Melissa James Bodybuilder, was murdered by her two high-profile friends, bodybuilders Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan.
Firefighters rushed to a burning automobile in the Nevada desert south of Las Vegas in December 2005. Authorities discovered a badly charred body inside.
‘Murder Among Friends: Muscle Bound’ on Investigation Discovery investigates how Melissa James was murdered by her high-profile friends and ex-couple, Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan. Thus, if you want to learn more about this case, you’ve come to the right place.
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Melissa James Bodybuilder: Murdered By Her Two Friends Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan
Melissa James was a personal assistant murdered by two high-profile friends, Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan.
In December 2005, James was discovered charred inside Ryan’s Jaguar. Titus and Ryan were both imprisoned for their roles in James’ murder.
Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan used to be a couple who were both successful bodybuilders. They were, nevertheless, involved in the drug trade and developed an addiction to methamphetamine.
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Being Titus and Ryan’s assistant, James was privy to their illicit operations. Titus and Ryan feared James would divulge their drug transactions to the authorities, so they murdered her.
Titus and Ryan invited James to their Las Vegas home in December 2005 to discuss a “money situation.”
Titus and Ryan had poisoned her with a fatal cocktail of GHB and morphine when James arrived. They then drove her to the desert and set Fire to Ryan’s Jaguar. Firefighters later discovered the automobile.
Titus, Ryan, and their collaborator, Anthony Gross, were captured and convicted of James’ murder. Titus and Ryan pled guilty and were sentenced to life in prison, while Gross received a ten-year sentence.
Melissa James Bodybuilder Obituary: Wikipedia Explored
Melissa Ann James was born in New Jersey in March 1977. She grew up in Florida and taught ballet, hip-hop, and jazz dance.
She launched her dancing class in Florida at 19, but a disastrous business arrangement could have helped her chances of success.
Melissa relocated to Las Vegas in 2005 for what appeared to be a great career opportunity. Yet by the end of the year, the 28-year-ambitions old’s had been dashed.
On December 14, 2005, there were reports of a Fire outside of Las Vegas, with investigators discovering a burning automobile. They discovered Melissa’s body inside the trunk as the Fire was out.
Even though her remains were severely charred, an autopsy indicated that her face had been wrapped in duct tape. A bathrobe tie and a wire wrapped around her neck suggested strangling. While the cause of death was not identified, Melissa was killed.
Melissa James’s murder by two high-profile bodybuilding friends stunned many people, and the case got a lot of media coverage. Despite their celebrity and prosperity, Titus and Ryan’s drug addiction and engagement in illicit activities ruined them.
Melissa James Bodybuilder Killer: Where Are They Now?
Craig claimed they were terrified and attempted to dispose of the evidence by burning Melissa’s body. Craig, then 43, pled guilty to second-degree murder, kidnapping, and arson in May 2008.
According to him, the young woman died of an overdose due to drug use by Kelly and Melissa in the days preceding the occurrence.
He was finally condemned to between 21 and 55 years in prison. According to prison records, he is still incarcerated at the Lovelock Correctional Complex in Pershing County, Nevada.
Kelly, aged 35, accepted an Alford plea to battery with a deadly weapon and pled guilty to arson.
Kelly was sentenced to six to twenty-six years in jail. The couple divorced while inside, and Kelly was freed on parole in October 2017 after nearly nine years in prison. Kelly has kept a quiet profile since then and still resides in Las Vegas.
