The Mysterious Death Of Anita Green Explained
In 1974, Anita Green met her future husband, Melvin Green, when she began working for his accounting firm (via Unsolved Mysteries). Although they were both married to other people, they would eventually leave their spouses and tie the knot. By all accounts, the marriage was controlling and restricting. Melvin had made his wife sign a prenup agreement that allowed him to "dominate" her life. Per Unsolved Mysteries Wiki, Anita eventually asked for a divorce when she started a new relationship. The split was anything but amicable. Anita's lawyer alleges that Melvin sent her threatening letters. Moreover, he was insistent she continue working for him.
The Los Angeles Times reports that on October 25, 1990, Anita came to Melvin's office to pick up her paycheck. As she got out of her car, she was shot to death by a motorcyclist. Three witnesses subsequently came forward. One said they had seen Melvin "emerge" from the building before Anita was shot. The other had seen the slaying unfold, and the last one helped police create a sketch of the motorcyclist.
Melvin was immediately a suspect in his wife's grisly murder, and it was believed he had hired a hitman to kill Anita. He did not cooperate with authorities and ultimately seemed unaffected by her death. Despite the lack of physical evidence, Melvin was arrested. In 1992, he was convicted of first degree murder (via Unsolved Mysteries, posted on YouTube) and was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The jail-house interviews that almost turned deadly
The Los Angeles Times writes that Melvin had Anita (above) killed due to "money" and "fear." He believed the divorce would destroy him, financially and otherwise. In May 1992, Michele Samit, a friend of Anita's, decided to visit and interview Melvin in jail for a book (via Unsolved Mysteries). After a few visits, Samit was convinced of his guilt. She later claimed to uncover evidence that Melvin had sold off a coin collection shortly before the murder to pay the unidentified hitman.
According to Unsolved Mysteries Wiki, Samit told police about the findings but not Melvin. However, on one of her visits, an unknown man came to see Melvin. Melvin asked Samit to leave, and as she walked back to her car, she realized the man looked a lot like the composite sketch of the shooter. Samit stayed and watched the visitor leave the jail on a motorcycle. She then went back in and told Melvin she knew he had used the coin collection to pay the hitman.
At this revelation, Samit says Melvin became infuriated. Though he was transferred to prison the next day, he began to send her threatening letters. Later, Samit said she was being stalked and her house vandalized. She believes the man who visited Melvin Green was both Anita's killer and her own harasser. Melvin Green later died in prison and the hitman has never been found.