Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG.

Sex Crimes

Utah doctor convicted in wife's death appeals sex abuse case

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • dc16ef53-
    Image 1 of 2

    FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2012 file photo, family members hold up photos of Michele MacNeill facing Martin MacNeill as he enters the courtroom in Provo, Utah. MacNeill, who was found guilty of giving his wife drugs prescribed after cosmetic surgery and leaving her to drown in the bathtub of their home in 2007 so he could begin a new life with his mistress, will appear before a state appeals court Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in a long shot attempt to get his conviction overturned based on disputed testimony from a former cellmate. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP, Pool, File) (The Associated Press)

  • a19f8db7-
    Image 2 of 2

    FILE - This Nov. 7, 2013, file photo, shows Martin MacNeill listening to Gypsy Willis testify during his murder trial in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah. MacNeill, who was found guilty of giving his wife drugs prescribed after cosmetic surgery and leaving her to drown in the bathtub of their home in 2007 so he could begin a new life with his mistress, will appear before a state appeals court Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in a long shot attempt to get his conviction overturned based on disputed testimony from a former cellmate. (Al Hartmann/The Salt Like Tribune via AP, Pool, File) (The Associated Press)

SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah doctor found guilty of drugging his beauty queen wife and leaving her to die in a bathtub is appealing a separate sexual abuse conviction, arguing he couldn't get a fair trial after he was convicted in the high-profile murder case.

Lawyers for Martin MacNeill said Tuesday the murder case was one of the biggest the area had seen in decades and that the sexual abuse trial should have been moved away.

Prosecutors say there's no proof the proceedings were tainted and the conviction should stand.

The Utah Court of Appeals did not immediately rule. MacNeill is also appealing the murder conviction.

MacNeill was convicted in 2014 of sexually abusing his adult daughter.

The Associated Press doesn't normally identify sexual assault victims, but Alexis Somers has agreed to be identified to advocate for other victims.

Close modal

Continue