NEBRASKA CITY –  Otoe County District Judge Julie Smith handed down a 30 to 70-year prison term for a woman convicted of injuring her housemate by shooting him in the head while he slept in April of 2024.

The attorney for 55-year-old Susan Allright asked for a probation term, but Judge Smith responded that the shooting could have been deadly.

Smith: “Had that bullet taken another path I suspect you would’ve been charged with murder.”

Otoe County Attorney Jennifer Panko-Rahe  said while Allright claims she does not remember what happened that night she would benefit financially from the death of her housemate, 54-year-old Kirk Proplesch.

While the prosecutor offered her comments at sentencing Monday, Public Defender Michael Ziskey interrupted and told the the court it sounded like a recitation of the factual basis rather than a sentencing recommendation. The judge overruled and Panko Rahe continued:

  • "Proplesch woke up after hearing pop noise around 2 or 3 a.m.
  • He is surprised to find his head is bleeding and goes to the kitchen where he uses paper towels to stop the bleeding. Allright is up and asks what he is doing. He throws the towels in the trash and returns to bed.
  • He is again startled awake to see Allright standing near the bed with her hand behind her.
  • He reaches behind her and finds she is holding a gun with the hammer pulled back and firing position. She is wearing plastic gloves.
  • He takes the gun and she goes into the living room and falls asleep.
  • He dials 911 at 4:30 a.m.  Allright is still wearing the gloves when deputies wake her up.
  • Allright makes telephone call to work saying Proplesch is depressed. She texted friends saying Proplesch was making threats."

Panko-Rahe: “Allright immediately states that Kirk had shot himself in the head, when deputies did not yet know what had caused the wound.”

Panko-Rahe said Allright had motive because she was the beneficiary of his estate in a recent will and she was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Ziskey noted family tragedies in Allright’s life over the last five years and physical disability. He said character letters given to the court describe her as a kind person.

 

Ziskey: “I don’t think incarceration is required. She has generally lived a law-abiding life for 55 years and she has not consumed alcohol since the night this happened.”

Allright told the judge she is capable of correcting character flaws that brought her to court. Ziskey said she entered a no contest plea to avoid a mandatory minimum sentence for being a felony in possession of a handgun. She was convicted of a felony on a driving under the influence causing personal injury charge.

Allright was sentenced to 20 to 50 years for first degree assault and a consecutive 10 to 20 years for attempted possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. She will be eligible for parole in 15 years.