ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Testimony finally started Thursday for the trial of a woman accused of killing her own mother after her brother killed their father 15 years earlier.
Richard Kananen, Jr. is the whole reason his sister Stacey is on trial now. Richard is already serving time for his mother's murder, but he told investigators his youngest sister helped. Her defense attorney calls him a liar.
Stacey Kananen showed her first sign of emotion Thursday as her sister tearfully identified a piece of their murdered mother's clothing.
Stacey's trial is as much about family secrets as it is about Marilyn Kananen's murder. Attorneys detailed a history of unspeakable emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their father that went unchallenged by their mother, who was suffocated to death on September 10, 2003.
"Stacey Kananen used a taser on her mother and suffocated her," prosecutor Robin Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson told jurors Stacey stunned her mother so her brother could cover their mother's nose and mouth with a bandana. Richard Kananen, Jr. is serving 30 years for murdering his mother and killing his father 15 years earlier, a detail jurors did not hear.
Richard Kananen implicated his sister Stacey in their mother's east Orange County murder.
"Her brother decided to weave his fifth version of what happened," defense attorney Diana Tennis said.
Tennis contends Richard Kananen acted alone. His mother was buried in the yard of the home he shared with Stacey. Tennis said Richard always saw himself as his two sisters' protector.
Cheryl Bracken, Stacey's sister, told jurors about the last time her father abused her.
"My father kicked me in the head and stomach and said, ‘By the way, happy birthday,'" she testified.
Bracken reported her mother missing. Months later, she confronted her sister about their mother's disappearance.
"'I know you know what happened to mom and you better tell me,'" she said she told her.
Cheryl Bracken hung up the phone before getting an answer from her sister. But, it appears that jurors may hear from Stacey Kananen. Her attorney indicated to jurors she intends to take the stand.