A 46-year-old Florida woman, Denise Nicole Malcolm, has been sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for the murder of her husband, who she claimed had been unfaithful for years. Court documents reveal that Malcolm pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder with a firearm. Her sentence includes credit for 285 days she has already spent in pretrial detention.
The victim, 52-year-old Rohan Noel Malcolm, was shot multiple times at their home in Coral Springs, a city located approximately 20 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale. The incident occurred on August 31, 2024, following a grocery shopping trip for a Labor Day barbecue.
According to the Coral Springs Police Department, Denise Malcolm had grown increasingly frustrated with her husband’s alleged deceit and infidelity. She had been aware of his unfaithful behavior for about two years before the fatal shooting. The incident was reportedly triggered by Rohan Malcolm’s announcement that he was going out with friends after the shopping trip, a claim his wife did not believe.
Denise Malcolm told police that the couple had been sleeping in separate bedrooms and frequently engaged in heated arguments due to her husband’s infidelity, which had strained their marriage to the breaking point. On the day of the shooting, a nearly hour-long argument ensued after Rohan Malcolm announced his plans to visit Port Saint Lucie with his friends. Denise Malcolm suspected that his “friends” were in fact another woman.
The argument ended with multiple gunshots. The couple’s 14-year-old son, who was listening to music with headphones on, called 911 after hearing several loud bangs. He found his mother in the doorway of his parents’ bedroom holding a gun, and his father visibly wounded.
Police arrived at the scene five minutes later. After issuing commands for the occupants to exit the house, two twin boys emerged, but the adults remained inside. Shortly after the police’s arrival, another gunshot was heard, believed to be the one that ended Rohan Malcolm’s life.
Denise Malcolm considered suicide but decided against it after her husband said something that made her change her mind and shoot him one final time. She then placed the murder weapon on the bedroom dresser and walked outside to be arrested. Inside the house, police found Rohan Malcolm lying on his back with multiple gunshot wounds and a pool of blood underneath him.
The couple’s son later told law enforcement that his parents were estranged, slept in separate bedrooms, and frequently argued about his father’s involvement with other women. A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Rohan Malcolm’s funeral described him as a beacon of light known for his kindness, laughter, and unwavering support for others.
As part of her plea agreement, Denise Malcolm is also required to pay $23,500 in restitution and additional restitution to her children’s guardian, an amount yet to be determined.