In “the trial of the century,” a Houston socialite was accused of plotting her husband’s murder—and of having an affair with her nephew. But Candace Mossler was only getting started.
In the summer of 1964, the opulent world of Houston socialite Candace “Candy” Mossler unraveled when her millionaire husband, Jacques Mossler, was found brutally murdered in his Key Biscayne, Florida, apartment. The 69-year-old financier had been stabbed 39 times and bludgeoned, a crime that sent shockwaves through the nation. Suspicion quickly fell on Candy and her 28-year-old nephew, Melvin Lane Powers, with whom she was allegedly engaged in an illicit affair. The revelation of their relationship added a lurid twist to the case, captivating the public and media alike.
The ensuing trial in 1966 was nothing short of sensational. Prosecutors painted a picture of greed and passion, suggesting that Candy and Melvin conspired to kill Jacques to inherit his $33 million fortune. Evidence included Melvin’s fingerprints at the crime scene and bloodstains in a car matching one seen fleeing the area. However, the defense, led by the formidable Percy Foreman, countered with a narrative of a jealous homosexual lover as the real culprit, casting doubt on the prosecution’s case. The courtroom drama was so intense that spectators lined up daily, and the judge barred anyone under 21 from attending due to the explicit content. After a seven-week trial, the jury acquitted both Candy and Melvin, a verdict that stunned many.
Post-trial, Candy and Melvin’s relationship cooled, and they eventually parted ways. Candy remarried in 1971, but tragedy struck again when her new husband suffered a debilitating fall under mysterious circumstances. She died in 1976 from an apparent overdose. Melvin pursued a career in real estate development, achieving success but never escaping the shadow of the infamous trial. The Mossler case remains one of the most scandalous and talked-about murder trials in American history, a tale of wealth, passion, and the complexities of justice.
