FOUND A GRAVE

Alan Lehman Matheney (6 November 1950 – 28 September 2005) was an American convicted of beating to death his ex-wife, Lisa Bianco, with a .410 bore shotgun, while on an eight-hour release from prison on 4 March 1989. At the time he was serving a sentence at Pendleton Correctional Facility for battery and confinement of Bianco. He was convicted of burglary and murder. He was executed by lethal injection on 28 September 2005 at Indiana State Prison at Michigan City. Time of death was announced as 12:27 AM.  The eight-hour release pass authorized Matheney to travel to Indianapolis; instead he travelled to St. Joseph County. He changed clothes and took a shotgun from a friend’s house. He then travelled to Mishawaka and parked his car two houses down from Bianco’s home. He broke into her house through the back door and then chased her down the street. He caught and beat her with the shotgun while his two daughters and numerous neighbors looked on. Even so, this case was held up on appeals for 16 years. The case caused a law change in the state of Indiana, which required victims to be informed if an inmate was released. The State also agreed to pay the estate of Bianco $900,000 in compensation.

At his trial he argued that he was legally insane. One mental health professional diagnosed him as having schizophreniform disorder and another said he had paranoid personality disorder with psychotic delusions. None said he was legally insane at the time of the crime. Matheney stated that he believed Bianco was in a conspiracy against him.  He refused to appear before a hearing of the Indiana Parole Board on 19 September. Then on 24 September 2005 the Indiana Supreme Court ruled 5-0 to reject a request for a new trial. Finally, Governor Mitch Daniels denied clemency on 27 September.  His lawyer released a final statement that read:  “I love my family and my children. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused them. I thank my friends who stood by me … I’m sure my grandchildren will grow up happy and healthy in the care of their wonderful parents”.  This was the fifth execution in the state in 2005. This is the most executions in a calendar year in Indiana since executions were resumed in 1977.