing others who could have carried out the crime.

Hopkins testified Monday that cell phone records do not place any of those other individuals near the Lindsey home during any of the reports of theft and stalking leading up to the Jan. 16 murder.

Hopkins said the records also support a claim that one of those men - Michael Manning - had received a telephone call from his former wife while he was in California with family on the morning of the murder.

Rogers began the trial by telling jurors that Manning had told someone he flew back from the family trip to California under an assumed name to carry out the murder and then returned without anyone he was with knowing.

But Porter County Police Detective Matthew Boone testified Monday the flights between Chicago and San Diego that day would not have allowed for Manning to travel back and forth within the time frame given.



"No, he'd still be in the air," Boone said.

Boone also testified that the Linsdeys were in a lot of financial debt at the time of the murder.

Prosecutors have said Steven Lindsey shot his wife, in part, to collect on a $1.1-million life insurance policy they took out on her.

Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case against Steven Lindsey Monday or Tuesday, with the defense then presenting its evidence.

 

[ArabianLover]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_ff9ab819-536a-5204-8d6e-c6df8c8a9e53.html

VALPARAISO | Accused murderer Steven Lindsey allowed police to swab his hands for a gun powder residue test, which returned negative.

Which we already knew.

But Lindsey refused a swab to be take from his face, Porter County Police Detective Gene Hopkins told jurors Monday morning.

Whoops!! Now the rest of the truth. He forgot to wash his face!!!

The testimony came as the Lindsey murder trial began its third week. The 35-year-old is accused of shooting his wife, Melinda Lindsey, 23, as she lay in bed during the morning of Jan. 16 at the couple's then-home at 509 N. Ind. 149.

Defense attorney Larry Rogers has worked over the past two weeks to raise doubt about Steven Lindsey's guilt by introducing others who could have carried out the crime.

Hopkins testified Monday that cell phone records do not place any of those other individuals near the Lindsey home during any of the reports of theft and stalking leading up to the Jan. 16 murder.

Have to be able to place them at the scene.

Hopkins said the records also support a claim that one of those men - Michael Manning - had received a telephone call from his former wife while he was in California with family on the morning of the murder.

Rogers began the trial by telling jurors that Manning had told someone he flew back from the family trip to California under an assumed name to carry out the murder and then returned without anyone he was with knowing.

But Porter County Police Detective Matthew Boone testified Monday the flights between Chicago and San Diego that day would not have allowed for Manning to travel back and forth within the time frame given.

"No, he'd still be in the air," Boone said.

They figured out the time line of the flight time required to get back & forth.

Boone also testified that the Linsdeys were in a lot of financial debt at the time of the murder.

Prosecutors have said Steven Lindsey shot his wife, in part, to collect on a $1.1-million life insurance policy they took out on her.

Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case against Steven Lindsey Monday or Tuesday, with the defense then presenting its evidence.

They are really doing a GREAT job!! This is all coming together. He was wearing the oven mitts that were found in the SINK!!!!!

 

[molly1255]

The prosecution is doing a very good job! Very glad the prosecution pointed out the time frame was impossible for the other man to fly from California and back.

IMO, very damning is the fact that SL would not allow his face to be swabbed. I also think he wore the mitts/gloves that were in the soapy water, so he felt confident his hands were clean, but didn't realize investigators would also want a face swab.

Sounds like an excellent day for the prosecution.

 

[ArabianLover]

I really, really, really hope there's a zinger witness at the end for the prosecution! (a girlfriend?)

Then we're on the the defense case. That will be very, very interesting.

I can't wait!

 

[ArabianLover]

I wonder if they're going to bring an an IT specialist and prove that "Joe" or whoever it was on that newspaper website that was defending SL was actually SL?

Also, do we know now for sure that it was the police who took down Melinda's f/b page? Or was it SL?

It would be good if they could bring in the stuff that she posted on her f/b page too. But I don't know if they could get that in. The rules about having the "right to cross-examine the witness" rule. And since Melinda isn't here. I'm not sure. Plus they might not be able to actually "prove" that she wrote it. Since other people lived in the house. We'll see I guess.

 

[Set her soul free]

http://m.nwitimes.com/news/local/po...5204-8d6e-c6df8c8a9e53.html?mobile_touch=true


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