Woman Featured in Netflix's 'I Am a Killer' Walks Back Confession at Clemency Hearing
Lindsay Haugen, who pleaded guilty to killing her boyfriend in 2015, retracted a chilling confession made in a police interview as she sought clemency for her conviction.
Lindsay Haugen, 41, who pleaded guilty to the 2015 strangulation of her boyfriend, Robert Mast, appeared before a Montana parole board on Wednesday to ask for clemency, retracting a statement she made during a police interview that was featured in Netflix’s I Am a Killer series.
Haugen, who is currently serving a 60-year sentence for deliberate homicide, killed Mast, 25, in a car parked at a Walmart in Billings, Montana, after a brief relationship. In an interview included in the second season of I Am a Killer, Haugen had admitted that she killed Mast out of "love" after he expressed a desire to die. However, she also made a disturbing remark to a detective during the interrogation, saying, "I kinda just wanted to kill somebody with my bare hands, honestly." The comment was aired as part of the true-crime series, which explores the backgrounds and motivations of convicted murderers.
At the clemency hearing, Haugen told the three-member panel that she regretted making the statement, explaining that she had said it to stop the detective’s line of questioning. "I wish I had not said it, and of course, I didn’t mean it," Haugen said. She added that she was intoxicated and in shock during the interrogation, and that her previous experiences with abuse led her to make false statements to appease the investigator.
"I said what I felt the man wanted to hear in order to make the accusations stop," Haugen explained. "I would never purposefully inflict harm on another human being."
In her statement, Haugen acknowledged her guilt in Mast’s death and expressed deep remorse. She also requested a reduction in her sentence, stating that she had worked on improving herself during her time in prison, including addressing her alcohol addiction. "I am hoping for a chance to live in a way that is deserving of this opportunity," she said.
However, the detective who interviewed Haugen, Steve Hallam, opposed her clemency request, citing additional disturbing remarks Haugen made during the interrogation. He noted that Haugen had also confessed to planning to bury Mast’s body before leaving for Washington state, and had stated that she would not have reported the crime to the authorities. "Lindsay Haugen does not deserve clemency," Hallam testified.
Mast's family also strongly opposed Haugen’s request for clemency. His stepmother, Mindy Pendleton, shared the family's ongoing grief and argued that anything less than a full sentence would diminish Mast’s life and the pain caused by his murder. Pendleton also criticized Haugen for her participation in the Netflix series, suggesting that she exploited the tragedy for personal gain and should not be rewarded for any notoriety she may have received.
The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole will have 30 days to make a recommendation to Governor Greg Gianforte, who has the final authority to grant or deny Haugen’s clemency request. Haugen would be eligible for parole in September 2030 if clemency is not granted.
The board received several letters supporting Haugen's release, but a significant number opposed it. Clemency is a rare and exceptional form of relief, with most requests being denied. Brad Newman, a member of the parole board, noted that the Netflix episode was not considered during the review of Haugen’s case.
The board’s recommendation will play a crucial role in determining whether Haugen's sentence will be shortened, but ultimately, it is up to Governor Gianforte to decide her fate.