‘Dateline NBC’: Who killed Sherri Malarik? Husband Gregory in the middle of 20-year-old chilling love triangle case
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Sherri Malarik's husband, Gregory Malarik, was arrested in March 2020 for killing his wife, nearly 19 years after Sherri's alleged murder.
Despite being accused of Sherri's murder, Gregory was released on a $400,000 bond. At 57 years old, he faced charges of first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm.
Sherri, a 1st class Navy Petty Officer, was allegedly killed by her husband, a former Navy Petty Officer 1st Class, who worked at the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office jointly arrested Malarik on July 28, to bring him to justice for the 2001 murder charges.
In the upcoming episode of 'Dateline NBC's Season 32 Episode 25 titled, 'The Sleepover', host Andrea Canning explores a chilling case involving a devoted mother who was fatally shot in her minivan in 2001. The episode delves into the details of this tragic incident, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the mother's death and the subsequent investigation to uncover the truth.
What happened to Sherri Malarik?
Sherri Lynn Malarik was killed, and her body was discovered on September 22, 2001, around 8 am, inside a Dodge Caravan parked at the Winn Dixie and Movie Gallery on 1550 South Highway 29, less than three miles from the couple’s home. Her family members reportedly made the grim discovery.
An autopsy confirmed that Sherri was murdered, having sustained two gunshot wounds to the head from a .25 caliber handgun. Her lifeless body was found in the floorboard of the van.
Forensic evidence suggested that she was shot while seated in the passenger seat. The discovery took place inside the van, which had been parked by her brother-in-law.
When did Jacob and Tera Malarik find out about Sherri Malarik?
Sherri's children learned of her murder when Malarik’s brother-in-law discovered her lifeless body inside her van, parked in a shopping center parking lot in Cantonment, Florida, just north of Pensacola. Recalling the harrowing scene, he described seeing blood and realizing she was cold to the touch.
He promptly called 911 and then grappled with the difficult task of informing her family, stating, "My sister-in-law is dead, ma'am."
Upon receiving the tragic news, Sherri's children, Tera and Jacob, were devastated. Jacob, who was only 11 at the time, recounted feeling numb upon hearing the horrifying details. The sudden loss of their mother left them reeling with shock and grief.
“Immediately, I just kind of went numb,” Jacob recalled the incident to Dateline NBC
Why did Gregory Malarik kill Sherri Malarik?
Gregory decided to kill Sherri after an investigation uncovered his extramarital affair with Jennifer, his co-worker at the time. In later disclosures, Gregory mentioned his desire to end his marriage but hesitated due to his experience with divorce.
Frustrated, he shared a conversation with Jennifer where he suggested the drastic idea of just killing Sherri instead of going through another divorce proceeding.
In the new episode of 'Dateline NBC' Season 32 Episode 25, Greogory's girlfriend has agreed to testify about the tragic event, the first time in 20 years on national television. "I’m having an internal struggle now," she says in the preview. "She [Malarik] didn’t want me to tell anybody, but she’s dead so can I tell it now?” she adds.
How did the police find Gregory Malarik?
After Sherri's body was discovered inside a Dodge Caravan in the Winn Dixie parking lot, investigations were initiated, leading to the conclusion that she had been murdered and this was confirmed by an autopsy. In 2001, multiple children from Malarik's house were interviewed, and these interviews were revisited, according to reports.
While most statements were generally consistent, one child mentioned an incident on September 21, 2001. According to the child, Gregory Malarik called Sherri into the backyard, and shortly after she went outside, they heard a sound resembling a "pop," akin to a firecracker. Gregory promptly returned inside, showered, changed clothes, and left for 10 to 15 minutes. The investigation determined that this timeframe was sufficient to drive Sherri to Winn Dixie.
Further supporting the case, swabs taken from Gregory's hands on the day of the murder tested positive for gunshot residue. Additionally, pants believed to have been worn on the night of the murder were found to have gunpowder in the left front pocket.
In 2017, an NCIS investigator scrutinized phone records from the Malarik residence on the night of September 21, 2001. The records revealed multiple calls at 6.29 pm, 7.59 pm, 8 pm, and 8.47 pm, providing two periods of time during which Malarik could have committed the homicide, transported Sherri's body to Winn Dixie, and returned home.
The investigation took a significant turn when Jennifer, Gregory's girlfriend, provided testimony. Shockingly, she disclosed that it was Gregory's idea to propose that Sherri be killed, intending to be with her.
Gregory Malarik's trial
In the first trial, if the jury had convicted Gregory, Judge Simon would have been required to sentence him to life in prison. However, after over 8 hours of deliberation, a 12-member jury in Escambia County found Greg Malarik not guilty of murdering his wife, Sherri, in 2001. This verdict concluded the legal proceedings, with Gregory being acquitted of the charges brought against him.
According to reports, Gregory faced a second trial in Escambia's Circuit Court to determine whether he had murdered his wife, Sherri, a US Navy petty officer 1st class, in 2001. The first trial, initially held in June 2022, ended in a mistrial when the jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision on Gregory's guilt for first-degree premeditated murder.
Private attorney Chris Crawford represented Gregory during the initial trial and continued to do so in the retrial. Assistant State Attorney Amy Shea prosecuted the case for a second time. Circuit Judge John Simon presided over the trial, and, according to Florida law, first-degree premeditated murder is a capital felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
However, Gregory wasn't arrested for the murder until 2020 and has been out of jail on a $400,000 bond since August 2020. Eventually, he was sentenced as "not guilty."
