Suvechha Sarkar
Lisa Ann Carlson was a 27-year-old woman well-known for her outgoing personality. However, an ordinary day in her life in July 1998 turned into a nightmare when she was brutally killed in her own home in Kapowsin, Washington. The investigation soon exposed a string of deceit and manipulation. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mother, May I Murder?: Sex, Lies and Murder’ takes a deeper look at how those closest to her were responsible for her untimely demise. Apart from interviews with her loved ones, it also features accounts by experts and officials who worked tirelessly to solve the case.
Lisa Carlson’s Death Initially Appeared to be a Robbery
Lisa Ann Dahm arrived as a ray of sunshine in the lives of her parents, Frank and Donna Dahm, on June 28, 1971. She was born in San Diego, California, and grew up alongside her sister, Shannon. During her youth, Lisa frequently had to move with her family to various military bases, as her father served in the army. Eventually, they settled down in Tacoma, Washington. Her loved ones often described Lisa as someone who was funny and had a kind nature. Following her high school graduation, she decided to pursue a career in healthcare, driven by her passion for helping others. Lisa attended Nursing School and stepped into the professional world as a Nursing Home Aide. During her time at the School in 1993, she met Daniel Carlson, and they soon began dating. Just a year later, they tied the knot in the presence of their family and friends.
Lisa then began working at Rainier Rehabilitation Center. In 1995, she and Daniel welcomed their twin sons, Nicky and Chris, into their lives. However, to take better care of her children, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. It turned out to be a problem as the family’s single household income raised financial issues. It forced them to move to Kapowsin, Washington, near Lisa’s in-laws, Carol and Daryl Carlson. However, everything changed on July 18, 1998. The authorities received a call from Daniel around 8:59 pm, reporting that Lisa was dead and she had no pulse. On the call, he told them that she was killed and there was a lot of blood. When officials rushed to the scene, they found her dead on the living room couch, covered with a blanket. They noted that she had two gunshot wounds to the head and one to the left side of her chest.
The three gunshots were reportedly fired from a .22 caliber weapon. Although investigators found no signs of struggle, they discovered that the house was completely ransacked, suggesting robbery. However, they found that none of the valuables, such as a computer and a stereo, were left untouched in the office, which indicated that the scene might have been staged. Furthermore, when the blanket was removed, detectives discovered a remote in Lisa’s left hand, and its wires led to an intimate toy. They were also shocked to see a pornographic VHS tape on the television. The forensic experts found some specks of blood on the wall and a trail of wet hair with blood on the couch. The autopsy reportedly determined that her cause of death was from the two fatal gunshot wounds to her head.
A Troubled Marriage and Hidden Tape Exposed the Truth Behind the Murder
Investigators first questioned Daniel, who claimed that he was at work when he received a call from his mother, Carol. As per his statements, she allegedly said that his sons had walked up to Carol’s house alone without Lisa. He claimed that when he returned home, he allegedly found Lisa dead on the couch. Daniel also informed the officials that he and Lisa were just living together, and she had a boyfriend, Shawn McKillop. When police interrogated Shawn, he informed them that he had last met Lisa around 12:35 pm, after which she returned home. According to records, investigators learned from him that Lisa’s relationship with Daniel had deteriorated due to financial troubles. In September 1997, Carol and Daryl asked them to move closer to them, but it was a point of contention for Lisa.
Shawn stated that Lisa allegedly found Carol to be controlling. He also claimed that Lisa was planning to divorce Daniel, and she would most likely get custody of her children. Shawn told investigators that, according to police reports, Daryl had once been arrested following a dispute with Lisa. However, during her murder, Daryl was ruled out as a suspect since he had a solid alibi. Shawn also provided the detectives with a tape that Lisa had asked him to keep if something happened to her. Upon listening to it, they discovered that Daniel had confessed to trying to strangle her and being abusive towards her. However, it contradicted Daniel’s statement, as he had claimed he never attacked Lisa. During Carol’s questioning, she admitted that she didn’t have a good relationship with Lisa. She informed them that she had called her and left multiple messages on her voicemail. However, Carol reportedly denied meeting Lisa or killing her.
Meanwhile, experts analyzed the blood specks they found at the scene and the trail of wet hair with blood. They deduced that Lisa was shot while she was still sitting on the couch. Furthermore, they observed that since she was a little heavier, it would take two people to position her lying face up on the couch. Reports state that people who knew Daniel and Carol described his mother as having a controlling influence over him, and he would allegedly do anything for her. The forensic analysis of Lisa’s answering machine revealed that her mother’s messages had all been manually erased, leaving only Carol’s behind. Both Carol and Daniel were arrested on December 20, 2001, and they were charged with first-degree murder as both accomplices and principals, with a firearm enhancement.
Carol and Daniel Carlson Have Seemingly Been Released From Prison and Maintain a Low Profile Today
Following their arrest, Carol and Daniel pleaded not guilty to all charges. Their jury trial began on February 21, 2003. As per court records, the prosecution argued that both of them conspired to kill Lisa on July 18, 1998, to allegedly prevent a divorce and potential loss of custody of the twin boys. They also presented several pieces of evidence before the court, which included the staged elements of the scene, forensic analysis, and the secret tape that Lisa had made. On the other hand, the defense maintained innocence, claiming that Daniel and Carol didn’t murder Lisa.
The defense also questioned the prosecution on grounds of credibility and evidentiary relevance. Ultimately, the jury found Carol and Daniel guilty on all counts in April 2003. They were each sentenced to nearly 37 years in prison in May 2003. However, on May 10, 2006, the Appellate Court reversed both convictions and remanded for new trials, noting that the trial court had committed errors, including the improper admission of certain documentary and testimonial evidence. Since the Supreme Court denied review of the Appellate Court’s decision, both of them reached plea agreements.
In December 2007, Carol pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree assault and one count of sexually violating human remains, for which she received a nine-year sentence. However, she was reportedly released in 2008. In January 2008, Daniel pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a reduced sentence of 23 years. According to prison records, his scheduled release date was set on February 16, 2022. As of writing, it appears that Daniel has been released and is maintaining a low profile. Similarly, Carol has also chosen to stay out of the limelight and appears to lead a quiet life.
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