Oh wow I just watched the Dateline episode about this case a couple of days ago. I definitely think Linehan is guilty - it sounded to me like she milked these three physically unattractive, awkward guys for all the money they had, and eventually that wasn't enough and she conspired with Carlin to murder Leppink. The letter about the imaginary 'cabin' in Hope clinched it for me - there's absolutely no other reason that letter would have been written except to lure Leppink to Hope, where he was shot to death. Also John Carlin Jr's testimony about his dad and Michelle standing over the sink full of bleach in which the gun was placed. At the same time, however, I had a feeling her conviction would be overturned, because yes, now she is married to a doctor and is a 'productive' member of society; she's certainly no longer dangerous to society any more - so I feel like they thought, "why lock this poor woman up for a mistake she made in her early 20s? It's not like she pulled the trigger."
The strangest part about this whole case, however, is that Leppink predicted his own death by these people's hands, and in fact sent a letter to his parents to only be opened upon his murder/death which stated that Mechele and John Carlin were responsible. Yet he still chose to accompany Carlin to Hope that day; he continued to hang around these people even after he realized they were going to murder him! Didn't really seem like the brightest guy, either that or he had a death wish.
I've heard that in Alaska there's like fifteen men for every one woman. In an environment like that, I'm surprised things like this don't happen more often. Lots of desperate, lonely guys up there willing to sacrifice everything, even their life in this case, for a bit of company with an attractive female. Also, the "Great Alaskan Bush Company"??? Subtle name for a strip club.
Thank you
