Tortured Woman Executed for Heinous Murder, Sparking Controversy

In November 2025, the tragic story of Lisa Montgomery continues to be a subject of intense debate. In 2021, Montgomery, then 52 years old, was executed by lethal injection for the 2004 murder of a pregnant woman and kidnapping of her unborn child.

The horrific crime occurred when Montgomery, a mother of four, traveled from her home to meet Bobbie Jo Stinnett, a 23-year-old dog breeder who was eight months pregnant at the time. Under the guise of wanting to purchase a puppy, Montgomery gained entry to Stinnett's home, where she proceeded to strangle the woman to death and cut out the unborn child.

However, the details of Montgomery's life reveal a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse and trauma that experts believe contributed to her mental illness and the unthinkable act she committed. From a young age, Montgomery was subjected to sexual assault, physical abuse, and neglect at the hands of her stepfather and mother. She was even kept in an isolated room where she was regularly raped and tortured.

Montgomery's execution marked the first time the US government had carried out the death penalty on a woman in 70 years. The case has sparked ongoing controversy, with many arguing that her severe mental health issues and traumatic upbringing should have been taken into greater consideration. As one expert noted, "Lisa is not the worst of the worst - she is the most broken of the broken."