John Jefferson
Top inset: Michael Maisner. Bottom Inset: Marisa Rodriguez. Background: The location where Maisner’s remains were found (WJET/WFXP).
A Pennsylvania woman is accused of shooting and killing a man, using a chain saw she bought with his money to “cut him up” and burning his remains in his backyard firepit.
Marisa Rodriguez, 36, faces a laundry list of charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated assault and abuse of a corpse in the death of Michael Maisner, 66. She was found mentally fit to face trial in the case on Sept. 9, online court records show.
The violence came to light on April 12 after family members, concerned they hadn’t heard from Maisner since March 27, went to his home in the 7000 block of Crestview Drive in Summit Township and found Rodriguez hiding in the attic — but no sign of him.
Authorities were called out the following day to Maisner’s home for a welfare check.
In the home, investigators found a section of carpet and padding missing, possible human tissue, blood splatter, cleaning items and bleach-stained clothing, Erie-based ABC/Fox affiliate WJET/WFXP reported, citing the criminal complaint. Police also reportedly found bizarre writings on the walls of the home, the news outlet reported.
In a firepit, investigators found an eyeglass frame piece, a picture frame, carpet foam, carpet, charred human remains and burned bone fragments, later identified through DNA as Maisner’s, Erie News Now reported.
Investigators allege Rodriguez killed Maisner and drove his Cadillac STX about 40 miles from his home to New York, where she was found the following day. She was initially held on car theft charges and extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges in Maisner’s death. She allegedly told police she had been living in the victim’s attic for up to three months, the news outlet reported, citing the complaint. The station said she made comments about him being dead but didn’t know how he perished.
The victim’s nephew, Adam Maisner, told Erie News Now that Maisner allowed Rodriguez to stay with him to help around the house.
“He was just a laid-back guy,” Adam Maisner said. “He was waiting to get his hips replaced, and all he was thinking about was golfing and riding his motorcycle after that. That’s all he wanted to do.”
Authorities said they linked the suspect to the killing through her online searches that included the phrases “Mike Maisner,” “how to shoot someone,” “how long does it take to burn a dead body,” “burn a body,” “if you shoot someone in the head they die instantly,” and “cutting a dead body with a chain saw,” WJET/WFXP reported.
In her online account, authorities allegedly found video of the suspect getting the PIN for Maisner’s debit card, a photo of a .357 revolver, and photos and videos of a dead Maisner in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the back of the head and torso, the station reported.
Authorities said that the videos show the suspect’s feet wearing the black and brown shoes found in Maisner’s car in New York, according to the complaint. She allegedly spent nearly $600 of his money at a Walmart on April 3, 2023, Erie News Now reported — including the purchase of a chain saw.
During a preliminary hearing in August 2023, she reportedly interrupted testimony, saying, “Well, I’m guilty” and later saying, “Then I cut him up,” the Erie Times-News reported.
Rodriguez was initially found incompetent to stand trial in January. Citing court documents, Rodriguez was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had said that cats talk, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper also reported that she wrote rambling handwritten letters to her lawyer in pencil while in custody at the Erie County Prison.
“I don’t know why I acted the way I did with the body,” she says in one letter. “TRAMITIZED. Still am.”
A psychiatrist who diagnosed Rodriguez with schizophrenia during an exam in lockup reported that Rodriguez had made comments about the Bible “and how cats were her best friends,” the Erie Times-News reported.
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