Marc Despain was 34-years-old when he was shot in his home in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Someone crept up behind Despain and shot him twice, killing him. Despain’s father-in-law, Carl Kelley, was one of four defendants charged in the conspiracy to kill Despain in August 2011. Kelley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 35 years in jail. Hired hit men Terrance Barker and Johnny Hubbard were also arrested, found guilty, and are in jail.
According to kait8.com, Terrance Barker told police that during the murder, Carl Kelley was “giving play-by-play details to someone as they were taking place. Police say phone records corroborate his testimony.” Carl was texting his daughter Michelle Despain. She has pleaded guilty to three counts of hindering the apprehension and prosecution of capital murder. She is serving a 30-year sentence in prison and will be eligible for parole after five years (2019). The affadavit claims Kelley and his daughter Despain hired the men to kill Marc Despain “for personal reasons, including but not limited to the collection of insurance proceeds which were to become available at the victim’s death.” Dateline NBC airs Fridays at 9pm on NBC.
