The Murder of Michele MacNeill
I’ve heard about this case many times, especially on Dateline and 20/20. It’s a very interesting and tragic case, and I do think they have the right person behind bars. I feel so horrible for the children in this case, because they have lost both their parents, but at least they got justice so they can somehow move on with their lives.
Background
Michele Somers was born in 1957, and was raised in Concord, California. Michele was a straight A-student, and was involved in many activities throughout school. She also attended the LDS church (The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-day Saints).
Martin MacNeill was born in 1956. They met at a church event for the LDS Church. Martin and Michele eloped on February 21, 1978.
Martin and Michele
They were only married for 4 months when Martin went to jail for 6 months for forgery, theft and fraud.
This isn’t the first time Martin would be accused of theft or fraud, it became a recurring theme throughout their marriage and when Martin was accused of killing Michele.
Martin and Michele lived in Pleasant Grove, Utah in 2007. They also had 8 children: Rachel, Vanessa, Alexis, Damian, Giselle, Elle, Sabrina and Ada. Four of their children were adopted from the Ukraine and Ada was actually their granddaughter.
MacNeill family
Martin’s Lies
Martin was the medical director of Utah State Development Center. He also was a former physician, served in the military and said he had a law degree.
Martin had actually forged his transcripts from school to enter into medical school in California, and he also lied on his application into Law school.
Michele’s surgery
Martin had wanted Michele to get cosmetic surgery done, and Michele didn’t want to have it done because she was afraid because she had some health concerns. Martin apparently forced her into it, and she most likely did it because she didn't want to lose him. I believe at this time, she also was suspicious that he was having an affair.
Martin also gave the surgeon a list of medications he wanted Michele to take, as if he didn’t control her enough. The surgeon prescribed Lortab, Ambien, Valium, Percocet, Phenergan and Keflex. According to the surgeon, the medication was a lot stronger than what he would give his patients.
The day after her surgery, Michele’s daughter Alexis found her mom unresponsive, but she survived. She told her her dad, and he said he “probably over-medicated her.” Alexis, being the good daughter she was took over giving her mom the medication when she could go home.
Murder
On April 11th, 2007, Alexis had talked to her mom on the phone at 8:44am. Alexis was driving home from school. According to Alexis, Michele said she was doing well. At 9:10am, Martin told Alexis that Michele wasn’t doing well or getting out of bed.
Martin and Ada, came home between 11:35 and 11:46am. Apparently Martin told Ada to go and check on her mom, and Ada found Michele unresponsive and face down in the bathtub of their master bathroom. Michele was 50 years old.
When Martin called 911, he apparently hung up and called several times. He doesn't seem to be too frantic that his daughter just found her mom in the tub. It also seems forced, that he’s trying to sound concerned, but it just sounds dramatic to me. He also says many times that he’s doing CPR and that he’s a physician.
Martin also told his son, Damian to get rid of all the medication so they could keep Michele’s plastic surgery a secret. (I never knew this, and I don’t know if that was ever mentioned in any of the TV shows I’ve watched).
Autopsy
Michele’s autopsy stated that her cause of death was cardiovascular disease. Police also said Michele died from natural causes, and that it was an accidental death.
The medications in her system were not at toxic levels, but the examiner said that the medications “could have led to sedation and heart arrhythmia, resulting in cardiac death.” Michele’s children and her family didn't believe it at all.
Gypsy Willis
Michele believed that right before she died, Martin was having an affair and he was. She apparently found text messages and calls on Martin’s phone, a few days before she died.
After Michele died, he hired Gypsy to look after the youngest children. According to the show Dateline and 20/20, Martin said that Gypsy was moving in and Alexis already knew that they were dating.
Identity theft
Martin sent back one of his daughters, Giselle to the Ukraine, so that Gypsy could use her identity. In 2009, Martin was sentenced to 4 years in prison for federal identity theft charges. Gypsy was only sentenced to 3 years probation.
Martin and Gypsy Willis- lovely couple huh?
Murder trial
On August 24th, 2012, Martin was charged with the murder of Michele. His trial began on October 17th, 2013.
The prosecutors said Martin killed Michele to be with Gypsy, and that he killed her by drowning her and mixing her prescription drugs. They also said he had previously tried to kill his mom, and brother who was also found dead in the bathtub. Martin was never charged for his brother’s death.
On November 9th, 2013, Martin was found guilty of 1st degree murder. He was also convicted of obstruction of justice for hindering the investigation. He had tried to make Michele’s death look accidental.
It also came out that Martin had sexually abused his daughter, Alexis. She confessed to that, and turned on her father right away. He was found guilty of forcible sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 1 to 15 years in prison.
Martin at trial
Martin at trial or sentencing.
Gypsy talking about Martin
Other
On January 16th, 2010, Michele and Martin’s son, Damian committed suicide. He was a Law student at New York Law School, and his school said Damian “was a dangerous individual, who possessed homicidal impulses and discussed the joys of killing.” They also said he was in Utah the day his mother died.
Martin MacNeill killed himself in prison. He was found unresponsive in the facility’s outdoor yard. He had allegedly tried to commit suicide before in prison.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t know anything about the son, and he was barely mentioned on the TV shows, but I think it was Martin. Martin probably had a hand in getting the school to write that letter. He never took any responsibility for killing Michele, and would probably blame all his kids before taking any responsibility for his actions.
I also feel really bad for all the kids, but especially Alexis. She was very bravo for confessing to what that sick monster did to her, and her mother. I also feel bad for Giselle, she probably already had a rough life before her adoption, and was suddenly sent back to the Ukraine, just so Martin could be with his mistress. YUCK. The mistress is just as disgusting as Martin is.
Martin controlled everything and everyone. He’s also a coward for killing himself, he took the easy way out instead of doing his time.
It seems to be a reoccurring theme that all of Martin’s daughters were afraid of him, and all of them took their mother’s side. Giselle and Alexis have the most reasons to hate her father, after what he did to Alexis and sent Giselle back to Ukraine.
