Todd Stermer died on January 7, 2007, after a fire at the family home near Lawrence, Michigan. A forensic pathologist determined that thermal injuries and smoke inhalation caused his death. Prosecutors alleged that Todd's wife, Linda Kay Stermer, set him and the house on fire and struck him with a vehicle after he escaped outside. Linda maintained that the fire was accidental and that she struck Todd unintentionally while trying to leave for help.
Authorities arrested Linda in June 2009 and charged her with premeditated murder and felony murder during arson. A jury convicted her of felony murder in 2010, and she received life imprisonment without parole. That judgment was later set aside. In 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a conditional writ of habeas corpus granting Linda a new trial. The majority found that prosecutorial misconduct and trial counsel's failure to object deprived her of a fair trial; it also criticized counsel's failure to consult a fire expert.
Michigan prosecuted the case again in 2025. At the retrial, the prosecution continued to argue that Linda deliberately used gasoline to burn Todd and then drove over him. The defense continued to present the death as an accident and challenged the fire investigation. On April 11, 2025, the new jury found Linda guilty of both first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder after deliberating for roughly seven hours. The retrial verdict, rather than the overturned 2010 judgment, is the controlling conviction summarized here.
On May 19, 2025, Van Buren County Circuit Judge Kathleen Brickley sentenced Linda Stermer to life in prison without parole. She appealed the new judgment in Michigan Court of Appeals docket 376888. After earlier briefing extensions, a July 7, 2026 order granted the defense until September 1, 2026, to file the appellant's brief and warned that the matter could otherwise be placed on the involuntary-dismissal docket. The 2025 conviction remains in force, but the appeal is pending and the judgment should not be described as final.
Todd Stermer died from injuries sustained during a fire at the family home near Lawrence, Michigan.
2009-06-05
Linda Stermer was arrested and charged with premeditated murder and felony murder.
2010
A jury convicted Linda Stermer of felony murder, and she was sentenced to life without parole.
2020-05-15
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a conditional habeas writ granting Linda Stermer a new trial.
2025-04-11
A retrial jury convicted Linda Stermer of first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder.
2025-05-19
Linda Stermer was sentenced again to life in prison without parole.
2026-07-07
In pending Michigan Court of Appeals docket 376888, the court extended the deadline for Linda Stermer's appellant brief to September 1, 2026.
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Sneak peek: The Death of Todd Stermer
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Linda Kay Stermer
CONVICTED
Convicted at a 2025 retrial and sentenced to life without parole after her original conviction was overturned; her appeal from the new judgment remains pending in docket 376888.
Todd Stermer
VICTIM
Died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation following a fire at his Lawrence-area home.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Todd Stermer died after a fire at his Michigan home in 2007; his wife was convicted at a 2025 retrial after her first conviction was overturned, and her appeal from the new judgment remains pending.
Where did the murder happen?
Lawrence, Van Buren County, Michigan.
Who was convicted?
Linda Kay Stermer (Convicted at a 2025 retrial and sentenced to life without parole after her original conviction was overturned; her appeal from the new judgment remains pending in docket 376888.).
