Matthew R. Molsen United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
Michelle Lee Marr, a 50-year-old resident of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced on June 5, 2025, in federal court for second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher imposed a sentence of 300 months for the murder charge and 240 months for evidence tampering, to be served concurrently. Following her prison term, Marr will undergo five years of supervised release.
The incident dates back to March 12, 2022, when Marr contacted Winnebago Emergency Medical Services after discovering the victim unresponsive at her residence. The victim was initially taken to Twelve Clans Unity Hospital in Winnebago and later airlifted to Mercy One Medical Center in Sioux City due to severe injuries. The medical team found brain trauma and swelling and noted extensive bruising hidden under makeup. The victim died from his injuries on March 13, 2022. An autopsy confirmed blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
Investigations revealed that Marr was alone with the victim at home on March 11, 2022. Despite claiming she had been unconscious from around 5:00 PM until finding the victim the next day, evidence from social media and her phone contradicted this account. A photograph found on her phone showed the victim shortly before she called EMS; his injuries were concealed by makeup.
During Marr's February 2025 trial, expert testimony included a pathologist's statement that the injuries were inflicted rather than accidental and a neurosurgeon's opinion that such an injury would cause immediate unconsciousness. Witnesses also reported seeing previous assaults by Marr on the victim.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to these findings.
