Also, a few words from her wife, Susan Cowan, on how they were portrayed in the movie.
Stacey’s Statement
Several people have sent me messages following the airing of the Lifetime movie Monster in the Family, based on my book Fear of Our Father. I thought it would be a good idea to respond.
First, I want to clarify that—although I stated to Lisa for the article she posted before it aired—that I wouldn’t be watching the movie, Susan and I did watch it together.
I actually found the dramatization of our characters kind of funny. I’m much taller than Susan, I don’t wear makeup or lipstick, and I’ve only worn high heels to a wedding. That gave me a much-needed laugh. Also, our house and my sister’s house were not that fancy.
Some people have said to me, “They didn’t show enough of the abuse. Mostly the characters only talked about it. How do we know what really happened?”
Well, I am here to say that I’m grateful for the lack of abuse shown. It was much worse than was talked about in the movie. Here is a newspaper article with just a few mentions of that abuse.
Hudson woman finds new life after years of abuse, allegations of murder – Tampa Bay Times
If you need to know more, read my book.
Some people said not enough of the trial was shown, suggesting that maybe I was lucky in the verdict. The trial was two weeks long—almost eight hours every day. There were over ten witnesses, including my sister and brother. The graphics from the forensics testimony were so horrific that the judge allowed, and even suggested, everyone except the attorneys, jury, and myself could leave the courtroom.
There’s simply no way a two-hour movie could have covered an almost 80-hour trial. The trial was televised back then on Court TV. For a while, it was available on YouTube, but it’s since been taken down. Later, Court TV created a documentary based on the case, which you can watch here:
https://www.courttv.com/title/fl-v-kananen
I will tell you … for me, the nightmares were and are real. The loss of my mom, the truth of her death, and the pain of losing the connection with my sister that took us so long to find after our childhood are all real. Trying to find my place in this world after this ordeal is real.
One thing not in the movie—but discussed in the book—I want to share a short but poignant conversation I had with my attorney, Diana Tennis. Diana told me that a charge and a trial like this changes everyone’s relationships. She warned me not to be surprised if Susan and I didn’t survive this storm. That, she said, is normal.
I’m grateful we aren’t normal. Though we still struggle sometimes with ordinary relationship issues (doesn’t everyone?), we’re celebrating 36 years together this November.
Susan’s Response
We watched the movie together. In our eyes, it was somewhat a comedy because of all the things that would never have occurred—or ever did occur. I would have thought they would have done some research into everyone’s life to depict our true selves and our relationships with others.
We are happy, however, that the movie emphasizes Stacey’s innocence.
P.S. from Lisa Bonnice
Co-author of Fear of Our Father and friend of Stacey M. Kananen and Susan Cowan
For the record, I didn’t just help Stacey write this book because it’s a gripping story. I helped her tell the story because I know she’s innocent.
I became their friend, neighbor, and co-worker shortly after the discovery of Stacey’s mother’s body. She and Susan moved to the resort where I worked, owned by Susan’s mother, to get away from the grisly scene in their backyard. We were very close over the years from that time and up to and after the trial, which I attended.
I witnessed the way she was treated by the general public and the legal system—and her behavior in response to that treatment. She met the accusations with dignity and maturity. Her unwillingness to flee, when she had ample opportunity, and her willingness to face whatever came her way was a testament to her own belief in her innocence.
Stacey never changed her story, over all those years. As Mark Twain once said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
Her brother, on the other hand, changed his story numerous times and even admitted once during questioning that Stacey had nothing to do with the crimes. During the trial, Diana Tennis made a point of covering five different stories he told.
Aside from all this, Stacey genuinely loved her mother. Truly, she loved Marilyn. This was obvious in the way she grieved her mother’s death, in the stories she told about their wonderful times together, and in all the visits to Disney that the three of them made. In fact, they spent so much time at Disney together that they owned countless souvenirs—many of them identical.
So much so that when Susan and Stacey held a garage sale selling some of their excess souvenirs, a rookie detective made assumptions and accused them of selling Marilyn’s things—a point not made clear in the movie Monster in the Family.
This is not an effort to sell books—after all, Fear of Our Father is available in libraries, so a purchase isn’t necessary—but I encourage anyone who questions Stacey’s innocence, or who would like to better understand the pressures an ordeal like this can place on an otherwise loving relationship, to give it a read.
In the end, I share this because truth matters—and because Stacey’s courage in living that truth deserves to be remembered for what it is: the quiet strength of someone who never stopped loving, even through unimaginable loss.
If You Need Help
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers 24/7 confidential support and connects people with local resources.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline and provides survivor support and education.
If you feel moved to take action, consider donating to these organizations—or whichever one speaks most to your heart.
Purchasing Fear of Our Father: A True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties also supports Stacey and helps her continue rebuilding her life.
📘 Available wherever books are sold.
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Lisa Bonnice is the co-author of Fear of Our Father, now a Lifetime Original movie (Monster in the Family). Beyond true crime, her fiction explores the mysteries that shape us—from the humor-and-heart metaphysical comedies A Faery on My Shoulder and The Faery Falls to Castle Gate, a genealogy-based historical novel about ancestral healing and resilience, available in both print and audio.
Lisa hosts the podcast NOW with Lisa Bonnice and writes about the intersection of truth, transformation, and storytelling. Learn more at lisabonnice.com.
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