Melissa Turner On Oct. 18, 2019, Melissa Turner frantically referred to as 911 saying she discovered her fiancé, Matthew Trussler, laying in a pool of blood on the patio of their suburban Tampa, Florida, dwelling. "We had lots of drinks final evening and we went to mattress drunk," Turner informed the 911 operator. "… awakened …
On Oct. 18, 2019, Melissa Turner frantically referred to as 911 saying she discovered her fiancé, Matthew Trussler, laying in a pool of blood on the patio of their suburban Tampa, Florida, dwelling. “We had lots of drinks final evening and we went to mattress drunk,” Turner informed the 911 operator. “… awakened this morning and he was bloody and out of doors this morning.”
Turner informed “48 Hours,” they’d met on Tinder in April 2017. From that second their relationship blossomed into an engagement. However, in October 2019, authorities escorted Melissa to the sheriff’s workplace for added questioning.
A few hours after that frantic 911 name, investigators interviewed Turner about their drunken evening. Melissa says she and Trussler had been ingesting and she or he ultimately fell asleep. She says she awakened and located Matthew useless. Nonetheless, she did not know that investigators had been tipped off a few surveillance digital camera that captured greater than what she revealed.
Whereas Turner was on the sheriff’s workplace, Det. Ryan LaGasse canvassed the neighborhood for clues. He says he seen a neighbor’s surveillance digital camera that was pointing straight on the couple’s dwelling and determined to see if it had vital data. When the proprietor shared the footage, he heard sounds of a yelling from two voices. One of many voices, which sounded feminine, stated “so f***ing die!” Detective LaGasse instantly shared this with different investigators.
When Trussler’s physique was examined, the health worker stated he had a defensive wound on his proper forearm, a big laceration to his chest, a small reduce to the suitable shoulder, and a big wound on his again that’s according to a stab wound. The health worker famous the reason for loss of life as “incised wound to arm with perforation of cephalic vein.” Turner had a reduce on her hand.
Again on the sheriff’s workplace, investigators requested Turner concerning the video displaying sounds of an argument from her home. At first she stated, “I’ve no reminiscence of any argument…” Nonetheless, just a few hours into the investigation Melissa’s story modified fully. She might now keep in mind what unfolded between them.
Turner informed investigators Trussler woke her up and he was nonetheless intoxicated. She was offended from being woken up and so they started to argue. Melissa says Matthew was holding a knife and she or he tried to seize it and issues escalated. “If it was an accident, then I might have referred to as 911, and never simply let him die,” Turner informed investigators.
Throughout the similar day of that frantic 911 name Turner positioned, authorities arrested her for second diploma homicide with weapon. She was taken to the native jail.
When Matthew Trussler’s household heard the information, they have been in shock. Matthew’s older brother Sean and his fiancé, who additionally lived close to Matthew and Melissa, instantly had their suspicions. “She took Mattie lengthy earlier than she took him perpetually,” Sean Trussler informed “48 Hours.”
Pictured from left: Matthew’s mom Margaret, brother Sean, Sean’s fiancé Jennifer and Matthew Trussler.
Cameron Walega, a person who says he dated Turner, recalled her curiosity in health since she misplaced 100 kilos. He additionally remembers when she created a second weblog with sexually express content material.
Turner’s second weblog featured her cosplaying as varied characters, similar to Daphne from “Scooby Doo” and Misty from “Pokemon,” whereas partaking in sexual acts based on her ex-boyfriend Cameron Walega. He says he seen a change in her character shortly after beginning that weblog. “And the increasingly success that she discovered, the increasingly unstable she turned,” he informed “48 Hours”. Ultimately the couple parted methods.
On Feb. 14, 2022, two years after Matthew Trussler’s loss of life, Melissa Turner went on trial for homicide. Turner’s legal professional, John Trevena, stated it is a case of self-defense. “She did have a historical past of abuse and that there was abuse on this relationship, and that she acted in self-defense.”
Nonetheless, prosecutors did not consider that narrative. “I believe she was intoxicated and I do suppose she went far past something she thought she would do,” Assistant District Legal professional Chinwe Fossett informed “48 Hours.” “Perhaps she was simply so annoyed together with his ingesting … that she harms him so badly that he finally ends up dying.”
Turner determined to testify on the trial. She described Trussler’s points with alcohol. That evening his alcohol degree was almost 5 instances the authorized restrict in Florida. She additionally described his unusual habits prior to now. “He would stare off at some nook … and he would inform me that ‘there is a demon standing proper there.'”
Regardless of not remembering how Trussler ended up with wounds in varied components of his physique, Turner stated she might solely keep in mind stabbing him as soon as within the again. “I stabbed him as soon as to get him off of me from strangling me.”
A key piece of proof was the neighbor’s surveillance footage that seize sounds of an argument from Melissa and Matthew’s dwelling. Audio knowledgeable Bruce Koenig testified that sections of the audio had been quantity enhanced. Protection legal professional John Trevena believed the audio had been tampered with. “I discover it extremely suspicious that…Ms. Turner’s voice is screeching loud. However when it got here to, , Matthew Trussler … you might barely hear mumbling.”
On Feb. 18, 2022, jurors deliberated for seven hours earlier than reaching a call. Melissa Turner was discovered responsible of homicide within the second diploma.
Donald Goodwin, who was one of many jurors, stated he thought Melissa had snapped. “… she knew he was gonna die, she knew it, and but, she referred to as no person,” he informed “48 Hours.”
A month after the decision, on March 18, 2022, Turner returned to court docket to obtain her sentencing.
“Based mostly on the jury’s verdict, you’re adjudicated responsible, sentenced to twenty.5 years within the Florida State Jail,” Choose Samantha Ward informed Melissa in court docket.
Trussler’s sister-in-law, Jennifer Giles, believes justice was served. “I’ll say that’s justice to a level,” she informed “48 Hours.”
Sean Trussler says he misses his brother. “He was a great child. He was simply beginning to be a person.”
Juror Donald Goodwin says each lives have been ruined that evening. “Matthew Trussler did not must die,” he informed “48 Hours.” “They may’ve walked away from one another and began a special life.”
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