5 chilling details about Kevin Mengel's murder 

Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode titled, Toxic, explores the tragic murder of Kevin Mengel, who was killed on June 17, 2010. The episode addresses the sinister aspects of Mengel's death, which was planned by his wife, Morgan Mengel, and her lover, Stephen Shappell, detailing how their toxic relationship resulted in a murderous plot.

The case ended with Morgan Mengel being convicted of plotting Kevin Mengel's death and being sentenced to life in prison, while her lover Stephen Shappell was sentenced to 40-80 years in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder.

The episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered that follows Kevin Mengel's murder was re-aired on Oxygen on September 9, 2024, at 9 p.m. EST. The official synopsis on IMDb reads as follows:

"Kevin and Morgan Mengel were happy at first, but when the marriage went bad, he went missing. Police wondered if he simply left, but a family's relentless pursuit lead to a stunning confrontation and, eventually, the truth."

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5 chilling details about Kevin Mengel's murder

1) The brutal use of a shovel

Imagery of death (Image via David Paschke/Unsplash)

Kevin Mengel was attacked with a shovel by Stephen Shappell, who was pushed on by Morgan and ended Kevin's life by repeatedly striking his head. Kevin was bludgeoned to death at Mengels' landscaping company where Shappell the 21-year-old briefly worked.

The episode highlighted the explosive escalation from poisoning to physical violence which was carefully constructed by Morgan Mengel and Stepehen Shappell.

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2) The failed plot of poison

The failed plot of poison (Image via Rhodi Lopez/Unsplash)

The failed poisoning attempt was one of the most unsettling aspects of Kevin Mengel's murder. Initially, Morgan Mengel conspired with Stephen Shappell to murder her husband by adding concentrated nicotine to his iced tea. It was intended that the poison would have a gradual effect, allowing Morgan and Shappell sufficient time to carry out their plan covertly.

However, when the poison failed to exert its anticipated rapid effects, the pair became increasingly impatient. They chose such a method that makes the murder seem like an accident, adding a chilling layer of deceit.

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3) The heartless exchange of texts

The heartless texts (Image via Alicia Christin Gerald/Unsplash)

Throughout the day of Kevin Mengel's murder, Morgan and Shappell exchanged text messages that were nothing short of chilling. In one message, Shappell texted Morgan, that he was just waiting for Kevin to bend over, and that he had a shovel in his hand. While Morgan asked if he was backing out, Shappell mentioned that he was dead serious that the task was done.

These callous exchanges reveal the twisted mindset of both conspirators.

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4) The shallow grave

The shallow grave (Image via Oleksii Piekhov/Unsplash)

After the murder, Kevin Mengel’s body was hastily hidden in a shallow grave near Marple-Newtown High School in Delaware County. The chilling detail here is not just the burial itself, but the fact that Shappell had once attended the school.

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5) The failed cover-up

The failed cover-up (Image via Carl Tronders/Unsplash)

Following Kevin Mengel's murder, Morgan made extensive efforts to conceal the crime. She dispatched text messages from Kevin's mobile device, attempting to persuade his family and friends that he was merely occupying idle time. A Facebook post was fabricated from his account to maintain the false perception that Kevin was still alive.

However, the manner of communication and the origin of the post stemming from a computer rather than his phone sparked doubt. Morgan's endeavor to manipulate the storyline following the murder by feigning Kevin's life while his body was buried in a shallow grave is ghastly in its deceit.

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Kevin Mengel's murder shows how greed, betrayal, and selfishness can lead to unthinkable acts. More details about the case can be found on the September 9 episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen.