Crime / Punishment

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Crime / Punishment
photo of Charles Montaldo

Charles' Crime / Punishment Blog

By Charles Montaldo, About.com Guide to Crime / Punishment since 2004

Vigilante Killer Ellie Nesler Dies

Tuesday December 30, 2008
A California woman who made national headlines and inspired a movie when she shot to death the accused molester of her 12-year-old son in a courtroom 15 years ago has died. Ellie Nesler died at the University of California Davis Medical Center after a long battle with breast cancer.

Nesler's actions were portrayed in the movie, "Judgment Day - The Ellie Nesler Story" in 1999.

In 1993, Nesler pulled out a gun in a Jamestown courtroom during a hearing for Daniel Driver, who was accused of molesting four young boys, including Nesler's son Willie. Nesler shot Driver five times, killing him instantly.

Nesler was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and served three years of a 10-year sentence. Her conviction was overturned on appeal concerning jury misconduct. In a later plea bargain, Nesler pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time already served.

Troubled Lives

In 2002, Nesler was sentenced to six years in prison after she was convicted of felony drug charges. She was accused of trying to buy 10,000 pills containing pseudoephedrine from an undercover police officer. The pills are used to make methamphetamine.

Willie Nesler, who was the victim of the molestation that prompted Driver's shooting death, got into trouble with the law himself after his mother went to prison. In 2005, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of his neighbor, David Davis. He beat Davis to death in a dispute over tools.

Willie Nesler is serving 25 years to life in a California prison.

See Also:
Ellie Nesler Dies

Free Newsletter:
Get the Crime & Punishment Newsletter

More Crime News:
Top Stories
Current Investigations and Trials
Unsolved Cases

Photo: PriceGrabber

Comments

December 30, 2008 at 11:50 am
(1) snowisfun says:

With Ellie Nesler, while I understand why she did it because Daniel Driver probably did commit child molestation, we do have due process & yes, she should have spent 3 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter which she did. If it were my child, would I have done the same thing that Mrs. Nesler did? I would have wanted to, but it’s not my call to take the law into my own hands.

With her son Willie Nesler, it’s a shame that he committed murder & is serving 25 years to life for 1st Degree Murder. Ellie Nesler would certainly have wanted her son Willie to make something of his life.

December 30, 2008 at 12:07 pm
(2) snowisfun says:

The Ellie Nesler case was pleabargained to Manslaughter in 1997 with her getting 3 years for time already served & released.

January 8, 2009 at 1:33 pm
(3) Cathee says:

I would have wanted to do exactly what Elly Nesler did. These guys don’t go away. They go to prison for a couple of years, get out and do it all over again. Do we not get it!?????

Leave a Comment

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike>

Discuss

Community Forum

Explore Crime / Punishment

About.com Special Features

Crime / Punishment

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Crime / Punishment

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.