The story I want to share with you today is one I struggled whether to share or not. This is because it is about a woman who died at the hands of her abuser (story below). However, it roused many people to take action to prevent domestic violence. For twenty years, her face and story is well known in the Northern part of Indiana, especially in Elkhart County where she resided.
I have decided to include it in hopes that those who read it will realize that action needs to be taken BEFORE there is a dead body.
~~Debra Contreras
"Matheny was convicted and sent to prison in 1987 for Battery and Confinement of his ex-wife, Lisa Bianco. While in prison, Matheny had repeatedly expressed a desire to kill Bianco, and attempted to solicit others to do so. After serving almost 2 years, he was given an 8-hour furlogh from Pendleton, where he was an inmate. Although the pass authorized a trip to Indianapolis, Matheny headed straight for St. Joseph County. Once there, he changed clothes and took a shotgun from a friend's house, then drove to Mishawaka. He parked the car in a lot two doors down from his ex-wife's house, then broke in through the back door. Bianco ran from the home, pursued by Matheny through the neighborhood. When he caught her, he beat her with the shotgun that broke into pieces. He then got into his car and drove away. Bianco died as a result of this blunt force trauma. (insanity defense) (This case generated massive amounts of publicity and led to state legislation requiring the Indiana DOC to notify victims of release from prison)" story accessed at: Clark County Prosecutor. This page also included news articles and legal procedings involving this story).
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