Woman convicted of ex-lover's murder

A 33-year-old Palmdale woman was convicted Thursday of shooting another woman with whom she had a romantic relationship after meeting on Craigslist, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. 

Larene Eleanor Austin, a 33-year-old black woman, was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Lanell Barsock, 29. The two met through a Craigslist personal ad in May 2010, prosecutors said.

A month later, they said, Barsock told Austin that she would rather stay friends so she could focus on her relationship with her boyfriend, Louis Bonheuer.

On June 16, 2010, Austin went to Barsock’s house and fatally shot her in the head, prosecutors said. Later that day, they, said, Austin drove to the Palmdale sheriff’s station and claimed that Bonheuer committed the crime.

She fled the country when he was cleared by authorities, prosecutors said.

In January 2012, Austin was arrested in Belize and extradited to the U.S. to stand trial.

Austin, who faces 50 years to life in prison, is expected to be sentenced Aug. 26 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope County branch.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @JeromeRCampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.