A mother. A home invasion.
In 2001, Traci Richter told police she killed an intruder to protect her children — and a small Iowa town rallied behind her. She was called a hero. A survivor. A brave mother who did what she had to do.

But years later, one pink diary forced investigators to ask an unthinkable question:
What if the person everyone believed… was lying?

The case of Traci Richter is a chilling reminder that the most convincing stories aren’t always the true ones.

Sources:

[1] Hero claim rejected, Iowa mom guilty of murder - CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hero-claim-rejected-iowa-mom-guilty-of-murder/

[2] Richter wants child support cash in prison - Storm Lake Times Pilot https://www.stormlake.com/stories/richter-wants-child-support-cash-in-prison,12770

[3] IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF MICHAEL ROSS ROBERTS AND ... https://law.justia.com/cases/iowa/court-of-appeals/2011/1-392.html

[4] 'Hero mom' gets life in prison for killing neighbor - The Gazette https://www.thegazette.com/news/hero-mom-gets-life-in-prison-for-killing-neighbor/

[5] Dateline: Conviction of Tracey Roberts Explained - Oxygen https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-unforgettable/crime-news/dateline-conviction-of-tracey-roberts-explained

[6] Woman gets life term in bizarre framed-for-murder plot - KATU https://katu.com/news/nation-world/woman-gets-life-term-in-bizarre-framed-for-murder-plot

[7] Tracey Richter Now: Where is She Today? Is She in Jail? Update https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-tracey-richter-roberts-now/

[8] [PDF] IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA No. 2-997 / 11-2124 Filed ... https://www.iowacourts.gov/moduledocuments/embed/22650/2997_D4A4EC4A4E2CA.pdf

[9] Ex-friend: Iowa murder suspect showed no emotion - ABC7 https://abc7.com/archive/8409487/

[10] Prosecutor: Woman shot neighbor to keep him quiet | ABC7 Chicago https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8406559/

[11] Prosecutor: Woman shot neighbor to keep him quiet - Deseret News https://www.deseret.com/2011/10/26/20226081/prosecutor-woman-shot-neighbor-to-keep-him-quiet/

[12] Iowa Mom Tracey Roberts Fatally Shot Neighbor Dustin Wehde https://www.oxygen.com/kill-or-be-killed/crime-news/iowa-mom-tracey-roberts-fatally-shot-neighbor-dustin-wehde

[13] Is Tracey Roberts heroic mom or a shrewd killer? - WJLA https://wjla.com/news/crime/is-tracey-roberts-heroic-mom-or-a-shrewd-killer--68205

[14] Hero mom or killer? - The Gazette https://www.thegazette.com/news/hero-mom-or-killer/

[15] Prosecutor: Woman shot neighbor to keep him quiet - Deseret News https://www.deseret.com/2011/10/26/20226005/prosecutor-woman-shot-neighbor-to-keep-him-quiet/

[16] Jurors speak out on Tracey Richter - NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/jurors-speak-out-on-tracey-richter-44585539609

[17] TRACEY ANNE RICHTER, Applicant-Appellant, vs. STATE OF IOWA ... https://law.justia.com/cases/iowa/court-of-appeals/2017/15-1800.html