Episode 16: The Bizarre Murder of Jamie Meglar (Part 1)

Stranger In The House

The Houston police are faced with a bizarre murder case that reads like a riddle. A man is beaten and stabbed to death in his own home, while his wife is found barricaded in a closet, bound by her ankles and wrists, with no memory of what happened. There is no evidence of anyone else being in the house. Is it possible that the wife, who walked with a cane and was chronically ill, could have overpowered her husband, barricaded herself into a room from the opposite side of the door, and tied herself up? Or was there a stranger in the house that night?

Sources:

Sandy Interrogation Transcript

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZzwNC6e83sNtxe1oeqZYWESnLC-K50j_/view

Matt Orchard - Crime and Society. “The Curious Case of Sandy Melgar.” YouTube, 25 Dec. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrCHj-LNjYQ.

True Crime Recaps. “Was Sandra Melgar Wrongly Convicted? | True Crime Recaps.” YouTube, 21 Aug. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QG2QPV_OE.

“Sandra Melgar - Innocence Project of Texas.” Innocence Project of Texas, 20 Dec. 2022, innocencetexas.org/cases/sandra-melgar.

“Sandra Jean Melgar V. The State of Texas Appeal From 178th District Court of Harris County (Opinion).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/texas/fourteenth-court-of-appeals/2020/14-17-00932-cr.html.

“MELGAR, SANDRA JEAN Appeal From 178th District Court of Harris County (Original per Curiam).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2022/pd-0243-20.html.

Paparella, Andrew, et al. “Amateur Sleuths Take on Case of Woman in Prison for Stabbing, Bludgeoning Husband to Death: ‘There Were No Bones Behind’ Conviction.” Good Morning America, 23 Aug. 2019, www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/amateur-sleuths-case-woman-prison-stabbing-bludgeoning-husband-59477363.

Vanapalli, Viswa. “Sandra Melgar: Where Is the Convicted Killer Now?” The Cinemaholic, 16 Dec. 2023, thecinemaholic.com/where-is-sandra-melgar-now.

Pelisek, Christine. “A Daughter'S Outrage After Mom Is Convicted of Murdering Dad in Staged Home Invasion: Why She Says the Verdict Is Wrong.” Peoplemag, 7 Sept. 2017, people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-murder-verdict-daughter-says-is-wrong.

“Texas Woman Convicted of Murder After Prosecutors Say She Killed Husband Then Staged a Home Invasion.” Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2017, people.com/crime/sandra-melgar-guilty-husband-murder-fake-home-invasion.

FreeSandyMelgar. “The Wrongful Conviction of Sandra Melgar.” FreeSandyMelgar, www.freesandymelgar.com/the-melgar-murder-case.

Palin, Megan. “Woman Staged Home Invasion and Locked Herself in Closet After Brutally Murdering Her Husband.” NZ Herald, 22 Sept. 2020, www.nzherald.co.nz/world/woman-staged-home-invasion-and-locked-herself-in-closet-after-brutally-murdering-her-husband/JNHGGBRTYZGQCZY5HMXYDD6XJM.