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 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.
Loretta Felts
Loretta stood her ground in self defense.
Loretta Lynn Felts was charged with Murder in the 1st Degree in Pontotoc County for the death of Marcus Watson, her boyfriend. Loretta had called police on Marcus several times for domestic abuse. According to Loretta, officers told Marcus if he didn’t leave marks on her there was nothing they could do. On May 25, 2012, an argument between Loretta and Marcus turned into a violent attack and Loretta stabbed Marcus in the stomach in self-defense. Once it happened, she ran to her neighbor, Stephen Howell’s door, to tell him and get help for Marcus. Ada police officers responded to the call. Loretta stayed by his side, trying to calm him down and apologized over and over. Marcus died from his injuries later that evening. During the preliminary hearing in her murder case, a neighbor of Marcus and Loretta testified Marcus was violent with Loretta in the past, including admitting to previously sexually assaulting her. Loretta Felts entered a blind plea - meaning she pled guilty and was at the mercy of the court to decide her punishment, without a plea deal from the prosecutor. Loretta was ultimately convicted of Murder in the 2nd degree and sentenced to 22 years.
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.
Micca Thompson
Micca fought for her life.
On June 1, 2017, Ronnie Beetz came back to the home where his live-in girlfriend of over a decade, Micca, and children lived. The two got into an argument. During the argument, Micca was choked and slapped by Ronnie. In the midst of the fight, Micca ended up stabbing Ronnie in the abdomen in self-defense. Micca called Tulsa Police at 1:37 a.m. on June 1st and told them just that. The abuse had been going on for years. Ronnie later passed away during surgery. Micca was convicted of Manslaughter 1st Degree (heat of passion), unlawful possession of a drug, and paraphernalia. She was sentenced to seven years.