Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Dateline NBC plans to re-examine the brutal murder case of Sherri Malarik that took place in 2001. The case went cold for almost two decades, but authorities finally arrested her then-husband, Greg Malarik, in March 2020 for Sherri’s killing. The episode, titled “The Sleepover,” will provide details about what happened in the case and why it had two trials. It will air on the network on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
In September 2001, authorities found Sherri’s dead body in a Cantonment Winn Dixie parking lot, which they sent for an autopsy. The Pensacola News Journal reported that the autopsy found two gunshot wounds on her head. The outlet also mentioned that the wounds were caused by two .25 caliber bullets. The medical examiner ruled the death to be a homicide.
Initially, authorities thought Greg Malarik might have to do something with Sherri’s death, but they didn’t arrest him because of lack of evidence. However, in March 2020, police arrested Malarik for the murder of his wife and charged him with second-degree murder. But when the trial began, he was tried for first-degree premeditated murder.
According to the Pensacola News Journal, the prosecution team tried telling the jury that Greg had the motive to kill his wife and also mentioned how he allegedly killed her. Meanwhile, the defense kept on telling jurors that their client didn’t do it.
Almost one week after hearing the testimonies, the jury deliberated for four hours and failed to reach a unanimous decision. As a result, the court declared it a mistrial. However, in October 2023, a second trial began, and the court acquitted Greg Malarik in the murder case of Sherri Malarik. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Sherri Malarik murder case explored
In 2022, the judge declared the first trial a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision. The jurors handed out two notes to the judge, saying they were unable to give a clear verdict in the murder case, per Court TV.
During the first trial, Sherri and Greg Malarik’s children also testified and answered questions regarding their mother’s death. One of their sons, Jacob Malarik, told the prosecutors he saw his mother for the last time while standing in between the kitchen and dining room of their house. Citing the statement, the Pensacola News Journal noted, “I just remember my mom walking by and saying nonchalantly, ‘Hey, I’m going to go outside to talk to your dad.’ And that was the last I saw of her.”
They also told the court that Greg followed Sherri Malarik to the backyard, where the family van was parked. A few moments later, they heard a “pop” sound similar to that of a firecracker. As per the Pensacola News Journal, Greg walked alone inside the house and took a shower before changing clothes.
Greg’s children testified he was abusive
On the other hand, Jacob and his sibling, Gregory “Little Greg” Malarik, also mentioned that they always suspected their father of having an affair even though they were kids at the time. Meanwhile, after the first mistrial, Jacob told Pensacola News Journal that his father “was abusive, he was angry, he was very manipulative.” However, the court didn’t allow him to share about incidents of abuse that took place in the past.
When the second trial began, the prosecution team once again submitted much evidence. They also called up witnesses and asked about several aspects of the case. However, the jury couldn’t find anything substantial in the prosecution’s evidence and found Greg Malarik not guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. As per the defense team, Greg’s girlfriend also had the motive to kill Sherri Malarik.
On the other hand, the Pensacola News Journal noted that the defense team had reasonable doubts about the case after learning about the “mishandling of evidence by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.” As a result, the jury found Greg Malarik not guilty.
