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Dateline brought to light one of the most shocking murder cases in recent memory. The episode titled Toxic examined the death of Kevin Mengel, who was a landscaping business owner whose life was cut short in June 2010.
Kevin Mengel was a husband who trusted his wife, Morgan. He could never imagine that the person he cared about the most was the reason behind his death. The case shocked the community when investigators uncovered the relationship between Morgan Mengel and her lover, Stephen Shappell.
They both carefully planned the murder. The marriage started off as a happy one, but ended in big violence and betrayal. Kevin's family refused to accept the explanations that were given to him about his disappearance.
Their determination to find the truth led authorities to uncover a web of deception and lies. The investigation revealed failed poisoning attempts, text messages, and ultimately a brutal killing that neither perpetrator could conceal forever.
Dateline: The Marriage that turned deadly
Morgan and Kevin Mengel appeared to be an ordinary couple at the beginning. They owned a landscaping business together in Delaware County. However, beneath the surface, the relationship was damaged beyond repair.
Morgan was cheating on Kevin and had an affair with Stephen Shappell, who was a young employee who briefly worked at their company. The affair evolved from a mere romantic involvement. Shappel and Morgan began discussing ways to permanently eliminate Kevin from their lives.
Dateline revealed how their toxic relationship evolved into something far more evil. Instead of looking for divorce, Morgan chose murder as her solution. Shappell, despite being only 21 years old, became her willing accomplice in this tragic plan.
The poisoning plot
Before Kevin Mengel was murdered, Morgan and Shappell attempted to poison him. They added concentrated nicotine to his beverages, hoping the substance would kill him slowly.
The scheme was orchestrated to make his death appear natural or accidental. However, the poison did not work, and Kevin survived the first attempt. Dateline highlighted how this failed plan pushed the perpetrators to the edge and compelled them to take violent action.
The poisoning attempt displayed their calculated willingness and mindset to cause suffering. When patience ran out, they decided to directly intervene.
The brutal attack
On June 17, 2010, Stephen Shappell killed Kevin Mengel at the landscaping company. He utilized a shovel to strike Kevin repeatedly in the head.
The attack was deliberate and savage as the text messages between Shappell and Morgan on that day revealed their cold-blooded plan.
Shappell texted that he was waiting for Kevin to bend over and that he held a shovel in his hand. Morgan questioned whether he would follow through with the scheme.
He responded that he was serious and confirmed the deed was done. These exchanges displayed the heartless nature of both people involved in the death of Kevin Mengel.
Hiding the evidence
After the killing, Shappell buried Kevin's body in a shallow grave near Marple Newton High School. The location held personal symbolism as Shappell had attended that school.
Morgan then worked to save herself from suspicion. She sent text messages from Kevin's phone to his friends and family and also posted on his Facebook account to make it seem like he was doing absolutely fine and normal. However, the investigators noticed inconsistencies in the postings.
The Facebook post originated from a computer, rather than Kevin's phone, which raised numerous suspicions. Dateline displayed how Morgan's attempts to manipulate the story ultimately failed. Kevin's family continued pressing for answers, which kept the investigation ongoing.
Also See:Dateline: A complete timeline of David Watson’s crimes and conviction, explored
Dateline: Justice Served
The investigation eventually uncovered the reality about what happened to Kevin Mengel. Morgan was convicted of plotting her husband's death and later received a life sentence. Stephen Shappell pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced to many years in prison.
Dateline aired the full narrative, allowing audiences to understand how betrayal and greed led to such a heinous crime. The episode was rebroadcast on Oxygen in September 2024 and brought new attention to the case.
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Kevin Mengel's murder remains a stark reminder of how dangerous secrets and selfish desires can become when left unchecked.
Also See: Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - Who is David Dooley and what do we know about his crimes?
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