PHOENIX –Michelle Dawn Gibson (D.O.B. 9/5/1971) is now facing a life prison sentence after a jury today found her guilty of conspiring with her children and their friends to murder her husband, Steven Gibson. Her son, Steven Gibson Jr., was sentenced last August to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder and hindering prosecution.
“The extreme cruelty perpetrated against the victim in this case and the suffering he endured are compounded by the manner in which this defendant conspired with her children to commit a criminal act of such shocking brutality,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “We now await the imposition of an appropriate and just punishment,” he added.
Shortly before 2:00 a.m. on March 1, 2013, Glendale police responded to a 911 emergency call from Michelle Gibson claiming her husband, Steven Gibson, was dead and lying in the garage of their home. When they arrived at the scene, officers found Mr. Gibson lying on the garage floor covered in blankets with no signs of life. Michelle and her 16-year-old son Steven Jr., and 17-year-old daughter, Alysa, were inside the residence and told officers they discovered Gibson’s body in the garage after returning from a shopping trip.
While officers were putting tape around the crime scene, Erik McBee and Karen Molina-Pompa arrived at the home. McBee had blood on his clothing and told police he was responsible for killing Mr. Gibson. After their investigation, detectives learned that Michelle, Steven Jr., and Alysa had discussed murdering Steven Gibson with McBee and another 16-year-old the afternoon before the murder. Michelle provided a handgun to the 16-year-old and offered him and McBee money to kill her husband. The 16-year-old was picked up by his parent before the crime occurred and was not charged.
That night, Michelle, Alysa and Steven Jr. sought to establish an alibi for the subsequent murder by going shopping, leaving McBee and Karen Molina-Pompa at the home while Steven Gibson was upstairs sleeping. McBee struck him multiple times in the head with a metal baseball bat, severely injuring him as Molina-Pompa held him at gunpoint. McBee then called Steven Jr. and asked him to return to the residence. Michelle Gibson dropped her son off at the house and continued shopping. Steven Jr. then stabbed his father in the chest and McBee cut his throat. The two of them and Molina-Pompa attempted to remove Gibson’s body, but left it in the garage after hearing sirens. Michelle and Alysa returned home and, after attempting to destroy the evidence, called 911. Michelle and Steven Jr. later told police they were out shopping together at the time of the murder and came home to discover Gibson’s body in the garage.
On March 8, 2013, Erik McBee was indicted on first degree murder, burglary and concealment of a dead body. Michelle Gibson, Steven Gibson Jr., Alysa Gibson and Karen Molina-Pompa were indicted the following month. Last January, McBee, pled guilty to second degree murder and agreed to testify against Michelle Gibson. He is currently awaiting sentencing. Alysa Gibson and Karen Molina-Pompa are both awaiting trial.
Michelle Gibson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2015.
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