Crime novelist Lisa Reardon pleads guilty to shooting her father in Dexter
An Ann Arbor crime novelist is headed to prison for shooting her father outside his Dexter Township home last summer.
Lisa Reardon, 47, pleaded guilty as charged to counts of attempted murder and felony firearm possession, court records show.
Lisa Reardon
She could have faced up to life in prison if convicted of the attempted murder charge at trial. But under an agreement reached with prosecutors, Reardon will face two years when she is sentenced April 8, officials said.
Reardon will be sentenced to an additional two years in prison for the firearm crime, which is mandatory under Michigan law.
She acknowledged deliberately shooting her father as the 68-year-old man ran toward his home on Brand Road on Aug. 21. He was struck in the leg and buttocks but survived.
During the preliminary hearing last fall, Reardon's sister testified that Reardon shot her father the day her beloved cat died and expressed disappointment that she "missed." Investigators said Reardon was 17 feet from her father when she fired the first shot.
Reardon's father, George Hicks, testified he hadn't had much contact with Reardon in the past 15 years. Although their troubled relationship was mentioned several times in court, it was not explained in detail.
After the shooting, Reardon headed to Livingston County and was arrested a short time later.
She is the author of several books, including “The Mercy Killers,” which is set in Ypsilanti, in 2005.Â
Reardon remains in custody on $500,000 bond.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 723-623-2530.
Comments
Jack
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 11:19 p.m.
I think unfortunately this type of a sentence is largely the result of sexism. A man in the same circumstances, mentally ill or not, would have received a much harsher sentence. This simply is not right.
naturally
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 3:22 p.m.
Only 2 years for intentionally shooting someone and expressing disappointment that you missed? What a joke
mi4198
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 3 p.m.
I want this lady's lawyer.
Lokalisierung
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.
Suer, get the authot in for a little meet and greet/book signing. Could do some killer business that day.
Bob
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 1:42 p.m.
On the bright side...maybe if the some of the local Borders stores can build an endcap for this author...they might help sell enough books to pay back that Pershing Square loan with a looming 4/1 deadline....
Lokalisierung
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 1:31 p.m.
Wow, 2 years. That's really really soft. if she had stole a dollar bill from him she'd be doing 15-20 years easy...but since it was "only" attempted murder it's 2 years? Susupicious.
John of Saline
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
Female perpetrator + male victim = low sentence. Remember the lady in Arkansas that blew away her husband while he was sleeping and barely got any jail time?
15crown00
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 10:13 a.m.
The FIX appears to be IN.WHY?
alarictoo
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 9:06 a.m.
@silverwings: looks more like an advertisement for her. How much does anyone care to bet that local sales of her novels skyrockets now?
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 9:03 a.m.
Thanks, silverwings. It's worth mentioning that female convicts generally receive lighter sentences.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
It would be good if AnnArbor.com's ace team of investigative reporters investigated this case. I agree 100%. Come on people. Make some phone calls. I'm pretty sure you might be able to get some phone interviews here, or something.
Wolverine3660
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:50 a.m.
What kind of a sweetheart plea bargain deal did Ms Reardon and her attorneys work out? Why did the County Prosecutors Office roll over and play dead? It would be good if AnnArbor.com's ace team of investigative reporters investigated this case. And also look into why offenders in our County are granted so many lenient sentences
stunhsif
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:46 a.m.
Gotta read between the lines, more going on here than we will ever know.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 6:29 a.m.
This story is crazy. I can't believe they let her off on the attempted murder charge. Some additional reporting on how that happened would be useful....Reardon's sister testified that Reardon shot her father the day her beloved cat died and expressed disappointment that she "missed." That strikes me as pretty clear evidence of intent, but I guess perhaps there's something that isn't being reported here. Maybe her experience in writing crime novels helped her escape reasonable punishment?
racerx
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 6:18 a.m.
Two years for "attempted murder?" Wow. Though she'll also get an additional two years for the possession of a firearm used in a felony, this seems like a pretty light sentence. Then to admit that she couldn't believed she missed, fleeing.....