Disgraced Mormon doctor convicted of murdering his wife in a bathtub will go on trial for sexually abusing his daughter

  • Alexis Somers accused her father, Martin MacNeill, of sexually abusing her twice in three months after her mother's death in 2007
  • MacNeill's two-day jury trial in sex abuse case will begin next month, unless he accepts plea deal
  • Somers, 30, filed police report saying she was awakened by her father fondling her and and kissing her hand
  • MacNeill allegedly told his daughter he had mistaken her for her dead mother
  • Mormon doctor suggested he molested his daughter while sleep-walking, and therefore cannot be held accountable

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 12:24 EST, 15 November 2013 | UPDATED: 17:47 EST, 15 November 2013


The Mormon Utah doctor convicted of murdering his wife by drowning her in a bathtub is due back in court to answer to sexual abuse charges brought against him by his daughter.

Martin MacNeill, 57, was found guilty last Saturday of drugging and killing his wife, Michele, six years ago. 

He faces 15 years to life for first-degree murder when he is sentenced on January 7. He also was found guilty of obstruction of justice, which could add one to 15 years.

Alexis Somers
Martin MacNeill huddles

More legal trouble: Alexis Somers (left) has accused her father, convicted killer Martin MacNeill (right), of sexually abusing her on two occasions in the months after her mother's murder

In the course of the high-profile trial, MacNeill's daughters Alexis and Rachel testified against the father of eight and were relieved when the jury found him guilty.

Alexis Somers, 30, who was the prosecution’s star witness, has accused the 57-year-old former physician of molesting her in the months after her mother's slaying.

MailOnline usually does not name victims of possible sexual abuse, but Miss Somers has publicly addressed the allegations against her father.

MacNeill has been charged with second-degree forcible sex abuse and third-degree tempering with a witness, Desert News reported.

 

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Oral arguments on a motion to continue will be presented in a Provo court Monday, followed by a two-day jury trial that will begin December 3.

MacNeill's attorney Randall Spencer, who represented him in the murder trial, will also handle the defense in the sex abuse case.

Killer's grin: Martin MacNeill smiles as he thanks his defense team after he was found guilty of murder and obstruction of justice Saturday

Killer's grin: Martin MacNeill smiles as he thanks his defense team after he was found guilty of murder and obstruction of justice Saturday

Sisters: Alexis Somers, left, and her sister Rachel MacNeill hug outside the courtroom during the trial of their father

Sisters: Alexis Somers, left, and her sister Rachel MacNeill hug outside the courtroom during the trial of their father

United in grief: Family members, among them Alexis Somers (second right) hold up photos of Michele MacNeill facing Martin MacNeill as he enters the court room in Provo, Utah, last year

United in grief: Family members, among them Alexis Somers (second right) hold up photos of Michele MacNeill facing Martin MacNeill as he enters the court room in Provo, Utah, last year

Prosecutor David Sturgill said he is willing to negotiate a plea deal with MacNeill in the case.

In September 2007, then-24-year-old Alexis Somers filed a police report claiming that her father had abused her on two occasions in the three months after her mother's death.

According to the charging documents, in May 2007, Alexis was asleep in her parents' bed when she was awakened by her father fondling her and kissing her hand. He was supposed to be sleeping on the couch.

Alexis demanded to know what her father was doing, to which he allegedly replied, 'I'm sorry, I thought you were your mother.'

A similar incident reportedly took place two months later while the family were vacationing in California.

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Happy family? Martin MacNeill, second from right, stands accused of murder in the 2007 death of his wife and the mother of his eight children

Loss: Michele MacNeill, right, was found unconscious in a bathtub in 2007. Prosecutors claim that her husband, left, left her there to die after giving her a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs

Loss: Michele MacNeill, right, was found unconscious in a bathtub in 2007. Prosecutors claim that her husband, left, left her there to die after giving her a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs

In a recorded phone conversation, MacNeill allegedly told Alexis that he 'was asleep' when he assaulted her.

When confronted with allegations of sex abuse while being questioned by police, MacNeill stated that a person cannot be held accountable for his actions while he's asleep, according to court documents.

Bed-mate: During the trial, MacNeill's daughter Sabrina testified that their 'nanny' Gypsy Willis spent every night in the doctor's bedroom after their mother's death

Bed-mate: During the trial, MacNeill's daughter Sabrina testified that their 'nanny' Gypsy Willis spent every night in the doctor's bedroom after their mother's death

According to a police report, the Mormon doctor told his daughters that 'even though his wife is dead, he is still a sexual person and has desires that need to be met.' 

Alexis Somers and her sisters had spent years dogging the authorities to open a murder investigation, and were instrumental in bringing their father to account for their mother's slaying. 

The young women claimed that the seemingly respectable doctor and a former bishop in his local congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was, in fact, a monster and philandered who led a double life and killed his wife so he could be with his mistress, Gypsy Willis.

It wasn't until MacNeill's release in July 2012 from a federal prison in Texas on charges of fraud that Utah prosecutors moved to file charges of murder and obstruction of justice.

During the trial, MacNeill's daughter Sabrina testified that Willis, who was hired as their nanny, spent every night in the doctor's bedroom after their mother's death.

MacNeill is now planning to appeal his murder conviction, but it will not be handled by Spencer since the disgraced 57-year-old medic has no money to pay attorney's fees.

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He's creepy on all levels.

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If a foot doctor works on feet, does a Mormon doctor only work on Mormons? I can't think of any other reason for this title. Are Mormons offended?

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Animal.

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He is an evil man.

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is there no end to the horror that is this man.

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Sexual abuse from the "usual" demographic!

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CEO Romney's people, no wonder their isn't a lot of comments from the republicans. A cat caught the tongues all of a sudden.

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How are people like this able to maintain their reign of terror over people around them for so long? Why was this monster a pillar of the community? There are ALWAYS signs, always. I know I grew up in a dysfunctional, dangerous family. Lot of denial must have been going on.

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Sounds like an honest mistake I can see where you'd mistake your 24 year old daughter for your 80+ year old dead mother.

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Crazy family, the whole lot of them.

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