DAVIS, Calif., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Ellie Nesler, who went to prison for shooting and killing a man accused of sexually abusing her son in California, has died. She was 56.
Nesler, who killed Daniel Mark Driver in a courtroom in Tuolumne County, Calif., in 1988, died Friday at UC Davis Medical Center, in Davis, Calif., a hospital spokeswoman confirmed. No cause of death was reported, but Nesler had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, the Los Angeles Times said Monday.
Nesler killed Driver, a 35-year-old Christian camp employee accused of sodomizing her 7-year-old son in 1988. Nesler was prosecuted for the killing and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
During her trial, evidence was presented that she was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the courthouse attack. Details also emerged that she had a criminal record -- including a conviction at age 18 for auto theft -- and had served time in a California Youth Authority facility.
Nesler was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was released after three years after winning an appeal, claiming jury misconduct.
The case was adapted for a made-for-television movie, "Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story," starring Christine Lahti in the title role.
Nesler was convicted in 2002 on charges of buying 10,000 pseudoephedrine tablets -- used to make methamphetamine. She was sentenced to six years in prison, but was released in 2006.
