'Dateline NBC': Who killed LaNell Barsock? Palmdale nurse’s dark secret leads to her tragic death
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA: Larene Eleanor Austin was convicted of killing LaNell Barsock. She fatally shot LaNell in the head at LaNell's home in Palmdale, California, in June 2010.
The murder of LaNell Barsock is a case of love, betrayal, and lies that shocked the quiet community of Palmdale, California. LaNell, a kind-hearted 29-year-old, was found brutally murdered in her own garage in June 2010.
Initially, her best friend, Larene Eleanor Austin, claimed to have discovered the gruesome scene and pointed the finger at LaNell’s jealous boyfriend, Louis Bonheuer. However, as investigators delved deeper, they uncovered mounting evidence that pointed to Larene as the killer.
What began as a tragic murder soon was disclosed as a story of a secret romantic relationship gone awry, leading to a dramatic courtroom showdown that ultimately revealed the dark truth behind LaNell’s untimely death.
Dateline NBC's new episode titled 'The Breakup' reveals more compelling details of the case.
Who was LaNell Barsock?
LaNell Barsock was a 29-year-old woman from Palmdale, California. She was known for her kind and generous nature, often described as well-off and friendly with most people she met. LaNell was taking nursing classes and had a boyfriend, Louis Bonheuer, whom she met at school. Despite their relationship, LaNell had been involved in a romantic relationship with Larene Eleanor Austin, whom she met through a Craigslist personal ad in May 2010.
LaNell's life tragically ended on June 16, 2010, when she was murdered mysteriously. The crime scene was gruesome, with LaNell found lying on the garage floor with a black plastic bag over her head. The investigation revealed that LaNell had been shot in the back of the head, and there were indications that the killer had attempted to move her body before fleeing.
LaNell's death shocked her community and led to a complex investigation spanning across years to come.
LaNell Barsock kept her sexuality hidden
LaNell Barsock was a 29-year-old woman from Palmdale, California, who lived a complex life, marked by hidden aspects of her identity. While she was known for her kind and generous nature, she kept her bisexuality private. This secrecy played a significant role in the events leading up to her tragic death.
LaNell was taking nursing classes and had a boyfriend, Louis Bonheuer. Despite their relationship, she was also involved in a romantic relationship with Larene Eleanor Austin, whom she met through a Craigslist personal ad in May 2010. LaNell's relationship with Austin was kept secret from many people in her life, adding tension to her personal relationships.
Why did LaRene Eleanor kill LaNell Barsock?
Larene Eleanor Austin killed LaNell Barsock due to unrequited romantic feelings and intense jealousy. The two women met through a Craigslist personal ad in May 2010 and began a romantic relationship, even though LaNell was already involved with her boyfriend, Louis Bonheuer.
LaNell decided to end her relationship with Larene after about a month, wanting to focus on her boyfriend, which deeply hurt and angered LaRene. On June 16, 2010, Larene went to LaNell’s house under the pretense of finishing a hair weave.
After a day filled with arguments and tension between LaNell and Louis over a secret cell phone LaNell used to communicate with another man, Larene returned to LaNell’s house. Unable to accept the end of their romantic relationship, Larene shot LaNell in the head.
Larene Eleanor tricks police about LaNell Barsock’s murder
Larene Eleanor Austin managed to initially deceive the police about LaNell Barsock’s murder through a series of calculated actions and lies. After killing LaNell on June 16, 2010, Larene went to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's station in Palmdale, covered in blood, and told the police a dramatic story.
She claimed that she had gone to LaNell's house to finish doing her hair and had slipped in the garage, finding herself lying in LaNell's blood. Larene reported seeing LaNell's legs and discovering her friend's body with a plastic bag over her head.
Larene further misled the investigators by claiming that she had heard someone in the house and had seen LaNell’s boyfriend, Louis Bonheur, coming down the stairs. She alleged that Louis was the killer and had been at the scene.
This false testimony initially led the police to suspect Louis, especially since there had been past incidents of jealousy and domestic disturbances between him and LaNell. Louis had a history of controlling behavior and had recently discovered that LaNell was secretly communicating with another man, which added to the police's suspicion.
However, the investigation took a turn when Louis provided a solid alibi supported by surveillance footage showing him at various auto parts stores miles away from the crime scene during the time of the murder.
This evidence, along with inconsistencies in Larene’s story and physical evidence linking her to the crime, led the police to re-evaluate their initial conclusions.
How did the police find Larene Eleanor guilty?
The police found Larene Eleanor Austin guilty of LaNell Barsock’s murder through a meticulous investigation and the accumulation of compelling evidence. Initially, Larene rushed to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's station, covered in blood, claiming to have found her friend LaNell dead and accusing LaNell’s boyfriend, Louis Bonheur, of the crime.
However, Louis had a strong alibi, supported by surveillance footage showing him miles away at the time of the murder. Suspicion turned to Larene when inconsistencies in her story emerged, such as her dubious account of spending hours in a park and LaNell’s mother not recognizing her as a long-time friend.
Physical evidence further implicated Larene; bloody footprints and a bloody fingerprint at the crime scene matched hers, and bullets found in her purse matched the type used in the murder. Investigation revealed that Larene and LaNell had only met weeks before the murder, contrary to Larene’s claims, and had a brief romantic relationship that LaNell ended to focus on her boyfriend, Louis.
This provided Larene with a motive. Forensic analysis confirmed that the blood at the scene and on Larene matched LaNell’s, and the autopsy showed LaNell had been shot in the back of the head. Larene’s flight from the country further indicated guilt.
She was tracked down in Belize, extradited, and faced trial where all the evidence was presented. The jury found Larene guilty of first-degree murder, leading to her conviction and a sentence of 50 years to life in prison.
