Shivangi Sinha
Lifetime’s ‘A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story’ opens with Lisa West discovering that she is pregnant with her husband Darren West’s child. While the couple is initially thrilled, Darren soon begins to feel overwhelmed by the impending responsibilities of fatherhood and the changes in his life. He grows distant and starts an affair with his co-worker, Michelle Morris. Then, one day, when Lisa is eight months pregnant, she is brutally attacked in her home by a man wearing a gorilla mask and left for dead. She manages to call emergency services and survive, but when suspicions arise that a loved one may have orchestrated the attack, she does not dismiss the idea. Directors Colleen Rush and David Weaver explore Lisa’s pursuit of the attacker as she uncovers the secrets hidden from her.
A Husband to Die For is Based on the Miraculous Survival of a Pregnant Woman
‘A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story’ is part of Lifetime’s popular “ripped from the headlines” series, which dramatizes real-life crimes and shocking true events. The film is based on the true story of Lisa Aguilar, whose near-fatal attack while eight months pregnant shocked her community. Writer Walter Klenhard drew inspiration from the actual case, weaving together the facts into a gripping narrative. Reports suggest that the real Lisa Aguilar even consulted on the project, helping the filmmakers ensure authenticity and accurately portray her harrowing experience, making the movie a powerful and emotional retelling of her fight for survival.
Lisa Aguilar (then known as Lisa West) shared with her husband that they were expecting a child together. At the time, he was pursuing a career as a professional golfer, and both appeared thrilled about the upcoming addition to their family. However, months into her pregnancy, in April 1994, Lisa was brutally attacked in their shared home in Oakland, California, by a man wearing a gorilla mask. She was stabbed over 50 times and left for dead, but managed to call emergency services. After surviving, she worked with the police to identify her attacker. When Darren was suggested as a suspect, she initially couldn’t believe it, but learning of his affair during her pregnancy made her realize he could be responsible.
According to news reports from the time, Darren was identified by the T-shirt, shoes, and wristwatch that Lisa easily recognized as his. With the support of her parents and grandmother, she worked closely with the police to ensure justice was served. In June 1994, Darren was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced. In the film, Lisa is shown exhausted by the repeated parole hearings, making a passionate plea to the committee. She states that there would never be parole for her and that she feared for both her own and her child’s safety. In real life, Lisa testified at 17 parole hearings and consistently fought to keep Darren behind bars.
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The Movie Loosely Reflects the Lives of the People Behind the Scene
The involvement of the real-life Lisa in the making of the film added a strong sense of authenticity, particularly in portraying the emotional toll of such a traumatic event. In the movie, Lisa is shown questioning herself, wondering whether Darren needed help, if he might be better off outside of prison, and whether they should try to work through things together. These reflections mirror the very real doubts and emotions she must have struggled with at the time. Even subtle details like Darren’s ambition of becoming a professional golfer are added in the film through small moments where he is seen playing with friends.
The story is unbelievable in its brutality, yet it reflects a harsh reality that many women face violence in their own homes, often from those they trust most. Pregnancy tends to increase this vulnerability. Studies suggest that about 30% of women globally will experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. During pregnancy, the risk doesn’t go down, and in some regions, nearly 1 in 5 pregnant women report emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. The fact that violence can strike even then makes stories like Lisa’s all the more important for shining a light on what many survivors endure.
