Michelle Lee Marr, a resident of Winnebago, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for second-degree murder and 240 months for tampering with evidence. The sentences will run concurrently. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher handed down the sentence on June 5, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. After serving her sentence, Marr will undergo a five-year term of supervised release.
The charges stem from an incident on March 12, 2022, when Marr contacted emergency services to report that the victim was unresponsive. The victim was initially taken to Twelve Clans Unity Hospital in Winnebago and then airlifted to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City due to severe injuries. Medical staff discovered extensive bruising on the victim’s body hidden under makeup. The victim died from blunt force trauma on March 13, 2022.
Investigations revealed inconsistencies in Marr’s account of events. She claimed to have been unconscious from the evening of March 11 until she found the victim unresponsive on March 12. However, evidence from social media and her phone contradicted this claim. A photo taken shortly before Marr contacted emergency services showed the victim’s injuries concealed with makeup.
During her trial in February 2025, experts testified that the injuries were consistent with inflicted trauma rather than an accidental fall. A neurosurgeon confirmed that such injuries would have caused immediate unconsciousness. Witnesses also reported seeing previous incidents where Marr physically assaulted the victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into this case.
