Michigan woman sentenced to life in prison for setting husband on fire—and crushing him with SUV

Michigan woman sentenced to life in prison for setting husband on fire—and crushing him with SUV

Linda Stermer has been sentenced to life without parole for the 2007 murder of her husband, Todd—she doused him with gasoline, set him aflame, then ran him over with the family van.

👉 Read full coverage: CBS News Detroit


🕵️‍♀️ What Happened

Prosecutors say that in 2007, Linda Stermer doused her husband, Todd Stermer, with gasoline inside their Paw Paw, Michigan home after he discovered her affair. They allege she then set him on fire—and when he managed to escape, she ran him over with their family van, ensuring his death.

Sources: AP News summary via People/CBS Detroit, CBS News Detroit


⚖️ Legal Journey & Sentencing

Stermer was initially convicted in 2010 but won a new trial following an appeals court ruling in 2020, citing her former attorney's shortcomings. In April 2025, she was found guilty again and resentenced to life in prison without parole. Judge Kathleen Brickley described the crime as among the most gruesome she had seen.

Sources: AP News, People.com story


😳 Family Testimony & Defense Claims

Stermer has always maintained it was an accident, blaming candles and an oil lamp for the fire. During the trial, her adult children and nephew testified she had orchestrated a cover-up by instructing them to lie to authorities about the origin of the blaze.

Sources: People.com recap, CBS News context from prior coverage


🧠 Broader Implications

This case raises deep questions about appellate fairness and domestic violence accountability. Legal observers point to the rare outcome—a resentencing two decades later—as part of evolving standards for inadequate defense and prosecutorial conduct.

Sources: AP News analysis, People.com legal recap


TL;DR SMH America 🤦‍♂️😏☕

  • Linda Stermer received a life sentence without parole for murdering her husband in 2007 by burning and then crushing him.

  • Her conviction was overturned once on appeal, but she lost a retrial in 2025.

  • Family members testified she planned the killing and manipulated cover-up stories.

  • The retrial highlights continued scrutiny of defense quality and post-conviction justice.

Comments