An Illinois mother of five who killed her husband’s grandmother during a botched robbery was sentenced to life.
Lafayette County Circuit Judge Mario White sentenced Shannon C. Bussan to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the beating death of 83-year-old Lynne I. Montgomery. After four hours of deliberation, Bussan was convicted by a jury of first-degree intentional homicide.
“What we have here is a defendant who committed the worst crime you can commit and who takes no accountability for it despite being caught seven ways to Sunday,” said District Attorney Morgan Johanning, reported The Galena Gazette.
On Feb. 27, 2023, Montgomery was found in her home along the 5000 Block of Carr Factory Road unconscious with multiple blunt force injuries to her upper body. Initially, authorities ruled the death as an accident and approved the body to be sent to the funeral home for burial preparations. However, family members raised the alarm after they discovered notes incriminating the defendant and observed that Montgomery’s heavy safe had been moved.
As a result, investigators analyzed the note and discovered the victim had been afraid of Bussan and wanted to alert family members of the defendant's threats.
“Help, Shannon is hurting me, she dragged me to the basement to get in my safe,” reportedly stated Montgomery, according to The Monroe Times.
Furthermore, authorities found Bussan’s blood and fingerprints on the safe, with her DNA on Montgomery’s fingernails.
At the time of the fatal incident, it was reported that Bussan was with her children in the house when she assaulted the children’s great-grandmother. After her conviction, the court revoked her $1 million cash bond and immediately placed the defendant in custody.
The 31-year-old Bussan will be eligible for parole after serving 22 years.
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