A cosplay model claims she stabbed her fiancé in self-defense; prosecutors say security cameras prove otherwise

Melissa Turner referred to as 911 saying she had found her fiancé Matthew Trussler mendacity unresponsive close to their swimming pool in Riverview, Florida. He was pronounced lifeless on the scene and an post-mortem later revealed he had died from stab wounds. It was Oct. 18, 2019, and Melissa initially informed detectives that the couple had been consuming the night time earlier than, however that she might bear in mind few particulars. However, when investigators discovered a safety digicam above a neighbor’s storage door that held clues to what occurred, her story modified. Prosecutors say Melissa will be heard screaming at Matthew on an audio recording from the digicam. She stated she stabbed her fiancé, appearing in self-defense when he tried to choke her. Melissa Turner was ultimately arrested and charged with second diploma homicide with a weapon.

“I thought this was it. I thought he was going to kill me. And I stabbed him lightly in the back just to get him off me,” Turner informed Moriarty. “I didn’t do what they’re saying I did. If I’m going to prison, then I’m going down fighting.”

THE DAY MATTHEW TRUSSLER DIED

911 OPERATOR: Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue. What’s the deal with of the emergency?

MELISSA TURNER: Please —

911 OPERATOR: Tell me what’s mistaken.

MELISSA TURNER: He is nonresponsive.

Melissa Turner: I could not cease crying.

Melissa Turner can vividly describe the second as medics tried to revive her fiancé, Matthew Trussler.

Melissa Turner: I watched the EMTs unfold the sheet and, um, lay the white sheet over him.

Two years later, Melissa nonetheless struggles to speak concerning the day Matthew died.

Melissa Turner: And it was — it was when that occurred that I could not maintain within the tears and every little thing.

It was round 8:30 a.m. when Melissa says she discovered Matthew unresponsive on the again patio of the home they shared in a suburb of Tampa, Florida.

Melissa Turner: I attempted to see if he was respiratory. And I attempted to — to begin CPR.

Just a pair hours later, nonetheless coated in blood, Melissa agreed to speak to the investigators on the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. She says she wished to assist them work out what had occurred to Matthew.

Melissa Turner: I used to be simply saying “yes” and complying with no matter was sort of stated or informed to me. … the world round me did not actually really feel actual in these moments.

MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): This is lots much less glamorous than they make it on TV.

Melissa informed the detectives the couple’s day had began off similar to every other. They took care of their pets, did home chores as seen in beforehand posted Facebook movies and went grocery procuring. She admitted they have been additionally consuming alcohol all through the day main into the night. 

MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): I imply, that is what we do. We had simply, we have been there on the home ourselves … We had drinks. He at all times appreciated consuming. He was a drinker.

According to Melissa, round 11 p.m. she bought drained and informed Matthew she wished to fall asleep. He was nonetheless up.

MELISSA TURNER: I slept on that — that massive chair that is in my little workplace space downstairs. 

What she noticed when she awoke the subsequent morning, Melissa informed investigators, did not make sense.

MELISSA TURNER: I noticed the — the kitchen was — I did not see him exterior at first. … I went upstairs, and I checked the bed room … And I got here again down once more.

She says that is when she found Matthew exterior on the patio and commenced CPR.

DETECTIVE: You have his blood throughout you.

MELISSA TURNER: I do not perceive.

DETECTIVE: You have been attempting to offer CPR and assist him.

Melissa is sporting latex gloves given to her by an officer on the scene.

DETECTIVE: He had you place them on due to the quantity of blood.

MELISSA TURNER: I used to be getting issues bloody trigger I used to be coated in his blood.

DETECTIVE 2: Do you wish to preserve sporting these gloves, or do you wanna take them off?

MELISSA TURNER: I’ll go away them on for now.

DETECTIVE: Do you’ve any accidents in your individual?

MELISSA TURNER: No (cries). 

DETECTIVE: Any scratches or cuts or something?

MELISSA TURNER: Not that I’ve seen (cries). 

The detectives ultimately informed Melissa she would wish to take the gloves off so they may take pictures of her.

MELISSA TURNER (factors to her proper palm): I’ve a bit of reduce proper right here. 

DETECTIVE: And that is from what?

MELISSA TURNER: I believe it is from grabbing the glass? Or — trigger there — I do know there was the damaged glass this morning. 

POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER: Open your arms a bit of extra there. … Did that harm to open it up? Sorry.

MELISSA TURNER: Oh my gosh, I did not know.

DETECTIVE: That one’s sliced fairly good.

MELISSA TURNER: I did not even discover.

DETECTIVE: Oh, wow.

MELISSA TURNER: I had no concept that was there. 

As detectives labored to unravel what occurred, Matthew’s household was studying Matthew had died. His brother Sean Trussler bought the decision from their mom. 

Sean Trussler: I bought a name that he died in an accident is what they informed me.  

Sean referred to as his fiancée Jennifer instantly.

Jennifer Giles: He’s sobbing so laborious and simply screaming on the high of his lungs, “He’s gone. My brother, Mattie. Mattie’s gone. He’s dead.” … I’m getting chills simply talkin’ about this.

Sean and Matthew Trussler have been initially from Massachusetts. In 2015, Matthew adopted in his brother’s footsteps and moved to Florida to work with him within the building business. Sean, who misplaced one in every of his eyes because of a piece accident shortly after his brother’s loss of life, says the 2 made a superb staff.    

Sean Trussler: I’ve labored Mattie very laborious. … He simply wanted to be led accurately. 

Matthew, or Mattie as Sean calls him, struggled with substance abuse and was trying on the transfer to Florida as an opportunity to begin over. 

Sean Trussler: He was a very good child. … He labored so laborious. He had the most important coronary heart. He liked all people and every little thing.

Two years after his transfer, Melissa, then 24, met Matthew, 23 on a web based relationship app.

Melissa Turner: We met on Tinder … and I simply appreciated how completely different Matt handled me … he made me really feel extra essential. … he drew me in.

In 2019, the couple took an enormous step and purchased a home collectively.

Melissa Turner: We have been enthusiastic about the home … we have been choosing out, you understand — paint colours for partitions and furnishings.

But Melissa says a number of months into their new lives, their relationship turned strained.

Melissa Turner: Matt’s consuming was getting worse … It was simply changing into actually — extreme.

At the sheriff’s workplace, Melissa had been adamant that there have been no arguments between the couple that night time.

MELISSA TURNER (interrogation): We have been having a good time.

DETECTIVE: Was there something bodily, violent?

MELISSA TURNER: He was by no means violent. … He was at all times wonderful with me.

But Melissa did not know that the detectives had been tipped off by the responding officer that Melissa had informed him there had been an argument on the home the night time earlier than.

DETECTIVE: What have been you and Matthew arguing about final night time?

MELISSA TURNER: I do not actually bear in mind. I imply, we’d have gotten in argument. But it did not look like something … We weren’t, like, screaming at one another that I do know of.

DETECTIVE: You informed us that you simply guys have been there. It was solely the 2 of you. The two of you have been consuming … my drawback is, is I bought Matthew on the again porch with stab wounds.

MELISSA TURNER: Stab wounds?

Meanwhile, one other detective, Ryan LaGasse, was knocking on doorways and canvassing the neighborhood for clues.

Ryan LaGasse: As I walked over right here, you’ve got bought … the digicam positioned immediately above the residence … throughout the road right here.

And what was captured by the house safety digicam, police say, would show Melissa knew greater than she was letting on.

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digicam audio): Get up now! Get up! Get up! I hate you!

DIGITAL OBSERVERS

An eyewitness will be essential to fixing against the law, and simply hours into the investigation of Matthew Trussler’s loss of life, detectives found digital observers. There was an ADT digicam contained in the couple’s dwelling, however at first look, it did not seem to indicate any uncommon exercise.

Ryan LaGasse: Most of our data got here from that digicam that is posted up above the storage.

It was a safety digicam on a neighbor’s storage that may show invaluable — an unblinking eye skilled on the aspect of Melissa and Matthew’s dwelling that recorded sights and sounds.

Ryan LaGasse: So, I began trying on the footage.

LaGasse, a detective for the sheriff’s workplace on the time, noticed solely darkness and heard the close to silence of suburbia till round 4 a.m.

Ryan LaGasse: I began to listen to racketing. You know, issues that have been — appeared like they have been crashing. And, um, so then, I kinda zoomed in my senses a bit of bit … And then, from there I began listening to voices … after which I hear what appears like screaming, um, yelling.

LaGasse says these voices have been coming from Matthew and Melissa’s home.

Erin Moriarty: How would you describe the tone of the voices that you simply heard?

Ryan LaGasse: So, the little little bit of male voice … was robust to differentiate. But the feminine voice was very, um, very loud. Sounded very indignant.

Erin Moriarty: What might you hear? What sort of phrases?

Ryan LaGasse: So, I heard —”Get up.”  I heard — “So” after which there was an express “die.”

Erin Moriarty: You heard, “So die”?

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digicam audio): “Go f***ing die!”

Ryan LaGasse:  And then I heard — you understand, it appeared like … a feminine voice was crying, saying, “What — what did I do?”

LaGasse instantly reached out to his colleagues, who have been interviewing Melissa.

DETECTIVE: You stated that final night time you by no means awoke in any respect.

MELISSA TURNER: No. … I bear in mind laying down. I bear in mind waking up in the identical spot.

Investigators now believed that they had proof that Melissa wasn’t telling all she knew.

DETECTIVE: Tell me about what occurred round 4 o’clock this morning.

MELISSA TURNER: 4 o’clock? What occurred at 4 o’clock?

DETECTIVE: I do not know. That’s why I’m asking you.

MELISSA TURNER: I do not know both. Why?

DETECTIVE: Was there any arguing —

MELISSA TURNER: At 4 o’clock?

DETECTIVE: — 4 o’clock this morning?

MELISSA TURNER: Not that I do know of.

MELISSA TURNER: I imagine I used to be asleep. … I’ve no reminiscence of any argument at 4 o’clock within the morning.

But after detectives confronted her with the proof, Melissa’s story modified.

DETECTIVE: I’ve some video surveillance … really, yelling and screaming between a male and a feminine coming from your home. 

DETECTIVE 2: What we want from you that may most likely … make much more sense is to … inform us what that argument was about.

MELISSA TURNER: I’d say he woke me up and we bought in an argument over that. Because he was nonetheless up at 4 within the morning consuming.

DETECTIVE 2: OK. So, simply so I’m clear, you do have reminiscence of what occurred, proper?

MELISSA TURNER: Yes.

DETECTIVE: At 4 o’clock.

MELISSA TURNER: Yes.

DETECTIVE: Why have been you yellin’ at him, “Bitch, get up. Bitch, get up”?

MELISSA TURNER: … really, a whole lot of the occasions every time he is consuming and will get that drunk into the hours of the morning — he’ll simply fall over.

DETECTIVE: You additionally stated a few different issues like, “Stay down. So f***ing die.” what are you speaking about?

MELISSA TURNER: That was me being pissed off at him that he fell over.

DETECTIVE: You bought a slice in your hand — a slice. That’s what that’s. How did that occur?

The investigators once more centered on that reduce on Melissa’s hand.

DETECTIVE: It’s not from glass. I can let you know that.

Once once more, her story modified.

MELISSA TURNER: He does get his knives out typically. … He wasn’t him anymore. … considering again on it, that is from me grabbing a knife out of his hand. … And issues bought escalated from there.

Melissa later informed “48 Hours” she wasn’t attempting to cover the harm on her hand. In reality, she had talked about it earlier to the 911 operator.

MELISSA TURNER (911 name): I’ve a reduce on my hand …

Melissa Turner: I barely remembered, even after mentioning it on the 911 name, that my hand was sliced open (cries).

Just a few hours after Melissa positioned that 911 name, she was arrested and charged with second diploma homicide with a weapon. Sean and Jennifer realized Melissa was in custody for Matthew’s homicide from his mother, who referred to as Melissa by her center identify, Rose.

Jennifer Giles: She stated, “Rose killed him.” … I bear in mind … we stood in my kitchen, and he simply begins bawling.

Up till then, Sean and Jennifer say the couple did not seem to have any issues, however Sean says that Melissa did put a wedge between him and Matthew.

Sean Trussler: She simply completely remoted him, and her, from the remainder of the world. … and the reality is, like … how controlling and manipulating Rose was.

Sean says he hadn’t seen Matthew over the last six months of his life. The brothers had had a falling out after Matthew stopped working with Sean at his building business.

Sean Trussler: She took Mattie lengthy earlier than she took him perpetually.

Sean and Jennifer say Melissa had two sides: as Matthew’s live-in associate and as a cosplay mannequin, who dressed up in costume portraying well-known fictional characters.

Erin Moriarty: What is that then? (taking a look at a photograph of Melissa)

Jennifer Giles: That is definitely from –

Sean Trussler: — “Scooby Doo.”

She made a residing by producing and appearing in her personal grownup movies.

Jennifer Giles: But it is from a film clip the place she really is performing, um, sexual acts.

And it wasn’t till after his loss of life that they realized Melissa had forged Matthew as her associate in her movies.

Jennifer Giles: And I actually really feel like — the stress, and the stress, and the truth that it was extra, and extra, and extra simply paid its toll on him.

Erin Moriarty: You assume that perhaps he simply did not wish to do these movies anymore?

Jennifer Giles: Absolutely.

Sean Trussler: I believe he was executed together with her.

IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS

After Sean and his fiancée Jennifer came upon that Melissa had been arrested for Matthew’s homicide, they started an investigation of their very own.

Jennifer Giles: We got here throughout issues that have been fairly disturbing.

Sean and Jennifer imagine Matthew was changing into disenchanted together with his function in these movies Melissa produced.

Jennifer Giles: I believe at first it was OK, as a result of he was seeing some fruits from his labor.

Sean Trussler: Money. Real cash.

Jennifer Giles: But I believe it bought a bit of a lot.

They now marvel if Melissa had been on the lookout for a associate for her movies when she noticed Matthew on that relationship web site.

Sean Trussler: People write little bios about themselves.

Jennifer Giles: … she went out and located somebody with all the proper stuff, the seems to be … the physique and every little thing that goes with it.

Cameron Walega: She does not do issues with no bunch of analysis.

Cameron Walega, a former boyfriend of Melissa, met her earlier than she started her profession on this planet of grownup leisure.

Cameron Walega: She was very inventive, so she was capable of edit her personal movies, edit her personal photos … very business pushed.

The two met in 2012 after they have been learning make-up results at Douglas Education Center close to Pittsburgh. Back then, Melissa was working a preferred health weblog after shedding 100 kilos, later documenting her transformation on social media.

Cameron Walega: … it saved her accountable … she had this viewers that was extremely invested in what she was doing … watching her evolve as an individual.

In 2013, Cameron and Melissa moved to Florida to pursue careers in particular results. There, Melissa confessed to Cameron that she had began a second weblog with racier content material.

Cameron Walega: … this was meant to be momentary. This was supplemental.

But Cameron says Melissa quickly started incomes an honest residing doing what known as cam work, the place she carried out — in numerous stage of gown — for her web followers who paid a payment.

Cameron Walega: She was so happy with the place she bought herself … “I used to be this incredibly insecure girl. Now they’re paying me to look at me.”

He says he started to see a change in Melissa’s persona as her business grew.

Cameron Walega: It turned maniacal to a degree the place it was a whole obsession. And it was cash, cash, cash … And the increasingly success that she discovered, the increasingly unstable she turned.

Cameron Walega: She would scream at occasions that it will pierce your ear. … There have been occasions the place she was simply unpredictable. Absolutely unpredictable.

Sean and Jennifer now marvel if Melissa’s volatility might have escalated an argument with Matthew on the night time he died. Did he need out of the grownup leisure business?

Sean Trussler: I believe perhaps that night time he was like “Yo, I’m done with this. I’m washin’ my hands.”

Jennifer Giles: She did not like no matter he stated to her. And it made her blow her high.

But that is not the way it occurred, says Melissa.

Melissa Turner (cries): After he was upset for me eager to go to mattress — But you understand I stayed downstairs … his demeanor would begin to get darker and darker from there.

Melissa Turner: Matt … had his knife out. It was the black — tactical switchblade.

Melissa Turner: There have been occasions the place he would get actually upset and he would attempt to apply it to himself. … and, so, it was a standard factor for me to attempt to take a knife away from him.

Melissa Turner: On this night time … He did not wish to let go of the knife.

Melissa says Matthew was drunk and despondent. They struggled over the knife, she says, however after she managed to take it away, she says Matthew grabbed her by the neck and squeezed — a element she failed to inform detectives throughout her interrogation.

Melissa Turner (cries): I assumed this was it. I assumed he was going to kill me. … And then I stabbed him frivolously within the again simply to get him off me.

She says after she stabbed him as soon as within the again, Matthew pushed her into the kitchen counter, and she or he hit her head.

Melissa Turner: … he got here at me. And that is how I fell again and hit my head. … I … had a fairly extreme head harm.

But that declare would later be challenged at her trial.

Melissa Turner: I remembered a number of blurry steps … in direction of my workplace. But that was it. I simply bear in mind passing out—blacking on the market.

John Trevena: She’s the actual sufferer … She’s the one which was struggling the abuse.

John Trevena is Melissa’s legal professional. He describes the couple’s relationship as poisonous.

John Trevena: … significantly since she stated it was escalating. … His consuming was escalating, his habits points have been escalating … And it simply sadly escalated into this very odd incident.

John Trevena: I do not assume it’s a homicide case. I believe it’s a case of — self-defense.

But Melissa’s model of occasions can be picked aside by prosecutors Katherine Fand and Chinwe Fossett at her trial.

Katherine Fand: There’s simply nothing to assist her assertion.

Chinwe Fossett: She by no means mentions something about anybody strangling her or something, till days earlier than trial … you actually should take that into consideration.

Besides the audio from the neighbor’s safety digicam, the state plans to current video from contained in the couple’s dwelling. Remember that ADT safety footage recovered by investigators? Prosecutors believed it did not present any suspicious exercise the night time of Matthew’s loss of life. But simply earlier than the trial, they found they misinterpret the time and date.

Katherine Fand: I’ll be trustworthy, I misunderstood the timing. It’s not recorded in Eastern Standard Time. It is recorded in Universal Time.

And what the video did seize, say prosecutors, would undermine Melissa’s protection.

KATHERINE FAND (closing arguments) We’re gonna present you some ADT movies.  

KATHERINE FAND (closing arguments): He’s calmly strolling … and you may see, she’s hunched over, she’s yelling. … She is indignant and upset.

MELISSA TURNER TAKES THE STAND

On Valentine’s Day 2022, two years after Matthew Trussler was discovered lifeless on his patio, his fiancée Melissa Turner went on trial for homicide. 

Melissa had been out on bail since her arrest in 2019. But if she’s convicted, she is aware of she might spend the remainder of her life behind bars.

Melissa Turner: It’ll be a world of weight off my shoulders for this trial to only be over.

The jury will hear nothing about her movies — her cosplay modeling and appearing out fantasies on-line. The choose dominated it wasn’t related to the case. Prosecutor Chinwe Fossett sees it otherwise.

Chinwe Fossett: I did assume that the jury ought to’ve identified that she was an actress. … And she was capable of make herself into this victim-type individual, after which cry on demand.  

Melissa’s legal professional, John Trevena, informed the jury that she did not imply to kill Matthew. That she stabbed him in self-defense throughout that wrestle over the knife. 

JOHN TREVENA (in court docket): Who killed Matthew Trussler? Matthew Trussler killed Matthew Trussler. 

John Trevena: He did. He did it to himself due to his actions and his behaviors. … His consuming, his emotional abuse.

Erin Moriarty: You’re saying that Melissa had the proper to kill him as a result of he was drunk?

John Trevena: No. … Melissa had the proper to kill him to defend herself from being strangled.   

But Prosecutor Fosset says Matthew had no file or historical past of violence towards anybody. 

Erin Moriarty: Why do you imagine that Melissa killed Matthew Trussler.

Chinwe Fossett: I believe she was intoxicated, and I do assume that she went far past something she thought she would do. … Maybe she was simply so annoyed together with his consuming. … that she harms him so badly that he finally ends up dying.  

At trial, Melissa determined to take a threat and testify. She described Matthew as an alcoholic who had exhibited abusive and unsettling behaviors prior to now

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): There have been occasions the place he would push me … and punch the partitions beside my head. 

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): I had seen him reduce himself, burn himself, stab himself.

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): He would stare off at some nook … And he would inform me that “there’s a demon standing right there.” … There have been occasions the place … he would discuss in a unique voice (cries).  

JOHN TREVENA: Did that frighten you?

MELISSA TURNER: God, sure. I used to be terrified.  

Erin Moriarty: And this was occurring on that night time?

Melissa Turner (cries): Yeah. … He simply had this little smile on his face. And he stated, “What’s a matter, little girl? Are you scared? ‘Cause Matt’s not here anymore.”

Authorities by no means checked Melissa’s blood alcohol degree, however Matthew’s was almost 5 occasions the authorized restrict in Florida. 

JOHN TREVENA: That degree of blood alcohol not solely is deadly, it will probably trigger hallucinations, the demon that we have heard about.

CHINWE FOSSETT: But the health worker did not say that he died of alcohol — intoxication … The explanation for loss of life … is that he was stabbed, and he bled to loss of life.

According to the health worker, Matthew had a number of small cuts and bruises and a attainable defensive wound on his forearm. The deadly harm was not the stab wound to his again, however from a deep incision on his proper arm, which punctured a vein.

CHINWE FOSSETT (in court docket): You stabbed him within the again, right?

MELISSA TURNER: Correct.

CHINWE FOSSETT: OK.

Melissa Turner: The solely factor that I did was the again.

Erin Moriarty: How did he get reduce on his proper arm?

Melissa Turner: I — I could not let you know that. I’ve no clue. He might’ve fallen into one thing; he might’ve executed it himself. … And I stabbed him as soon as to get him off of me from strangling me.

Erin Moriarty: Why did not you inform the police that he had been attempting to strangle you?

Melissa Turner: … as a result of I could not bear in mind on the time. … I had complained a number of occasions a few headache.  

Prosecutor Fossett questioned Melissa about her recollections that returned earlier than the trial. 

CHINWE FOSSETT (in court docket): And so right this moment, in 2022, you now declare you had some sort of head harm, right?

MELISSA TURNER: Umm, sure.

But against the law scene tech testified there was no proof of head harm. 

CHINWE FOSSETT: And now in 2022, you communicate of some sort of blackout, right? Yes?

MELISSA TURNER: Correct.

CHINWE FOSSET: OK.

The jury will not should rely simply on Melissa’s recollections as they weigh the proof. There’s additionally that video from contained in the couple’s dwelling. Prosecutors say it proves Melissa was the aggressor that night time. At 3:38 a.m., Melissa is seen working in direction of her workplace. At 3:42 a.m., Matthew walks previous the digicam, Melissa follows him.

Chinwe Fossett: He’s strolling calmly, unarmed within the ADT movies, and she or he’s following him hunched over indignant.

At 4:01 a.m., the video reveals Melissa working from the course of the kitchen; she seems distressed. This can be across the time when the digicam throughout the road picks up audio of screaming and yelling. The subsequent video clip is at 4:08 a.m.

Katherine Fand: … she’s standing at a entrance door … and she or he’s seeming like she’s speaking to open air … and you may see on her hand, you may see the trace of crimson … she already has the reduce.

Prosecutors say the reduce on her hand occurred when Melissa stabbed Matthew — they imagine he was nonetheless alive at that time. Prosecutors say she might have left then for assist or referred to as 911.

Chinwe Fossett: That’s not what she did. She … walks again to …the place he’s. 

Katherine Fand: She is just not in cheap worry of him. That’s what’s clear.  

But Melissa’s legal professional John Trevena rejects the state’s timeline and disputes what prosecutors say is seen on that video.

John Trevena: I by no means noticed any reduce on her hand, and I do not assume it reveals that.

The combating continues, say prosecutors, as a result of round 4:30 a.m., they are saying the couple moved near an open window and that safety digicam throughout the road recorded a girl’s indignant voice. 

MELISSA TURNER (neighbor’s safety digicam audio): “You have the power to do something, so ****ing die.”

CHINWE FOSSETT (in court docket): You stated, 4:33 a.m., “So f***ing die.” Right?

MELISSA TURNER: No. … I’ve no recollection of that. … I defined my aspect and why I did what I did (cries).  

CHINWE FOSSETT: You’re crying proper now. Is that, is that what’s occurring? Are you crying proper now?

MELISSA TURNER: Do you understand what tears appear like?

CHINWE FOSSETT: Are you crying as a result of you may simply cry on cue?

MELISSA TURNER: I’m crying as a result of, as a result of my life is on the road proper now.

Trevena says it is not possible to obviously perceive what Melissa is saying on the neighbor’s safety digicam recording. And a former FBI audio forensic skilled, Bruce Koenig, testified for the protection how he believed sections of the digicam audio had been, what he referred to as, “volume enhanced.” 

JOHN TREVENA (in court docket): So, it could possibly be that perhaps one voice on the recording was not amplified and that one other voice on the recording was tremendously amplified.

BRUCE KOENIG: That’s true.  

John Trevena: I discover it extremely suspicious that … Miss Turner’s voice is screeching loud. … But when it got here to — Matthew Trussler … you might barely hear mumbling. 

Prosecutors deny the audio was manipulated. 

Based on the surface digicam, Prosecutor Fand says the confrontation ended at 5:11 a.m., when Matthew someway bought out to the pool space via a window. 

Katherine Fand: So, the window was really open. But when he determined to flee from her he … pushed out the display screen and went out the window. 

Prosecutors say by the point Matthew collapsed by the pool, Melissa would have seen how injured he was.

Katherine Fand: He has already bled all that blood within the kitchen after which gone out.  

Chinwe Fossett: She is aware of that he wants assist. And she’s awake and she or he does not assist him. 

But Melissa says that is when she returned to her workplace and blacked out. 

Erin Moriarty: The argument ends someday round 5 o’clock. But you do not name 911 till 8:45.

Melissa Turner: Correct, as a result of I used to be unconscious. 

One of the final ADT clips reveals Melissa at 8:35 a.m. strolling from the course of her workplace. In the police report, her hair is described as “messy as if she just woke up.” 

John Trevena: That was probably the most … demonstrative of her not figuring out he is lifeless. … Because you would not be go lookin’ for him when you killed him. 

Erin Moriarty: Is it attainable … that she did go on the market? She’s been consuming, no matter. And had no concept that he was dying at the moment?

Katherine Fand: She knew he was dying as a result of she noticed him bleeding out.  

As the jury started their deliberations, one of many jurors, Donald Goodwin, was feeling the load of his determination. 

Erin Moriarty: How does the primary vote go?

Donald Goodwin: Two for responsible within the second-degree.  

Erin Moriarty: And the place have been you?

Donald Goodwin: Unknown.

A JURY DECIDES

Erin Moriarty: What do you hope the jury comes again with?

Melissa Turner (cries): What everybody hopes for, not responsible.

On Feb. 18, 2022, Melissa Turner’s homicide trial wrapped up after 5 days of testimony earlier than Judge Samantha Ward.

JUDGE WARD: Your responsibility is to find out if the defendant has been confirmed responsible or not in accord with the regulation …

Melissa is hoping the jury will imagine her story about seeing Matthew alive earlier than blacking out.

Melissa Turner: He was nonetheless up and, and transferring round…

She says she had no concept of how badly he had been injured.

Melissa Turner: …So the final I remembered of him he was nonetheless up. 

Erin Moriarty: Isn’t it attainable … that there might not have been actually — intent to kill anyone. It’s this drunken combat and any person finally ends up bleeding to loss of life.

Chinwe Fossett: That’s a murder.

And Prosecutor Chinwe Fossett says this case is basically about home violence.

Chinwe Fossett: He was reduce and stabbed and left to die. I believe that is the very definition, particularly contemplating that this was by his fiancée.

In Florida, second-degree homicide instances are heard by six jurors. In this case, two ladies and 4 males — one in every of them, Donald Goodwin.

Donald Goodwin: You see a younger girl and also you’re already, like, your abdomen drops. You’re like, Lord, simply let me do the proper factor … But behind the seems to be of a younger girl, the reality was popping out rapidly.

Donald Goodwin: When she went to the stand, I believe it harm her, massive time. … her tears have been so faux. And you may inform.

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket): I’m crying as a result of I nonetheless bear in mind all these locations, all these plans …

Donald Goodwin: … She was tremendous indignant and tremendous unhappy. Her feelings have been in every single place. I’m like that tells me who she is.

Goodwin, an element time household pastor, says these safety digicam movies have been essential due to what he says was an absence of different proof.

Donald Goodwin: I seemed on the movies time and again, the ADT movies that is inside the home. … I seen crimson on her arms. But I could not use it as proof as a result of the digicam wasn’t crystal clear.

Erin Moriarty: At that time, did you assume he had already been stabbed?

Donald Goodwin: Yes.

Donald Goodwin: And I believe she snapped.

Erin Moriarty: You do not imagine he was strangling her on the time?

Donald Goodwin: No. … I felt like she had sufficient … and attacked him.

And there was one clip of the audio recording that satisfied Goodwin Melissa knew Matthew was harm.

Donald Goodwin: … then she stated … “What did I do?” And I used to be, like, that proper there tells me you understand precisely what is going on on now. … she knew he was gonna die, she knew it, and but, she referred to as no person.

And as for Melissa’s claims about hitting her head and blacking out?

Erin Moriarty: You do not imagine that she would possibly’ve handed out? 

Donald Goodwin: No. Not in any respect. … there was no proof of head harm.

The jury deliberated for seven hours.

COURT CLERK: We the jury discover as follows as to the cost … the defendant is responsible of homicide within the second diploma.

Guilty of the homicide of Matthew Trussler.

JENNIFER GILES: I bear in mind Sean squeezing my hand, it was a cheerful feeling.

John Trevena: She was inconsolable. I imply, it was — it was very tough. I imply, she was crying profusely.

JUDGE WARD: She can be taken into custody right now. 

            
On March 18, 2022, Melissa returned to court docket to study her sentence. She talked about what she had misplaced.

MELISSA TURNER (in court docket, cries) On October 18th, Matthew misplaced his life, and I misplaced a person that I liked. I misplaced my future and my hopes and my desires.

But Matthew’s household additionally spoke, fighting each grief and anger.

JENNIFER GILES: Mattie … 25 years outdated, wow, a lot life nonetheless forward. The lifetime of a son, a brother, a brother-in-law, and an uncle. … Sean … won’t ever see his finest pal once more. He won’t ever be capable of substitute you.

MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN: The story that you’ve contrived has precipitated me as a lot ache as his loss of life … If Matthew’s consuming was escalating … it was due to the life-style that you simply concerned him in. It was not according to who he was and with the way in which that he was raised.

JUDGE WARD: This jury didn’t imagine her claims of self-defense, nor does this court docket.  

Still, Judge Samantha Ward provided Melissa some mercy, sparing her a life sentence.

JUDGE WARD: Based on the jury’s verdict, you might be adjudicated responsible, sentenced to twenty.5 years within the Florida State Prison.

Melissa Turner can be eligible for launch earlier than she turns 50.

Erin Moriarty: What do you guys miss about Mattie probably the most?

Jennifer Giles: Oh, my gosh.

Sean Trussler: His giggle most likely.

Jennifer Giles: He had an excellent giggle.

Sean Trussler: He was a superb child, he was … He was simply beginning to be a person.

One life misplaced, one other ruined on an evening juror Goodwin says did not should occur.

Donald Goodwin: Matthew Trussler did not should die. … They might’ve walked away from one another and began a unique life. … Melissa Turner selected to kill Matthew Trussler. Do I believe it was premediated? Absolutely not. Do I believe she’s responsible? Absolutely.

The prosecutor says Matthew Trussler was a sufferer of home violence.

If you or somebody you understand wants assist, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or go to TheHotline.org.

Produced by Asena Basak. Ryan Smith, and Marc Goldbaum are the event producers. Jordan Kinsey is the sphere producer. Phil Tangel, Wini Dini and George Baluzy are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer

Erin Moriarty

Correspondent, “48 Hours”