Beauty's Revenge

While much artistic license was taken in the making of this movie, it is based on the 1989 murder of Lisa Cihaski in Wausau, Wisconsin by 20-year old Lori Esker. Esker's boyfriend, Bill Buss, broke off his relationship with her and began dating Cihaski and they became engaged. Esker left school one night, drove 150 miles to Cihaski's workplace, and strangled her with a belt--Cihaski's own belt. Esker removed Cihaski's engagement ring from her finger and drove back to school in River Falls. Esker pleaded self defense, but the act of strangulation showed intent. She was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in 1990. As in the movie, Esker was the Dairy Princess; Cihaski was a former Homecoming Queen.