A 47-year-old father, Mohammed Mondal, was sentenced to 25 to 30 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child endangerment for the 2023 killing of his wife, Stacy Mondal. The tragic incident occurred in front of their two young children while the family was en route to a JCPenney for family photos.
The Fatal Shooting
The shooting took place on November 6, 2023, when Mohammed Mondal and his wife, Stacy, were driving to get family photos taken. The couple’s two-month-old and 14-month-old children were in the backseat when an argument broke out. Shortly after, Mohammed Mondal shot his wife seven times.
Mondal initially told authorities that he accidentally shot Stacy, but later claimed it was in self-defense after a heated argument, alleging that Stacy had struck him with her phone and reached for a gun. He asserted that he shot her because he believed she was threatening him. However, investigators found no evidence that Stacy had fired a weapon or had even touched a gun during the altercation.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
After the shooting, Mondal called 911 and reported that he had shot his wife. He appeared panicked during the call, initially stating that the shooting was accidental before claiming it was self-defense. Deputies responded and found the family vehicle near the Ohio-Indiana border. When they reached the hospital, they saw Stacy Mondal’s lifeless body in the passenger seat with a handgun near her feet.
Despite Mondal’s claims of self-defense, detectives were unable to verify his allegations about Stacy’s infidelity, which he said triggered the argument. He believed his wife had affairs with multiple men, including a neighbor and his father-in-law, though these claims were never substantiated. The investigation revealed that Stacy had not fired any shots, and the evidence did not support Mondal’s version of the events.
Impact on the Family
During sentencing, a victim impact statement from Stacy’s family and children was read in court. The statement expressed the deep pain and trauma caused by her death. “You didn’t just kill her, you broke our family into pieces,” the statement said, highlighting the emotional toll the murder had on her loved ones. Stacy’s family was devastated by the loss of a woman who loved them deeply, and the children will grow up without their mother.
Sentencing and Court Statements
Before his sentence was handed down, Mondal’s defense attorney referred to the shooting as an “unfortunate incident” but acknowledged that Mondal was taking responsibility for the pain he caused. Despite Mondal’s claims of self-defense, the court determined that his actions were reckless, and he pleaded guilty to the charges, avoiding the more serious charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer Branch sentenced Mohammed Mondal to between 25 and 30 1/2 years in prison. This sentence reflects the gravity of the crime, particularly the fact that the murder occurred in front of two young children.
The tragic killing of Stacy Mondal serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and reckless behavior. While Mohammed Mondal’s claims of self-defense were not substantiated, his guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment offers some accountability. The sentence brings a degree of closure to the family, though the emotional scars left by this violent incident will endure.
