DOB: 11-06-1950 DOC#: 875922 White Male

Lake County Superior Court Judge James E. Letsinger

Venued from St. Joseph County

Prosecutor: Jack Krisor

Defense: Scott King

Date of Murder: March 4, 1989

Victim(s): Lisa Bianco W/F/34 (Ex-wife of Matheny)

Method of Murder: beating with shotgun

Summary: 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 legislation requiring DOC to notify victims of release from prison)

Conviction: Murder, Burglary

Sentencing: May 11, 1990 (Death Sentence)

Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Burglary, Lying in wait

Mitigating Circumstances: turned himself in, extreme mental and emotional disturbance, helpful, useful, generous and kind, mental disease (schizophreniform disorder)

Direct Appeal:
Matheny v. State, 583 N.E.2d 1202 (Ind. January 9, 1992)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0 DP Affirmed 4-1
Givan Opinion; Shepard, Dickson, Krahulik concur; Debruler dissents.

Matheny v. Indiana, 112 S. Ct. 2320 (1992) (Cert. denied)

PCR:
11-25-92 PCR filed;
Denied by Special Judge Richard J. Conroy 04-10-95
Matheney v. State, 688 N.E.2d 883 (Ind. 1997) (Appeal of PCR) Affirmed 5-0
Shepard Opinion; Dickson, Sullivan, Selby, Boehm concur.

APPEAL PENDING