Not many would have believed that Michelle Paet, 28, wife to Air-force
man Staff Sergeant Nathan, 28, would plan with her lover to kill her
husband just so she could claim benefits and life insurance.
One
ordinary evening, Sergeant Nathan kissed his kids goodbye and headed to
his car to go to work extra shifts to make more money for his wife and
children. Just then Michelle sent a text message on her mobile phone.
Minutes later, the sound of gunfire filled the night air and Nathan
staggered back into the house with his body filled with bullets.
Nathan (pictured above) collapsed to the floor and died minutes later as
his horrified family watched on. But many didn’t know that the answer
would lie in the text message Michelle sent as her husband walked out
the door.
his horrified family watched on. But many didn’t know that the answer
would lie in the text message Michelle sent as her husband walked out
the door.
In
2010, Michelle and Nathan Paet were living in Las Vegas with their four
children aged between two and nine after falling in love as
highschool sweethearts.
2010, Michelle and Nathan Paet were living in Las Vegas with their four
children aged between two and nine after falling in love as
highschool sweethearts.
Nathan joined the US Airforce and
served loyally, working tirelessly to make enough money to take care of
his family but his wife Michelle already had her heart elsewhere, and
started dating a man she worked with at a telemarketing company.
served loyally, working tirelessly to make enough money to take care of
his family but his wife Michelle already had her heart elsewhere, and
started dating a man she worked with at a telemarketing company.
Michelle’s
lover was Michael Rodriguez, 36, (pictured right) and for six months they had a
passionate sex-filled love affair and together, they came up with a
plan.
lover was Michael Rodriguez, 36, (pictured right) and for six months they had a
passionate sex-filled love affair and together, they came up with a
plan.
Michelle wanted to be
with Michael, but she wasn’t willing to walk away from her marriage
without anything. She knew she’d be in line for $400,000 (£303,000)
from the military in the event of Nathan’s death and a life insurance
policy worth $250,000 (£190,000).
with Michael, but she wasn’t willing to walk away from her marriage
without anything. She knew she’d be in line for $400,000 (£303,000)
from the military in the event of Nathan’s death and a life insurance
policy worth $250,000 (£190,000).
She wanted Nathan dead
but Nathan wasn’t aware that his wife was even cheating on him talk more
of planning his murder, so he continued to work on late night shifts to
make more money which gave Michelle and her lover the perfect space and
time to plan Nathan’s murder.
but Nathan wasn’t aware that his wife was even cheating on him talk more
of planning his murder, so he continued to work on late night shifts to
make more money which gave Michelle and her lover the perfect space and
time to plan Nathan’s murder.
On the
night of 1 December 2010, Nathan got ready to go to work. He dressed in
his camouflage uniform, as always, and prepared for the night shift.
night of 1 December 2010, Nathan got ready to go to work. He dressed in
his camouflage uniform, as always, and prepared for the night shift.
Outside, Michael pulled up in his black Cadillac and lay in wait. His phone received a message – it was from Michelle.
“He’s rushing to get out of the door. LOL,” it read.
Nathan
said goodbye to his family and walked out to the garage, then Michael
shot him five times in the back. Nathan was such a strong man that he
found the strength to stagger back into the house where he collapsed in
front of his wife and children.
said goodbye to his family and walked out to the garage, then Michael
shot him five times in the back. Nathan was such a strong man that he
found the strength to stagger back into the house where he collapsed in
front of his wife and children.
Michelle pretended to be
distraught and cried and cried in front of her children and medical
personnel .Then, a few hours later after her husband was confirmed dead
she sent a smiley face text message to her lover.
distraught and cried and cried in front of her children and medical
personnel .Then, a few hours later after her husband was confirmed dead
she sent a smiley face text message to her lover.
Michelle
quickly crumbled when questioned by police and admitted that she and
her lover had been planning for Nathan’s murder for two months but
Michael wasn’t willing to confess at first claiming he was having sex
with another woman in a Las Vegas hotel at the time of the shooting, but
the woman, an ex porn star, said she’d been offered money by Michael to
give him an alibi. He had told her he was about to come into a large
amount of cash.
quickly crumbled when questioned by police and admitted that she and
her lover had been planning for Nathan’s murder for two months but
Michael wasn’t willing to confess at first claiming he was having sex
with another woman in a Las Vegas hotel at the time of the shooting, but
the woman, an ex porn star, said she’d been offered money by Michael to
give him an alibi. He had told her he was about to come into a large
amount of cash.
Both Michelle and Michael
were charged with Nathan’s murder. in September 2015, Michael received
life in prison without the chance to appeal or parole while Michelle
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and to first-degree murder
with use of a deadly weapon.
were charged with Nathan’s murder. in September 2015, Michael received
life in prison without the chance to appeal or parole while Michelle
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and to first-degree murder
with use of a deadly weapon.
Michelle broke down as she faced Nathan’s parents.
“I’m
sorry,” she wept. “I love you guys and I love my kids, and I hope that
this is closure for you.” “I was emotionally vulnerable,” she said. “I
made a huge mistake and a really bad choice and I’m truly sorry.”
sorry,” she wept. “I love you guys and I love my kids, and I hope that
this is closure for you.” “I was emotionally vulnerable,” she said. “I
made a huge mistake and a really bad choice and I’m truly sorry.”
As a woman of faith, I forgive you because your soul clearly needs forgiveness,” Nathan’s mum said to Michelle.
According
to Nathan’s mum, Michelle’s kids still jump up from bed at loud noises
because they fear their mum could attack them the way she killed their
father.
to Nathan’s mum, Michelle’s kids still jump up from bed at loud noises
because they fear their mum could attack them the way she killed their
father.
The judge said “You were much more
involved than you’re willing to admit,” he said. Michelle, now 33, was
sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.
involved than you’re willing to admit,” he said. Michelle, now 33, was
sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole.
According to the Judge, Michelle threw away years of devotion for a man she’d known just six months.
Source: Mirror UK