INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The mother of an Independence man murdered by his wife and her lover said she still has a hard time believing the daughter-in-law she loved is responsible for her son’s murder.
Her daughter-in-law is Teresa Stone, sentenced to eight years for the conspiracy that killed Randy Stone. Stone’s mother, Clara Koehler, said she doubts her son ever suspected Teresa was having an affair with their pastor, David Love.
“No, because Randy would’ve probably killed him,” she said. “I’m serious.”
Koehler said she wonders why Teresa didn’t just divorce Randy instead of plot his murder.
“I thought they were happy, but to me, if you’re not happy, get a divorce,” she said. “I know God tells you not to until death do you part, but I guess it was, wasn’t it? But not that way.”
To read the eulogy that David Love performed for Randy Stone click here.
Prosecutors said Teresa and David were after Randy’s insurance money.
“Well, it blew up in their face, didn’t it?” Koehler said.
Randy adjusted his policy five years before his death, changing Teresa from being the sole beneficiary to his two kids. Koehler said it was difficult hearing her grandchildren ask the judge to go easy on their mother in court.
“That was kind of hard,” she said. “I know they done lost one, so they knew they was losing the other one.”
Teresa’s name shares a headstone with Randy, however his family said they never want her to be buried next to him.
“She didn’t love him, or she couldn’t have done what she done,” Koehler said.
But Koehler is willing to forgive.
“I’ve already forgave David,” she said. “God says I have to, so I can start healing. I will eventually forgive Teresa.”
Koehler said she’s been contacted by every news magazine she can think of. Meanwhile, the Missouri Department of Corrections said David Love, who’s serving 25 years for the murder of Randy Stone, declined FOX 4’s request for an interview.
