Melissa James was found dead in the burned out hulk of Kelly's Jaguar in the desert outside Las Vegas. She had died of asphyxiation and not of smoke inhalation or from the fire. An autopsy found drugs in her system and evidence of being Tasered. Plus, the fire investigators discovered that the accelerant had been outdoor grill starter fluid. (The police later found Wal-Mart security tapes of Kelly buying several containers of the starter fluid the night of the murder.)
Melissa had been living with Kelly and her husband, body builder Craig Titus. Not surprisingly, a love triangle developed between the three. The motive for murder: jealousy. As the police pressed their investigation, Kelly and Craig made plans to escape to Greece, which has no extradition treaty with the US. (I don't understand. Kelly was running away with her cheating husband?) The police caught up to the suspects and arrested them in Massachusetts. At the time, Kelly was in a spa getting a pedicure while Craig waited outside in his SUV. Here they are, in chains--Kelly looking especially unglamorous--appearing in a Nevada court for arraignment.
They faced murder one and the possibility of execution. Just before trial, Kelly pleaded guilty to arson and battery with a deadly weapon with significant bodily harm and faces 2 - 15 years in prison for each of her counts. Craig pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and arson and faces 17 to 55 years in prison.
Here's the most recent photo I could find of Kelly, visiting day at the Clark County Detention Center. She's the one on the monitor.
Once again, truth is stranger...and more tragic than fiction.