source: lasvegasnow.com
The celebrity bodybuilder couple accused of murdering their assistant will save the county the trouble of a trial. Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan finalized a plea deal with prosecutors late Friday afternoon, avoiding a trial set to begin Monday.
Over two years ago, police found the remains of Melissa James in a burned- out car in the desert. Titus and Ryan fled the state and changed their appearances, but were captured in Massachusetts after a national manhunt.
The district attorney’s office says it’s a fair deal. It’s one both the victim’s family and detectives in the case agree with, because it makes Craig Titus admit to murder and his wife to helping destroy evidence.
“I think both defendants recognize that a train was coming down the tracks and either they resolved it today or we were going to go to a jury trail and leave it up to a jury,” said prosecutor Robert Daskas.
With the couple both facing possible life sentences for murder, Titus moved to save his wife.
“As we approached trial, Craig Titus became more and more worried about the exposure his wife was going to have to first degree murder,” said Titus’ attorney Marc Saggese.
Titus agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder in the death of his live-in assistant Melissa James, along with kidnapping and arson.
“He did accept responsibility and that is evidenced by his entering into a guilty plea,” said Saggese.
By admitting to the murder, Ryan was cleared of the charge and given a plea deal of battery with a deadly weapon and first degree arson.
“She was faced with more serious charges — significantly more serious charges. We feel that this is a fair resolution for her,” said Ryan’s attorney Michael Cristalli.
She now faces no criminal liability in James’ death. But with overwhelming evidence, both had to admit to arson.
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