20 Shocking Facts About the Lillelid Murders

20 Shocking Facts About the Lillelid Murders

On 6th April 1997, a series of murders took place in Greene County, Tennessee, the United States of America. These murders involved three members of the Lillelid family. 34-year-old Vidar Lillelid, 28-year-old Delfina Lillelid, their 6-year-old daughter Tabitha, and their 2-year-old son Peter were the victims.

A group of young men had apprehended the Lillelid family on a deserted rural road near Baileyton. They were attempting to carjack them but everything went wrong. The young men shot at the family after their attempted robbery.

The Lillelid parents were found to be dead at the scene of the crime. Their daughter died as she was being rushed to hospital. However, Peter did not die from the incident but he remained to be disabled afterward.

The perpetrators were six young people from Kentucky. In the group, there were two minors. They were convicted of felony murder for the murders of the three Lillelid family members. Their sentencing was three life sentences as well as an additional 25 years for the attempted killing of Peter Lillelid.

Here are the 20 Shocking Facts About the Lillelid Murders;

1. The Victims Were Three Members of the Same Family

The Lillelid murders were a series of shocking homicides that shocked residents of Greene County. Three members of the Lillelid family were brutally murdered while on a deserted rural road. 34-year-old Vidar Lillelid, 28-year-old Delfina Lillelid, and their 6-year-old daughter Tabitha were the victims of the murders.

2. Six Young People were the Perpetrators of the Murders

The Lillelid murders shocked many people because of the people who were involved in taking these lives. Six young people aged between fourteen to twenty were involved in these murders.

Jason Bryant, Natasha Cornett, Dean Mullins, Joseph Risner, Crystal Sturgill, and Karen Howell were the perpetrators of the Lillelid murders. They were traveling from Pikeville to New Orleans.

3. The Perpetrators were Searching for a Vehicle to Get them to New Orleans

Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 6th April 1997, the young people were on their way from Pikeville, Kentucky, and were heading to New Orleans. They were traveling their long journey in Risner’s car. When they began their journey from Pikeville, they noticed that Risner’s car wouldn’t take them to their destination. This made the young people make plans to steal any vehicle from a dealership or a parking lot.

4. Vidar Lillelid had Conversed with the Guys about His Religious Views

The group began their journey with the thoughts of stealing still in their minds. On arrival at the rest stop along Interstate 81, Baileyton, in rural Greene County, their plan was about to be put into action.

However, before the act, Vidar who was carrying Peter had a conversation with the youths according to eyewitnesses. He had approached Cornett and Howell before Risner and Bryant joined to hear about his religious views.

5. Risner Abducted the Family using One of the Guns The Group had

Tony, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

During the trip, the group armed themselves with two handguns, one 9 mm and a .25 caliber. As Vidar continued with their conversation, the situation changed immediately.

Risner pulled out one of the guns which he used to abduct the Lillelid family. He told them, “I hate to do you this way, but we are going to have to take you with us for your van.”

He then led the Lillelid family members to their vans and bundled them inside. As they were being led away, Vidar tried to plead for mercy as he handed the van’s keys and his wallet, but Risner refused to cooperate with him.

6. The Lillelid Family Drove Off with the Four Guys Who Threatened Them

Along with the Lillelids, Risner, Bryant, Howell, and Cornett traveled in the van. Risner sat in the passenger seat with the shotgun drawn out while Vidar was behind the wheel. Mullins and Sturgill were riding in Risner’s car as they followed closely. Delfina reportedly started singing to soothe her terrified kids but Bryant ordered her to stop as he threatened them.

7. Vidar and His Family were Lined Up against a Ditch and Shot at

The journey of the group and the Lillelids continued after the carjacking. Risner who was leading the group directed the family to the interstate and then layer to a more secluded exit, Payne Hallow Lane.

Vidar, Delfina, Peter, and Tabitha were lined up against a ditch after their van made a stop. They were shot at and Bryant decided to check on the bodies to see whether they were dead. He later stated that they were still alive and were shot at again.

8. Vidar was Shot at Six Times before Falling to the Ground

Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

Forensic pathologist, Dr. Cleland Blake revealed that Vidar was shot six times before falling to the ground because of the gunshot wounds his body had. Five of the gunshot wounds were in his chest, and one to the right side of his head. It was believed that the first shot hit and entered Vidar’s right eye travelling through his temple and had an exit in front of his right ear.

9. The Father was also Shot Thrice in the Back

After that, Vidar was shot three times in the upper right side of his chest after he fell over on his back. The wounds were said to have been intended to create an equilateral triangle and to be consistent with those from a 9 mm. A last wound from a 9 mm was found right underneath Vidar’s nipple and was consistent with a 25 caliber weapon. Vidar had superficial abrasions to the back of his knees and a cut on the right forearm where he had been grazed by a bullet.

10. Delfina was Shot Eight Times

Photo by cottonbro studio: Pexels

Delfina was shot eight times, and all eight bullets, six were from a 9 mm and two from a 25 caliber were found in the body. Her left arm was broken by the first 9 mm bullet, and her left thigh’s femur was broken by the second 9 mm shot. According to Blake’s testimony, while these rounds wouldn’t have killed her, they would have left her in excruciating pain and unable to stand. While lying on her back, Delfina was shot six more times, the first three bullets impacting the left side of her abdomen.

11. Blake had the Opinion of Delfina to be Shot in the Same Pattern as Vidar

Blake suggested shooting Delfina and making the triangular pattern similar to Vidar’s. The three bullets passed into her pancreas, spleen, left kidney, and left adrenal gland before exiting via a four to five-inch tear in her stomach.

The last 9-millimetre entry hole, right above Delfina’s navel, was discovered, and the bullet was found lodged in her spine. The bullet entered under her left armpit and stopped in the skin on the back of her left shoulder, leaving a 25-caliber gunshot wound. Delfina was hit on the left side by another bullet, which was found lodged in the middle of her liver.

12. Delfina did not Die Immediately even after being Run Over by the Van

It is believed that Delfina Lillelid did not die immediately after the shooting incident. The bullets she received were not fatal and did not kill her instantly. She might have been conscious for approximately 25 minutes even after the van ran over her body.

13. Tabitha was Shot Once in the Head Causing Brain Death

Vidar’s 6-year-old daughter, Tabitha Lillelid was shot at once. The group used a small-caliber weapon to shoot her in the head. The bullet entered the left side of her skull which travelled downward and made an exit behind her ear. Tabitha suffered immediate brain death from the wound.

14. The Six-year-old Died One Day after the Incident

National Cancer Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tabitha did not die immediately after she was shot. She was rushed to hospital where she was placed on life support. Her uncle was named the custodian.

He gave the nod for her vital organs to be donated. Her heart, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and adrenal gland were harvested. She was pronounced dead a day after the shooting incident.

15. Peter was Shot Twice with a Small-caliber Weapon

The last Lillelid family member, 2-year-old Peter was the last to be shot and killed. He was shot twice using a small-caliber weapon. The first shot penetrated behind his right ear and exited his right eye. The second bullet entered through his back and exited through his chest.

16. The Two-year-old Survived the Shooting and Left with Disabilities

Stian Martinsen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Peter was flown in a Lifestar helicopter to the University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit in Knoxville, where his status was listed as critical. Peter, who had a right lung contusion and some lingering bleeding in his right chest cavity, needed aggressive resuscitation.

His damaged eye was removed by doctors 11 days after the shootings. He was in the hospital for 17 days before being moved to a rehab facility near Knoxville. Peter survived the shooting but was left with disabilities.

17. The Group was known to have had Troubled Backgrounds

What shocked many was that the six young people were not straight. They were all known to have troubled backgrounds. Some struggled academically with a substance abuse history.

Natasha Cornett grew up in poverty as she was also a product of an affair. She was polite as she grew up until she got to the sixth grade when her performance declined. Her schooling came to an end in the 9th grade and began abusing alcohol, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. She was arrested at the age of 14 for forgery.

Dean Mullins was a good guy but he left school in the twelfth grade. His character changed when he met Natasha Cornett. Before the emotional impact of his mother and stepfather’s divorce, Risner was considered a good student with a strong work ethic.

He and his mother returned to Kentucky, where he had previously used LSD, alcohol, and marijuana. Risner asserted that when he was 12 years old, he was sexually assaulted by two of his babysitters. Crystal Sturgill was an average student whose academic performance declined due to indulging in drugs.

The youngest, Jason Blake Bryant, had an IQ of 85 and the emotional and social abilities of an 11-year-old. He was in the eighth grade at Millard High School in Pike County and had a history of alcohol and drug abuse that had started as early as the age of 3. Karen Howell was characterized by a severely violent fight with her parents and she had below average IQ.

18. Cornett Claimed the Murders were Linked to Satanism

Cornett said that her initial attorney had instructed her to refer to herself as the “Daughter of Satan” during the sentencing hearing. Although he used occult specialists during his investigation, district attorney Berkeley Bell thought the Satanic connection was a distraction and was glad when Cornett’s first lawyer was removed by the presiding judge. At trial, witnesses and the prosecution brought up rumors that the six were associated with Satanism and the occult, although there was no proof of this.

19. The Group Avoided Death Sentencing by Signing Plea Bargains

Brandonrush, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bryant was the only one who could be proven to be the shooter, but the feeling of being unjust until the others were convicted became a major concern. A jury selection was made and the group was made to take a plea bargain. Death sentencing was taken off with the six pleading guilty of first-degree murder.

20. Risner and His Group were Handed Life Sentencing without Parole

As participants in a criminal kidnapping and carjacking that ended in three killings, Risner and his group were handed three life sentences for each. They were added 25 more years for attempted murder after being found guilty of felony murder. Their sentencing also included no possibility of parole.

Peter, the only survivor of the Lillelid murders was taken in by one of his relatives. He was well educated and graduated after his IT education. Peter married his wife Caitlin in 2020 and live together in Connecticut.