Trial to Begin in 1994 Slaying of Newport Beach Business Owner

Opening statements are expected to begin Monday in the trial of a former NFL linebacker charged with the 1994 slaying of his lover's wealthy boyfriend in his Newport Beach home for financial gain, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Eric Andrew Naposki, 44, of Greenwich, CT, faces one count of special circumstances murder for financial gain in the death of Bill McLaughlin, according to the D.A.'s office. Nanette Ann Packard—McLaughlin's girlfriend, who was also in a relationship with Naposki, according to the D.A.'s office—is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain. A pre-trial hearing for Packard is scheduled for July 8.

Authorities say Packard, now 45 of Ladera Ranch, met McLaughlin, who had a medical technology business, in 1991. McLaughlin began to support Packard, according to the D.A.'s office, setting her up in a beachfront house that he owned. While involved with McLaughlin, authorities say, Packard also was in a relationship with Naposki, a bouncer at the Thunderbird Nightclub located near McLaughlin's home.

According to the D.A.'s office, Packard convinced Naposki, a linebacker for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts in the late 80s, to murder McLaughlin. Authorities say she gave Naposki a key to McLaughlin's house and told Naposki when he would be home. Packard had a $1 million life insurance policy on McLaughlin, as well as provisions in his will that she would receive $150,000 upon his death and be able to live in his beach house rent-free for a year, according to the D.A.'s office.

Authorities say that Naposki used the key to enter McLaughlin's house at about 9 p.m. on Dec. 15, 1994, and shot him six times as he stood in the kitchen. McLaughlin's son, a young adult who suffered from brain damage resulting from being hit by a drunken driver, was upstairs at the time of the shooting. He heard the shots, found his father and called 911, according to the D.A.'s office.

Packard later pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $500,000 from McLaughlin by writing checks from his account before and after his death. She was sentenced to a year in jail in 1996. McLaughlin's death was investigated, according to authorities, but the case went cold. Newport Beach police and the D.A.'s Task Force Review aimed at catching Killers, Rapists, and Sexual Offenders later began reviewing the evidence, leading to charges being filed in 2009, when Naposki was subsequently arrested and extradited from Connecticut.

Both Naposki and Packard face maximum sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted, according to the D.A.'s office.