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SANTA ANA, Calif. (KTLA) -- A jury convicted a woman Monday of plotting the murder of her wealthy Newport Beach boyfriend in 1994 as part of an attempt to cash in on his $1 million life-insurance policy.
The Superior Court Jury found Nanette Packard-McNeal, 46, guilty of murder with special circumstances for murder for financial gain. Prosecutors say Packard-McNeal and her lover, former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki, planned the murder.
Packard-McNeal is expected to be sentenced May 18.
Packard-McNeal and Naposki conspired to kill businessman Bill McLaughlin, 55, who Packard-McNeail lived with in December 1994, according to prosecutors.
A jury convicted Naposki of killing McLaughlin in a separate trial and he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced the same day as Packard-McNeal.
Prosecutors painted Packard-McNeal as a master manipulator and femme fatale who lived with McLaughlin, spending and stealing his money while cavorting with other men.
Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said she had to kill McLaughlin because she felt it was a matter of time before he realized she was cheating on him and stealing his money.
Packard-McNeal's defense lawyer, Mick Hill, argued she had the perfect home with McLaughlin and didn't want to ruin it.
McLaughlin had a successful medical technology business when he began dating and financially supporting Packard McNeal. Hill said he was rich, largely absent and owned a nice room.
Police say Packard McNeal, 43, met McLaughlin, after he responded to a personal ad which read "I know how to take care of my man if he knows how to take care of me."
Naposki entered McLauglin's home on Dec. 15, 1994 and shot the him six times while he was standing in the kitchen, according to prosecutors.
McLaughlin's son heard the gunshots and called 9-1-1.
The same day, Packard McNeal wrote a $250,000 check from McLaughlin's accounts and deposited it into her personal account, prosecutors.
Packard McNeal was charged in 1995 with grand theft by the Orange County District attorney's office for stealing close to $500,000 from McLaughlin before and after his murder.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail. But she wasn't charged with his murder until 2009.
The Superior Court Jury found Nanette Packard-McNeal, 46, guilty of murder with special circumstances for murder for financial gain. Prosecutors say Packard-McNeal and her lover, former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki, planned the murder.
Packard-McNeal is expected to be sentenced May 18.
Packard-McNeal and Naposki conspired to kill businessman Bill McLaughlin, 55, who Packard-McNeail lived with in December 1994, according to prosecutors.
A jury convicted Naposki of killing McLaughlin in a separate trial and he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced the same day as Packard-McNeal.
Prosecutors painted Packard-McNeal as a master manipulator and femme fatale who lived with McLaughlin, spending and stealing his money while cavorting with other men.
Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said she had to kill McLaughlin because she felt it was a matter of time before he realized she was cheating on him and stealing his money.
Packard-McNeal's defense lawyer, Mick Hill, argued she had the perfect home with McLaughlin and didn't want to ruin it.
McLaughlin had a successful medical technology business when he began dating and financially supporting Packard McNeal. Hill said he was rich, largely absent and owned a nice room.
Police say Packard McNeal, 43, met McLaughlin, after he responded to a personal ad which read "I know how to take care of my man if he knows how to take care of me."
Naposki entered McLauglin's home on Dec. 15, 1994 and shot the him six times while he was standing in the kitchen, according to prosecutors.
McLaughlin's son heard the gunshots and called 9-1-1.
The same day, Packard McNeal wrote a $250,000 check from McLaughlin's accounts and deposited it into her personal account, prosecutors.
Packard McNeal was charged in 1995 with grand theft by the Orange County District attorney's office for stealing close to $500,000 from McLaughlin before and after his murder.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail. But she wasn't charged with his murder until 2009.
