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The Suitcase Murder

Posted: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 1:19 PM by Dateline Editor

As a nurse, she was known for her kind and generous nature -- adored by her patients. And as a wife and mother, she seemed to have the perfect life. In fact, she and her husband had just realized their dream of buying a home of their own. But behind that perfect picture, there were secrets. 

One night, she said her husband walked out on her. And a few days later, a suitcase surfaced in a bay hundreds of miles away.  Inside was a horrifying discovery.
 
Was this nurse a compassionate caregiver, or was she a heartless killer? Were there two sides to Melanie McGuire?

Sara James unlocks "The Suitcase Murder."

Click here to watch the report. Click here for a transcript of this report. 

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Comments

I don't believe Melanie did it.

R. Flores Lake Mary, Fl. (Sent Tuesday, May 15, 2007 9:34 PM)

no one could have defended Melanie better than Joe Tacopina!! This is definately not the last of the case with Joe at the healm.....

Dina, New York, New York (Sent Tuesday, May 15, 2007 9:44 PM)

When will you show this episode again. I missed some of it and am quite interested as I live in NJ and am in the medical field. thanks

Pat Winters, Highlands, NJ (Sent Tuesday, May 15, 2007 10:43 PM)

She is guily as sin... don't be ridiculous. I would not even give it two minutes of deliberations.... like when the defence attorney was trying to say how it is possible that someone else could have done the google search for chloral hyrate... yeah... and how do you explain her prescription that she wrote? Duh..... this is not reasonable doubt... if you think that, you have to be totally retarded. Don't be clouded by the facts. She wrote the prescription. She filled it. How she exactly killed him is probably going to be a lot of speculation, but she did get the chloral hydrate. The most logical conclusion then, is that she used the gun to kill him... then his body is dismembered. Who else would help her cut up the body? Please.... she did not use the chloral hydrate for any other purpose. Don't be a fool. she deserves to be locked up, and the key thrown away. This is insane. She should have pleaded guilty to insanity. Anyone cutting up a human body is insane...

Dr. Dave from Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Sent Tuesday, May 15, 2007 10:55 PM)

I personaly know the victum. He was a good, honest, hard working and full of life. His only fault was loving his wife. He deticated his life for his family. I think she did it but not by herself. Every time I was in his presents he was always be laughing and smileing.

Mr. Kim Jones,Woodbridge, NJ (Sent Tuesday, May 15, 2007 11:44 PM)

your documentaries are fascinating, kudos for doing such a great job on this story. I'm always stunned and in suspense about what's going to happen next. I want to believe in the innocence of people, but I think it's important that we see how a seemingly normal person can plan such a gruesome crime. We think we know a person, but sometimes we have no idea.

Samantha, Fullerton, CA (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:38 AM)

Melanie thinks she is smarter than everybody else. Given some more practice she probably could become quite good at it based on the way she cleaned up the apartment and defamed Bill in family court. She just needs to clean up her computer logs, don't be so cheap by using her employer's blankets and, oh yeah, keep her lies straight.

Mallory Quinn, Long Beach, California (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:47 AM)

please dear lord, do not let her get an appeal or anything else, for the way she cursed on those tapes, it shows you how she really is...she has to stay where she is so she cannot hurt anyone else. And thank you Dateline, for showing us both sides of the story. May Billy rest in peace...

Renee Lewis, Belleville, N.J. (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 1:33 AM)

Terry Nashville TN. What is news in TN besides abuse in whatever form and murder in TN. Where is the " water cooler " in a trailer". Next. R. Flores Lake Mary FL.Snap judgement. Hopefully. She is guilty. Dina, Joe Tacopina maybe good key word "good" won't get her from doing thirty years with out parole. Justice served.

Clayton (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 1:49 AM)

she is innocent look at the doctor she had an affair with. why would she dump the body where his best friends live? leave syringes in her car? she was framed!

lisa (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 8:48 AM)

NOT GUILTY. The jury apparently didn't understand the final instructions and had no concept of reasonable doubt. I know that the "jury system" is "all we got" so we try to make the best of it even when it fails. Joe Tacopina - hang in there.

bill trickett, buffalo, ny (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 9:14 AM)

This piece was edited with such bias and misrepresentation, the producers and executives at NBC should be appalled and embarrassed. Dateline has broadcast obvious falsehoods, and blatant omissions of key evidence presented in this case it was a horror to watch. Anyone who has followed this case knows that the program shown last night does not remotely reflect the truths of the case and the people involved. I for one, as both a close follower of the case and subsequent supporter of Melanie McGuire, will boycott the Dateline NBC program from here on out. It is obvious that this program’s motives are merely reporting popular opinion and not truth, and it lacks any journalistic integrity.

Gina T, Ocean, NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 9:24 AM)

well i think they need to question the doctor whom she had an affair with. maybe he is the one who put the blanket in the suit case??? i am still not sure especially after the internet search it was only 20 seconds later after he had been gambling? i think its all sad.

Rachel, Indiana (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:40 AM)

I followed this case extensively,and believe melanie was convicted of this crime in the court of public opinion long before the one in Superior court..Secondly,based on evidence and lack of it there is "considerable" reasonable doubt that I feel was skipped over by this particular jury not to mention,possible juror misconduct.. I felt that the presumption of innocence for this defendant never existed..It is my hope that she gets another chance in court -before the Justice system ruins this womens life

Jim Feist Jenkintown,PA (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:48 AM)

i don't believe she did the crime. i think they only focused on her no one else.

sheila dockstader, webster city, ia (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 11:08 AM)

simply because some people think she was the nicest nurse EVER, means nothing about what she did here. she wanted out of her marriage desperately to be with brad...she thought she was smart enough to pull off this very brazen murder...well, it's hard to keep lies straight, and the computer searches,prescription filled, ect point to cold blooded murder...she's probably not too comfortable in that cell of hers...next time maybe she'll think twice.

jan, humboldt county (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:40 PM)

head's up, everyone...it IS possible to be a compassionate caregiver AND a cold blooded murderer all in the same 5'2" frame.

jan, blue lake, ca (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 12:42 PM)

I do not think Melanie killed her husband. She was and is such a smart person. There is no way she could have made such dumb mistakes if she was the killer. I got to know Melanie in 1999 as one of her patients at RMA. She is a wonderful nurse and a great person. Just because someone has a trucker mouth or someone has an affair, does not make them a killer. You have to know Melanie to understand her wit and know that just because she throws out a bad word every now and then, does not make her a bad person. I hope her lawyers are able to prove her innocence so she can get her two boys back and try to pick up the pieces.

Michele McKesson, Mishawaka, IN (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 1:28 PM)

I saw the story last night and want to applaud all involved with the broadcast. The 2 main witnesses for the prosecution are my 1st cousin and his wife, The Rice's. If they say it, it is true. They are honest people and would never help convict an innocent person. Great job guys!!!

Lynette, Mechanicsville, VA (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:02 PM)

My own opinion based on the culmination of the circumstantial evidence is GUILTY as charge. Why? 1. She bought the gun 2. She forged the prescription 3. She took a cab back from Atlantic city (costing $200+) 4. She rented a hotel, the day after William left and stayed there overnight on her own. 5.The plastic bags 6.The trip to Delaware 7.No DNA, AT ALL, in the apartment (just too clean). I will never understand why murder is a choice, when a marriage goes bad. Walk away folks, walk away...

Mary, Charlotte, NC (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:32 PM)

Doubtful she will see the light of day ever again. I believe she was crying because she'll never be a mom to her boys again - should have thought of that earlier. His ex-wife didn't shed a tear over him and she was probably right when she stated he deserved what he got. I believe there are grounds for appeal but with that being said i don't think she will succeed as the circumstantial evidential is overwhelming... from the DNA, to the suitcases, to the computer searches, etc. etc. Melanie needs to start adjusting to a life behind bars. When will people learn.... although not pleasant, divorce is always an option and in time you get over it and move on. And you don't spend your life in jail for it either!!!

TK, Hackensack, NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:56 PM)

I have been folloiwng this piece for quite a while. You did a remarkable job! In my heart, I cannot be sure Melanie committed this murder. Although evidence points to her, there still remains some unanswered qusetions. Why would she leave a syringe in Bill's car? Did she name the cab company she said she called to take back and forth to AC? I guess my heart does not want to believe it.

V. Suzanne (Sent Wednesday, May 16, 2007 3:53 PM)

Did they ever ask her what happened to he gun she bought?  Did it just disappear?

Gary Ford (Sent Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:29 AM)

WELL , THE POLICE AND INVESTIGATORS NEEDED TO WIDEN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE KILLER INSTEAD OF JUST LOOKING AT MELANIE . IT LOOKS LIKE JIM FINN IS SOMEONE OF INTEREST MAYBE THEY SHOULD START LOOKING AT HIM . HE IS INTO GUNS AND HE HAD A MOTIVE TO GET RID OF WILLIAM MCGUIRE.....HE ALSO KNEW EVERYTHING MELANIE WAS DOING BECAUSE SHE TOLD HIM .....THIS GUY IS ALSO A NURSE STUDENT AND ACCORDING TO REPORTS IT TOOK SOMEONE WITH MEDICAL BACKGROUND TO DISMEMBER WILLIAM MCGUIRE CORPSE.....

A GONZALEZ (Sent Thursday, October 04, 2007 3:00 PM)



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