Man found dismembered at SLO County golf course was killed with shotgun, expert testifies

The prosecution rested Monday in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court trial of a woman charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a man whose skeletal remains were found in a pond at a San Luis Obispo County golf course.

Kimberly Machleit, 38, is facing murder charges for the Dec. 3, 2018, killing of Joseph Martin Govey, 53, in a townhouse on the 2200 block of Professional Parkway in Santa Maria.

She also faces special allegations or sentencing enhancements for the killing, which she is accused of committing with a sawed-off shotgun.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office dive team found Govey’s dismembered skeletal remains in September 2020 in a pond at Blacklake Golf Resort in Nipomo.

Machleit lived in the home on Professional Parkway with her boyfriend, Donald “Drew” Anderson, 40, along with Govey and another man, Benjamin Mersai.

Forensics expert: Man was killed with shotgun, dismembered with saw

On Monday, Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore questioned Frederick Snow from Tennessee-based Forensic Anthropology Consulting Services about the skeletal remains.

As jurors viewed multiple photos, Snow explained that some of the characteristics found on the remains helped him determine that they belonged to a white man between his 40s and 60s.

He said he concluded that the man’s legs had been removed just below the knee.

After examining the bones, Snow said, he determined the man was killed with a shotgun that hit between his right eye and nose before exiting the back of his head on the right side, near the vertebra.

Whitmore also asked about Snow’s final conclusions regarding marks on the remains near his knee.

“The saw marks were made in an attempt to dismember the individual,” Snow said.

“As in his legs were sawed off?” Whitmore asked.

“That’s correct,” Snow said.

Santa Maria woman accused of fatally shooting victim

Before Snow testified Monday, defense and prosecution attorneys continued questioning Mersai, who took a plea deal in the case.

Under the deal, he will be sentenced to three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.

Questioning by defense attorney Jess McHarrie focused on whether Mersai gave different information during interviews with law enforcement officers and while testifying.

Other questions centered on Govey’s actions while in the house, and Machleit’s demeanor.

Armed with a knife, Govey had broken through a locked door to Machleit and Anderson’s bedroom the morning of the fatal shooting. Anderson drew a gun, but it didn’t fire, and the two men moved the dispute downstairs.

Machleit grabbed a sawed-off shotgun and went downstairs while Mersai said he set off the fire alarm to create a distraction.

The defense attorney asked Mersai about Machleit.

“She’s shaking, she’s so scared?” asked the defense attorney.

McHarrie and colleague Lea Villegas make up the defense team.

“Correct,” Mersai said.

Murder occurred after meth use, prosecutor says

The shooting occurred after the quartet — Govey, Michleit, Mersai and Anderson — spent the night using methamphetamine.

Questioned by the prosecuting attorney, Mersai said he felt numb after using meth.

“Like I could get anything done. Like I had less cares,” he said.

The defense attorney questioned Mersai about Govey’s aggressive behavior and threats.

Under re-direct questioning from the prosecuting attorney, Mersai testified that Govey never hurt him.

“Had you ever seen him physically hurt Ms. Machleit?” Whitmore asked.

“No,” Mersai said.

Machleit allegedly retrieved the shotgun from the home’s crawl space, but Mersai said he only helped her get down from there, suggested she had used a stepladder to access the opening through the ceiling.

After the shooting, Mersai said, he kept the knife Govey had wielded, adding that he didn’t believe it was evidence in the homicide case. Last week, he told the jury he collects knives.

Jury selection for the trial began in late September with opening statements taking place Oct. 16.

After Snow testified, prosecuting attorney Whitmore rested her case.

Judge John McGregor released the jury for the remainder of the day, instructing them to return on Thursday.

After the defense presents its case, the prosecution can call rebuttal witnesses.

McGregor told jurors the trial was moving “way, way ahead of where we thought we would be,” and that they could have the case for deliberations as soon as next week.

The trial had been estimated to continue through November.

This story was originally published October 24, 2023 at 10:37 AM.