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Nathan Paet, a U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant stationed in Las Vegas, was tragically murdered in December 2010. His death was not the result of a random act of violence but stemmed from a calculated and personal plot. At the time, there were no public indications of marital discord between Nathan and his wife, Michelle Paet.
However, the investigation later revealed a web of betrayal and greed leading to his untimely demise. Nathan was fatally shot in his garage as he prepared to leave for his night shift at Nellis Air Force Base.
The case took a darker turn when it was uncovered that his wife, Michelle Paet, conspired with her lover, Michael Rodriguez, to orchestrate the murder, motivated by the prospect of collecting Nathan's life insurance money.
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The most recent coverage will be on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, with an episode titled The Strange and Mysterious Death of US Airman Nathan Paet, the preview of which aired on December 16, 2024. Before this, the case was also featured on Dateline NBC in an episode titled The Last Day: The Case of Nathan Paet, which aired on June 14, 2022.
To understand what happened to Nathan Paet and how investigators unravelled the truth, let’s dive into the chilling details of the investigation and the tragic story that emerged.
What happened to Nathan Paet? Who was Michelle Paet and Michael Rodriguez?
Nathan Paet was a 28-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he served as an F-15 supply technician with the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
On December 1, 2010, Nathan was shot multiple times in his garage as he prepared to leave for his night shift. He managed to return inside the house, where he collapsed in front of his four children, aged 2 to 9. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Nathan succumbed to his injuries.
Michelle Paet, Nathan's wife, was 29 years old at the time of the incident. She worked at a local business and was involved in an extramarital affair with Michael Rodriguez, a 36-year-old man with a criminal record. Together, Michelle and Michael conspired to murder Nathan to collect over $600,000 in life insurance benefits.
As reported by the Las Vegas Sun, the plan was meticulously crafted over several months. On the night of the murder, Michelle alerted Rodriguez via text message that Nathan was leaving for work. Rodriguez, waiting outside the Paet residence, ambushed Nathan in the garage, shooting him five times.
After the murder, Rodriguez went to the apartment of his accomplice, Corry Hawkins, where they burned their clothes in the fireplace to destroy evidence. The prosecutor also stated that that one of the murder plans devised by Rodriguez and Paet involved kidnapping Nathan Paet, blindfolding him, and driving him into the desert to inflict fear, torture, and pain.
The investigation quickly uncovered the conspiracy. Michelle Paet initially feigned shock and grief but later confessed to her involvement in the plot. She admitted that the motive was financial gain from Nathan's life insurance policies. Michael Rodriguez and Corry Hawkins were also arrested and charged.
Rodriguez was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy and was sentenced to life without parole. Michelle Paet pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and conspiracy, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. According to Air Force Times, Corry Hawkins was sentenced to life without parole for his role as an accomplice.
What was the aftermath of Nathan Paet's murder case?
The aftermath of Nathan Paet's murder left a profound impact on his family and the community. The couple's four children were left without both parents, as their mother was incarcerated for her role in their father's death.
Nathan Paet's children, who witnessed their father bleeding after being shot five times, now live with relatives in Guam, as per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the deceased's mother Carmelita Paet, the children are afraid of seeing their mother again, fearing that if she could harm their father, she might pose a threat to them as well.
During her court appearance, Michelle Paet broke down in tears, expressing remorse to her husband’s family and pleading with the judge for a chance at parole. "I made a terrible mistake and an extremely poor decision," she admitted.
The case highlighted the consequences of greed and betrayal, a reminder of the lengths to which individuals may go for financial gain.
The upcoming episode on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen will cover the case in more detail.
