Lisa Marie Nowak
Lisa Marie Nowak breaking news and background on the story. Lisa Nowak is the astronaut who stalked Colleen Shipman and attacked her in a love triangle dispute. If Nowak is found to have violated rules governing Navy officers, she could... [more]
Lisa Marie Nowak breaking news and background on the story. Lisa Nowak is the astronaut who stalked Colleen Shipman and attacked her in a love triangle dispute. If Nowak is found to have violated rules governing Navy officers, she could face sanctions up to expulsion. Track news and share opinions about this story. Nowak is under investigation for attempted first degree murder.
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On February 5, 2007, Nowak was arrested at Orlando International Airport on charges of attempted kidnapping, battery, attempted vehicle burglary with battery, and destruction of evidence. She told Orlando police she was involved in a relationship with fellow astronaut William Oefelein, with whom she trained, although she described it as being "less than a romantic relationship." She believed U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman was also involved with Oefelein. Shipman is an engineer at the 45th Launch Support Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base.
According to police and news reports, upon arriving on a flight from Houston, Shipman said she was aware of someone following her to a satellite parking area and when she got into her car, she heard running steps and quickly locked the door. Nowak slapped the window and tried to open the car door, asked for a ride, then started crying. Shipman rolled down the window a couple of inches and Nowak sprayed pepper spray into the car. Shipman drove off to the parking lot booth where police were summoned.
Arrest
Nowak was arrested after the first police officer to arrive saw her attempting to throw a bag containing a wig and a BB pistol into the trash at a parking shuttle bus stop. The Orlando police said Nowak had disguised herself during the assault by wearing a hooded tan trench coat and black wig and, along with the BB gun, was carrying a four-inch folding buck knife, a new steel mallet, black gloves, rubber tubing, plastic garbage bags and about US$600 in cash. In her statement to police, Nowak said she wanted to talk to Shipman and discuss their relationships with Oefelein. When asked if she thought the pepper spray was going to help her talking with Shipman, she replied, "That was stupid." During a search of Nowak's car parked at a nearby motel, the police found a letter written by Nowak in which she proclaimed her love for Oefelein, along with latex gloves, opened packages for both a buck knife and pepper spray, an unused BB cartridge, handwritten directions to Shipman's house, copies of e-mails from Shipman to Oefelein, and diapers. The astronaut explained she had used the latter during the 900 mile drive from her home in Houston, Texas to Orlando so she did not have to stop to urinate (U.S. shuttle astronauts wear diapers during launch and re-entry). They also found receipts indicating Nowak paid only in cash during her trip from Houston, including for her hotel stay. Citing evidence of elaborate planning, disguises and weapons, police recommended she be held without bail.
A NASA spokesperson said so far as the agency was aware, this was the only time a NASA astronaut on active duty had been arrested on felony charges and would not speculate on Nowak's future with NASA. A conviction for attempted kidnapping in Florida can bring a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Two fellow astronauts went to Florida to visit Nowak in jail or otherwise contact her. Christopher Ferguson piloted Atlantis' STS-115 mission in September 2006 and retired Air Force Colonel Steve Lindsey, chief of the NASA astronaut corps, had commanded Nowak's shuttle mission. On February 6 both appeared before a judge on her behalf. While arguing for pre-trial release Nowak's attorney remarked, “One’s good works must count for something.” The state attorney countered that the facts indicated a well-thought-out plan to kidnap and perhaps to injure Ms. Shipman. Nowak was ordered released on bail ($15,500 bond) under the condition she wear a tracking device and not contact Shipman. Later, when asked about the arrest, Ferguson said, "Perplexed is the word I'm sticking with." "The mood at NASA is we're stunned," said space agency spokesman James Hartsfield.
Criminal charges
On February 6, 2007, MSNBC reported that Orlando police were preparing to charge Nowak with attempted first-degree murder, and that she would not be released on bail due to the more serious felony charges
Source: Wikipedia



