DARLINGTON — Shannon Bussan, accused of killing an 83-year-old Benton woman in the victim’s home in 2023, was found guilty of the crime by a Lafayette County jury last week and now faces a potential life sentence.

Bussan, 31, of Elizabeth, Ill., was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Lynne Montgomery, on Feb. 27, 2023. Montgomery was Bussan’s husband’s grandmother. Bussan was an occasional companion to Montgomery, and authorities contend Bussan was in the victim’s home prior to her death, with her baby and two of her youngest children along. 

The verdict came after a few hours of deliberation by a jury. Sentencing has been set for 2 p.m. Dec. 23 before Dane County Circuit Judge Mario White.

After hearing both sides and closing arguments in the case, it took the jury several hours to reach its verdict. It came after several questions and requests by the jury to see evidence.

Authorities speculate Bussan committed the crime as part of a plot to take money that Montgomery kept in a safe — as much as $10,000 in cash. Authorities began investigating the death after notes were found in Mongtomery’s home stating Bussan had harmed her and tried to get her to open her safe.

Initially, authorities ruled the death accidental, and the victim’s body was sent to a funeral home for preparation. But the next day, relatives, aware that the heavy safe had been moved at one point and that the notes had been found, urged police to investigate the death at that home, in the 5000 block of Carr Factory Road.  

According to published reports, detective Paul Klang, with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department, testified last Thursday, Nov. 7, to reviewing data collected from Bussan’s cellphone that placed her in Montgomery’s home as early as 11:14 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2023. But Bussan apparently earlier told police that she did not arrive at Montgomery’s home until around 3:30 p.m. that day for a planned visit — a meeting that ended prematurely when Bussan discovered Montgomery unresponsive in her bedroom.  

According to testimony, Bussan reportedly went to Montgomery’s to sort through knick-knacks that Montgomery was hoping to get rid of from inside her home.

An autopsy was conducted on Montgomery on March 1. The preliminary autopsy report noted “multiple blunt force injuries” on Montgomery’s head, face, and limbs, as well as rib fractures.

The defense argued that Bussan loved Montgomery and suggested that perhaps she was “framed” for Montgomery’s death amid a family dispute.

Bussan had been out on bail pending trial, but her bond was immediately revoked, and she was taken into custody after Friday’s verdict. 

Attempts to reach both Bussan’s defense attorneys and Lafayette County District Attorney Morgan Johanning were unsuccessful on.

Bussan faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.