EVERETT, WA – On Monday, June 22, 2026, a Snohomish County jury convicted Nestor Hernandez Melgar, age 29, on all charges including first-degree murder for the death of Lindsay Geary. The verdict came after a four-week trial that highlighted conflicting narratives about Geary’s tragic death in November 2024.
Geary was found dead inside her apartment with a rope nearby by emergency responders who were called to the scene by Hernandez Melgar, who claimed she had hanged herself. However, prosecutors argued during closing arguments on June 17th that this incident was staged as a suicide to cover up Geary’s murder at his hands.
The prosecution pointed out several inconsistencies in Hernandez Melgar's account: he did not immediately call for help and instead contacted family members first; the rope found near Geary measured over seven feet long, which prosecutors argued is unlikely for a suicide attempt. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Toni Montgomery asserted that "the intention was never to summon law enforcement," but rather to deceive those who would investigate.
Defense attorneys from the Snohomish County Public Defenders Office countered by arguing that Geary had been struggling with suicidal thoughts and depression prior to her death, as evidenced in text messages sent weeks before. They suggested that Hernandez Melgar did not stage a murder scene but was instead shocked upon finding his girlfriend deceased under tragic circumstances.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the conflicting evidence presented at trial. While prosecutors maintained Geary's manner of death should be classified as homicide based on circumstantial evidence, medical examiners listed it initially as "undetermined." The defense highlighted that this classification reflects ongoing debate about whether a definitive cause could ever be established.
Geary’s loved ones expressed relief upon hearing the verdict but also acknowledged the tragic loss. “This case is about two tragedies,” noted Catherine Bentley of the public defenders' office, emphasizing both Geary's death and Hernandez Melgar's alleged wrongful accusation. The conviction underscores ongoing debates within legal circles regarding staged suicides and their implications for criminal justice outcomes.