Bachmeier provoked intense discussion about the morality of her deeds. Some expressed sympathy with her desire for vengeance, but others questioned the morality and legality of her vigilantism.
During the trial, it was discussed whether Bachmeier had committed murder or premeditated manslaughter.
She was found guilty of premeditated manslaughter in 1983 and given a six-year jail sentence; however, she was only incarcerated for half of that time before being freed.
Parents who understood Bachmeier’s intense grief and desire for justice provided support, even if her acts were illegal.
When a recreation of the courtroom shooting appeared on YouTube in 2022 and sparked new conversations about her contentious act, interest in her narrative began to resurface.
