Killing of Charla Mack and Attempted Murder of Judge Chuck Weller

Overview

Darren Roy Mack, a Reno, Nevada businessman and part-owner of his family's pawn shop, was convicted in connection with the June 12, 2006 killing of his estranged wife, Charla Mack, and the shooting of Family Court Judge Chuck Weller, who had presided over the couple's contentious divorce.

The Crimes

Charla Mack, 39, was found stabbed to death in her garage on the morning of June 12, 2006. A few hours later that same day, Judge Weller was shot by a sniper outside the family courthouse, sustaining serious injuries. Weller had issued an interim financial settlement in the Macks' divorce case that Darren Mack reportedly resented; he had been ordered to pay $10,000 per month in spousal support and household expenses in addition to capped child support, while his estranged wife had no income of her own.

Manhunt and Arrest

Darren Mack was identified as the chief suspect in both crimes due to the acrimonious divorce proceedings and his resentment of the court-ordered financial settlement. He evaded law enforcement for approximately ten days, becoming the subject of an international manhunt and appearing on Fox's "America's Most Wanted" and the FBI's Most Wanted listings. A search of his apartment turned up ammunition and bomb-making materials, and records showed he owned firearms including a handgun and a semi-automatic rifle. On June 22, 2006, Mack surrendered to Mexican authorities after being surrounded at a resort pool in Puerto Vallarta. He was flown to Dallas, Texas the next day for booking and then returned to Reno, where he was held at the Washoe County jail.

Legal Proceedings

Because of a personal relationship between Mack and the Washoe County District Attorney, that office recused itself; prosecutors from the Clark County District Attorney's office handled the case. Prosecutors announced in September 2006 that they would not seek the death penalty. The case and trial were moved to Las Vegas, with Clark County District Judge Douglas Herndon presiding. Just before his jury trial was set to begin, on November 5, 2007, Mack pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of his wife and entered an Alford plea to the attempted murder of Judge Weller. Herndon sentenced Mack to life in prison for the murder and to the maximum of 40 years, with parole eligibility after 16 years, for the attempted murder—sentences to run consecutively, making Mack ineligible for parole for at least 36 years.

Mack later sought to withdraw his pleas through a new attorney, claiming coercion by his former defense counsel and a forged signature; the trial judge denied the motion, and the Nevada Supreme Court denied his appeal in 2010. Mack raised the issue again in a federal petition in February 2012.

Civil Litigation

Charla Mack's estate and a representative for the couple's daughter filed a wrongful-death civil suit against Mack. On March 18, 2008, a Washoe County jury awarded a $590 million judgment against him, with the bulk of the award going to his daughter. Judge Weller separately filed a personal injury civil suit against Mack. Mack is incarcerated at Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada.