Barbara Opel

Barbara Opel
Born (1963-05-16) 16 May 1963
USA
Occupation Live-in caretaker
Criminal charge Aggravated first-degree murder
Criminal penalty Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
Criminal status In prison
Conviction(s) Aggravated first-degree murder

Barbara Marie Opel is an American woman convicted of paying a group of teenagers to murder a 64-year-old man with terminal cancer in 2001. She is currently serving a life sentence, with no prospect of parole.

Murder

Opel was living with Jerry Duane Heiman, aged 64 and his 89-year-old mother, whom she cared for. In order to steal $40,000, she paid five teenagers, including her own 13-year-old daughter, to murder Heiman. Her other children, aged 7 and 11, were instructed by her to help mop up his blood.[1] Kyle Boston, aged 14, received $220, whilst his 13-year-old cousin was paid roughly $100, for the killing. 17-year-old Jeffrey Grote was given a car.[2]

On April 13, 2001, the five teenagers ambushed Heiman and attacked him with knives and baseball bats. He was found 8 days later, in a shallow grave, roughly ten miles from his house.

Trial

Opel denied that she wanted him dead, despite regularly telling friends "I wish he was dead".[3] She was found guilty and was narrowly spared the death penalty, as the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.[4] Following her conviction she was banned from any contact with her children, or being in the same prison as them.[5] Her daughter Heather, pleaded guilty to second degree murder and received a 22-year prison sentence, with no possibility of parole, at the age of 14.[6]

Kyle Boston was sentenced to 18 years, after pleading guilty to second degree murder. His unnamed cousin was tried as a juvenile and was released at the age of 21.

Jeffrey Grote (Heather Opel's boyfriend at the time of the attack), pleaded guilty to first degree murder and received a 50-year prison sentence.[7]

Marriam Oliver received a 22-year prison sentence.

References

  1. ↑ "Heather Opel, 14, is sentenced to 22 years for role in murder". Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Woman Accused of Enlisting Teenagers in Killing - New York Times". Everett (Wash): Nytimes.com. 2001-04-26. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  3. ↑ "'I thought that if Jerry got beat up bad he deserved it'". Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  4. ↑ "Opel Spared Death Penalty". www.kirotv.com. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  5. ↑ Hefley, Diana (2013-08-10). "Woman sought contact with daughter she hired to kill man". HeraldNet.com. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  6. ↑ M.L. Lyk (2002-08-16). "Heather Opel, 14, is sentenced to 22 years for role in murder". seattlepi.com. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Jennifer. "Grote sentenced for role in Heimann slaying". Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
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