Greg Fleniken, a 55-year-old landman from Lafayette, Louisiana, lived a simple life. He worked hard, traveled often, and stuck to a routine. Each evening, after checking into the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont, Texas, he would wind down with a candy bar, microwave popcorn, and a cigarette while watching cable television. This routine was familiar to him and gave him comfort.
But on the night of September 15, 2010, things took a tragic turn. After calling his wife, Susie, Greg settled into bed, just as he did every other night. By morning, Greg was found dead in his hotel room, face-down on the floor, still in his pajamas, with a cigarette in his hand.
The room appeared undisturbed, and there were no obvious signs of foul play. His wallet was untouched, and there was no blood or injury visible. At first, the authorities assumed it was a sudden heart attack. However, the autopsy revealed far more than they had expected.
The Puzzling Discovery: A Body with No Clear Cause of Death
The local coroner, Dr. Tommy Brown, conducted a standard autopsy, but what he found was anything but normal. Greg’s ribs were broken, his sternum fractured, and his heart and liver had been lacerated.
Even more alarming was a dark, swollen, purple wound on his scrotum, torn as if from a crushing blow. However, there were no other signs of trauma on his body. No bruises, abrasions, or signs of defensive wounds.
Initially, Dr. Brown thought the injuries might have been caused by CPR, but it didn’t add up. Greg had been dead for hours before anyone discovered his body, and no attempts at resuscitation had been made.
This left the coroner stumped, as the injuries looked more like those from a serious car crash or being crushed under a heavy object. But Greg was found lying on the floor with no external signs of injury.
As time passed, it became clear that something violent had occurred. However, the injuries did not match the typical patterns, and no one could explain what had happened.
The breakthrough came only when the coroner noticed the scrotal wound, which was later confirmed to be a bullet entry point. What appeared to be a harmless wound was, in fact, the entrance of a bullet that had caused internal destruction.
The Investigation: The Electricians Next Door
Susie Fleniken, Greg’s widow, wasn’t satisfied with the vague explanations surrounding her husband’s death. She hired private investigator Ken Brennan to uncover the truth.
Brennan, a former DEA agent, worked with local detective Scott Apple to piece together Greg’s final hours. They soon discovered that three electricians from Wisconsin had been staying in the room next to Greg’s — Room 349.
The electricians had been drinking and watching sports that night. When initially interviewed by police, they claimed to have heard or seen nothing unusual. However, Brennan wasn’t convinced. He asked the detectives to re-interview them, and during the second round of questioning, something stood out.
In the wall separating Rooms 348 and 349, there was a small hole — just big enough for a bullet to pass through. On the other side of the wall, in the electricians’ room, a matching hole had been patched up with dried toothpaste.
The Shocking Truth: A Tragic Accident
Upon further investigation, the electricians admitted to what had really happened. One of them, Lance Mueller, had pulled out a 9mm Ruger handgun to show off. He was drunk and playing around, attempting to do a “quick draw” like in old western movies.
The gun accidentally discharged, shooting through the wall and hitting Greg in his room. The bullet entered Greg’s scrotum and tore into his body, causing severe internal injuries.
Incredibly, no one screamed or even checked on the next room. The electricians simply panicked, patched up the hole in the wall with toothpaste, and hoped no one would notice. Meanwhile, Greg, unaware of the source of his injuries, may have suffered for minutes before finally succumbing to his wounds.
The investigation continued as more workers came forward, confirming the tragic sequence of events. Lance Mueller, who was responsible for the accidental shooting, was arrested and later pled no contest to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in October 2012.
Greg’s widow, Susie, played a crucial role in bringing the truth to light. Despite the deception and cover-ups, she pursued justice relentlessly. In court, she confronted Mueller, telling him, “You murdered him… with every lie you told, with every intentional selfish deception.”
Through her determination, she made sure that her husband’s killer faced the consequences of his actions.
The tragic death of Greg Fleniken serves as a reminder of how an accidental act can spiral into a devastating outcome. It also highlights the importance of persistence in seeking justice, even when the path seems unclear.
