In the winter of 2019, a domestic tragedy unfolded in the Lansingburgh neighborhood of Troy, New York, ending the life of 54-year-old Lisa Sousie. On the morning of December 16th, the quiet of her Fifth Avenue home was shattered by a violent altercation that culminated in her death. Her son, alerted by the sounds of arguing followed by gunshots, made the horrific discovery of his mother's body and his stepfather in the alleyway behind the residence.
The perpetrator was identified as her
estranged husband, Mark L. Sousie, who was 57 at the time. The couple had been separated for about six weeks prior to the incident. After shooting his wife with a shotgun, Mark turned the weapon on himself in a failed suicide attempt, sustaining severe injuries to his face and throat. He was found by law enforcement in the alley behind the home and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment.
Following his release from the hospital, Mark Sousie was arrested and faced legal proceedings. He was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Initially, he pleaded not guilty. However, in January 2022, he accepted a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to the charge of second-degree murder.
The plea agreement resulted in a sentence of 18 years to life in prison. He was formally sentenced on March 2, 2022. The resolution of the case through a plea deal was seen by the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office as a way to bring a measure of closure to Lisa Sousie's grieving family, who had awaited justice for over two years. The case stands as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
