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<p>On Friday, December 16, a Baton Rouge woman was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally poisoning her boyfriend. According to <a href="https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/baton-rouge-woman-convicted-in-boyfriends-poisoning-death-gets-life-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KLFY</a>, the woman, named Meshell Hale, 54, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Death Of Her Boyfriend And Husband</h3>
<p>In 2015, Hale&#8217;s live-in boyfriend Damian Skipper, 41, died after what was initially presumed to be a heart attack. Later, it was discovered that Skipper&#8217;s death was due to consuming barium acetate.</p>
<p>According to the outlet, Hale was discovered to have purchased the poison online multiple times between 2015 and 2016.</p>
<p>Additionally, the woman has also been implicated in the 2016 death of her estranged husband Arthur Noflin, 42. According to <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/baton-rouge-woman-convicted-in-poisoning-gets-life-sentence/article_098a25fe-802e-11ed-9754-0b58e2fa1537.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Advocate</a>, Noflin&#8217;s &#8220;charred remains&#8221; were found in the backseat of his &#8220;fire-torched&#8221; pickup truck in March 2016. Because Noflin&#8217;s body was so badly burned, Samantha Huber, a forensic pathologist for the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office, could not determine his cause of death.</p>
<blockquote><p>It’s a suspicious thing, but I just can’t prove this is a homicide. I have other cases that are similar to this where it was suicide, so I have to be very, very careful.</p></blockquote>
<p>Authorities were unable to rule Noflin&#8217;s death as a homicide.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The Aftermath Of Skipper &; Noflin&#8217;s Death</h3>
<p>After Skipper&#8217;s death in 2015, Hale collected $10,000 in life insurance payments. According to <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/detective-testifies-in-poison-deaths-trial-in-baton-rouge/article_116b0550-7727-11ed-baf5-5ff7f2e65c55.html?taid=6394c21c424cc10001c1c680&;utm_campaign=trueanthem&;utm_medium=social&;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Advocate</a>, she alleged that she and Skipper were married.</p>
<p>Authorities suspect that Hale allegedly killed her estranged husband, Noflin, the following year to also lay claim to his $750,000 life insurance policy. Prosecutors noted that she was listed as the primary beneficiary in Noflin&#8217;s policy, also reported by the outlet.</p>
<p>When authorities informed Hale of Noflin&#8217;s death in 2016, she sobbed &#8220;inconsolably.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>This just can’t be. This just cannot be.</p></blockquote>
<p>Despite her emotional display, Hale never shed tears.</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">A Bail Decision Has Family Members Outraged</h3>
<p>Hale was convicted of the second-degree murder of Damian Skipper, on Friday, December 16. Skipper and Noflin&#8217;s family members were present at the 19th Judicial District Courthouse.</p>
<p>Skipper’s cousin Michael Durand shared his sentiments about Hale&#8217;s conviction</p>
<blockquote><p>It just shows you what God can do. It&#8217;s a blessing, and the district attorney did a lot of work. It&#8217;s not so much about her getting locked up. It&#8217;s about raising awareness for other men out there. You can save other lives.</p></blockquote>
<p>However, a court hearing took place on Tuesday, where Hale&#8217;s attorney&#8217;s proceeded to challenge her conviction. To the surprise of many, Judge Raymond Bigelow decided to grant a bond request for the woman.</p>
<p>Bigelow set the 54-year-old&#8217;s bail at $300,000. And revoked her passport, ordering her to remain on house arrest if she is released.</p>
<p>Prosecutors immediately reacted, voicing that Hale could be a danger to the public if she is let out on bond.</p>
<blockquote><p>This was a clean trial. It&#8217;s going to be upheld on appeal. There is no reason for her to leave that jail.</p></blockquote>
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<p>Durand shared his reaction to the judge&#8217;s decision.</p>
<blockquote><p>I really don&#8217;t know how to feel. It was a shocker to give somebody a mandatory life sentence and then turn around and give them a bond. We can&#8217;t get Skipper back and it&#8217;s just kind of confusing right now that they would do such a thing.</p></blockquote>
<p>Noflin&#8217;s oldest sister, Carol Noflin Hertzock, also shared her sentiments.</p>
<blockquote><p>It&#8217;s just baffling to all of us. It makes no sense.</p></blockquote>
<p>Hale is due back in court on February 22, 2023, as reported by <a href="https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/baton-rouge-woman-convicted-in-boyfriends-poisoning-death-gets-life-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KLFY</a>.</p>
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