In a chilling case that shook Indianapolis, Monserrate “Moncy” Shirley orchestrated a devastating explosion in her Richmond Hill neighbourhood in November 2012, resulting in the tragic deaths of a couple and destroying numerous homes. This deliberate act was allegedly motivated by the intention to collect insurance money after setting fire to her property.
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Originally from Puerto Rico, Shirley moved to the continental United States at the age of 25 to pursue a nursing career. After settling in the Richmond Hill area in 2004 with her husband and daughter, she worked at local hospitals, including the VA and St. Francis Hospital South. However, following her divorce in 2010, her life began to take a drastic turn.
In 2011, Shirley entered a relationship with Mark Leonard, which her friends described as a departure from her previous life. “She became more wild,” recalled a neighbour, who noted that Shirley frequently engaged in nightlife and gambling. By November 2012, their financial situation had deteriorated significantly. The couple was reportedly $63,000 in credit card debt and faced multiple mortgages as their gambling losses mounted.
The ill-fated plan for the explosion allegedly began in early 2012 when Leonard suggested to Shirley that they set fire to her home to claim $300,000 from insurance. Despite initial reservations, Shirley acquiesced to Leonard’s proposal, which involved increasing her home insurance before the act. As their plot developed, Leonard recruited his brother Bob and two other accomplices to assist in executing their deadly scheme.
On the evening of November 10, 2012, prior to the explosion, Shirley and Leonard vacated the house, having removed valuable belongings, and spent the night at a casino. They left behind a gas-laden home, having disabled key valves to fill the premises with natural gas. Bob Leonard later inserted a metal container into the microwave, setting a delayed ignition for the subsequent explosion.
A loud blast echoed through the neighbourhood just after 11 p.m. that night, catching residents off-guard. Witnesses described the horrifying scene, with one neighbour stating, “At first, we thought we were being bombed.” The explosion not only obliterated Shirley’s house at 8349 Fieldfare Way but also ignited over two dozen neighbouring homes. Tragically, John “Dion” Longworth and his wife, Jennifer, perished in the inferno, and dozens of others suffered injuries.
In the aftermath, investigators initially speculated that a natural gas leak was the cause of the disaster. However, their focus shifted to Shirley and Leonard following the discovery of missing valuables and the charred remains of a microwave. The investigation soon revealed the couple’s involvement, leading to their arrest alongside the other conspirators in December 2012.
Initially, both Shirley and Leonard maintained their innocence, claiming the event was a tragic accident. However, the mounting evidence against them soon became insurmountable. By January 2015, after three years of proceedings, Shirley changed her plea to guilty on two counts of conspiracy to commit arson in exchange for cooperation against her co-defendants. Her decision resulted in a 50-year prison sentence at Madison Correctional Facility, with a projected release date in 2036.
Leonard, on the other hand, received a much harsher sentence in August 2015, amounting to two consecutive life terms plus 75 years, and he died in prison three years later. Bob Leonard was also sentenced to life behind bars, further ensuring that those responsible for the explosion faced justice.
This harrowing case, which is featured in the Netflix docuseries “Worst Neighbour Ever,” serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences that can arise from greed and deceit. The impact of the explosion continues to resound in the Richmond Hill community, highlighting the profound losses incurred by the families and residents who became victims of Shirley’s actions.