The Murder of Stacey Hanna
For today’s case, I watched an episode of Murder Among Friends. It’s season 2 episode 2, titled ‘The Girls of Belmont Ave.’
This was a senseless murder, as most are, but a young woman was killed because of a love triangle.
I’ve also seen the victim’s name spelled both Stacey and Stacy, I’m going to keep it as Stacey because it was spelled this way in the episode and in a majority of the articles I used for my research.
Background
Stacey Hanna
Stacey Hanna was 18 years old at the time of her death. She had just recently moved to Richmond, Virginia, to be on her own and be herself.
She got a job at a local restaurant and she met a young woman named Dana Vaughn. Dana then introduced Stacey to her friend, Kelley ‘Turtle’ Tibbs. Turtle was the ringleader of their group, and she invited Stacey to come live with them at their house on Belmont Avenue.
Belmont Avenue was a very fashionable part of Richmond, and it also was described as having a popular nightlife. The “Belmont girls” also had something else in common, they were all part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Everything seemed fine in the house for awhile, until feelings got involved.
Stacey’s Crush
Stacey had developed a crush on Turtle, and from what was described in the episode, she tried everything to get Turtle’s attention. Turtle was in a relationship at the time, with a woman named Tracy Bitner. However, they didn’t have the best relationship and broke up for a few weeks.
During the breakup, Stacey and Turtle had a fling, this is how Turtle described it. However, Stacey was very into Turtle, and this was her first relationship with a woman.
Turtle ended their fling, and wanted to get back together with Tracy. Stacey was heartbroken, and tried to move on but, it was hard for her and it caused the house a lot of tension.
Stacey tried everything to break up the couple, and this really angered the rest of the roommates because they were closer with Turtle. Stacey even made up rumors and lies about Tracy, and this was the last straw for the Belmont girls.
The Murder
On July 27, 1997, Turtle, Tracy and their other roommates, Stephanie Cull and Domica Winckler made a plan. They were planning to go out drinking at a local swimming hole that night, but this time they created a ruse to get Stacey to go with them. They told Stacey they were sorry about all the fighting and she believed them.
Stephanie was the driver and Dana was also with them, however she was really sick that night and was apparently in and out of consciousness. The party started at Marsh Field, and after a little bit of drinking, Turtle gave them the signal. They yelled, “one, two, three, I love you,” and the attack began.
Stacey was beaten and kicked. Domica also picked up a cinder block and hit Stacey in the face with it, fracturing her skull. Stacey didn’t die. They then put Stacey in the trunk, where she regained consciousness and began screaming for help.
The girls then drove to the swimming hole on Nash Road, where they cut Stacey’s throat and left her thinking she was dead. She wasn’t, her actual cause of death was drowning from being placed in the water. She had breathed in muddy water and died there.
Discovery of Stacey
It took a few days, but Stacey was finally discovered. She had been stabbed around 60 times with a razor blade and box cutter. She had shallow cuts to her throat and torso, a black eye and broken nose from the cinder block. She also had the word ‘Liar’ written on her leg.
Stacey had called out for help and for her mom while she was being brutally murdered.
Arrests and Convictions
The police did surveillance on the Belmont house because they didn’t have proof right away. Until they followed Stephanie Cull to a car wash. She had been trying to get rid of evidence, and Stacey’s blood and DNA was found in her car.
Stephanie, Turtle, Domica and Tracy were all questioned. Turtle was the one who confessed to what happened. Turtle said she was the one who created the plan to kill Stacey because she was a liar. They all bragged about her killing after they returned home that night, Turtle said Tracy said “I cut her throat, it felt so f***** good.” Ugh, what monsters.
Stephanie Cull was sentenced to 20 years, it was determined she was the driver but didn’t participate in the brutal attack on Stacey.
Tracy Bitner and Kelley ‘Turtle’ Tibbs were sentenced to life in prison.
Domica Winckler was originally sentenced to death, because of the cinder block, but her sentence was changed from death to a life sentence.
Dana Vaughn was never charged, and this upset a lot of people, because it was determined she was there.
Kelley Tibbs, Tracey Bitner, Stephanie Cull and Domica Winckler
Other
Stacey’s mom thinks all of the girls who were present should have been charged and receive life sentences.
Stephanie Cull was released in 2015, after 18 years. She was released for good behavior.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was such a brutal crime. I have so many questions. Why couldn’t the girls have just ended their friendship with Stacey? Why couldn’t they have just kicked her out of the house? Why did you need to take a life of another person? I don’t know if I 100% believe the story of Stacey instigating a lot of this drama, I think it was probably instigated by all of them. It just could have been prevented, and so many lives were ruined.
I also agree, I think they all should have been charged and gotten life sentences.
Sources
https://morbidology.com/the-lesbian-love-triangle-murder-of-stacy-hanna/
https://apnews.com/article/0d90bf8c3910d48b00f402acbf53af60
