Astronaut Nowak now charged with attempted murder

February 6th, 2007

Miami, Florida - A NASA astronaut charged with pepper-spraying and trying to kidnap a romantic rival was about to be granted bail Tuesday, but her release was delayed after police announced they were filing an attempted murder charge against her.

Navy Capt. Lisa Marie Nowak had already paid her bail on three other charges when she learned that she would not be released because Orlando police were planning to add attempted murder to the list, said Allen Moore, a spokesman for the Orange County Corrections Department.

Nowak will remain in protective custody until her first appearance on the new charge, which will likely come Wednesday morning, Moore said. The additional charge is likely to be filed Tuesday afternoon, Moore added.

In granting her bail on the original charges, the judge warned that Nowak is to have no contact with NASA engineer Colleen Shipman and must wear a GPS, or global positioning satellite device, to ensure she does not travel east of Orange County, where Shipman lives.

The charges against Nowak stem from an alleged love triangle in which Nowak and Shipman were competing for the affections of astronaut Bill Oefelein, police said.

The judge emphasized to Nowak that she could not have any contact with Shipman, good or bad. The judge told her she couldn't even send flowers to apologize.

Col. Steve Lindsey, Nowak's superior and commander of her space shuttle mission last July, testified Nowak had no reason to have any contact with Shipman and said the GPS device would not hamper Nowak's work.

Nowak's attorney, Donald Lykkebak, told the judge that his client has an "exemplary record of commitment" and should be released without bond.

"At times like this, judge, one's good works must count for something," Lykkebak said.

The judge ordered bail set at $15,500 on three counts. A future court date was not set.

Nowak, 43, a married mother of three, has been charged with battery, attempted kidnapping and attempted vehicle burglary with battery. She also was initially charged with destruction of evidence, but the judge said he found no probable cause for that charge.

Nowak's cuffed hands were shackled to her waist as she stood before the judge. She looked down and remained still during most of the hearing but shook her head when prosecutors said she planned to kidnap and harm Shipman.

Nowak, who flew her first shuttle mission as a mission specialist aboard Discovery in July, and Shipman were both reported to be "in a relationship" with Oefelein, a Navy commander, according to a police report of the incident.