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Linehan Indictment TossedJudge finds prejudicial evidence led to indictmentMechele Linehan, the stripper turned soccer mom whose murder conviction was thrown out, now may be one step closer to freedom. This after the state's murder indictment was dismissed Tuesday in Anchorage Superior Court. It’s all based on a letter written by Linehan's fiancé at the time, Kent Leppink, before he was murdered, that said Linehan along with others were responsible for his death. Judge Philip Volland said the grand jury should have never been heard about the letter because it was hearsay. For Linehan's family, the judge's decision brings hope she is one step closer to going home. It’s the stack of pages Mechele Linehan's mom says is the light at the end of the tunnel. “Its time to let her go home, she needs to get back to her child and her husband and her family,” said Sandy McWilliams. Judge Phillip Volland called the state's witness testimony prejudicial because the prosecution allowed the grand jury to hear murdered Kent Leppink's mom speak about a letter he wrote before his death saying if anything happened to him, to take Linehan down. Superior Court Judge Volland agreed with Linehan's attorney that the letter led to the murder indictment. “We know it’s the right decision legally, its the correct thing for the judge to do,” said Cynthia Strout, who has been representing Linehan. The same evidence was the reason the Alaska Court of Appeals said it overturned Linehan's 2007 murder conviction last year. “The prosecutor used highly prejudicial hearsay, unreliable information to get an indictment the first time around,” said Strout. It is something the state argued wasn't the same situation the second time in front of the grand jury. State assistant attorney general Paul Miovas said in opposition the only evidence admitted regarding the letter was a reference by Leppink's mom Betsy agreeing that the victim, her son, believed if he was found dead that he believed Linehan along with two others might be involved. But with that decision now reversed, the ball is now in the state's court. It’s up to the state at this point to decide if they want to attempt to present a second to another grand jury. Linehan's family is optimistic that justice is coming soon, so she can return to her home in Washington State a free woman. “She is not leaving Anchorage until this thing is cleared up and her name is clear,” Strout said. Now the state is still assessing its options, and while prosecutors won't say exactly what they will do, Assistant Attorney General Paul Miovas told CBS 11 News the bail conditions that were previously set remain in place and Ms. Linehan will have a brief court hearing on January 17, 2012 to address the status of the case.
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bonnie said on Wednesday, May 23 at 12:16 PM
Michele has her husband wrapped, just like she had the 3 men in the story wrapped, so long ago. If you read the emails exchanged, and listen to her audio taped interview by police, you can hear here building an alibi. Bottomline: She leaves a note about being in Hope Alaska, and Kent ends up DEAD in Hope Alaska!!Coincidence?? I think not!
91671225mark said on Friday, Apr 20 at 3:24 PM
I have been following this case for years. There is no doubt in my mind she was the major contributer in this man's death, while she did not actually pull the trigger, without her manipulations he would still be alive today, no doubt. I'm sure she will get away with it, but karma will prevail, beleive it!
88305395Dee said on Tuesday, Jan 31 at 9:56 PM
I have followed this story/trial for years now. I believe Mechele was convicted for being a stripper. Did she use men? Probably. But the men who go to strip clubs should really stop fantasizing that they can make a life with the ladies. Fantasy in the club, reality out. I believe Mechelle was a young woman who did what she had to do. I commend you Mechele for making something out of your life. Your education and your family. Only strong women like you (and me) can pick up and go on the way you did. Keep your head high, allow your husband to hold and comfort you and for your daughter to give you smiles and hugs. Dee
80710688briamrogers said on Thursday, Jan 12 at 5:41 AM
you will be free soon mechele
79758293compassion said on Tuesday, Jan 10 at 9:49 PM
You people are awful! the truth is that nobody knows what happened here. You don't know mechele, even if you have worked with her or went to school with her. I'm not saying I know she is innocent, but I'm not saying I know she is guilty. Also, the amount of sexism going on in this forum makes me want to throw up. No one can "make" another person DO anything. George Carlin was a grown man, come ON! The fact that she was a stripper has absolutely nothing to say about her character as a person. Guess what, men will pay money to see women's bodies, and she took advantage of that, whoop-di-do. Sex and sexuality is not a bad thing. I do agree that it's unfortunate that sex can be bought but the truth of the matter is that it can and if sex continues to be viewed in that way then a woman taking advantage of that cannot really be blamed anymore than anyone else can be blamed for taking advantage of capitalism at any level. Why dont you people put your negative, judgemental energy aside
79696564Naomi said on Sunday, Jan 8 at 5:38 PM
Women have got to learn that they can't get everything they want by throwing it in men's faces. But I think this one certainly did.
79585947Linda said on Tuesday, Jan 3 at 5:38 PM
Many young girls play this dangerous game of pitting boyfriends against each other to get their way. Attention money or other things. I hope other young ladies wake and learn from this case before another young man gets killed because of their selfish immature behavior and lies
79332629Briana said on Monday, Jan 2 at 9:03 PM
I danced with this woman for years in New Orleans and remember when she came back from Alaska around the time of the murder. She did it. She is a sociopath and wouldn't think twice about killing a customer but for getting caught. I loved to watch her work because she had no mercy on the guys and always was able to "work" completely sober. I feel sorry for her husband. She was still turning tricks (sugar daddies) long after she met him in New Orleans at Tulane. He loves her so much. Hopefully he knows the truth from her and loves her in spite of her illness instead of masochism.
79288904Kelly said on Monday, Jan 2 at 4:41 PM
As I said to friends all along. This one will get away with Murder. She thinks she did anyway but I believe that God is watching and she will pay for what she did. If you use men to get what you want in life and find a foolish young doctor to believe your lies which you probably learned early how to do then get a good lawyer you can get away with Murder. Tell me if she thought she was innocent then why did she send that computer to her sister and ask her to destroy it?
79279101Janet said on Monday, Jan 2 at 12:20 AM
OK I was reading through some of the top 2011 stories and came to this, wow. The one person said Texas insetad of Alaska, a couple were decent but the rest of the comments are very scary. Cursing her, hating the entire justice system, even criticizing her voice? Why don't you jealous haters research the reversal before you comment? SHE isn't going to sit in jail for you people! Would you stay there for her if your conviction was overturned and indictment vacated? I looked over some other crime stories up there, including a drunk drivers homocide case being overturned. WHERE is the outrage? Hmmmmmm. Face it, there are pretty women in the world, and the system is available for them as needed. By the way there are half a million innocent people in jail in the USA only. Were you guys on some of those juries? Geez!
79250413Felicia Williams said on Sunday, Jan 1 at 1:21 PM
My 2 cents is that there was reasonable doubt. Maybe she did tell that lovesick idiot to kill someone else but they had no evidence. The stripper that kept notes of every movie she watched didn't note the one she says she watched with Mechele which I found questionable. I believe she was using all three of these men but using someone is a two way street. I do think the fact she was a former stripper with 3 boyfriends/fiances is what they convicted her on.
79232494Anonymous said on Saturday, Dec 31 at 1:19 AM
Kent DID get justice...his murderer was sentenced to 99 years!! What happened to him while he was in there was an injustice and hate crime for some, but a well deserved punishment for a murdered to others! I am not religious person, but wrong is wrong and punishment is punishment...everyone will get their judgement someday.
79182039Whatif said on Saturday, Dec 31 at 1:15 AM
What If she had Carlin killed? Carlin's last claim was that he believed his gun was used in the murder. I cant get passed the life insurance policy. She bought the million dollar policy and didn't know he changed it.
79182006april said on Saturday, Dec 31 at 1:13 AM
I think its crazy that the state of Alaska is going to try to retry her. Obviously they cant even get her conviction to uphold on the FIRST appeal. Something is wrong. And someone said they are out to get her because she used to be a stripper, so what!? Every female in the world has had at least 1 "boyfriend" in their life that they were only with cause they male could give them something, whether that be money...a place to live, help them get a better position in a company they work in, etc.....sadly its still a "man's world" and a woman has to do what she has to do to get one up on any man. BTW in the 48 Hours special they did on her, she tried to cancel the life insurance policy weeks before his murder.she apparently was NOT told that she was NOT the beneficiary anymore. I hope she gets to go home Jan. 27th, 2012. And i hope they get the real killer one day.
79181987dino said on Saturday, Dec 31 at 1:03 AM
she can go back to working the pole now that she's out of jail and can dump her husband and find someone with real money to pamper her!! she'll treat her new man "good"!!!
79181891Jim Spencer said on Saturday, Dec 31 at 12:17 AM
Deezygirl, you must have known her personally to have such an insight into who Mechele Linehan is and how even though no physical evidence existed she had to be guilty! Or are you a therapist?
79181449Michael E said on Friday, Dec 30 at 4:23 PM
PLEASE let them indict her again. PLEASE let them convict her again. She is guilty as sin.
79169366Deezygirl said on Friday, Dec 30 at 11:04 AM
She is guilty and a conniver. She used and abused people, especially men and tries to get everybody to feel sorry for her. I just saw her on a 48 Hours show and through the whole thing she tried the little girl persona. The husband seems like a good guy, but she squeaked through the entire interview. I feel so bad for Kent's parents.
79156623Illinois said on Friday, Dec 30 at 10:18 AM
This gets me SO angry! No justice for the Leppink family. This rotten, vile, manipulative woman deserves nothing but to die in jail. She is responsible for Kent's death despite her goody soccer mom persona. This makes me sick
79154472Randall Rosemead said on Friday, Dec 30 at 10:09 AM
Conniving woman. She needs to be locked up for good!
79153983Kristen said on Friday, Dec 30 at 9:59 AM
She's guilty as heck. This angers me to no end. Stupid bit** should rot in prison...
79153539unbelievable said on Friday, Dec 30 at 9:19 AM
I can't believe they are not using the note Kent wrote, and the insurance policy she made him take out! She didn't know he took her off it, because he knew she would try to knock him off! Sooo sick! The justice system sucks!
79151557OregonianChick said on Friday, Dec 30 at 8:43 AM
Almost feel like Alaska is in debt to Michele, or at the very least owe her a big fat "we're sorry!". Michele, glad you're walking free, and everyone's hoping this whole mess will just leave you alone.
79149681akdave said on Tuesday, Dec 20 at 6:01 PM
Wish she was still dancin! Hot soccer mom! Just sayin....
78745142just sayin. said on Tuesday, Dec 20 at 10:51 AM
she was convicted by a bunch of lumpy frumpy Alaskan queens who used extreme prejudice because she was once a dancer at the bush company which in their feeble minds made her evil and she had to be destroyed. it is way past time for her to be released based upon the facts of the case. she has always been innocent. sadly the other guy who was killed in a racial attack by Alaskan natives while serving a life sentence will never get his appeal on the case heard. meanwhile the hate crime and racial murder has been swept under the rug inside spring creek.
78722932Michigan said on Sunday, Dec 18 at 2:42 PM
The victim's name is Kent "Lepp-ink" not "La-pink", he deserves justice and his name pronounced correctly.
78627634Monday said on Saturday, Dec 17 at 11:47 AM
WHY are the bail conditions still in place? First the verdict was overturned, then the indictment thrown out. Is the state of Texas playing loose with the constitution? There are layers ad layers to all of this. I read online once that her behavior in prison was at issue for a reason to retry. HOw do most people feel who are serving life on an error? lOve someone who knows legal stuff to explain some of this.
78586083briamrogers said on Friday, Dec 16 at 10:59 AM
good news mechele
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