Case where woman fell from her apartment building? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bluejazz87 · 04-26-2010, 05:18 AM

Hey I was wondering if anyone remembers an Unsolved Mysteries case where a woman had apparently fell a good amount of stories up from her apartment building off a balcony. She was living with her boyfriend (or maybe husband) at the time and he was also in the apartment when the incident occurred. He rushed to the scene when the events took place. The woman obviously was killed, but the mystery remains. I remember in the case the boyfriend fell under suspicion for a few reasons...like taking the time to lock his door once his girlfriend had fell.

If anyone can clue me in about this case, or perhaps give me a video link to the original story if it exists, I would be very thankful. I'm curious and I want to see this case again.

Hambone2421 · 04-26-2010, 10:56 AM

I remember this case as well but cannot remember the names. I do remember that the victims family think that her husband was responsible.

Apostapler · 04-26-2010, 01:56 PM

Oh darnit, the one that the husband said fell trying to put up Christmas Lights...I know which one you're talking about, can't remember the names either.

soilentgreen · 04-26-2010, 05:12 PM

It's Michelle Witherall. Her injuries weren't consistent with falling from the balcony, but indicated that she was beaten and then placed on the ground. The husband went on trial but I believe was later acquitted.

http://www.post-gazette.com/regionst...222arrest1.asp

kadrmas15 · 04-26-2010, 05:13 PM

Yes her husband was arrested for 1st degree murder but yes he was later acquitted of the charges. Looking at the case, the evidence was less than solid. I mean, it was troubled from the start, the investigation was. Then they wait over 7 years before charging him? It does not make sense. For once justice played out and he was acquitted of a crime that he not only probably did not do but for a crime that probably did not even occur.

Hambone2421 · 04-27-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

Yes her husband was arrested for 1st degree murder but yes he was later acquitted of the charges. Looking at the case, the evidence was less than solid. I mean, it was troubled from the start, the investigation was. Then they wait over 7 years before charging him? It does not make sense. For once justice played out and he was acquitted of a crime that he not only probably did not do but for a crime that probably did not even occur.

Hmm, I'm not sure if he's guilty or innocent but the thing that stuck out to me was that the coroner said that her injuries were not consistent with falling from a balcony but rather being beaten with something. The victims parents believe that her and her husband got into a fight, he killed her and then either placed her body down there to make it look like she fell or threw her off a balcony.

But, I agree with kadrmas, there was not alot of evidence in this case.

WishfulDreamer · 07-18-2015, 08:56 PM

Bumping this one up.

I've never been so sure about this segment. I think it could have been an accident, but her husband changed his story and this is a HUGE red flag to me. What's up with him saying "Oh, she was hanging there and fell and I tried to get her!" and then later "Wait, actually I went out there and she had already fallen." Why would you lie if you are innocent of a crime?

The pathologists all think it's a murder because of the injuries and Cyril Wecht made a good point that her body wouldn't have been so far away. The parts of her body that were not injured when they should have been in a fall also raises a problem.

I can see why Jeremy was acquitted because there wasn't too much evidence against him, but I feel that the extent of injuries and changing stories really don't bode well for him. I'd love to hear more opinions about this case.

1990 UM fan · 07-19-2015, 05:33 PM

I always think about Michelle Witherell and Sandra Orellana when it comes to death by falling from a balcony. Sadly, both cases ended in acquittal. Jeremy Witherell and Robert Salazar were obviously guilty.

WishfulDreamer · 07-19-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1990 UM fan

I always think about Michelle Witherell and Sandra Orellana when it comes to death by falling from a balcony. Sadly, both cases ended in acquittal. Jeremy Witherell and Robert Salazar were obviously guilty.

I agree that Robert Salazar is very guilty. He, too, changed his story time after time and even included a story about going back to his room after watching Sandra fall (which would be a crime in itself, right?). I think that she rebuffed his advances and he threw her off the balcony. It's really too bad there were no security cameras that could prove it.

Jeremy's guilt seems likely to me, but I'm not as deadset about it. The extent of Michelle's injuries seem like a murder, as well as the location of her body. Also, why change the story?

DazzlerSparkler · 07-20-2015, 12:01 AM

I thought it was a hotel balcony, no?

WishfulDreamer · 07-20-2015, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazzlerSparkler

I thought it was a hotel balcony, no?

Sandra Orellana fell from a hotel balcony. Michelle Witherall fell (allegedly) from her own apartment's balcony while hanging Christmas lights.

LooksLikeCRicci · 07-20-2015, 02:45 PM

Salazar was so guilty.

I'm convinced that in a drunken state, he raped Sandra, who made her intentions to go to the authorites clear. In retailiation, he grabbed her and threw her off the balcony.

Fabricating the whole story of "Well, we were doing it and she's a little freak and wanted to do it on the balcony railing" was just another way to slap her iin the face.

OT: BTW, WHAT KIND OF GUY has sex with someone a few floors up and THEN JUST LEAVES THEM when they fall off the balcony? Doesn't call for help or anything. Reminds me of a situation that I was in as a Resident Advisor. I heard one of my residents crying in her room. As I listened closer, she was crying for help. I old her I was there and used my master key to open the door-- only to find her lying on the floor, NAKED, with her right leg twisted in an odd way, obviously broken.

Turns out she had been having sex with a guy on her bunkbed and fell out. She broke her leg and he just got dressed AND LEFT HER THERE. I was livid on her behalf. She never told me his name, unfortunately....

TheCars1986 · 07-20-2015, 04:08 PM

I too believe Salazar to be guilty as hell. His story had changed, and when pressed, he admitted to seeing her fall over the balcony, but did nothing to alert anyone or try to help.

There is a bit more of a gray area with Witherall, though.

TheCars1986 · 05-20-2020, 09:01 AM

Even though 2 different coroners testified at Jeremy's trial that Michelle was killed by blunt force blows to the head, that were not consistent with a fall, the jury acquitted him in less than 2 hours. Apparently the original investigators as well as the prosecutor from 1992 testified in Jeremy's defense at his trial.

Jon · 05-20-2020, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LooksLikeCRicci

Salazar was so guilty.

I'm convinced that in a drunken state, he raped Sandra, who made her intentions to go to the authorites clear. In retailiation, he grabbed her and threw her off the balcony.

Fabricating the whole story of "Well, we were doing it and she's a little freak and wanted to do it on the balcony railing" was just another way to slap her iin the face.

OT: BTW, WHAT KIND OF GUY has sex with someone a few floors up and THEN JUST LEAVES THEM when they fall off the balcony? Doesn't call for help or anything. Reminds me of a situation that I was in as a Resident Advisor. I heard one of my residents crying in her room. As I listened closer, she was crying for help. I old her I was there and used my master key to open the door-- only to find her lying on the floor, NAKED, with her right leg twisted in an odd way, obviously broken.

Turns out she had been having sex with a guy on her bunkbed and fell out. She broke her leg and he just got dressed AND LEFT HER THERE. I was livid on her behalf. She never told me his name, unfortunately....

I know you posted this years ago, but I have to say DAMN that is messed up!!

04-26-2010, 05:18 AM	#1
bluejazz87 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 17, 2010 Location: San Francisco Posts: 203	Case where woman fell from her apartment building? Hey I was wondering if anyone remembers an Unsolved Mysteries case where a woman had apparently fell a good amount of stories up from her apartment building off a balcony. She was living with her boyfriend (or maybe husband) at the time and he was also in the apartment when the incident occurred. He rushed to the scene when the events took place. The woman obviously was killed, but the mystery remains. I remember in the case the boyfriend fell under suspicion for a few reasons...like taking the time to lock his door once his girlfriend had fell. If anyone can clue me in about this case, or perhaps give me a video link to the original story if it exists, I would be very thankful. I'm curious and I want to see this case again.
	__________________ http://dynamo650.blogspot.com/

07-19-2015, 05:33 PM	#8
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	I always think about Michelle Witherell and Sandra Orellana when it comes to death by falling from a balcony. Sadly, both cases ended in acquittal. Jeremy Witherell and Robert Salazar were obviously guilty.
	__________________ Join my Unsolved Mysteries page (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unsolv...899616?sk=wall

07-20-2015, 12:01 AM	#10
DazzlerSparkler Sharon Kinne Imposter Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 725	I thought it was a hotel balcony, no?
	__________________ And she was just gripin' and bitchin'. Just gripin' and bitchin. Offer your shoes and receive free margaritas!

04-26-2010, 10:56 AM	#2
Hambone2421 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 08, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,067	I remember this case as well but cannot remember the names. I do remember that the victims family think that her husband was responsible.

04-26-2010, 01:56 PM	#3
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	Oh darnit, the one that the husband said fell trying to put up Christmas Lights...I know which one you're talking about, can't remember the names either.

04-26-2010, 05:12 PM	#4
soilentgreen Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 13, 2005 Posts: 622	It's Michelle Witherall. Her injuries weren't consistent with falling from the balcony, but indicated that she was beaten and then placed on the ground. The husband went on trial but I believe was later acquitted. http://www.post-gazette.com/regionst...222arrest1.asp

04-26-2010, 05:13 PM	#5
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Yes her husband was arrested for 1st degree murder but yes he was later acquitted of the charges. Looking at the case, the evidence was less than solid. I mean, it was troubled from the start, the investigation was. Then they wait over 7 years before charging him? It does not make sense. For once justice played out and he was acquitted of a crime that he not only probably did not do but for a crime that probably did not even occur.

07-18-2015, 08:56 PM	#7
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	Bumping this one up. I've never been so sure about this segment. I think it could have been an accident, but her husband changed his story and this is a HUGE red flag to me. What's up with him saying "Oh, she was hanging there and fell and I tried to get her!" and then later "Wait, actually I went out there and she had already fallen." Why would you lie if you are innocent of a crime? The pathologists all think it's a murder because of the injuries and Cyril Wecht made a good point that her body wouldn't have been so far away. The parts of her body that were not injured when they should have been in a fall also raises a problem. I can see why Jeremy was acquitted because there wasn't too much evidence against him, but I feel that the extent of injuries and changing stories really don't bode well for him. I'd love to hear more opinions about this case.

07-20-2015, 02:45 PM	#12
LooksLikeCRicci Likes to live in a clean house Moderator Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2005 Posts: 4,050	Salazar was so guilty. I'm convinced that in a drunken state, he raped Sandra, who made her intentions to go to the authorites clear. In retailiation, he grabbed her and threw her off the balcony. Fabricating the whole story of "Well, we were doing it and she's a little freak and wanted to do it on the balcony railing" was just another way to slap her iin the face. OT: BTW, WHAT KIND OF GUY has sex with someone a few floors up and THEN JUST LEAVES THEM when they fall off the balcony? Doesn't call for help or anything. Reminds me of a situation that I was in as a Resident Advisor. I heard one of my residents crying in her room. As I listened closer, she was crying for help. I old her I was there and used my master key to open the door-- only to find her lying on the floor, NAKED, with her right leg twisted in an odd way, obviously broken. Turns out she had been having sex with a guy on her bunkbed and fell out. She broke her leg and he just got dressed AND LEFT HER THERE. I was livid on her behalf. She never told me his name, unfortunately....

07-20-2015, 04:08 PM	#13
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,615	I too believe Salazar to be guilty as hell. His story had changed, and when pressed, he admitted to seeing her fall over the balcony, but did nothing to alert anyone or try to help. There is a bit more of a gray area with Witherall, though.

05-20-2020, 09:01 AM	#14
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,615	Even though 2 different coroners testified at Jeremy's trial that Michelle was killed by blunt force blows to the head, that were not consistent with a fall, the jury acquitted him in less than 2 hours. Apparently the original investigators as well as the prosecutor from 1992 testified in Jeremy's defense at his trial.