Stacey Lannert – A Victim or a Murderer?

Taking a Look at the Case and Trial of the Missouri Native

Oct 13, 2009

While the citizens of Missouri celebrated the 4th of July in 1990, Stacey Lannert killed her own father. But was she a cold-blooded murderer or a victim herself?

The A&E documentary series American Justice has taken a close look at the case of Stacey Lannert – a girl who killed her father, Tom Lannert, on July 4th, 1990. The motive for killing her father was not out of greed or hatred according to Stacey. She simply wanted peace in her life. Her story is presented through several different perspectives, but none of the perspectives given offer any sense of closure. Furthermore, there are several key people that are introduced in the documentary that never offer their version of the events during the 60 minute episode.

A Victim of Abuse

As Stacey presents herself, she is a victim of abuse. According to her own recollections, she had been a victim of sexual and physical abuse since the age of nine. Her own accounts of the incidents are quite explicit and detailed, as she describes the intimate details of her first sexual encounter with her father and those that followed.

Her claims are supported by her sister Christy, although her sister was never herself physically or sexually abused. At least this was the claim during the trial. Post trial it was revealed by Stacey that Christy was raped on July 4th, 1990 and that this event sparked her devious action. She felt responsible for Christy’s well-being and safety. Although she rarely appears, Stacey’s mother can only support the stories that Stacey tells.

Stacey claims she shot her father because she wanted to live in peace. Her defence attorney suggested that it was due to the torment and abuse that she finally reached her breaking point. After shooting her father twice, once in the shoulder and once in the head, she left the house and spent the following day disposing of the murder weapon with a friend.

Victim vs. Murderer

Stacey’s version of the story presents her as a victim of crime – a victim of assault, rape and abuse by the hand of her own father. Her defence attorney suggested that her actions were due to temporary insanity due to the immense abuse she had suffered throughout the years. However, the prosecution, who is also interviewed, offer quite a different scenario – a hit man and an inheritance.

The arguments are set up side by side – the defence makes a plea and the prosecution answers and rebuts any arguments that might not fall in their favour. The audience are given information from Stacey, which is then challenged in court. In this particular case, the audience can also be viewed as the jury – they are given facts from both sides of the argument and must come to a conclusion based on the information given.

Up until the trial is presented, Stacey has been portrayed as a victim, both by her sister, her mother and by herself. The audiences’ perception of her is altered, however, when it is revealed that she has explored several possible methods of killing her father over an extended period of time. Due to these new allegations and without her defending or even acknowledging these claims, she is no longer a victim, but a cold-blooded killer. The case of Stacey Lannert is presented in an interesting manner, because several perspectives are presented - arguments and ideas that affect the original story told by Stacey.

There are several key people that do not contribute their arguments or perspectives. Stacey’s mother only appears when she discusses her role in the child abuse case. Her opinion of her ex-husband could have offered more information in terms of the character development of Tom Lannert. Furthermore, Stacey’s friend who supposedly helped her dispose of the murder weapon is not interviewed. Although he made an appearance in the court room on a plea bargain, he does not offer his opinion or version of events for this show.

The presentation of facts and argument is effective in terms of telling Stacey’s story of abuse and her struggles in convincing a tough jury. Despite her conviction of first degree murder and her attempts of clearing her name as a murderer, this documentary presents the facts that are known in the case, without pushing the audience in a certain direction, whether it would be towards her innocence or guilt. It does, however, fall short in taking every considerable person into account, as key individuals could have offered another perspective that might have affected the audience. Either way, it is up to the audience whether Stacey is a cold-blooded murderer or a helpless abuse victim, who simply wanted to live in peace.

The copyright of the article Stacey Lannert – A Victim or a Murderer? in Socio-Political Documentaries is owned by Malene Jorgensen. Permission to republish Stacey Lannert – A Victim or a Murderer? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.