A Faribault woman who admitted she “wanted him to die” has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing 76-year-old Gary Lehmeyer, the man she lived with in his Faribault home. On Tuesday, 34-year-old Arlene Theresa Bell received the lengthy term and was credited with roughly 698 days already served. The February 2024 killing triggered a multi-agency investigation after Lehmeyer was found dead in his residence.
As outlined by Rice County, Bell told District Court Judge Christine Long at a Dec. 17 hearing that Lehmeyer had been “too controlling” over her finances and well-being and that “I wanted him to die.” The county’s release notes that under a negotiated plea, Bell agreed to a 35-year term, and prosecutors will move to dismiss related counts, including motor-vehicle theft and an assault on a corrections officer.
What investigators say
According to the criminal complaint, Bell told investigators she went upstairs to check on Lehmeyer in February 2024 and the two ended up in a violent struggle, as reported by CBS Minnesota. The complaint states that Lehmeyer strangled her and tried to choke her with a dehumidifier cord before she grabbed a knife. She allegedly stabbed him multiple times and then bound his feet because she feared he might regain consciousness.
Flight and arrest
After the attack, Bell took Lehmeyer’s van and headed south, telling officers she was on her way to Mexico. An Iowa state trooper stopped her west of Des Moines and arrested her on related charges, according to the Star Tribune. Authorities said the trooper noticed signs she was under the influence and found drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Bell was held in Dallas County, Iowa, while Minnesota authorities arranged her extradition.
Sentence and next steps
The court ultimately imposed the agreed-upon 35-year sentence and credited Bell with about 698 days already served, according to local coverage. As reported by KSTP, Judge Long told Bell she must serve at least two-thirds of that time behind bars, minus the credit for time already served. The Rice County Attorney’s Office said the plea agreement came after consulting Lehmeyer’s family and corrections staff. Hoodline previously covered Bell’s Dec. 17 plea.
