DARLINGTON — A defendant accused of killing her husband’s grandmother in 2023 is set to go to trial next month before a Madison judge in Lafayette County Circuit Court.

Shannon Bussan, 31, of Elizabeth, Ill., is accused of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Lynne Montgomery, 83, of Benton, on or close to Feb. 27, 2023. 

Bussan was reportedly an intermittent companion or caregiver to Montgomery, and authorities contend she was in the victim’s home prior to her death.  After a 911 call from family on Feb. 28, police began to investigate the death of the elderly victim at that home, in the 5000 block of Carr Factory Road. 

At first, Montgomery was thought to have died from natural causes. But family members were suspicious and police were called back to the rural Benton home. 

After taking another look, investigators allegedly linked the death to Bussan through phone records, surveillance cameras and other evidence. Bussan was arrested later in March 2023 without incident in Illinois on charges of first-degree intentional homicide and initially taken to the Jo Daviess County Jail. Eventually she was returned to Lafayette County custody.  

According to published reports, 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.

Dane County Circuit Judge Mario White will hear the case, following a successful bid last year for a new judge from the defense.

It is unclear if Bussan was offered any type of plea deal prior to the upcoming trial — set to being on Nov. 4 with jury selection, according to court records. Attempts to reach Lafayette County District Attorney Morgan Johanning for comment on the pending trial were unsuccessful Thursday, Oct. 17.

Bussan is represented by Madison-based Strang & Bradley. Reached at his office, Bussan’s defense attorney John Bradley said the defense does not have a comment “at this time.” 

Still, Bussan maintains her innocence, and a not guilty plea for her was entered last May. Her attorneys have filed multiple motions to suppress evidence, according to court records, and it was unclear Oct. 17 if all of those had been resolved.

If she is convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, she faces a possible sentence of life in prison.

According to the victim’s obituary, Montgomery and her family farmed in Lafayette County for many years. 

“Their dream was to own a farm in Wisconsin, so in 1973 they purchased the farm in Benton,” said her obituary.