Former Probation Officer, Elsa E. Segura Granted New Trial in Realtor Murder Case, Because Of Flawed Jury Instructions

A former probation officer, Elsa E. Segura, who admitted to orchestrating a deceptive house-showing leading to a realtor's murder, is set to receive a new trial. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that flawed jury instructions in her case may have influenced the conviction, despite evidence linking her to the kidnapping and felony murder of Monique Baugh.

The Supreme Court expressed concern that the instructions allowed the jury to convict Segura of kidnapping based solely on the actions of others, without considering her liability under an aiding-and-abetting theory. The majority of justices concluded that the district court's instructions materially misstated the law.

Baugh's murder stemmed from a conflict unrelated to her or Segura. The defendant's boyfriend, Lyndon Wiggins, held a grudge against the victim's boyfriend, suspecting him of informing authorities about Wiggins' involvement in a drug case. 

Wiggins, while in custody, enlisted Segura, using the alias "Lisa Pawloski," to arrange a fake house showing. However, Baugh encountered Cedric Berry and Berry Davis instead, who abducted and later killed her.

Wiggins, Berry, and Davis are serving life sentences without parole for their roles in the crimes.

The question of Segura's liability arose due to her involvement with Wiggins in drug-related activities, despite being in law enforcement. The court noted Segura's assistance to Wiggins, including renting accommodations, leasing a truck, and facilitating his drug business.

During the trial, Segura admitted to scheduling the house showing but denied knowledge of a kidnapping and murder plan. The court acknowledged her awareness of the severity of Wiggins' intentions but emphasized that anticipating murder was not conclusive.

The court concluded that the district court's erroneous jury instructions warranted a new trial, expressing uncertainty about the harmlessness of the error.

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