In 2011, former NFL Linebacker Eric Naposki was charged with the murder of businessman and millionaire William “Bill” McLaughlin, nearly 15 years after the crime had occurred. After years of investigation, authorities found that Naposki was having an affair with Nanette Packard, McLaughlin’s fiance. Packard and Naposki reportedly executed the premeditated murder by shooting McLaughlin in his Newport Beach home on December 15, 1994.
Nanette Packard and her two children had been living with Bill McLaughlin when he proposed to her, which she accepted. The latter reportedly had three children from his previous marriage. Bill was a wealthy millionaire who led a luxurious life due to his invention of Plasmacell-C, a device that could separate blood and plasma. His popularity made the case fairly famous, and it was also featured on an episode of Rich & Shameless.
Eric Naposki’s murder case explained
At the time of the murder, Eric Naposki was still a popular NFL star and had played several seasons as a linebacker before he moved to California for a break. He then met Nanette Packard in a gym, and the two developed a romantic relationship. Eric was allegedly unaware of Nanette’s engagement to Bill, while the latter also did not know about the affair.
Kevin McLaughlin, Bill’s son, had been living with his father since his accident that led to his speech impediment. After he heard gunshots from downstairs, he reportedly rushed to the crime scene. Kevin found six 9mm bullet casings scattered across the kitchen floor. He then alerted the authorities, who began the investigation that took one and a half decades to conclude.
Packard became a suspect in the case. She initially told authorities that Bill knew of her relationship with Naposki. This claim was found inconsistent with the rest of the investigation, shifting the suspicion to Naposki. The fact that Packard had possible material gains due to Bill’s death also strengthened the accusation. She was to reportedly receive over $1 million as insurance and his beach house.
Over the years, investigators also suspected Kevin McLaughlin because of his history of alcoholism. They discovered a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in Bill’s possession. However, no gun residue was found on him, and the case went cold for nearly a decade. In 2008, the investigation was reopened.
During covert surveillance on Packard, she was spotted getting intimate with Naposki, making suspicions stronger. Eric Naposki was then questioned, who had no solid alibi for the night Bill died. Moreover, he claimed to not possess any firearms, which proved to be a lie when the police found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. With the evidence against Naposki strong enough, police arrested him in 2009, after which the trial began.
Eric Naposki today: Where is he now?
Two years after his arrest, the court charged Eric Naposki with first-degree murder in 2011. Meanwhile, Nanette Packard was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder a year later.
Based on data from the California Department of Corrections, Eric Naposki is currently serving his life sentence at the Ironwood State Prison. Nanette Packard is also in prison at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. Neither of the convicted were given any chance of parole.
Details of the crime and how Eric Naposki partnered with Nanette Packard to execute the murder of McLaughlin have been explored on a Rich & Shameless episode titled ‘A Deadly Football Hit.’ The episode will air on December 14, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on ID.
