Mysterious Death of Louisiana Man in Hotel Room Finally Solved
In 2010, Greg Fleniken, a 55-year-old landman from Lafayette, Louisiana, was found dead in a locked hotel room. He was known to keep a simple routine, often ending his nights at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont, Texas, with a snack and some TV.
On September 15, 2010, Greg called his wife, Susie, as he usually did before heading to bed. The next morning, he was discovered on the floor, facedown in his pajamas, still holding a cigarette. The hotel room was locked from the inside, and nothing appeared out of place. With no immediate signs of foul play, authorities suspected a heart attack.
However, the coroner’s autopsy revealed shocking results. Greg had multiple broken ribs, a fractured sternum, and serious internal injuries, including a dark purple wound that looked like a crushing blow. Oddly, there were no external signs of trauma, leading investigators to conclude something violent must have happened to him.
It took nearly two years for the case to be reevaluated. Susie, determined to find answers, hired private investigator Ken Brennan, who, along with local Detective Scott Apple, looked into Greg’s last hours. They discovered a clue that had been overlooked: electricians staying next door.
Three workers from Wisconsin had been drinking and watching sports in Room 349, just on the other side of the wall from where Greg died. Initially, they claimed they hadn’t heard anything unusual. But when Brennan and Apple re-interviewed them, they found a tiny hole in the wall, revealing it could have been a bullet entry point.
Investigators learned that one of the electricians, Lance Mueller, had been showing off a handgun, and it accidentally fired. In the panic that followed, they sealed the hole with toothpaste, thinking no one had been harmed.
Tragically, the bullet had struck Greg, causing severe internal damage. He likely suffered for several minutes before dying. Eventually, Tim Steinmetz, another worker, confirmed the chain of events. Mueller was arrested and later pleaded no contest to manslaughter, receiving a ten-year prison sentence.
In court, Susie confronted Mueller, emphasizing the pain and deception that ensued from his actions. She made it clear that her search for justice would not stop until the truth was brought to light. Through her determination, Greg’s heartbreaking case finally found resolution.
