Published Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999 Stietenroth, 27, of Lake Panasoffke, Fla., was arraigned Tuesday in Mercer County Court of Common Pleas on charges of attempted first-degree murder, criminal conspiracy to murder, criminal conspiracy for arson and recklessly endangering another person.
Police said Stietenroth collaborated with Valerie Lagun, 45, of 456 Blacktown Rd., Springfield Township, to kill her diabetic husband Joseph Lagun and burn down his 169 Jamison Road mobile home in Worth Township for insurance proceeds.
The incident occurred sometime between April 28 and May 19, 1996. Lagun noticed a malfunction with the washing machine, checked it out and found the contraption on the back of the machine, police said.
Mrs. Lagun admitted that she was trying to kill her husband during divorce proceedings, however her husband didn't want to prosecute her.
She had been caring for Lagun and his 95-year-old mother when the alleged incident occurred. The couple were in the middle of divorce procedures.
Judge Michael J. Wherry sentenced Mrs. Lagun to 11 1/2 to 24 months in Mercer County Jail and seven years probation, but changed the sentence to work release when it was made known the she was caring for her ex-husband and her mother-in-law.
Stietenroth is being held in Mercer County Jail.
