Mary Ellen Samuels ('Green Widow') Seeks Freedom, Slams Prosecutors

A podcast transcript discussed Mary Ellen Samuels' case, referring to her as the 'Green Widow' and noting that while sentenced to death, executions in California were rare or non-existent.

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A YouTube video detailed the case of Mary Ellen Samuels, the 'Green Widow,' describing how she orchestrated her husband's murder and the subsequent murder of the hitman, and how her daughter avoided charges.

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A podcast episode discussed the case of Robert Samuels and Mary Ellen Samuels, the 'Green Widow,' noting her hiring of a hitman and then another to kill the hitman.

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Further details emerged about the investigation into Bob Samuels' murder, including autopsy findings and the nature of the crime, as part of a true crime series.

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A true crime podcast episode about Mary Ellen Samuels and the murder of her husband, Bob Samuels, was promoted. The episode highlighted her collection of life insurance money after his death.

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In December 2019, a federal court overturned Mary Ellen Samuels' death sentence, citing ineffective legal representation. The court found that her trial lawyer's failure to object to irrelevant evidence, such as her drug use and past photos, may have improperly influenced the jury's decision regarding her sentence.

via handsoffcain.info

Federal habeas relief has been granted to Mary Ellen Samuels concerning her death sentence due to ineffective assistance of trial counsel. The relief was based on the failure to exclude prejudicial character evidence during the guilt-innocence phase of her trial. Samuels was convicted of soliciting and conspiring in the murders of her husband and another individual.

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The California Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Mary Ellen Samuels' death sentence, stating that she received a fair trial and that the evidence overwhelmingly linked her to the murders.

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A judge considered the jury's death penalty recommendation for Mary Ellen Samuels. The trial had featured lurid testimony and exhibits, including a photograph of Samuels covered in cash.

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The jury recommended the death penalty for Mary Ellen Samuels.

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Mary Ellen Samuels was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, with special circumstances including multiple murders and murder for financial gain. She was also convicted of conspiracy and solicitation of murder.

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James Bernstein, the hitman allegedly hired by Mary Ellen Samuels to kill her husband, was found murdered. He was strangled and his body was dumped in a canyon. Samuels was accused of hiring two men to kill Bernstein to prevent him from cooperating with police.

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Robert Samuels, a motion picture camera assistant, was shot and killed in his Northridge home. His wife, Mary Ellen Samuels, was later accused of orchestrating the murder for financial gain.

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