Lisa Montgomery and Bobbie Jo Stinnett were acquainted for more than a year before Montgomery allegedly strangled Stinnett and stole her 8-month fetus, reports the Kansas City Star. The FBI linked the women through Internet contact the they had in the rat-terrier business. The Stinnetts, like many dog breeders, had their own Web site. Their site included postings by friends and business acquaintances to keep in touch.
Montgomery and Stinnett set up a meeting Thursday at Stinnett’s home, where an FBI affidavit says Montgomery murdered Stinnett and sliced the fetus from her womb. The two women had met at a dog show in November 2003, said Nancy Strudl, a fellow trainer. Federal prosecutor Matt Whitworth asked a judge to keep Montgomery in custody because she is a danger to the community and a flight risk. Montgomery was represented Monday by two public defenders, who asked the judge to issue a gag order; the judge refused, asking the lawyers involved to limit their comments to the media.