A 60-year-old Michigan Woman, Linda Stermer, was found guilty in connection with the 2007 murder of her husband, Todd Stermer. Approximately 18 years ago, Todd found out that Linda was cheating on him. Linda decided to douse him in gasoline, burn him alive, and then run him over with the family van.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to WWMT, Todd Stermer was found unresponsive and badly injured in their Lawrence Township residence's yard on January 7, 2007. He had suffered severe burns and lacerations to his head, in addition to blunt-force trauma. Todd would later succumb to his wounds and smoke inhalation.
An investigation determined that his wife, Linda Stermer, had doused Todd in gasoline and set him on fire. He would then exit the house while suffering excruciating burns. Linda then hit her husband with her vehicle, leaving the scene afterward. This was further confirmed by the presence of Todd's blood at the bottom of the vehicle. Moreover, the whole incident had taken place shortly after Todd found out and confronted Linda about her infidelity.
Linda Stermer was originally sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in 2010. However, she was released in 2018 following an appeal. The basis of the appeal was misconduct on the 2010 prosecutor's behalf and that Linda was badly represented by her defense. She was granted a new trial.
New Trial
Throughout the years, Linda maintained her innocence. As per WOOD, she claimed that her husband had caught fire as a result of candles and an oil lamp in the house. She has also claimed that she accidentally hit him while attempting to seek help.
However, during the trial, key testimonies from Stermer's two adult children and her nephew, whom she raised, were proven vital for her conviction, according to MLive. One of her children, Trevor, said that the argument his parents had after Todd found out about Linda's infidelity was "the worst argument that we had witnessed." Worst of all, Trevor testified that Linda, whom he does not call mother, told him and his brother to lie on her behalf, helping her cover the murder of their father
"She wanted to downplay the severeness of the fight," Trevor said, as per MLive. "It was severe. It was the most heated argument I heard from my parents. Second, no talks of divorce with the insurance agent and three, she said to tell them it was a chimney fire."
After seven hours of deliberations, Linda Stermer was found guilty of first-degree murder and felony murder while perpetrating arson. She will receive a life imprisonment mandatory sentence on May 19.
