She was 18 when she shot her father as he slept. It would take Missouri's governor nearly two decades to formally acknowledge why.
Years of Abuse
Stacey Lannert has said her father, Tom, began sexually abusing her when she was eight years old, escalating over the following decade, particularly after her parents'' divorce when she was 13 and her mother moved away. Stacey has said she eventually discovered her father was also abusing her younger sister and felt a growing responsibility to protect her.
The Killing
On July 4, 1991, then 18, Stacey retrieved a gun and shot her father as he slept on the couch. The first shot did not kill him; he woke and demanded she call for help. When he continued berating her, she shot him a second time, killing him. She disposed of the weapon through a friend before contacting police to report finding her father dead -- an account that quickly fell apart when the friend implicated her.
Trial and Sentencing
Stacey was charged with murder. Her defense sought to introduce the history of sexual abuse as context for her actions, but the court significantly limited how much of that evidence could be presented at trial. She was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Clemency
After 18 years in prison, Stacey was granted clemency by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon in 2009, with her sentence commuted, and she was released.
FAQ
Why did Stacey Lannert kill her father?
She has said she acted after years of sexual abuse by him and after learning he was also abusing her younger sister.
How long was Stacey Lannert in prison?
18 years, before Missouri''s governor commuted her sentence in 2009.
Was the abuse allegation presented at her original trial?
Only in a limited form -- the court restricted how much evidence of the alleged abuse could be introduced.