GUILTY MI - Florence Unger, 37, murdered, Benzie County, 24 Oct 2003

[NoraLee]

GUILTY -- FIRST DEGREE

Jury was polled. Unger looking stoic. Jury is discharged.

 

[CyberLaw]

Now we can hear all about the years of Appeals........

 

[weekender]

Can someone tell me, how far from the spot where she fell, to the water where she was found? Was there blood between the pooled blood where she initially fell, and where she was found? Drag marks or droplets?

Are there links to pictures of crime scene somewhere?

Sorry, I haven't been keeping up with case, and had almost forgotten about it till I stumbled across this thread today.

 

[NoraLee]

Detroit News -- Wednesday, June 21, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060621/UPDATE/606210443/1361
If you go to this page, there is also an audio of Florence's mother.

Jury: Unger guilty of first-degree murder

Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

​

BEULAH -- After 26 hours of deliberation spread out over four days, a Benzie Circuit Court jury Wednesday found Mark Unger guilty in the October 25, 2003 death of his wife at a northern Michigan lakeside resort.

Unger, 45, of Huntington Woods was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Florence, 37, who was found floating face down in Lower Herring Lake during a weekend visit to the Inn of Watervale resort, located about 10 miles south of Frankfort.

The charge carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no parole. Jurors also had been instructed they could consider second-degree murder, which is punishable by any term up to life with chance of parole.

"It's inconceivable to me how the jury could vote the way it did with the overwhelming evidence they had about Mark's innocence," defense attorney Robert Harrison said. "I promise you this: We will be appealing, and we will be appealing to the highest court we can."

As the verdict was read, Unger, who often sat during the trial smiling at nearby relatives, showed little emotion. His mother, Bette Rosenthal, sister Connie Wolberg and brother-in-law, Gerald, all sat nearby in the courtroom, along with a local rabbi Stacie Bahle.

Florence Unger's parents, Harold and Claire Stern, both of Huntington Woods, sat on the opposite side of the courtroom.

SEE LINK FOR ARTICLE

 

[altruist1000]

Great news - another murderer off the streets.

The jury did their job well.

 

[nanandjim]

GUILTY -- FIRST DEGREE

Jury was polled. Unger looking stoic. Jury is discharged.

:clap: I'm glad. Unfortunately, it doesn't bring his wife back. However, at least, this will rot in jail.

 

[NoraLee]

WXYZ-Channel 7 Detroit:

http://www.detnow.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_4791671,00.html

Friends reaction to verdict.

 

[NoraLee]

Local people speak out on the verdict -- WDIV website forum:

http://forums.ibsys.com/viewmessages.cfm?sitekey=det&Forum=58&Topic=14053

 

[kato]

Way to go, jury. This case will be featured on "Prime Time" tonight.

 

[NoraLee]

Way to go, jury. This case will be featured on "Prime Time" tonight.

Kato -- Thanks for this info.

 

[kato]

Kato -- Thanks for this info.

You're welcome.

 

[ljwf22]

I though 'Primetime' did an excellent job. I'm sure Unger thought his participation in his 'video diary' before he was charged would help his case. Luckily, the jury saw through his woe-is-me tale. :boohoo:

 

[kato]

I though 'Primetime' did an excellent job. I'm sure Unger thought his participation in his 'video diary' before he was charged would help his case. Luckily, the jury saw through his woe-is-me tale. :boohoo:

I'm glad it was good. I recorded it and haven't watched it yet.

 

[NoraLee]

Detroit News article -- June 23, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/METRO02/606230348
Juror: 'A lot of little details' pointed to Unger

Computer-animated graphics, Florence's fear of the dark played into decision, contractor says.

Mike MArtindale / The Detroit News

BEULAH -- A juror who helped convict Mark Unger of the October 2003 murder of his wife, Florence, at a northern Michigan resort said Thursday there was just too much evidence pointing toward Unger's guilt.

"It wasn't any one thing, but rather several things -- a lot of little details -- that had to come together," said David Anthony, 53, who described 26 hours of deliberations over four days as "difficult and hard" and "very emotional" at the end.

"But if there is a chance he will read this, I want Mark Unger to know we gave him a fair shot," Anthony said. " We gave him the benefit of the doubt."

Unger, 45, of Huntington Woods was back in his cell Thursday at the county jail, wearing the orange canvas uniform and slippers rather than the neat blue suit he had worn to court each day for the eight weeks of trial.

He will be sentenced later to life in prison without parole.

see link for rest of article.

 

[Buzz Mills]

GUILTY of murder in the FIRST DEGREE

Primetime did a whole program of the murder and trial last night, and they had film of the verdict being anounced and the momentary shocked reaction by Unger. He thought he had gotten away with it, as he was smiling, and very happy, just before the verdict was announced.

 

[Bobbisangel]

I am so thankful that the jury found him guitly and that he will get LWOP. I really believe that he thought he was going to be headed home after the verdict came down.

I'm also thankful that his boys have been away from him for two years and won't have to make an emotional adjustment...packing their belongings and going to a new home. They are already settled in and that is good.

I'll never understand why these fathers never give their kids a second thought when they murder their mothers. I guess they are just so focused on themselves that no one else counts.

I've read some comments other places about "his wife was having an affair" like he should have gotten away with murder because she was having an affair. I might not agree with a person cheating but there is never any good reason for murder.

 

[fundiva]

Can someone tell me, how far from the spot where she fell, to the water where she was found? Was there blood between the pooled blood where she initially fell, and where she was found? Drag marks or droplets?

Are there links to pictures of crime scene somewhere?

Sorry, I haven't been keeping up with case, and had almost forgotten about it till I stumbled across this thread today.

From the video/photos on TV it appears she "fell" about 10-12 feet onto a concrete apron around the deck that was approximately 3-4 feet wide. There was a large pool of blood about 2 feet across, which didn't jive (IMO) with the defense's version of her hitting and then bouncing into the water. There would not have been that much blood from just a hit. No drag marks. I did not hear about droplets, but they could have been explained as happening from the impact. iShe hit right in the middle of the apron so if she was rolled over once she would have been in the water. The other point the prosecution made, which the defense did not address (that I saw), was the fact that when Unger was told his wife "was in the water" at the other end of the cabins, he ran straight to the spot and jumped into the water, but you could not see the body in the water until you got just right above it; which begs the question "how did he know where the body was?" Those two points, along with a couple of other things, told me he had to have done it.

 

[pfireboy]

Guilty. Finally this case is over. Why cant people just get divorced these days with out killing thier spouse? I would let him walk away clean even convicted if I could just have my sister back. The divorce would be done by now. They would have both bought houses nearby each other to share custody, slowly started a new life for both of them. Instead, mark, his family, and a few of his friends (Mort Meisner:furious: ) in their denial have shown what evil lurks in the hearts of people, shame on them. I am sick that my sister ever married him , and sick that my sisters last few years of her private life got to get re-hashed over and over again for all to see.:sick:. I hope mark enjoys the alternative live he chose:behindbar at least his family can visit him I have to visit my sister in a cemetery

 

[shannaleigh]

My heart goes out to your family. I watched a television show about this case and I think your sister was beautiful.

 

[NoraLee]

Mark Unger's mother is going to court over visitation of the two sons.

Link to July 6 Detroit Free Press story:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS03/607060400
>>Bette Rosenthal, who lives in Florida, has filed suit in Oakland County Circuit Court asking that she be allowed, under Michigan's Grandparents Rights Act, to visit regularly with her grandsons, Max, 12, and Tyler, 9.<<

>>Generally, under Michigan law, grandparents can seek visitation of their grandchildren if they can show that ending the relationship will cause a "substantial risk of emotional, mental or physical harm."
But Rosenthal's case is not so clear because, also under Michigan law, once Unger's rights are terminated, Rosenthal has no legal standing to seek visitation with the boys.

But her attorneys are hoping to convince Oakland County Family Court Judge Linda Hallmark, in a hearing set for July 12, to order visitation for Rosenthal before Unger loses his rights to his sons.

And they are hoping such an order would stand, even after the adoption takes place.

"Mrs. Rosenthal has been very actively involved in her two grandchildren, taking them to sports and activities. They would travel for weeks at a time," said Bloomfield Hills attorney Dan Victor.

"These children have a very serious bond with their grandmother."

Victor said Florence Unger's family has allowed Rosenthal to see her grandsons on "a very limited basis" since Mark Unger's arrest and conviction.<<