80-Year-Old Woman Sentenced To Jail For Murdering Husband Of 60 Years

An 80-year-old woman from Red Willow County, Nebraska, has been sentenced to prison time for fatally shooting her husband nearly a year ago.

Lavetta Langdon was sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison in Red Willow County Court Monday over the murder of her husband, Larry Langdon, at the couple's McCook home in August 2020, KNOP reported.

The elderly woman was convicted after pleading no contest on June 1 to the felony manslaughter of her 79-year-old husband.

Lavetta had told police that she shot Larry twice in his sleep after he hit her on both cheeks in an argument over money, Local 4 previously reported. Additionally, she claimed Larry — whom she married in 1960 — had been abusing her for over 50 years, according to WOWT.

Prosecutors, on behalf of the state, shared insights from doctors on Lavetta's case to show that there was a motive and that it gave elements of first-degree murder.

"While she was forthcoming about the crime, it is not a rationally fair base to settle this case," Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood was quoted as saying by WOWT.

"There is no way under Nebraska law that this [is] a legal defense nor does it excuse or explain her conduct," he explained.

Court records showed Lavetta suffered from extensive abuse, which included forms of torture and isolation, WOWT reported. She claimed that she was forced to "undress and eat dog food in front of their four daughters" in one instance of abuse.

The state recommended that she receive 12 to 18 years for the killing, which had been captured on home security video. Judge David Urbom, instead, sentenced her to eight to 10 years in prison with the possibility of parole after four years.

“I have to consider what is fair to you, protect the public, and rehabilitate you. I have to consider many factors: age, criminal history, education, etc. Involuntarily manslaughter carries a maximum of 20 years. There is no question that you, Lavetta, suffer from battery women’s syndrome. No question that you lived in hell, but my review of reports and security camera footage sees the murder unjustified,” said the judge.

He continued, “Your attorney argued domestic violence. The bottom line, you killed a man in cold blood. There is no way I can put you on probation. No one deserved to be murdered. Any less of a sentence I would impose would not be good.”

Lavetta was given credit for 125 days served.

Prosecutors had originally charged Lavetta with murder and weapons charges, but those were changed to manslaughter in exchange for the no-contest plea.