Sex Offender Pleads Not Guilty to Murder in Hemet Woman’s Mysterious Death
A convicted sex offender, Michael Lee Lorence, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 47-year-old Melanie Conroy in Hemet, California. Conroy’s body was found in the trunk of a car that had been abandoned in Vista, San Diego County. Lorence was arrested last month following an investigation by the Hemet Police Department.
During the arraignment before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton, Lorence entered his plea of not guilty to charges of murder and auto theft. The judge has scheduled a felony settlement conference for January 31 at the Banning Justice Center. Lorence is currently being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to Hemet Police Lieutenant Michael Mouat, Conroy was reported missing on July 27 from her residence on Mellisa Drive. Within a day of her family filing the missing person report, evidence suggesting that her disappearance was involuntary was uncovered. Homicide detectives took over the investigation and on July 29, they located Conroy’s car in a Vista Park & Ride parking lot, with her body discovered in the trunk.
Based on undisclosed evidence, detectives identified Lorence as the alleged perpetrator. It was also discovered that he was already incarcerated at a detention center in San Diego County on an unrelated fugitive warrant. On August 12, Lorence was formally arrested for the alleged murder, and the process of transferring him from the San Diego County facility to Riverside County began, completed within five days.
The motive for the attack remains unknown, and authorities have not specified the relationship, if any, between Lorence and the victim. Court records indicate that Lorence has prior convictions for sex offenses in another jurisdiction, as well as convictions in Riverside County for vehicle theft, failing to register as a sex offender, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
As the case continues to unfold, the community awaits further updates on the investigation into Melanie Conroy’s tragic death. The settlement conference scheduled for January is expected to shed more light on the evidence against Lorence and the motive behind the alleged murder.
In the interest of justice and public safety, authorities will work diligently to ensure a fair trial while seeking justice for the victim and her family. The community remains vigilant, relying on law enforcement to pursue a thorough investigation and bring closure to this devastating case.
