The Murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett
Earlier this morning, my husband asked me if I know anything about Lisa Montgomery. I said that the name sounded familiar, and I looked it up and was shocked to learn that Lisa would be executed soon, and that she will be the first woman in 70 years to be executed. It was surprising to me that my husband brought it up because he really isn’t in to true crime, but he knew that I would be interested in it, and he was right!
Background
Bobbie Jo Stinnett was born on December 4, 1981. She was a 23 year old married woman, who was 8 months pregnant when she died. Bobbie Jo and her husband owned a dog-breeding business.
Bobbie Jo
Details leading up to the murder
Bobbie Jo met Lisa Montgomery on a chat room called Ratter Chatters, which was a Rat Terrier chatroom. Lisa was going under the name “Darlene Fischer.”
Lisa Montgomery
The two women bonded over being pregnant, and they would exchange emails. They made plans for Lisa or “Darlene” to come over to Bobbie Jo’s house in Skidmore, Missouri, on the day of the crime.
Murder
On December 16, 2004, Lisa or “Darlene” went to Bobbie Jo’s, and strangled Bobbie Jo from behind with a rope. She then cut the baby from her womb, using a carving knife. The baby was premature.
Bobbie Jo was found an hour later, her mom, Becky Harper. Her mom immediately called 911. On the 911 call, her mother described that it looks like her stomach had “exploded.”
Bobbie Jo died at St. Francis Hospital in Maryville, Missouri.
Arrest
On December 17, 2004, Lisa Montgomery was arrested at her house in Melvern, Kansas. The baby was also recovered, which Lisa said was her own baby.
Lisa
Lisa had a troubled live, and reportedly sexually abused by her stepfather during her childhood. She also told people over and over that she was pregnant. One of her former husband’s said that she went through a tubal ligation in 1990. It’s also reported that she has had a miscarriage before, and didn't tell anyone in her family.
Trial and Sentencing
Lisa Montgomery was charged with the federal offense of kidnapping resulting in death.
During the trial, Lisa’s attorneys tried to say that Lisa had severe mental illness, and that she even had pseudocyesis, which is a mental condition where a woman think she’s pregnant, and might even show signs of pregnancy. They also had an expert testify that Lisa also showed signs of depression, borderline personality disorder and PTSD.
Whether or not Lisa was mentally ill, she was still found guilty on October 22, 2o07. On October 26, she was given the death sentence.
On April 4, 2008, the judge upheld the death penalty.
Lisa is scheduled to be executed on December 8, 2020 at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Other
Bobbie Jo’s daughter survived, and is now 16 years old. Her name is Victoria Jo Stinnett.
Zeb, Bobbie Jo’s husband and baby Victoria
Memorial for Bobbie Jo in Skidmore, Missouri
FINAL THOUGHTS
Lisa is a monster. Yes, she had a hard life, but that doesn't give her the right to brutally murder someone, and cut out a baby. It makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OF THESE CRIMES LATELY HAPPENING TO INNOCENT WOMEN.
I don’t believe in the death penalty, unless the crimes are sooooo unforgivable, and I think this is definitely an unforgivable crime. I wish she could just rot in prison though, but that’s just my opinion.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Bobbie_Jo_Stinnett
