Stacey Kananen What Happened?
Once branded as a murderer and later revealed as a survivor, Stacey Kananen’s story is one of Florida’s most haunting family tragedies; a lifetime of abuse, betrayal, and eventual redemption.
The woman once accused of killing her own parents now lives quietly in Largo, Florida, far from the cameras that once televised her trial. But behind that calm life lies decades of horror, fear, and survival that few people could ever comprehend.
Who Is Stacey Kananen?
Stacey Marie Kananen is an American author and abuse survivor known for her wrongful accusation in the deaths of her parents, Richard Alfred Kananen Sr. and Marilyn Theresa Kananen. Her 2013 memoir, Fear of Our Father: The True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties, written with Lisa Bonnice, chronicled her life from a terrorized daughter to an accused killer; and finally, a woman who found her voice.
Born and raised in Florida, Stacey endured years of abuse under her father’s violent temper, later watching her family unravel in a way that would make national headlines. She became a symbol for domestic abuse survivors and for those wrongfully accused, using her experience to advocate for change and healing.
Stacey Kananen Wiki
- Full Name: Stacey Marie Kananen
- Date of Birth: 1966
- Age: 59 years old
- Birthplace: Florida, United States
- Education: Colonial High School
- Occupation: Author, Advocate
- Known For: Surviving family abuse and wrongful murder accusation; author of Fear of Our Father
- Sexuality: Lesbian
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Susan Cowan (m. 2015)
- Residence: Largo, Florida
What Happened to Stacey Kananen?
In 1988, Stacey’s father, Richard Alfred Kananen Sr., vanished without a trace. The family assumed he had walked out, tired of domestic strife. No one knew that beneath one of their Orlando homes, his body lay buried; killed and hidden by his son, Rickie Kananen.
Fifteen years later, in 2003, history repeated itself when Stacey’s mother, Marilyn Theresa Kananen, also disappeared. Detectives uncovered the horrifying truth; both parents had been murdered, both by their son.
But in a devastating twist, Rickie turned on his sister, accusing Stacey of helping him conceal the crimes. The woman who had endured a childhood of violence was suddenly fighting for her life, accused of being an accomplice to the murders of her own parents.
Her 2010 trial was broadcast nationally on CNN’s In Session, where millions watched the emotional case unfold. In the end, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty, freeing Stacey from a lifetime of stigma and fear.
Stacey Kananen Brother
Richard Alfred “Rickie” Kananen Jr. was once Stacey’s last surviving family link; and later, her greatest accuser. Born on April 18, 1956, Rickie grew up in the same abusive household that scarred his siblings, Stacey Kananen and Cheryl Kananen.
In 1988, Rickie murdered his father and buried the body under the family home. Fifteen years later, in September 2003, he killed his mother, Marilyn, after a dispute over Social Security checks and inheritance funds. He then transferred $60,000 from her trust and sold her belongings.
Rickie ultimately confessed; but not before implicating Stacey in the murders. During her 2010 trial, he testified that she helped tase their mother as he suffocated her. The jury didn’t believe him. Stacey walked free; Rickie didn’t.
As of 2025, Rickie remains incarcerated at Zephyrhills Correctional Institution in Florida, serving a 30-year sentence for the murders of his parents. His projected release date is June 16, 2029, when he will be 73 years old.
Stacey Kananen Sister
Stacey Kananen’s older sister, Cheryl Bracken, was the first to sound the alarm when their mother vanished in 2003. Her call to police began the investigation that would unravel one of Florida’s darkest family secrets.
Cheryl testified during Stacey’s trial, recounting the years of violence their family endured. She has since withdrawn from public attention, living a private life away from the tragedy that defined the Kananen name.
Stacey Kananen Father
Richard Alfred Kananen Sr. was described as a strict, volatile man with a fierce temper. Behind closed doors, he inflicted physical and emotional abuse on his wife and children; a pattern that shaped every one of their lives.
In September 1988, he was killed by his son, Rickie Kananen, during a heated argument. His disappearance was never reported. For over a decade, the family pretended he had left them; until his remains were discovered buried beneath the concrete floor of their old Orlando home.
Stacey Kananen Mother
Marilyn Theresa Kananen was the matriarch who held her family together; until fear, debt, and distrust tore them apart. In September 2003, she was killed by her son, Rickie Kananen, during an argument about the fraudulent cashing of her late husband’s Social Security checks, totaling around $100,000.
Her death exposed the horrors her children had long endured; the beatings, the silence, and the secrets that spanned decades. Stacey was accused of helping cover up the murder but was acquitted in 2010 after a grueling trial that almost broke her.
Stacey Kananen Wife
In 2015, Stacey Kananen married Susan Cowan, a property manager and accountant who brought calm after decades of chaos. The two live together in Largo, Florida, with their cats, Oreo and Minnie, and before they got married, they dated for years, dating back to 1990s.
They often attend local Pride events, travel on Royal Caribbean cruises, and share photos from outings to EPCOT and small-town parades. For Stacey, it’s a life far removed from the trauma of her childhood; one defined by peace instead of fear.
Is Stacey Kananen Still Alive?
Yes, Stacey Kananen is alive; and thriving in her quiet way. Now 59, she lives with her wife Susan in Largo, Florida, spending her days gardening, traveling, and occasionally speaking about her experiences as both a survivor and a wrongfully accused woman.
She remains a soft-spoken advocate for victims of domestic violence and wrongful conviction, slowly transforming her pain into purpose.
Where Is Stacey Kananen Now (2025)?
As of 2025, Stacey continues her advocacy work and has announced plans to launch the Marilyn Kananen Foundation, dedicated to reforming how courts handle domestic abuse cases.
Her story recently inspired Lifetime’s 2025 biopic, Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story, directed by Jessica Harmon; a dramatization of the trauma, trial, and triumph that defined her life. The film premiered on October 11, 2025, marking a full-circle moment for the woman once vilified on national television.
Stacey Kananen Net Worth (2025)
Stacey Kananen’s estimated net worth ranges between $300,000 and $500,000, primarily from memoir sales, documentary rights, and speaking engagements. She has stated that a portion of her earnings will support shelters for abused families and programs for survivors of domestic violence.
Stacey Kananen Wikipedia
As of 2025, Stacey Kananen does not have an official Wikipedia page; yet her story stands as one of Florida’s most documented family tragedies.
She isn’t remembered for the crimes she was accused of, but for her resilience. Stacey Kananen’s life is proof that survival is sometimes the quietest form of rebellion; that even in a house full of monsters, light can find a way back in.
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