What happened to Richard Messina and Sandra Cover? Details explored ahead of Snapped: Behind Bars on Oxygen

Richard Messina and his girlfriend Sandra Cover were murdered in their Cleveland home on July 29, 2007. The authorities discovered their bodies in the home's master bedroom on July 30, 2007.

Snapped: Behind Bars season 2 episode 5 will replay this double homicide and also feature one of the prime accused, Tabitha Messina. The episode is titled Tabitha Messina and the synopsis for the same reads:

"Serving a life sentence for the murders of her father and his girlfriend, Tabitha Messina explains what happened for the first time on camera. She claims she wasn't the mastermind and shifts blame onto her convicted co-conspirator."

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Richard Messina and Sandra Cover were killed in their master bedroom

Richard Messina and his 43-year-old girlfriend Sandra Cover were killed in the master bedroom of the couple’s home in South Euclid on July 29, 2007.

As per reports by Oxygen, the couple was murdered with an axe and a crowbar. Sandra Cover was found slain by the bedside of the master bedroom. Richard Messina on the other hand was found dead with his body in a twisted position.

As per reports by Oxygen, Richard died from 6 chop wounds, that were probably inflicted with a hatchet. His face was covered with bedclothes and a cell phone and a cross were discovered beside his body.

His girlfriend Sandra Cover was killed with a similar murder weapon, a crowbar, and the autopsy revealed that her death happened due to blunt force trauma.

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Who killed Richard Messina and Sandra Cover?

Richard Messina and Sandra Cover were murdered by Tabitha Messina and Carlos Christopher (Image by Maxim Hopman/Unsplash)

Richard Messina’s daughter, Tabitha Messina, and her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Carlos, killed Richard and his girlfriend. After the double homicide, when the victim's cars were missing, the police alerted the authorities about stolen vehicles.

On July 30, 2007, Tabitha and Christopher were eventually caught sleeping in the stolen vehicles by Avery County officials. Upon interrogation, Christopher confessed to the double homicide and revealed that Tabitha Messina attacked Richard’s girlfriend first after which, Christopher killed Richard Messina.

Right before the murder, Christopher, who had gone to Richard's house to return Tabitha's cell phone, had an altercation with Richard, after the latter hurled a racial slur against the former. Following this, Richard informed the authorities that he did not want his daughter and her ex-boyfriend Christopher anywhere near his property. Later that night, Richard and his girlfriend were murdered.

Tabitha Messina and Carlos Christopher are serving life sentences for the murders of Richard and Sandra (Image by Deleece Cook/Unsplash)

Reportedly, both the accused were charged with double homicide, burglary, and other charges and sentenced to prison. Tabitha Messina was sentenced to 60 years in jail with chances of parole in 2008. Christopher on the other hand was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole. They both remain incarcerated in different prisons, serving their sentences.

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Watched Snapped: Behind Bars season 2, episode 5 to know more about the deaths of Richard Messina and Sandra Cover. The episode airs September 29, 2024 at 7:00 pm E.T.