Meier scheduled for first parole hearing

The Stateline man sentenced to life for murdering his wife and burying her in the backyard gets his first chance at parole in January.

Monte Meier, 63, was convicted of second-degree murder in April 1997 and sentenced to life with possible parole. He was charged after the body of his wife, Julie, who disappeared in 1994, was found buried in the couple's Stateline yard. Meier's attorneys argued that he found his wife dead in their home then concealed the death for fear he would be blamed.

Because of the amount of time between her death and the discovery, no definitive cause of death was established. But prosecutors convinced a jury that Meier killed his wife, then forged her name so he could sell the couple's house.

His conviction was upheld by the Nevada Supreme Court. It ruled there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction, despite a history of "repeated, severe" domestic violence.

No specific date has been set for the parole hearing.