Paul Michael McManus

Case identification

Paul Michael McManus

Background

McManus had a history of mental illness. His estranged wife was Melissa McManus. McManus’s two daughters, Lindsay and Shelby, lived with Melissa. Shelby was born with severe birth defects.

Divorce papers were served on McManus at his mother’s house on the day of the murders.

McManus told acquaintances the weekend before the murders to “watch the papers,” because he was going to “do something big.” Testimony at trial showed that McManus had made threats in the past that he was going to kill his whole family and commit suicide. The weekend before the shootings, McManus quit his job at a blliard parlor and told co-workers to watch the papers Monday for something big.

Evidence at trial indicated that, on the day of the shootings, McManus went to his brother’s house and took a .38 caliber revolver, and went to a gun shop and purchased .38 caliber ammunition after asking for the cheapest kind.

The offence

McManus took a taxi to his wife’s residence.

McManus shot Melissa McManus once in the leg and 3 times in the head, killing her. He then shot 8 year old Lindsey 3 times in the head, then shot Shelby once in the head. McManus used a .38 caliber revolver when he shot his wife and daughters.

After shooting his family, McManus drove Melissa’s car to the Ohio River bridges between Evansville, Indiana, and Henderson, Kentucky. He climbed to the very top of the southbound bridge (the equivalent of 11 stories) and eventually jumped into the river.

Investigation and arrest

Despite the best efforts of law enforcement to talk him down, McManus jumped into the Ohio River. He survived the jump and was rescued from the water with only minor back injuries. He was pulled from the river and taken into custody and to a Henderson hospital for treatment.

Trial

A jury convicted Paul Michael McManus of three counts of murder.

McManus’s attorneys Glenn A. Grampp and Mitchell B. Rothman never disputed that McManus shot to death his estranged wife, Melissa McManus, and their two daughters, eight-year-old Lindsey and two-year-old Shelby, in their home located at 4903 Tanglewood Drive in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

McManus’s attorneys asserted that he was legally insane when he shot his wife once in the leg and three times in the head, when he shot Lindsey three times in the back of her head, and when he shot Shelby once in the side of her head with a .38 caliber revolver.

An insanity defense was presented at trial and was unsuccessfully presented. The jury rejected McManus’s insanity defense.

Two psychiatrists appointed by the Court, Dr. Thomas Liffick and Dr. David Hilton, testified that, in their opinions, at the time he killed his family McManus was not legally insane. Under Indiana law, a person is not legally responsible for his actions, if, as a result of mental disease or defect, he was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct at the time of the offense.

A psychologist hired by the defense, Dr. Michael Gelbort, testified to his opinion that McManus was legally insane when he shot his wife and daughters. He testified that McManus was having an acute episode where he lost contact with reality at the time of the shootings.

Sentencing

At sentencing, on Friday, May 10, 2002, after hearing evidence and arguments of counsel in the penalty phase of the trial, the jury recommended to Judge Carl Heldt that he sentence McManus to death.

On June 5, 2002, Judge Carl Heldt followed the recommendation of the jury and sentenced McManus to death “in the manner prescribed by law”, which is by lethal injection.

Aggravating Circumstances: b(12) Victims less than 12 years old; b(8) 3 Murders.

Mitigating Circumstances: No significant prior criminal record, Depression and mental abnormalities, Irresistible impulse.

McManus was sentenced to die and was on death row since 06-05-02.

Appeals

The Indiana Supreme Court appointed Public Defenders John Brinson and Timothy Dodd to represent McManus in his appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court.

On August 31, 2004, the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentencing of McManus.

Outcome

McManus’s conviction and death sentence were affirmed on August 31, 2004, after the Indiana Supreme Court reviewed his appeal following his conviction by a Vanderburgh Circuit Court jury.

Other details

• Conviction: Murder (3 counts)
• Judge at sentencing: Judge Carl Heldt (also referenced as Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge Carl A.)
• Home address referenced: 4903 Tanglewood Drive, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
• Victims:
  • Melissa McManus (killed by being shot once in the leg and 3 times in the head)
  • Lindsey (8 years old; shot 3 times in the head)
  • Shelby (2 years old; shot once in the head; born with severe birth defects)
• Weapon referenced: .38 caliber revolver; .38 caliber ammunition purchased at a gun shop
• Birth date referenced: 07-14-72
• DOC number referenced: #108001
• Name referenced in docket: MCMANUS, PAUL MICHAEL
• Death row status referenced: “ON DEATH ROW SINCE 06-05-02”