The Saga of Rosalina Edmondson

The Saga of Rosalina Edmondson

In the annals of true crime, the story of Rosalina Edmondson stands as a chilling tale of deception, greed, and a web of deceit that ensnared numerous lives. Her manipulative nature and suspicious involvement in a string of deaths have captivated the public's imagination, raising questions about her motives and the dark secrets she harbored.

Rosalina Edmondson led a seemingly ordinary life. However, beneath the surface, she was a cunning and manipulative woman who would stop at nothing to pursue her own desires. Her journey was marked by a series of suspicious relationships and unexplained deaths.

A New Life in America

Born Rosalina Misina Mendoza in the Philippines, she arrived in the United States in the late 1970s on a fiancé visa. She quickly found work and moved in social circles tied to the Navy town of Bremerton/Kitsap County, Washington.

A vintage-style map highlighting Bremerton and the Kitsap Peninsula — the Pacific Northwest setting of a chilling true-crime story in Washington State.

Suspicious Deaths & Insurance Motives

Her tragic trajectory accelerated when she married William "Bill" Edmondson, a U.S. Navy yeoman. They wed in August 1981. In December of that year his body was found in a wooded area of Kitsap County. He had been shot four times and showed signs of a brutal assault. Investigators uncovered that both Bill and Rosalina had recently signed life insurance policies — Bill naming Rosalina and her daughter as beneficiaries. Also uncovered were footprints matching cowboy boots pressed into Bill’s chest and matching shoe prints on the scene of the crime.

The Conspiracy Unravels

Detectives traced links to Rosalina’s former husband, Richard Manthie, released from prison shortly before the murder. She paid his plane ticket and he was present in her home in the days leading up to the crime. Footwear and forensic evidence placed Manthie at the scene of Bill’s death. Manthie was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder in June 1982 and given life without parole. Shortly thereafter, Rosalina was arrested and indicted. On March 5 1983, she was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Sentencing and Legacy

Though much of her earlier history remains murky, Rosalina Edmondson’s conviction marked the end of a deadly alliance built on greed, betrayal and death. Her case continues to captivate true-crime audiences — a woman who manipulated husbands and ex-husbands alike to satisfy her ambition.

Conclusion

The saga of Rosalina Edmondson serves as a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity. Her manipulative nature and the web of deceit she spun have fascinated and horrified generations. Through her crimes, Rosalina Edmondson left an enduring mark on the annals of true crime, showcasing the devastating consequences of greed, deception, and the pursuit of self-interest at any cost. For further exploration of this captivating case, tune in to our podcast episode Episode 124 - Rosalina Edmondson - The Habitual Widow.