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

[christine2448]

Hinton said today that he gave Melendi a ride to Burger King to have lunch. Then tricked her into driving his car by faking a leg cramp. Once she was behind the wheel, Hinton said he pulled a knife and forced her to drive to his home in Clayton County. He said he raped her and held her there for about 12 hours. He then strangled her with a necktie, then burned Melendi's body in his yard and scattered the ashes.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/9529525/detail.html?treets=atl&tml=atl_break&ts=T&tmi=atl_break_1_02170207172006

 

[southcitymom]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0717hinton.html

 

[southcitymom]

If anyone had any doubt...

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0717hinton.html

 

[concernedperson]

Finally, after all these years. I imagine the sight of her family grieving to hell's depths would move even a demon like him.

Prayers for the Melendi family.

 

[close_enough]

omg & he was an ump at the center where she worked!!!...& it took arson to get him put in jail :furious:

i'm glad he finally confessed, for the family's sake, but he should have been on death row for the past 10 years, imo....not serving time for arson....
they had no body & no crime scene, what a shame

 

[Dark Knight]

REIDSVILLE, Ga., July 17, 2006 — In brutally specific detail, his pale hands trembling, a Georgia inmate admitted today for the first time that he kidnapped and raped a 19-year-old college student in 1994, then strangled her with a necktie as she lay handcuffed to a bedpost and burned her body in a bonfire in his backyard.

"I can't live like this no more," Colvin "Butch'' Hinton told a Georgia prosecutor and the detective who led the investigation into the murder of Shannon Melendi, at a jailhouse meeting at Georgia State Prison attended by ABC News' Law & Justice Unit.

"If I have to stay in a cell for 23 hours a day for the rest of my life, at least I can breathe,'' Hinton said. "She can't.''

"The prison that I am in is no comparison to the prison inside of me,'' Hinton, 45, said a few minutes later.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/LegalCenter/story?id=2201120&page=1

 

[Elliemae]

If anyone had any doubt...

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0717hinton.html

Good for him.

Now, if Scott Peterson would just follow in his footsteps, I'd be happy as a clam!

 

[southcitymom]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0719metmelendi.html

 

[concernedperson]

I saw this family during trial and their grief was incomprehensible.If they find one modicum of relief than the world is better than I thought.

 

[angelmom]

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/0720edmelendi.html

Thank you to the jurors on this case who knew the truth!

Jurors in Hinton case knew he was guilty

By DOUGLAS WOOD

Published on: 07/20/06

With Butch Hinton's confession on Monday, there is absolutely no doubt that he murdered Shannon Melendi in 1994. But those of us on the jury had already reached that conclusion last September at Hinton's trial, based on his earlier confessions to his fellow inmates in federal prison.

As for the notion from Hinton's attorney, B.J. Bernstein, that our verdict was based on "emotion" and "speculation," that could not be further from the truth. [more at link]

 

[Bobbisangel]

Ole Butch is so full of chit. There is no way that he built a big bonfire in his yard and burned Shannon on the bonfire. Good grief...the smell would have been horrific. Ever smell burning hair? It wouldn't even compare to singed hair.
I don't think that his confession is complete yet. Heck, his wife was coming home that day. The smell would have been hanging in the air...what about neighbors...did he live out in the dingles miles from anyone? I guess it doesn't really matter but I think if he is going to give a confession he should tell what exactly happened and what he did with her body. After all this confession is supposed to be for her family.

I wish people would realize that a family never puts the violent death of a loved one "behind them." I know that lady...the shop owner... meant well but I just wish people wouldn't say things like that. To me it is like saying....OK you know he did it for sure....you know what he did...and how he did it....now you can put the whole thing behind you and get on with your life. It doesn't work that way. You just learn to live with it but it never ever goes away or gets left behind.

 

[maddie]

I don't buy the bonfire story, either. I believe he has killed other women, and I suspect that he couldn't confess where Shannon's remains are because he probably left evidence of other murders in the area.

I am glad he confessed. I sat on the jury, and we were all convinced he did it, but it's still good to hear him say it. At least one of the jurors took some flack from friends about the conviction last year, and one of the alternate jurors was upset that we'd convicted without a body or a crime scene, though she, too, believed he'd "probably done it." On the whole, though, most people seemed to recognize what a monster Hinton is. It's pathetic that he waited until his final appeal was rejected, then almost immediately confessed.

Society owes a debt of gratitude to the Melendi family for their strength and perseverance in running Hinton to ground. Had they allowed the law to give up on justice for Shannon, God only knows how many more women would have died and how much heartache that monster would have caused. As it is, I've heard he's suspected of 8 other murders.

 

[michelle]

I dont buy the bonfire story either...:waitasec:

 

[southcitymom]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/0723metmelendi.html

 

[Amraann]

I met Shannon's Father today. And although upon realizing who he was I did not bring up the subject.

He however did. Very nice man.
He mentioned how the man accused of this confessed after he lost his appeals.

Hinton got life in prison I certainly hope life means life .... Personally I think he should have gotten death I did not share this notion with Mr Melendi.

 

[Amraann]

The link about Shannon http://www.melendiphotography.com/Melendi_Web/News.htm

Apparently Life does not mean life for this repeat offender ....
Monday, August 30, 2004, Colvin "Butch" Hinton was indicted by a Grand Jury with the murder of Shannon Melendi. The trial began on Monday, August 22, 2005 and ended Monday, September 19th after three days (nine hours) of jury deliberation.

The Verdict... GUILTY on malice murder and felony murder!

The Sentence... LIFE in prison! BUT with parole!!! Yes, another chance so he can kidnap, rape, and murder again.

He appealed the verdict, but was denied by the Georgia Supreme Court... On July 17th he confessed how he kidnapped, brutally raped, and murdered Shannon. He said that he burned her body in his back yard and scattered the ashes.

When it is time for Hinton to go before the Parole Board in 2011, they will look at his file. Letters in his file asking to keep him behind bars, and serving his full life sentence for the murder of Shannon Denise Melendi will be looked at during the analysis.

~ME HERE
If letters asking to keep him behind bars are added to his file then I ask that ALL of you please take the time to write one.
in 5 years this admitted killer and repeat offender will be loose to ruin more families

The address is here:
Here is the information where you need to write and help us keep him off the streets so he may never hurt another family.
Victim Services Office
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
2 M.L. King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, East Tower
Atlanta GA 30334

REF: GDC ID#0001201616 (Colvin C. Hinton, III)

The telephone number of the Victim Services Office is 404.651.6668; their email address is [email protected].

Should you want any further information on Hinton or the prison (Georgia State Prison in Reidsville) go to www.dcor.state.GA.US under Dept. of Correction Info. choose Georgia Inmate Query a dialog screen will appear and you will need to press I agree to the terms as stated under Select Identifier: choose GDC ID Number, in Enter Number: type in 0001201616 and press Next A picture of Hinton will appear with information on him and the name of the prison.

 

[michelle]

The link about Shannon http://www.melendiphotography.com/Melendi_Web/News.htm

Apparently Life does not mean life for this repeat offender ....
Monday, August 30, 2004, Colvin "Butch" Hinton was indicted by a Grand Jury with the murder of Shannon Melendi. The trial began on Monday, August 22, 2005 and ended Monday, September 19th after three days (nine hours) of jury deliberation.

The Verdict... GUILTY on malice murder and felony murder!

The Sentence... LIFE in prison! BUT with parole!!! Yes, another chance so he can kidnap, rape, and murder again.

He appealed the verdict, but was denied by the Georgia Supreme Court... On July 17th he confessed how he kidnapped, brutally raped, and murdered Shannon. He said that he burned her body in his back yard and scattered the ashes.

When it is time for Hinton to go before the Parole Board in 2011, they will look at his file. Letters in his file asking to keep him behind bars, and serving his full life sentence for the murder of Shannon Denise Melendi will be looked at during the analysis.

~ME HERE
If letters asking to keep him behind bars are added to his file then I ask that ALL of you please take the time to write one.
in 5 years this admitted killer and repeat offender will be loose to ruin more families

The address is here:
Here is the information where you need to write and help us keep him off the streets so he may never hurt another family.
Victim Services Office
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
2 M.L. King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, East Tower
Atlanta GA 30334

REF: GDC ID#0001201616 (Colvin C. Hinton, III)

The telephone number of the Victim Services Office is 404.651.6668; their email address is [email protected].

Should you want any further information on Hinton or the prison (Georgia State Prison in Reidsville) go to www.dcor.state.GA.US under Dept. of Correction Info. choose Georgia Inmate Query a dialog screen will appear and you will need to press I agree to the terms as stated under Select Identifier: choose GDC ID Number, in Enter Number: type in 0001201616 and press Next A picture of Hinton will appear with information on him and the name of the prison.

I will be writing one in the morning!!!!

 

[Amraann]

Thank you

I find it very alarming that life in prison means he could get out in 2011.
Shannon would be 31 now and no doubt a wonderful asset to our world instead we have this dirt ball who will get out and do the same thing.
He is already a repeat offender.
How he got Life WITH parole is completely beyond me.

 

[Angel's lil sis]

Originally Posted by Amraann
The link about Shannon http://www.melendiphotography.com/Melendi_Web/News.htm

I am Shannon's little sister, Monique. Thank you all for your kind words and support. It means so much to my family and I. We logged onto this site everyday during the trial. You have no idea how much your words helped us get through each day. We knew we weren't alone in the fight to bring her killer to justice. Nothing will ever bring her back, but there IS something we can do to keep Hinton behind bars where he belongs so he can't ever do to another family what he did to ours...he will never be able to take another innocent person's life. I will do EVERYTHING in my power to make sure Shannon was his last victim. Nothing would mean more to my family and I if you would join us in our fight.

Apparently Life does not mean life for this repeat offender ....
Monday, August 30, 2004, Colvin "Butch" Hinton was indicted by a Grand Jury with the murder of Shannon Melendi. The trial began on Monday, August 22, 2005 and ended Monday, September 19th after three days (nine hours) of jury deliberation.

The Verdict... GUILTY on malice murder and felony murder!

The Sentence... LIFE in prison! BUT with parole!!! Yes, another chance so he can kidnap, rape, and murder again.

He appealed the verdict, but was denied by the Georgia Supreme Court... On July 17th he confessed how he kidnapped, brutally raped, and murdered Shannon. He said that he burned her body in his back yard and scattered the ashes.

When it is time for Hinton to go before the Parole Board in 2011, they will look at his file. Letters in his file asking to keep him behind bars, and serving his full life sentence for the murder of Shannon Denise Melendi will be looked at during the analysis.

~ME HERE
If letters asking to keep him behind bars are added to his file then I ask that ALL of you please take the time to write one.
in 5 years this admitted killer and repeat offender will be loose to ruin more families

The address is here:
Here is the information where you need to write and help us keep him off the streets so he may never hurt another family.
Victim Services Office
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
2 M.L. King, Jr. Drive, SE
Suite 458, East Tower
Atlanta GA 30334

REF: GDC ID#0001201616 (Colvin C. Hinton, III)

The telephone number of the Victim Services Office is 404.651.6668; their email address is [email protected].

Should you want any further information on Hinton or the prison (Georgia State Prison in Reidsville) go to www.dcor.state.GA.US under Dept. of Correction Info. choose Georgia Inmate Query a dialog screen will appear and you will need to press I agree to the terms as stated under Select Identifier: choose GDC ID Number, in Enter Number: type in 0001201616 and press Next A picture of Hinton will appear with information on him and the name of the prison.

 

[Jesstexas]

I will write a letter, Monique. The thought of that thing-that-walks-and-talks-like-a-human-but-isn't-one let loose in my city absolutely petrifies me.

Prayers for you & your family.