Sister Sandra "Sandy" Melgar

[Guest Nicole]

Defense lawyers in the murder trial of Sandra Jean Melgar on Tuesday blamed "a couple of cowboys" at the Harris County Sheriff's Office for jumping to conclusions and accusing her of fatally stabbing her husband in 2012.

"Sandy Melgar got sucked into this by a couple of cowboys who came up with some theories and game over," defense attorney Mac Secrest told jurors in closing arguments of the three-week murder trial. "Where are the real killers? Are we going to see them in the courtroom anytime soon? I wouldn't bet on it."

Melgar, 57, who faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted, is accused of stabbing her husband on Dec. 22, 2012, then tying herself up to stage a home invasion on the eve of their 32nd anniversary.

Friends arriving for a party the next day found Jaime Melgar's body in the couple's northwest Harris County home, with Sandra Melgar tied up in the master bedroom closet.

The defense insisted that Sandra Melgar never saw the home invader that hit her in the back of the head, tied her up and brutally stabbed her husband 31 times.

Melgar's attorney said police failed to investigate a neighbor with a criminal record who was acting strangely at the crime scene.

Instead, Secrest told jurors, two sheriff's detectives, one of whom was later fired for backdating a search warrant in a murder case, decided to charge Sandra Melgar and stopped looking for evidence.

"There's no physical evidence that points to her at all," Secrest said, explaining that Jaime Melgar was stabbed and beaten about the head and body. "No broken nails, no problems with her hands, no bruising of the hands."

Prosecutor Colleen Barnett said Melgar was motivated to kill her husband and stage a break-in for a $500,000 life insurance policy.

She also said Melgar's religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness made her look for a way to get out of the marriage without a divorce, which would have left her ostracized.

Because a church friend testified that Jehovah's Witnesses believe dead people are "sleeping" until the Apocalypse, Barnett said Melgar may have taken her husband's death lightly.

"If I kill him, then I'm not ostracized — I get to hang out with my friends — and I get the money," Barnett said, imagining Melgar's thinking.

When it came to Melgar's hands, Barnett pointed to photos of Melgar's right hand which showed cloudy nails, saying she used a harsh cleaner or detergent after the bloody stabbing to clean up.

"This proves she's the one. That she did it," Barnett said. 

Jurors began deliberating immediately after the closings in state District Judge Kelli Johnson's court.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Jury-deliberating-in-murder-trial-of-Houston-wife-11950857.php

[David Normand]

Seems a bit of a stretch that she would dispose of her husband in such a manner just so she would not be ostracized as they put it. But, in this day and age anything is possible. The love of the greater number is certainly cooling off and familial ties are not as strong as they once were. 

[Jack Ryan]

I wonder if she was disfellowshipped following her conviction by jury? Anyone know?

[Jack Ryan]

Amateur sleuths take on case of woman in prison for stabbing, bludgeoning husband to death: 'There were no bones behind' conviction

[Jack Ryan]

“I know that she did not do this,” the couple's daughter, Elizabeth "Lizz" Melgar Rose, told “20/20.” “I'm going to continue to fight until we can prove that.”

[Jack Ryan]

However, for the defense, there was a question of Jim Melgar’s blood. Sandy Melgar's attorneys argued that her hands were clean and that there was no sign anyone had cleaned up in the house. There were also no injuries on her hands and none of her nails was even chipped or broken.

[Jack Ryan]

At her sentencing, Sandy Melgar was given 27 years in state prison. She is appealing her conviction.

[Jack Ryan]

As far as Rose is concerned, her father’s killer is still out there.

[Shirley Skene]

1 hour ago, Jack Ryan said:

I wonder if she was disfellowshipped following her conviction by jury? Anyone know?

@Jack Ryan No, she was not. She is in good standing and supported by her friends, family, Jim’s family and many Witnesses. 

[The Librarian]

I sent this out on a bunch of social media sites. Anyone know if there is a way people can support her defense fund? Or if one even exists?

Public Defenders paid by the states are notorious for being terrible defenders.

[Shirley Skene]

There is a “go fund me” account. You may find it on the Truth and Justice podcast. Her daughter started it. Lizz Rose. If I find it I will post it. 

[Evacuated]

On 8/23/2017 at 3:25 AM, Nicole said:

Prosecutor Colleen Barnett said Melgar was motivated to kill her husband and stage a break-in for a $500,000 life insurance policy.

She also said Melgar's religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness made her look for a way to get out of the marriage without a divorce, which would have left her ostracized. 

Because a church friend testified that Jehovah's Witnesses believe dead people are "sleeping" until the Apocalypse, Barnett said Melgar may have taken her husband's death lightly.

This beggars belief. Has anyone heard of other cases where prosecution has factored religious belief on the condition of the dead as a component of a "guilty" verdict? I mean are all the Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Muslim,  etc. folk who get accused of murder said to be emboldened because they believed their alleged victims are actually alive after death?