Katharine Mishler to serve 20 to 32 years in prison for murdering husband
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The woman who pleaded guilty to murdering her husband in March will serve up to 32 years in prison, according to a judge’s ruling on Wednesday.
Katharine Mishler
Katharine Mishler, of Ypsilanti Township, was sentenced Wednesday on one count each of second-degree murder, making a false report of a crime and a felony firearm charge. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Dec. 14.
Mishler was ordered to serve between 18 years and 30 years for the second-degree murder charge and between 32 months and four years for making a false report of a crime, according to court officials. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning she will serve them at the same time. Mishler was also sentenced to a mandatory two-year prison sentence for the felony firearm charge, which must be served consecutively to the other prison terms, according to court officials.
Mishler received 315 days of time served credit on the felony firearms charge, according to court officials. She received no credit on the sentences for second-degree murder and making a false report of a crime.
According to court testimony, Mishler shot Samuel Mishler at about 1:45 a.m. March 23 at their Tuscan Creek Apartment in the 200 block of Stevens Drive in Ypsilanti Township. She originally told police dispatchers she had shot an intruder, according to evidence at a preliminary exam.
Mishler eventually told police she and her husband were in the living room of the apartment when an argument began. The couple’s dog continued to jump on Samuel Mishler, angering him, and she was tired of having to do chores, according to police.
Police said Mishler told her husband to leave the apartment or she was going to shoot him, but he refused. She walked into a bedroom, where the couple kept three guns, picked one up and cocked it in an attempt to frighten Samuel Mishler, police said.
Samuel Mishler challenged Mishler to pull the trigger, police said. Bader Cassin, the Washtenaw County chief medical examiner, said the muzzle of the gun was pressed to Samuel Mishler’s head and one shot was fired, killing him instantly.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Meygan
Fri, Feb 17, 2012 : 6:27 a.m.
Please do not judge Kat. She has been my best friend for many years. The whole story was not represented in the case. I don't know why she didn't tell the whole story or why the courts/lawyers chose to not call me into testify on her behalf. All I know is that Kat isn't a "cold calculated killer" like the papers say she is. She is very loving and kind hearted. She put up with and went through a lot with Sam. Did he deserve to die? Of course not. Should Kat be punnished for what she did. Of course she should. I'm just saying don't judge her. She isn't a monster. She is a wonderful person. And I love her deeply. She just made a huge mistake. And if she is to be judged, then God will be the one to do it.
2onlow8
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 9:31 a.m.
Why do women who kill men get lighter sentences than men who kill anybody? Is it because society values women's lives more than men's?
grimmk
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
I think it defaults to the age old idea that women don't commit murder. That they aren't as bad as men.
newsboy
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 1:37 a.m.
Too bad she has no money, she would have gotten probation. This has to be the work of a public defender! Anyone in fear of going to prison and losing their freedom is going to lie, guilty or not. The only difference is whether you have adequate money and representation. I always tell my kids to abide by the law, but at the same time caution them to never cooperate with the law without proper representation. If the police question you about anything, there is in most cases no need to rush to an interrogation. Police and prosecutor will threaten everything under the sun if you are not well educated, informed or represented. Lazy prosecutors will jump make plea deals without looking to see if they even have the right individual. Only when public defenders earn the same level of respect, salary and opportunities, will the law truly be just. Many poor, innocent men and women have gone to prison for cooperating with law enforcement. You should always invoke your right to not self-incriminate, and your right to proper representation. It is also a very good idea for law abiding citizens to put away enough money for when the day they never imagined, comes a knocking. The law is more dysfunctional than most would believe, but it's the public's expectation of speed and underfunding that has caused this calamity. If only we could take some of the money we give to other country's or spend on wars, these types of problems would not exist.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:25 p.m.
Am I correct that she has to serve the minimum? That so called time off for good behavior would come off the higher number, but she must serve at least the lower number? Somebody set me straight.
tinkerbell
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.
Since the truth in sentencing law was enacted, there is no time off for good behavior
LaMusica
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
That's how I read it...she HAS to serve at least 18 years. The time served comes off the 2-year gun charge, so after her 18+years are served, she still has a little over a year left on the gun charge, assuming she doesn't get credit in prison for good behavior or anything like that. She could also serve the full 30 years (unlikely), but she would still have the time left from the gun charge. I'm not sure though, this is just how I read it.
RJA
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
Well, the time has come and she will pay her dues. It's time I stop feeling sorry for her each time I see her picture here. Hoping it is not shown anymore.
Rod Johnson
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 11:06 p.m.
I feel sorry for her because she has ruined her life (and no, no need to point out that she ended her husband's life, I'm aware of what "murder means). It's not impossible to have compassion for someone even if you don't sympathize with their actions.
djacks24
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
Sorry, I meant life.
djacks24
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
Why would you possibly feel sorry for her? Is this because it's got to be the mans fault, the guns fault, but not her fault? She had choices. She could have left. Her live was not in danger. She chose to shoot the guy because she didn't want to do chores.
Mr. Ed
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:03 p.m.
If the tables were turned they would have hung the guy in prison for life.
Ann23
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 5:55 a.m.
Or, this guy. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/man-who-set-ex-girlfriends-home-on-fire-while-family-was-inside-sentenced-to-up-to-20-years-in-priso/#comments">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/man-who-set-ex-girlfriends-home-on-fire-while-family-was-inside-sentenced-to-up-to-20-years-in-priso/#comments</a>
Ann23
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 4:32 a.m.
Ya, like this guy. The difference is she succeeded. Oh, and at least 18 years. Not to mention the life lasting emotional effects, especially once he is let back on the streets. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/superior-township-man-to-serve-up-to-4-years-for-nearly-strangling-family-member-to-death/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/superior-township-man-to-serve-up-to-4-years-for-nearly-strangling-family-member-to-death/</a>
djacks24
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 10:39 p.m.
No question. Mandatory life in prison.