A chilling case out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has taken a dark turn as 34-year-old Jalisa Michelle Hill was arrested on Thursday, accused of playing a role in the brutal murder of her elderly grandparents, Major and Claudette Melvin. Court documents reveal Hill allegedly paid her ex-boyfriend, 30-year-old Maurice Newson, $1,000 following the killings, raising suspicions of her involvement in a plot to inherit her grandparents' home.
The Melvins, aged 89 and 85, were found shot to death in their home on March 22. Their vehicle, a red 2014 Ford Fusion, was missing but later discovered in a tow yard. Newson, already in police custody since May for the stolen vehicle, is now charged with the couple’s murder. Authorities claim that Newson, struggling financially after being fired from Spirit Airlines for workplace violence, was paid by Hill to carry out the fatal shooting.
Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera captured a suspect arriving at the Melvins' home around 1 a.m. on March 22, with the victims’ vehicle leaving the property just hours later. That same day, the car was sold for $200 to a towing company.
Investigators traced the sale of the car back to Newson, linking him to the crime. Their suspicion of Hill grew after they discovered documents in her possession regarding renovations and pest control for her grandparents' home. Hill allegedly claimed she was next in line to inherit the property upon their passing, further adding to the suspicion of a calculated motive.
Adding to the complexity, Hill had filed an insurance claim for the stolen vehicle but reportedly withheld information about her grandparents' deaths. Investigators found that she was eager to ensure the payment check was not made out to her deceased grandmother.
In May, Hill was subjected to a polygraph test conducted by the FBI. The results indicated deception when questioned about her involvement in the murders, according to the affidavit. Initially, she denied any plans to inherit her grandparents' home, but her story began to unravel under further questioning.
The relationship between Hill and Newson was long-term, though Hill claimed they rarely spoke or saw each other. Yet, records revealed that just after the murders, Hill sent $1,000 to a man who, in turn, transferred the money to Newson using the Zelle payment app.
Hill’s family is struggling to reconcile these accusations. With 28 grandchildren in the family, some had already expressed suspicions that a relative might have been involved. Dennis J. Parker, the couple’s son, voiced his internal conflict, stating, “At the end of the day, Jalisa is my niece and I can’t really see her being involved in anything like that, but the law speaks for itself.”
Both Hill and Newson remain in custody, facing charges of first-degree murder, with neither currently eligible for bail. As this tragic case unfolds, more details about the alleged conspiracy continue to surface, leaving a family devastated and searching for answers. Hill was expected to make her first court appearance Friday afternoon.
