Local author accused of shooting her father in Dexter Township

A local author who penned such novels as "The Mercy Killers" now stands accused of driving to her parents' Dexter Township home Friday evening and shooting her father.

The 68-year-old man, who lives in the 6300 block of Brand Road, was struck in the leg and buttocks, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Director of Community Engagement Derrick Jackson said. His injuries were described as non life-threatening.

Lisa Reardon, 47, is expected to be arraigned Sunday on charges in the incident, Jackson said.

Jackson said Reardon drove to her parents' home at about 7:35 p.m. Friday after arguing with them. The nature of the dispute isn't known.

Reardon is accused of shooting her father with a 20-gauge shotgun and firing at least three more shots at them from outside the home, Jackson said. The other shots hit the home, he said.

Deputies were called to a disturbance at the house, but Reardon was gone when they arrived. Livingston County Sheriff's deputies arrested Reardon a short time later.

Jackson said he didn't know where Reardon was headed, but she surrendered without incident. Jackson credited Livingston County Sheriff's deputies with helping to quickly find her.

Police were unable to provide information today on who owns the weapon.

Jail officials confirmed Reardon is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail. Prosecutors will review the case to decide what charges to levy, police said.

Washtenaw County records show the home where the shooting occurred is owned by George and Pamela Hicks; Reardon's last name was Hicks until she changed it in 1992, according to her author biography. A man and woman who answered at the home today declined to discuss the incident.

According to her website, Reardon has authored three books - “Billy Dead” in 1997, “Blameless,” in 2000 and "The Mercy Killers" in 2005. "The Mercy Killers" is based in Ypsilanti and is described as "1968, McGurk's Tap Room in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Death, drugs, war, child abuse, and plenty of laughs."

Reardon's website also says that in addition to working on her fourth novel, she works at Boysville - a medium-security treatment facility for adjudicated youth - where she's "part prison guard/part mom." Boysville officials could not be reached today for confirmation.

Reardon graduated in 1980 from Milan High School and earned her bachelor's degree in English and theater from the University of Michigan in 1989, according to her biography. While in graduate school, her play, “Blush at Nothing,” was chosen as the inaugural production of the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, her biography says.