Bio

Stanley Dewaine Lingar was born on April 16, 1963. By January 1985, Lingar was 22 years old and living in or near Ripley County, Missouri. He knew David Smith, an 18-year-old who was with him on the night of the murder. Before the crime, the two men had been drinking and driving around the Doniphan area.

Lingar’s family home became part of the case because he went there during the events leading to the murder and picked up a Winchester .22-caliber rifle. That rifle was later used to shoot Thomas Scott Allen. After the killing, Lingar also went to his brother Eddie Lingar’s house. The disposal of Allen’s body was discussed there before Lingar and Smith returned to the lake area.

His known case centers on the January 6, 1985 murder of Thomas Scott Allen, a 16-year-old high school student from the Doniphan area. Lingar’s case later became known for both the violent nature of the murder and the legal debate over his death sentence. His attorneys argued during appeals and clemency efforts that his mental condition, trial defense, and sexual orientation had been unfairly handled. These arguments did not stop his execution.

Murder Story

In the early morning of January 6, 1985, Thomas Scott Allen was driving home from his girlfriend’s house in Ripley County, Missouri. He was 16 years old and a high school junior. While driving on Highway 160, his Jeep ran out of gas. Stanley Lingar was driving a blue Mustang with David Smith and several hitchhikers inside. When they saw Allen, Lingar stopped. Allen explained that he needed gas, and Lingar offered to take him to a gas station. The hitchhikers got out, and Allen got into the Mustang with Lingar and Smith.

Lingar drove into Doniphan, Missouri, but no gas station was open. Instead of taking Allen back to his Jeep, Lingar drove toward Lingo Lake. During the drive, Lingar told Allen to remove his coat. Allen refused at first, but Lingar threatened to leave him, so Allen obeyed. At Lingo Lake, Lingar forced Allen to remove his clothing. He then ordered Allen to perform a sexual act. Allen was scared and could not comply. Lingar later drove to his parents’ home and picked up a Winchester .22-caliber rifle.

Lingar returned with the rifle and drove Allen and Smith back to the lake area. He pointed the rifle at Allen and again ordered him to perform the sexual act. Allen asked to get out of the car to urinate, and Lingar allowed him to step outside. While Allen was outside the car, Lingar shot him in the back. Allen was still alive and tried to escape by getting into the driver’s seat of the Mustang. He could not get the car started.

Lingar then shot Allen in the head. When Allen fell out of the car and tried to get up, Lingar shot him again. Allen still showed signs of life, so Lingar took a tire jack from the trunk and struck him in the head several times. Allen continued trying to move. Lingar got into the car, backed it up, and hit Allen. He then drove forward and hit him again. Lingar and Smith left the lake area while Allen was still on the ground.

After leaving, Lingar and Smith went to Eddie Lingar’s house. They later returned to Lingo Lake to move Allen’s body. They dressed him again, placed his body in the trunk of the Mustang, and drove to a bridge over the Eleven Point River. They threw his body into the river. Lingar and Smith then tried to hide evidence. They cleaned blood from the Mustang, removed bloody snow from the scene, threw away Allen’s belongings, and burned parts of the rifle. They later traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where they disposed of more parts of the gun.

Allen’s disappearance led authorities to Lingar’s Mustang. Lingar later returned to Ripley County with Smith and gave a statement. A search of the Mustang found a .22-caliber shell casing and blood inside the car and trunk. Allen’s body was found in the Eleven Point River on January 14, 1985. Lingar was charged with first-degree murder on March 14, 1985. His trial began on March 12, 1986, after the case was moved to St. Francois County. On March 13, 1986, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. The jury recommended the death penalty.

David Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and testified against Lingar. Smith received a 10-year prison sentence and was later released after serving part of it. Lingar appealed his conviction and death sentence for many years, but the sentence remained in place. His lawyers later argued that his mental condition, trial defense, co-defendant testimony, and sexual orientation had been unfairly handled during the case. These arguments did not stop the execution.

Governor Bob Holden denied clemency shortly before the execution. Stanley D. Lingar was executed by lethal injection at Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri on February 7, 2001.