by STUART WATSON / NewsChannel 36
E-mail Stuart: SWatson@WCNC.com
Posted on July 29, 2010 at 6:50 PM
Updated yesterday at 7:09 PM
YORK COUNTY, S.C. -- For the first time in at least 20 years, the York County SC Coroner has scheduled an inquest, allowing a jury to decide how Melissa Huntley Motz was shot in the head just after Valentine's Day in 2001.
At the time, Coroner Doug McKown ruled the case a suicide but police and Melissa's parents believe she was shot by her husband.
According to police e-mails obtained by the I-team under a Freedom of Information request, Rock Hill police first suspected Ms. Motz's new husband, Jimmy Motz, saying his account of the shooting was "...full of holes."
A civil jury found Mr. Motz to be responsible for his wife's death in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Ms. Motz's parents, Larry and Patsy Huntley.
Jimmy Motz had a string of convictions for assault and domestic violence and two ex-wives divorced him after saying he beat them.
One ex-wife, Sandy Motz, swore in an affidavit that Jimmy Motz threatened her by shoving a pistol under her chin. Melissa Motz was shot directly under the chin.
Melissa Huntley Motz was shot early the morning of February 16, 2001. Her husband had taken her to a Charlotte strip club, the Paper Doll.
Jimmy Motz testified under oath that when he paid for a "table dance," his wife became upset and left to call a cab. Jimmy Motz also testified that he called her a "stupid b*****" because she had "...ruined a perfectly good evening."
Jimmy Motz drove his wife home to Rock Hill.
After pulling his Ford Thunderbird into the parking lot in front of the couple's Rock Hill apartment, Jimmy Motz testified that after he got out of the car, he heard a "pop" sound and looked to see his wife had shot herself while sitting in the front passenger seat.
But a neighbor who was outside the apartment smoking a cigarette told police he heard no gunshot before Motz yelled at him to call police.
Motz then fired the same pistol which had shot his wife. He fired the gun into the air, clearing the chamber.
Motz said he was trying to summon help but he had already yelled to a neighbor to call 9-1-1.
Forensics investigators found gunshot residue on Melissa Huntley Motz's left hand. She was right handed.
But the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) found the forensics tests inconclusive.
York County Coroner Sabrina Gast has asked SLED's cold case squad to reexamine evidence with the newest forensic techniques.
Ms. Gast has also asked another pathologist to review and re-test physical evidence.
The coroner has scheduled up to 3 days of testimony, October 25, 26 and 27, from pathologists, police officers, family members and Jimmy Motz himself.
Ms. Gast says she will subpoena Motz and he could be held in contempt if he refuses to appear.
Motz testified under oath in the civil trial that he did not shoot his wife. Sabrina Gast says she is taking the unusual step of calling for an inquest because she has many questions left unanswered about exactly how Melissa Huntley Motz died and she wants to hear from experts, not to make the call herself.
"I have an idea what I would call it," Ms. Gast said, "But I think in fairness we're going to let those jurors see."
One of the SLED investigators met with the Huntley family, who said the new investigation gives them hope.
"She told me that when she got through there would be no question left unanswered and no stone left unturned," said Larry Huntley, Melissa's father, "And I think if they do that, in my mind there can only be one conclusion."
Ms. Gast says an inquest does not determine guilt or innocence and has a lower burden of proof than a criminal trial.
Ms. Gast says she plans to empanel 75 jurors to select six and one alternate.
The coroner will ask questions of the witnesses and jurors themselves may question witnesses.
It will be up to a prosecutor to determine whether to charge Jimmy Motz even if the inquest finds the shooting was a homicide.
Solicitor Kevin Brackett declined to take the case to a grand jury in 2001, saying there was not enough evidence to get a conviction.
But Ms. Gast says Mr. Brackett will seek an outside solicitor to review the case if there is a finding of homicide.
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