The Tragic Case Of Lisa Montgomery: 5 Shocking Facts About The Last Woman Executed By The U.S. Federal Government

The case of Lisa Marie Montgomery remains one of the most polarizing and tragic chapters in the history of the U.S. federal death penalty. Her execution in January 2021 brought intense scrutiny to the intersection of severe mental illness, horrific childhood trauma, and capital punishment, sparking a national debate that continues to resonate today. This article, updated for the current date of December 12, 2025, delves into the definitive facts of her life, the unspeakable crime she committed, and the controversial legal battle that ultimately failed to save her life. Lisa Montgomery's story is not just a recounting of a heinous crime; it is a profound and disturbing examination of how a lifetime of abuse can culminate in an act of unimaginable violence. The legal and ethical complexities surrounding her mental state—a defense team argued she suffered from a dissociative disorder due to relentless sexual and physical abuse—made her case a flashpoint for advocates against the death penalty.

Biography and Profile of Lisa Marie Montgomery

Lisa Marie Montgomery was a convicted murderer whose case gained international attention when she became the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government in nearly seven decades.

• Full Name: Lisa Marie Montgomery (née Stites)
• Born: February 27, 1968
• Died: January 13, 2021 (Age 52)
• Place of Birth: Melvern, Kansas, U.S.
• Victim: Bobbie Jo Stinnett (Age 23)
• Crime: Kidnapping resulting in death (Federal charge)
• Date of Crime: December 16, 2004
• Location of Crime: Skidmore, Missouri
• Conviction Date: October 22, 2007
• Sentence: Death by lethal injection
• Date of Execution: January 13, 2021
• Place of Execution: U.S. Penitentiary, Terre Haute, Indiana
• Execution Method: Lethal injection
• Legal Defense Argument: Dissociative disorder, history of severe sexual and physical abuse, and mental illness.

The Unspeakable Crime Against Bobbie Jo Stinnett

The crime committed by Lisa Montgomery on December 16, 2004, in Skidmore, Missouri, was exceptionally brutal and shocking. Montgomery, who had been unable to conceive a child herself, had been communicating with her victim, 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett, online about buying a rat terrier puppy.

Under the pretense of a puppy purchase, Montgomery drove from her Kansas home to Stinnett’s residence. Stinnett was eight months pregnant at the time.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

Once inside, Montgomery attacked Stinnett, strangling her with a rope.

In a horrific act, Montgomery then used a kitchen knife to cut the baby girl from Stinnett’s womb.

Montgomery fled the scene with the newborn, leaving Stinnett to die. The baby, a girl named "Baby Stinnett," miraculously survived the ordeal and was later returned to her father.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

The severity of the crime—a murder committed for the purpose of kidnapping a child—is why federal prosecutors sought the death penalty against Montgomery.

A Lifetime of Trauma: The Mental Illness Defense

During her trial, and in the years leading up to her execution, Montgomery’s defense team argued that her actions were a direct result of a lifetime of relentless and extreme abuse, which had severely damaged her mental state.

The defense presented evidence of a childhood marked by systemic sexual abuse, physical torture, and sex trafficking.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

Psychological experts testified that this prolonged trauma had led Montgomery to suffer from a dissociative disorder, meaning she was unable to fully grasp the reality of her actions at the time of the murder.

The argument centered on the idea that her mental illness, rooted in a history of profound abuse, should be a mitigating factor against the death penalty.

Advocates argued that executing a person with such a documented history of severe mental illness and trauma was a miscarriage of justice and failed to consider the complex factors that led to the crime.

The Final Days and Controversial Execution

Lisa Montgomery was the only woman on federal death row for years. Her execution was scheduled as part of a series of executions carried out by the Trump administration in its final months, ending a 17-year hiatus of federal executions.

Her case involved numerous last-minute legal appeals and stays of execution, with the Supreme Court ultimately clearing the way for the execution to proceed.

On January 13, 2021, at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, Lisa Montgomery was executed by lethal injection.

She was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m., becoming the 11th person executed by the federal government since the practice was resumed in 2020 and the first female federal inmate executed since 1953.

The execution was met with widespread criticism from human rights groups, death penalty opponents, and the United Nations, who cited her history of trauma and mental health issues as compelling reasons for clemency.

5 Shocking Facts That Defined the Lisa Montgomery Case

The legal and human dimensions of the Lisa Montgomery case are complex, revealing critical flaws and ethical dilemmas within the capital punishment system.

1. The 68-Year Hiatus: Montgomery was the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government in 68 years. The last was Bonnie Brown Heady in 1953.
2. The Surviving Child: Despite the horrific nature of the crime, the victim's baby girl, "Baby Stinnett," survived the attack and was successfully recovered and reunited with her family.
3. The Trump Administration Rush: Her execution was one of three scheduled during the final full week of Donald Trump's presidency, a period marked by an unprecedented number of federal executions.
4. Trauma Defense: Her defense team presented extensive evidence that she was a victim of severe sexual and physical abuse from a very young age, a key factor in their argument for a life sentence instead of death.
5. The Method of Contact: Montgomery connected with her victim, Bobbie Jo Stinnett, through an online chat room dedicated to rat terrier dogs, using deception to gain access to her home.

The legacy of Lisa Montgomery’s execution continues to fuel the debate over the fairness and morality of the federal death penalty, particularly when applied to individuals with documented histories of extreme trauma and mental health challenges. Her case serves as a dark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the ethical questions surrounding capital punishment.