ORLANDO, Fla. — A former astronaut who drove 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando to mount a bizarre attack on a romantic rival pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges and was sentenced to a year’s probation.
Lisa Nowak, a Navy captain, pleaded guilty to third-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor battery. She originally had been charged with two felonies — attempted kidnapping and burglary — along with misdemeanor battery. She could have faced up to life in prison under the more serious felony charges.
Nowak confronted Colleen Shipman in the parking lot of Orlando International Airport in February 2007. Shipman had begun dating Nowak’s love interest, former space shuttle pilot Bill Oefelein.
Wearing a wig and trench coat, Nowak followed Shipman and tried to get into her car, then attacked her with pepper spray. Shipman was able to drive away.
Police arrested Nowak a short time later near a trash can where she was seen getting rid of a bag. In the bag police found a steel mallet, a knife, a BB pistol, rubber tubing and large garbage bags.
“Almost three years later, I’m still reeling from her vicious attack,” Shipman told Circuit Judge Marc Lubet after Nowak’s plea, holding back tears. “I know in my heart when Lisa Nowak attacked me, she was going to kill me.”
“I believe I escaped a horrible death that night,” said Shipman, a former Air Force captain.
After being told by the judge to face Shipman, Nowak apologized for the pain she caused.
