| For Immediate Release Case # 09HF0844 May 18, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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FORMER GIRLFRIEND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR 1994 NEWPORT BEACH COLD CASE MURDER FOR FINANCIAL GAIN OF WEALTHY BENEFACTOR
*Girlfriend’s lover was also convicted and is awaiting sentencing in this case
SANTA ANA – A former girlfriend was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the 1994 cold case shooting-murder of her wealthy benefactor-boyfriend in his Newport Beach home. Nanette Ann Packard, formerly Nanette Ann Johnston, 46, Ladera Ranch, was found guilty by a jury Jan. 23, 2012, of one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain.
Packard’s then-boyfriend and co-defendant Eric Andrew Naposki, 45, Greenwich, CT, was found guilty by a jury July 14, 2011, of one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole at his sentencing Aug. 10, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center.
In 1991, Packard met and dated Bill McLaughlin. The wealthy victim had a successful medical technology business and began financially supporting Packard. Packard, who was divorced with two children, lived in a beach-front home owned by McLaughlin and also with the victim in his bay-front home.
While in a relationship and being supported by McLaughlin, Packard was also dating Naposki, a former National Football League linebacker for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Naposki worked as a bouncer at the Thunderbird Nightclub, which was located in Newport Beach only 131 yards from the victim’s home.
Packard convinced Naposki to murder McLaughlin for financial gain. She provided Naposki with a key to the victim’s home and information about McLaughlin’s schedule and when he was expected to be at the house. Packard had a $1 million life insurance policy on the victim and had provisions in his will that she would receive $150,000 in the event of his death and would have the right to live in his beach house rent free for one year.
At approximately 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 15, 1994, Naposki entered McLaughlin’s home using the house key and shot the victim six times while he was standing in the kitchen. McLaughlin’s son, a young adult who suffered brain damage as a result of being hit by a drunken driver, was upstairs listening to music and heard the gunshots. The victim’s son found his murdered father and called 911.
Naposki fled the scene and went to work. He was scheduled to work at 9:00 p.m. that night and showed up late.