Husband to face trial in teacher’s murder

A Las Vegas justice of the peace ruled Friday that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to send Mark Franta to trial in the November slaying of his wife.

During the three-hour preliminary hearing, Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman heard from several witnesses including a Las Vegas police homicide detective, a pathologist and a crime scene analyst.

Authorities believe Marybeth Franta, a Molasky Middle School teacher, returned home the evening of Nov. 13 after attending a wedding and argued with her husband, who had been drinking. They allege Mark Franta then strangled his wife .

Las Vegas police said video footage from two businesses shows Mark Franta early on Nov. 14 near where his wife's body was found.

Later that day, Mark Franta reported his wife missing. He was arrested Nov. 17.

There had been no documented instances of domestic violence during the couple's marriage of more than 20 years. But family friends have said there was friction recently because Mark Franta, an ironworker, had lost his job.

Goodman's courtroom was packed with family members of the slain woman and her husband, with the families separated by the aisle.

A moment of awkwardness followed the appearance of the couple's adult children in the courtroom as they chose which side to sit on.

Both children were gracious to all family members before they sat behind their father.

Afterward, the couple's son, Brandon Franta said he will wait for the facts to bear out at trial before deciding what happened.

"This was not the complete picture," he said following the preliminary hearing.

Earlier in the hearing, Goodman also ordered the release of Marybeth Franta's vehicle, a Mazada Tribute, to her children. It had been in a Ewing Brother's towing lot throughout the investigation.

The vehicle was not going to be released until the family had covered a Ewing Brothers tow and storage bill of about $2,500, but Goodman ruled the children did not have to pay the bill. He said Las Vegas police and the company would need to sort out any costs, which has been done in other cases.

Prosecutors did not oppose the release of the vehicle.

Mark Franta's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Christy Craig, who had motioned for the vehicle to be released to the children, said Goodman's decision was appropriate since the children also are victims in the case.

Marybeth Franta's death shocked many in Las Vegas, including students and colleagues at Molasky Junior High and members of the local equestrian community. She was a former director of the Nevada State Horsemen's Association.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.