In the early morning hours of December 12, 2015, a fatal shooting occurred at a residence in Rolla, Missouri, claiming the life of Curt L. Marzolf. The 22-year-old male, a native of Monroe, Wisconsin, was a student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology and was just days away from graduating with a degree in mining engineering. He had reportedly secured a job in Overland Park, Kansas, and was preparing to begin his professional career. However, his plans were cut short following a domestic incident involving his fiancée, Meghan Werner, who was also a student at the university.
Police were alerted to the situation around 5:45 a.m. when officers encountered Meghan Werner stumbling barefoot along Pine Street in downtown Rolla. When approached by law enforcement to check on her well-being, Werner informed the officers that her fiancé had committed suicide. Following her statement, authorities responded to the couple's home where they discovered Marzolf dead from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Upon processing the scene, investigators found evidence that contradicted Werner's account of a self-inflicted wound. Signs of a physical altercation were present in the home, and an assault rifle, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, appeared to have been moved after the fatal shot was fired.
The investigation revealed that both individuals had attended a party earlier that evening and had consumed alcohol to excess. After returning to their residence, an argument ensued, escalating to the point where Werner retrieved a firearm from the bedroom. A struggle for the weapon occurred between the two, resulting in the discharge of the gun that killed Marzolf. Consequently, law enforcement determined the shooting was not a suicide. Werner, a 24-year-old from Fenton, Missouri, was arrested and initially charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She was held on a $1 million bond before eventually posting bail.
Legal proceedings continued for over two years as prosecutors and defense attorneys navigated the complexities of the case. The initial murder charges were eventually amended as the investigation concluded the shooting was not intentional but rather a result of reckless conduct during the dispute. On March 8, 2018, Werner pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. During the plea hearing, she acknowledged that her actions of introducing a firearm into the argument while intoxicated were reckless. In May 2018, Judge William E. Hickle sentenced Werner to seven years in prison, bringing a conclusion to the legal process. Prosecutors noted that the tragedy served as a grim reminder that firearms and alcohol are a dangerous combination.
