On a tragic summer day, August 6, 2003, in the quiet farming community of rural Stockton, Iowa, the life of 41-year-old Lisa Jo Hering was violently cut short. A loving mother and active volunteer, Lisa was shot and killed at her family's farm home. The perpetrator was her husband, 42-year-old David Hering.
The horrific event unfolded while the couple's four children and two visiting children were present at the residence. Following the shooting, David Hering engaged in a tense, three-hour standoff with law enforcement. He hid inside a hog shed on the property and fired at the officers who had responded to a 911 call. Authorities first worked to safely evacuate the children from the home before confronting the armed man. The standoff concluded when a tactical unit shot David in the leg as he attempted to run back to the farmhouse.
After David Hering was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for his injuries, officers discovered Lisa Hering's body in a farm field, dead from gunshot wounds. He was subsequently arrested and jailed on a million-dollar bond. David Hering faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder for firing at law enforcement, and child endangerment. His defense attorneys indicated that psychiatric reports would be a significant part of his defense during the trial. Ultimately, David Hering was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife and sentenced to life in prison.
