In the small town of Crandon, Wisconsin, the crisp autumn air of homecoming weekend in 2007 was shattered by a sudden and horrific act of violence. Among the lives tragically cut short was that of Lindsey Lou Stahl, a 14-year-old Caucasian female. She had spent Saturday night, October 6th, at a friend's house for a sleepover, a gathering of young people enjoying pizza and movies.
In the early hours of Sunday, October 7, what began as a social gathering turned into a scene of unimaginable terror.
The architect of this tragedy was 20-year-old Tyler Peterson, an off-duty Forest County sheriff's deputy and part-time Crandon police officer. Peterson arrived at the party, held in a duplex near downtown Crandon, and reportedly got into a heated argument with his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend, Jordanne Michele Murray. After the dispute, Peterson left the residence only to return moments later armed with a rifle. He forced his way back into the apartment and opened fire, unleashing approximately 30 rounds on the young people inside.
In the chaos that ensued, Lindsey Lou Stahl, the youngest person present, was fatally wounded along with five others: Jordanne Murray, Aaron Smith, 20, Bradley Schultz, 20, Katrina McCorkle, 17, and Lianna Thomas, 17. All were either current students or recent graduates of Crandon High School. A lone male survivor managed to play dead after being shot multiple times and survived his critical injuries. The motive for the rampage was widely believed to be jealousy stemming from Peterson's recent breakup with Murray.
After the massacre, Peterson fled the scene, leading to a manhunt. He was eventually located at a friend's cabin in the nearby town of Argonne. Following a standoff with law enforcement, Peterson's life also came to an end. It was initially reported that he was killed by a police sniper, but subsequent investigation determined that he had died by suicide, sustaining multiple self-inflicted gunshot wounds. No arrests were made as the sole suspect was deceased. The small community was left to mourn the immense loss of seven young lives, including that of Lindsey Stahl, in a single, devastating event.
