Jury Convicts Winnebago Woman for Second Degree Murder

Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that on February 7, 2025, a jury found Michelle Lee Marr, 49, of Winnebago, Nebraska, guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with documents or evidence after an almost five-day federal trial in Omaha, Nebraska. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher presided over the trial. Marr faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the second-degree murder charge and a maximum 20 years in prison for the tampering with documents or evidence charge.

On March 12, 2022, Marr contacted Winnebago EMS to report the victim was not waking up and requested an ambulance respond to her residence. EMS transported the victim to Twelve Clans Unity hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, the victim was taken by helicopter to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.  The medical treatment team at Mercy determined the victim had brain trauma and swelling. Nurses also noted significant amounts of makeup applied to the victim’s face, which revealed bruising when removed, as well as numerous bruises on the victim’s body. On March 13, 2022, the victim succumbed to his injuries. A subsequent autopsy determined the victim’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma and the manner of death to be homicide. The pathologist testified the victim’s injuries were consistent with inflicted trauma as opposed to trauma which might result from some type of fall.

Marr claimed to have been passed out from approximately 5:00 PM on March 11, 2022, until finding the victim on March 12, 2022. Social media evidence and evidence from Marr’s phone, found during the investigation, contradicted Marr’s claims. During the trial, witnesses testified to observing previous incidents of Marr physically assaulting the victim. 

Marr will be sentenced on June 5, 2025, at 10:00 AM, before Judge Buescher in Omaha.

This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.