Richmond Hill defendant Monserrate Shirley gets 50 years

A central figure in the Richmond Hill explosion — which the judge called one of the "biggest cases of conspiracy" in Marion County history — received the maximum sentence under the plea deal for her role in the blast that killed a young couple and leveled dozens of homes in an Indianapolis neighborhood.

Monserrate Shirley, who plotted with others to blow up her home for the insurance money, was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years in prison. 

The two-day sentencing hearing closes a major chapter in the long and costly conspiracy case that has resulted in five convictions since the November 2012 explosion that killed John Dion Longworth and Jennifer Longworth and injured 13 people.

Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson had asked for the maximum sentence, but Shirley's defense attorneys asked for some leniency, arguing that she was coerced by her boyfriend, Mark Leonard, who is serving a life sentence in prison for masterminding the scheme to collect $300,000 in insurance money. 

The explosion orchestrated by Shirley and her four accomplices damaged dozens of homes in the neighborhood on Indianapolis' southeast side, some of which have since been rebuilt. But the trauma left psychological scars for many of its residents who survived.

More than a dozen neighbors, and relatives of the Longworth couple, testified during the two-day sentencing hearing about the destruction wrought by the conspirators, and questioned why Shirley didn't ask for help when her boyfriend concocted the plot. A sigh of relief swelled through the courtroom when Marion Superior Judge Sheila Carlisle announced the punishment.

"I don't think I've seen so many grown men reduced to tears," Carlisle said, speaking about the hours of testimony regarding the damaging impact of the explosion.

Carlisle also heard from witnesses presented by defense attorneys Jim Voyles and Jennifer Lukemeyer. They detailed domestic and child abuse in Shirley's past, and said Shirley was coerced and controlled by Mark Leonard.

A gaunt Shirley, 51, tearfully apologized to the family members of the Longworths, as well as her former Richmond Hill neighbors. She stood up and looked out at the full crowd in the courtroom.

"This is something that will be in my heart forever," Shirley said.

Shirley's older sister, Laura Tirado, wept as she described childhood beatings, as well as an incident in which she said their father beat their dog to death in front of the five children, who grew up together in Puerto Rico. As an adult, Tirado said, Shirley was involved with men who physically and emotionally abused her. Two mental health professionals who examined Shirley described a cycle of domestic violence that they said is difficult to escape. 

Although Carlisle said she considered the abuse Shirley suffered, she said Shirley appeared to have survived her horrific childhood, earning a nursing degree and working in a hospital's intensive care unit.

"This is one of the most damaging and deadly acts of arson Marion County has ever seen," Carlisle said.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry in a statement expressed his condolences to the relatives of Dion and Jennifer. He said the investigation and prosecution of the case involved tens of thousands of hours of effort.

"Ms. Shirley ultimately took responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty and provided important information during the investigation," Curry said in the statement. "Her role in the plan and execution of this act protected her own child and the family pet, but failed to consider the obvious danger it presented to anyone else."

After the hearing, family members and neighbors expressed relief at the stiff sentence. John Longworth, Dion's father, said the sentence changes nothing because his son is still dead, although he relayed some empathy for Shirley.

"If she really is apologetic," Longworth said, "then I accept her apology."

Shirley was the first to plead guilty in the case and nearly the last to be sentenced because she agreed to testify against her former boyfriend, his half brother and two other co-defendants. She admitted to two felony counts of conspiracy to commit arson.

Richmond Hill explosion: A timeline of events.

After the hearing, Voyles, the defense attorney, said his job was to save Shirley's life, noting that before the plea agreement, she had faced a potential punishment of life in prison.

Shirley's testimony helped land her then-boyfriend, Mark Leonard, his half brother Robert Leonard and their friend Gary Thompson in prison. Another friend, Glenn Hults, pleaded guilty to a felony for failing to call police after he learned of the plot. 

The Leonard brothers are serving life sentences without parole after their convictions on murder, arson and other charges. Thompson is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Hults will be sentenced on Dec. 28.

Call IndyStar reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.

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