Alan Lehman Matheney was born on November 6, 1950, in the United States. Little is known about his early life, but as he grew older, he developed a history of domestic violence and criminal behavior. He was previously married to Lisa Bianco, with whom he had two children. Their relationship was marked by abuse, which eventually led Bianco to divorce him and seek legal protection.

On March 4, 1989, Alan Matheney was given an eight-hour furlough from Pendleton Correctional Facility. Instead of following the permitted travel plans, he traveled over 100 miles to Mishawaka, Indiana, where his ex-wife, Lisa Bianco, lived. Unbeknownst to her, Matheney had already made threats against her life, and his early release allowed him the opportunity to carry them out.

Upon arriving in Mishawaka, Matheney broke into Bianco’s home, catching her completely off guard. Terrified, she fled into the street, desperately trying to escape. However, Matheney pursued her in broad daylight, while neighbors and their two children watched in horror. As Bianco pleaded for help, Matheney brutally beat her to death with a stolen .410 bore shotgun, using it as a bludgeon rather than firing it.

The murder, witnessed by multiple people, sent shockwaves through the community. Law enforcement quickly apprehended Matheney, and he was charged with burglary and murder. Despite his attempts to appeal the conviction, the courts upheld his death sentence.

For the next 16 years, Matheney remained on death row, fighting legal battles but failing to overturn his fate. On September 28, 2005, at 12:27 a.m., Matheney was executed by lethal injection at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. His last words were, “I love my family and my children. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused them. I thank my friends who stood by me.”

Lisa Bianco’s murder sparked major legal reforms in Indiana. In response to the egregious failure that allowed a violent offender temporary freedom, state lawmakers passed new laws requiring that victims be notified of an inmate’s release. Additionally, Bianco’s family received a $900,000 settlement from the state of Indiana due to the mishandling of Matheney’s furlough.