APRIL WILKENS
April Wilkens was handcuffed and fighting for her life when she shot her abuser in self defense.
In the mid 90s, April Wilkens was a single mom who owned her own business in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was a graduate of Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. She found herself in an abusive relationship that escalated every time she tried to leave. Her abuser, Terry Carlton, beat, raped, and stalked April until their relationship culminated in a fight for April's life on April 28, 1999. In the early morning hours, April was beaten, raped, and ultimately handcuffed in the basement of Terry's home. In the chaos of the events leading up to the shooting, April managed to get the gun Terry had threatened her with earlier in the evening and emptied the clip - while handcuffed - as Terry lunged at her, furious she had the gun. Terry succumbed to his injuries. April stayed at the scene and told the police everything that happened. She was tried and convicted of First Degree Murder and sentenced to LIFE in prison. Learn more about April's case and her fight for freedom at FreeAprilWilkens.com, and follow her advocacy on twitter, facebook, and instagram.
Shari McDonald
In 1981, Shari was coerced into committing a crime by her abusive husband.
On November 3rd, 1981, Shari Lee McDonald was threatened by her abusive husband into helping him attempt a robbery on a Church’s Chicken. She and her husband went to Church’s Chicken before a doctor’s appointment for their two week old child. Her husband told Shari he had a job interview there. In the chaos, Shari’s husband assaulted two employees, one of which later died from injuries.
Shari was convicted of murder in the first degree and assault and battery with an intent to kill. She was sentenced to LIFE plus 20 years. Much later, Shari filed an Application for Post-Conviction Relief. Enclosed in this Application was a filed letter from Alan McDonald in 1982 stating that he wanted to testify for his wife, she had no intention to hurt anyone or knowledge of the robbery, he forced her participation, and she only held up the establishment but he did the rest of it. Alan also wrote that he had been physically abusive with Shari in the past when he should have sat down and talked. This is consistent with her testimony that she was forced to participate and she did not know the employees had been beaten until afterwards.
Keabreauna Boyd
Keabreauna tried to save her baby.
In July of 2020, Keabreauna Boyd was charged with Murder in the 1st Degree for the death of Luis Raynard Williams in Norman, OK. She and Williams, who was 30 years her senior, had an on and off again relationship for 8 years and he was often physically and emotionally abusive. Keabreauna would frequently call the police, but Williams would convince her not to file a protective order or seek charges against him.
In 2018, Williams was banned from her apartment complex after kicking in the door to the apartment she shared with her children. Keabreauna eventually moved with her children to Norman. By that time, she was pregnant with his child and wanted to try to keep the peace with him as her child's father.
On the night of the incident, Williams came to Keabreauna’s apartment in the middle of the night after he lost a significant amount of money at a casino. Williams began a fight with Keabreauna over money. Eventually she calmed him down and they went to sleep. Around 6 am the next morning, Williams again began fighting with her over money. Keabreauna tried to take her truck and leave. Williams took the keys from her and punched her in the face. According to Keabreauna, she went back into the house, got a knife, and slashed the tires of her own truck to keep Williams from stealing it.
Williams attacked Keabreauna in the driveway. In the struggle, he got the knife and cut her stomach. She was nearly 9 months pregnant with his child at the time. She continued to fight for her and her child's life, Keabreauna managed to get the knife back and swung at Williams striking him. She got away and ran inside to call 911, pleading for an ambulance.
Unfortunately, the blow to Williams' neck was fatal.
Keabreauna waived her right to jury trial and was instead tried only before a judge. She was found guilty of Second Degree Murder. Despite having no prior criminal history, Keabreauna Boyd was sentenced to LIFE with all but the first 20 years suspended.
She gave birth to Williams’ child in custody.
Erica Lashon Harrison
Erica was in fear of her life.
On March 15, 2013, Erica Lashon Harrison shot Calvin Lee Anderson outside of her apartment. Calvin was a previous family friend who raped and choked her on the day of the shooting. She called 911 for help, but help had not yet arrived. According to Erica she was standing outside waiting for police after she had called 911. She said the police cars passed by her, which left her standing with Calvin confronting her. Erica testified that when he came back a third time after she told him to stay away, that she shot him in self-defense. Erica was convicted of manslaughter in the 1st degree - heat of passion. She was originally sentenced to 25 years, but later resentenced to 20.
