Jeami Chiapuli and Joyce Fransson Convicted of Murdering Leisa Hurst
Leisa Hurst was reported missing to the Police Department after the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department discovered her orange/rust colored Honda Element abandoned in the area of Olive Street and Second Street in Hesperia.
Her cell phone records show it was last used 10:54 p.m. on a Thursday night near the area of a cell tower at 11500 Mariposa Road in Hesperia. Hurst had not been seen or heard from since.
Jeami Chiapulis, a 36-year-old Helendale, CA resident, had a romantic relationship with Hurst. But he had been living a double life, dating Joyce Fransson, a woman he met while attending Barstow college. He also had a wife, in active duty in the military, who was due back home soon. His house of cards was about to fold.
Exactly what happened that fateful night will probably never be known. Video from Home Depot, and receipts in Jeami’s possession show the purchase of rubber gloves, a shower cap, and bleach, among other things. Two searches of Chiapulis’ home by Barstow Police led investigators to believe that he was connected to her disappearance, but they did not name him as a suspect at that time.
Chiapulis checked himself the psychiatric ward of a VA hospital on Jan. 26. He remained a patient there for several weeks. When Detectives spoke to Fransson, she stated she knew nothing.
After leaving the hospital, Jeami R. Chiapulis was arrested by Barstow Police detectives at a Starlite Motel in Redlands after his discharge from the hospital on February 13, 2009.
On February 18, Chiapulis pleaded not guilty in a Barstow courthouse with Hurst’s family, friends and neighbors present. He was held at West Valley Detention Center, pending trial for Leisa’s murder.
On June 5, Barstow Judge Cheryl Kersey ruled that Jeami Chiapulis would stand trial for the murder of Leisa Hurst, in the first-degree. If convicted he would face 25 years to life in prison.
Searches for Leisa’s remains were conducted along the Mojave River and desert regions south of Chiapulis’ home in Silver Lake Community. The search revealed nothing, and in the end, searchers were off the mark by about 50 miles.
In October 2009 Jeami Chiapulis entered into an agreement with the district attorney’s office during a pretrial hearing to receive 15 years to life in prison for second degree murder in exchange for revealing the location of Leisa Hurst’s body
Chiapulis led detectives and authorities to an area near Newberry Springs, where human remains were found. The remains were positively identified by the San Bernardino County Coroner. On October 30, Leisa was laid to rest at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley, CA.
Jeami Chiapulis was formally sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in Novemeber 2009. Leisa’s family and friends filled the courtroom and took the opportunity to talk to the court during the victim impact statements portion of the proceedings. Leisa’s daughters walked toward the front of the courtroom together and took turns speaking.
Chiapulis sat still watching each person as they spoke, no hint of emotion on his now-aged face. The Judge, Steven Mapes asked if Chiapulis would like to make a statement, as he believed the family would appreciate a comment from Chiapulis. The coward, through his attorney, said that he did not wish to give a statement.
In November, Joyce Fransson was arrested in connection with Leisa’s murder. Police believe that Fransson not only helped Jeami Chiapulis abandon Leisa’s car, but also acted as a lookout while Chiapulis buried Hurst in the desert. By her own admission, Chiapulis had woven a story about his family being in the Mafia, and the Mafia had sent him a package to dispose of. She claims to not know what was in the package, a large garbage can. This smart college-educated woman jumped in the car, and together they disposed of the body. She never asked any questions, and claimed to be scared. So scared, that when the police questioned her, she offered no information that could have led to finding the remains for months. In fact, she only offered information after Chiapulis implicated her in the cover-up. She went about her every day life while the family suffered for months not knowing where Leisa Hurst’s remains were buried.
After two days of jury trial, Joyce Fransson made a deal with the court to plead no contest to accessory to murder charges and received three short years for her part in the murder.
Fransson’s attorney, Frank Peterson, said that Fransson was very sorry for what happened and that she should have “put things together” when police interviewed her in April of 2009 but did not cooperate because of her feelings for Chiapulis. She will likely serve 18 months of her sentence after receiving “day for day” good behavior credit.
In an separate investigation conducted in three California prisons, detectives learned that Chiapulis paid a sum of money as down payment to a fellow inmate for the murder of Barstow police Detectives Leo Griego and Keith Libby, Fransson, and Hurst’s two daughters. Nice guy. He struck a deal that got him 15 years to life in exchange for showing detectives where Leisa Hurst’s body was buried, but hopefully this scheme will ensure he never sees the light of day. On September 17, 2010, the Kern County District attorney’s office filed five counts of solicitation to commit murder against this convicted murderer.
Detectives believe Chiapulis wanted the detectives and Fransson murdered to prevent their testimony at future appeals hearings. In case his appeals scheme failed, he wanted Hurst’s daughters killed so that they would not be able to provide victim impact statements at parole board hearings. During his arraignment Chiapulis pleaded not guilt to all five counts. A trial date is now pending. I hope he fries. And Joyce should fry with him.
Leisa Hurst was a single mother trying to raise her two daughters. She had not a single enemy. She was a good and loving person, seeking what each of us strive for; a good life, completed by the love of a caring partner. What she got, and what her family and children must live with for the rest of their lives, was a never-ending nightmare, caused by a depraved demon.
Thanks to:
http://leisahurst.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/joyce-fransson-second-arrest-made-for-leisas-murder/
http://www.highdesert.com/news/woman-6233-desertdispatch-barstow-killing.html
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53173392426
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what was wrong with joyce fransson’s voice . this woman had absolutely no affect like a sociopath. she was so disturbing to watch. creepy
She says she was scared……..The family waited so long when she knew all along where Leisa was. Same thing with women; a man is more important than the truth.
This does not surprise me in the least! What makes sociopaths so dangerous is their keen ability to mimic real emotions, and play the part so convincingly.
I think it’s because the sociopath THINKS of themselves as being human when they are only mimics.
I agree, that woman was eery. No emotion, no feeling, no sense of doing what was right. I’d be scared to know that wench. I hope she lives the rest of her life (chiapiglus too) looking over their shoulder and receiving the best karma has to offer them in justice. LOSERS, pond scum, dog crap, cow manure…can’t think of enough bad things to say about them that would be printable.
My thoughts exactly. Instant karma’s gonna get both of them.
I only came here to see if anyone else felt the same way I did about about Joyce Fransson.
Glad to see I am not alone.
I too hope they fry. Sickens me that Fransson isn’t going to be serving a longer sentence & that Chiapuli isn’t going to be put to death.
OMG, what a creepy women…voice??? How bout those eyes..they always talk about killers having eyes too close together…her’s were about as far apart as they go…she talked or made it seem like she was mentally challenged…didn’t believe her from the moment she spoke…she is disgusting!
I dunno…I peruse the Most Wanted pages of most states, and most of those murderers look nothing like Alice the Goon! Like I said, what makes them so dangerous is the ability to blend in! (and the chameleon-like ability to morph and mold their personalities to fit a given situation: borderline personalities)
Does anybody know what the maximum sentence is if this monster is convicted on all five counts? I hope this depraved attempt to MURDER CHILDREN turns around on him and gives him the sentence he deserved for taking their mother away in the first place. Now THAT would be justice. The poetic kind.
Jeami Chiapulis received 15 years to life. Joyce Fransson only got 18 months. No justice!
I’m not sure, but I think his release date will be March 26, 2014. This SOB shouldn’t ever see the light of day. It is times like these that I wish the mob would pick him up when he’s released take this SOB out to the desert and bury him alive with his head exposed.
What those two got cannot be called justice.
I married a sociopath from the Army also. He lived a double life with 3 other women. He was engaged to 1, living with 2, and had me stuck in another state because of where he was stationed.
I found out the truth and immediately filed for divorce. There are many days that I realize I’m thankful he didn’t kill me. It was only because he was 3000 miles away when his lies were uncovered.
I don’t know if Fransson knew more, but I can tell you this. Sociopaths pick specific women to do this to. They pick women with children or with self esteem issues, because they are so desperate for love that they are less likely to not believe the lies. It is very possible that she knew nothing until she got to the house. It is very possible that she so desperately wanted to believe his lies that she is telling the truth.
Yes, she should have told the police the truth from the beginning. She lied and that isn’t right. I just don’t know that I believe that she knew more than she says. Most women won’t have sex with a guy, even with a condom, if they knew he just had sex with another woman and killed her.
I do believe she deserved more jail time. She lied and hurt the family more by not telling what she knew.
Thank you for sharing your story and for your insightful commentary. I agree that Fransson should have served more time and I hope that she realizes how much pain she caused as a result of her actions.
Thank you for sharing your story. I agree; she should have served more time. Much more time.
Perfect reason why people should be able to do background checks, just as any employer can!
“She says she was scared……..The family waited so long when she knew all along where Leisa was. Same thing with women; a man is more important than the truth.”
Comment by radioactv915 | January 17, 2011
You DO realize that such generalizations and assumptions are dangerous, right?
Last night I viewed this tragic story on television..I was so saddened to see this beautiful young mother loose her life and her two young daughters loose there
mother, and this pond scum of a man and his nasty girl friend get off with little
more than a slap on the wrist!
I am currently watching this story as it unfolds on television. My heart goes out to Lisa’s family, particularly her two daughters. I have absolutely no feelings of sympathy for Joyce Fransson, much less the coward, Jeami Chiapulis. As a woman, and a college-educated one at that, Joyce knew better. She knew all along what she was doing. Even after all was said and done, she and Jeami went about their daily lives as if nothing had occurred. My only wish, aside from Jeami getting the death penalty, would’ve been for her to receive a more strict sentence including restitution to the family.
Yes, it is heartbreaking. Such a shame.
MAN THIS IS CRAZY EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE BUT THAT BITCH SHOULD FRY WIT HIM TOO!!!
Even if she didnt know what was in the trashcan HELLO..do u not see something wrongboth should rot in hell
I would love 5 minutes with Joyce
frannson spoke like she either had a hearing deficit or is a high end sociopath…..
He should had gotten death and her life . I’m tired of these murders getting plea deals. There should never ever be a plea deal for anybody who kills. What’s going on in this world where the courts are being to easy on theses scum bags. If this was the old west he would have been hung by now her to. We need to some how canceled all plea deals and give justice to all families who are hurting from these scum bags who don’t care what they do.
I have to agree with most here that Joyce Fraanson got too little time for her part in the cover up, and she was not exactly helpful to the police until her back was to the wall. She is either out now or will be getting out any time. Here’s hoping she makes better decisions in the future. At least the fact that Jeami Chiapulis was plotting to kill her too will make the dim-wit realize that she lied to protect a man who didn’t give a damn about her. If she has no remorse for the crime, at least that fact will follow her.