Deceased/Not Found GA - Shannon Melendi, 19, Atlanta, 26 March 1994

[mysteriew]

DeKalb County police were suspicious of Hinton, a Clayton County resident. He had been an umpire at the now-defunct Softball Country Club off I-285, where Melendi was working part time when she was last seen alive on March 26, 1994. He had been accused of sexual offenses before.

But authorities lacked the evidence — including a body — to charge Hinton. He wound up in federal prison anyway, convicted in 1996 of trying to burn down his house to commit insurance fraud. He was released last year, and shortly thereafter DeKalb authorities said they had found enough evidence to charge him with killing Melendi. Hinton has been jailed without bond since his arrest.

Prospective jurors in the trial will be questioned Tuesday. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks and to receive national attention.

Vasquez, now the Sunday features editor of The San Jose Mercury News in California, wants people to know Melendi as the person she was, not merely a victim.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/0805/14melendi.html

 

[Angel's lil sis]

Hello everyone. My name is Monique Melendi, Shannon's sister. A friend of mine was doing a search on Google for recent articles and came across this forum. She immediately contacted me and sent me the link. My parents and I were speechless. We had no idea this forum existed. I am unable to say much, as most of you are aware we are under a gag order, but I CAN say thank you for your support. You have no idea how much this means to my family and I. Please keep Shannon in your prayers.

 

[Angel's lil sis]

Shannon's story from a childhood friend's point of view

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0805/15edmelendi.html

 

[KT Can]

Monique,

Welcome to Websleuths! I just want to say that I think of Shannon and your family often. Although I live in Houston, I have been familiar with your situation almost from the beginning. Shannon's story is one that sticks with me because I have been a softball player on a co-ed team for well over ten years. When this happened to Shannon I remember my mother calling me and endlessly questioning me about the safety of the softball park I played at. I was probably around 23 at the time and thought that she was just being a nagging overreacting mother. Now, as a mother myself, and as an adult who is more aware of the evilness that exists in the world, I think about Shannon every time I leave the ballpark and always take the upmost precautions. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers, especially through the difficult trial time that lay ahead.

Regards,
KT Can (Karen)

 

[lisag]

Monique,

Thank you for psoting. We are all praying that your family gets answers and justice.

 

[Lakergirl123]

Monique~

Shannon is such a beautiful girl! I hope you get justice.

I will be praying for you and your family.

Laker~

 

[emma l]

Hey Monique!!!

Thanks for posting. It always brings it smack-bang into reality when a family member or friend posts here.

I know you cant say much but please do comment/correct where you can. Also one thing we here at Websleuths are good at is blabbing-we are a bunch of big mouths!! so please feel free to give us a nudge if you need anything publicised for example!!!

We're also generally a pretty supportive bunch- theres always usually someone online if you fancy a chat.

I hope you find your sister and know that people do care.

 

[angelmom]

Monique,

Thanks for posting. Shannon has been in my heart for a long time. I spent some time growing up in south FL and a lot of time in Atlanta. I hung out with a boyfriend at Softball Country Club around the time she disappeared (although I never had the chance to meet her and, luckily, never met Butch). I have never forgotten her story and always wondered if it would ever be solved. The op/ed piece in the AJC the other day was beautiful. I hope she keeps writing about Shannon as the case progresses.

Please know that your family is in our prayers. If you need anything in Atlanta, let me know and I'll do my best. Take care. :blowkiss: Jen

 

[Angel's lil sis]

Thank you all for your kind words. My mother and I will be flying to Atlanta on Sunday and my father will join us on Monday. The trial is set to begin Monday afternoon. Please keep Shannon in your prayers.

 

[Angel's lil sis]

If anyone is interested, Shannon's childhood friend, Anne Vazquez, will be doing a live interview with Rita Cosby (MSNBC) this Monday at 9 PM (EST).

 

[concernedperson]

After 11 years of suspicion that a Clayton County man was behind the disappearance of Emory University student Shannon Melendi, prosecutors finally will begin making their case to a jury today.

The final winnowing of potential jurors is scheduled this morning followed by opening statements by both sides in the murder trial of Colvin "Butch" Hinton.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/0805/22melendi.html


Shannon's body has never been found. Court TV and Nancy Grace CNN Headline news were granted permission to have a feed into the courtroom. There will be no live coverage.

 

[concernedperson]

Prosecution: Suspect admitted killing Melendi

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/0805/22melendi.html

Oh, it was those demons again! It also has abducted other women across the country.

 

[mysteriew]

There may not be a body or a crime scene linking Colvin "Butch" Hinton to the death of a 19-year-old Emory University student, but DeKalb County prosecutors say his own words prove his guilt.

"I didn't kill her, the demon inside me killed that girl," said Assistant District Attorney Mike McDaniel in his opening statement, quoting Hinton. "The police will never find her body because her ashes were scattered to the wind."

But Hinton's lawyer B.J. Bernstein reminded jurors that the alleged confessions did not come from the mouth of her client but instead, a number of jailhouse snitches who served time with him over an eight-year period.
http://www.courttv.com/trials/hinton/082205_ctv.html

 

[mysteriew]

A softball player testified Tuesday that in 1994 former umpire and current murder defendant Butch Hinton was so preoccupied with scorekeeper Shannon Melendi that he often looked at her when pitches were on the way to home plate.

Melendi vanished shortly after a game on March 26, 1994. Hinton is on trial for murder in DeKalb Superior Court.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/0805/23melenditrial.html

 

[angelmom]

My heart just breaks reading these articles. I have always hoped that a trial would lead LE to find Shannon's remains, but today's testimony makes me wonder if there is anything to find. I just pray that there is enough evidence to know the truth and that the jury can return a verdict. It would add insult to injury if the murderer's willingness to butcher his victim this way made it impossible for justice to be served.

The Melendi family is in my prayers, as always. I hope justice comes soon. I hope it brings peace.

 

[Angel's lil sis]

I cannot even begin to DESCRIBE how sickenning it is to sit in that courtroom. All I can ask of you is to please keep Shannon in your prayers. And not just Shannon, but my parents as well. They need all the strength they can get to get through this. Once again, on behalf of my family and I, thank you for your love and support during this VERY difficult time. We truly do appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. God bless.

 

[concernedperson]

Hinton defense focuses on Melendi pot use.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/0805/24melenditrial.html

That is their defense????

 

[angelmom]

Angel's lil sis, I don't know how you are able to stand it. When I read in today's paper how they are attacking Shannon's character to defend that sick SOB I wanted to scream. I can't believe that pervert has the nerve to judge anyone else!!! I know you must be so torn between wanting to know everything and hating every word. I am wrapping you in prayer and sending thoughts of love and peace. :blowkiss:

 

[mysteriew]

The defense strategy for Colvin "Butch" Hinton in the Shannon Melendi murder trial began unfolding Tuesday as his lawyer asked Melendi's friends about the Emory University student's marijuana use and financial and academic problems.

Under questioning by prosecutors, Melendi's friends said she seemed to be coping well with her problems and continued to be outgoing and friendly. Davis described Melendi as a "very happy, energetic person who was very good-hearted, wanted to make the world a better place."

Also Tuesday, a softball pitcher testified that Hinton, the home plate umpire, was preoccupied with Melendi in a game shortly before she disappeared on March 26, 1994.

"I would be in the middle of the pitch and he would turn around and look at her," said Jerry Chastain of Byron. He said Hinton talked with Melendi between innings, lingering so long that players had to ask him to return to the game.

On cross-examination, Bernstein suggested that Hinton might have been helping Melendi, who was acting as a scorekeeper for the first time.

Another player, Robbie Sheppard of Thomaston, testified later that he heard Melendi ask Hinton one question about keeping the scorebook. And a park official testified that he asked both umpires to keep an eye on the scoring because Melendi was new.

Chastain and Sheppard also described seeing Hinton walk toward a parking lot and clubhouse area after a later game, with Melendi walking the same route a few minutes later.

Sheppard said he and Chastain stopped Melendi to ask if Hinton would umpire their next game. He said Chastain made an insulting remark about Hinton's umpiring. "She giggled and walked off," Sheppard testified.

Prosecutors say Melendi was never seen again.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/0805/24melenditrial.html

 

[concernedperson]

Tearful mother testifies at last

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/0805/25a1melendi.html

This is so sad.....Prayers for the family.