A PREGNANT high school teacher's life was cut short when she was fatally shot during an apparent home invasion.
Police discovered the supposed burglary that resulted in Belinda Lucas' murder was staged by her husband, David Temple.
Who was Belinda Lucas Temple?
Born on December 30, 1968, Belinda Lucas was an educator and mother from Martins Ferry, Ohio.
A special education high school teacher, Belinda was a soon-to-be mother of two.
She and her husband David Temple had one son named Evan and were expecting a daughter together.
Belinda and David met while they were both students at Stephen F. Austin University.
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Kathryn Casey chronicled Belinda's life and death in her 2010 biographical book, Shattered.
In a tribute to the victim, Casey remembered: "People just loved her.
"She just kind of had this energy, this exuberance in the classroom.
"The kids loved her, her co-workers. She just had a way of connecting with people.
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"She just really had a way of making good friends.
"All I thought about was Belinda and the last moments of her life, and what it must have been like walking into the door of her home with her little boy probably upstairs sleeping, and her husband greeting her with a shotgun."
She was survived by her son Evan and her four siblings; Brenda, Barry, Brian, and Brent.
What happened to Belinda?
On January 11, 1999, 30-year-old Belinda was fatally shot at her and David's home in Katy, Texas.
At the time, she was eight months pregnant with her and David's second child.
When police initially opened their investigation into Belinda's homicide, it was believed she was gunned down by a burglar who intended to rob her house.
However, detectives discovered the home invasion was staged by David.
Investigators concluded the gun residue found on the victim's clothes matched the firearm residue found on David's clothes from the night of the victim's murder.
On November 30, 2004, he was arrested for Belinda's homicide.
On November 15, 2007, David was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
On December 28, 2016, the guilty verdict was overturned and he was granted a second trial.
When was David Temple sentenced?
On August 6, 2019, Temple was found guilty of Belinda's murder for the second time.
On April 21, 2023, he was sentenced to life in prison.
During their impact statements, the victim's siblings addressed their sister's killer.
Belinda's brother Brian Lucas told Temple: "You're despicable. You're a piece of trash.
"You called our family white trash, look at you, David. I want you to think about this every day as you spend the rest of your life in prison, as you rot in hell."
Belinda's twin sister Brenda Lucas expressed: "It's been hell for me the last 24 years.
"The stress from the murder of my sister has been overwhelming for me.
"Belinda was my life. I have felt survivor guilt. Belinda should be here."
On February 26, 2024, ABC's 20/20 revisits Belinda's death in an episode titled Bad Romance: Shattered Love.
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With reporting by Ryan Smith, Bad Romance: Shattered Love is scheduled to air at 10 pm EST via ABC.
After its cable premiere, the episode is available to stream on Hulu.
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