Family showdown expected in parole case

At politicians' urging, board to reconsider freeing woman who admitted killing husband
Monday, September 20, 2004 CARLA CROWDER
News staff writer
GADSDEN - The letter is written in big, loopy letters, a child's handwriting complete with misspellings. It tells the story of a little girl trying to comfort her brother after he was beaten.

"My father grabbed an extra hard plastic pole and struke my brother Josh's back at least two or more times, and it tore the flesh, and my brother Josh still has the scares," Hannah Lowery wrote.

Another letter is from Josh. It concerns the same man: his stepfather, Jackie Lowery. "He did sodomy on me from a few weeks after they were married until the week he died. He told us he would kill us all and bury us in a deep hole where no one would ever find us if I told on him," Josh McDaniel wrote. He was in grade school.

Against this backdrop, Melanie Gray Lowery killed her husband, Jackie Lowery, in 1990, claiming she was desperate to stop him from abusing her and her children. She has spent 14 years in prison. Based in part on letters like these written by her children in the 1990s, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles decided last month that was long enough. They voted to release her.

Then several politicians, including Gov. Bob Riley, asked the board to rescind its decision, saying the crime was unusually brutal. Jackie Lowery was shot in the head, and his body was dismembered and burned by others involved in the crime.

The parole board has scheduled a second hearing for Melanie Lowery, a rare move. It's set for Wednesday.

It promises to be an emotional showdown between her family and his.

Members of the parole board, who were appointed by Riley, feel pressure to explain their decision, which means the secrets of a troubled family, as laid out in the parole files, likely will be made public.

To many in Etowah County, Jackie Lowery was a saint. Others who knew him say he had a sinister side.

Well-educated and charming, Jackie Lowery taught mathematics at Gadsden State Community College. Then he left academics to become a preacher and missionary. He traveled across the world passing out Bibles and religious videotapes as far away as Australia, said his brother, Jerry Lowery, 65, who's against parole for Melanie.

"He bought people washing machines and dryers, he gave people money that didn't have any other way," Jerry Lowery said. He says he has proof his brother did not abuse the children and he plans to present it to the parole board.

"It was all lies, all that stuff about the sexual abuse, the physical abuse," Jerry Lowery said.



Daughter wrote of abuse :

He and his wife, Faye, got custody of Hannah after Melanie Lowery was imprisoned. Hannah, now 19, wrote to the parole board while living with them.

"I remember putting lotion on Josh's back several times when my father Jakie would beat Josh. Sometimes my father would lock the door to Josh's room on the inside so nobody would try to stop my father from beating Josh," she wrote.

Jerry Lowery is aware of Hannah's letter to the board. "Normal paddling, that's all that was pertaining to ... one kid bruises a little easier than another one," he said.

It's unclear how many wives Jackie Lowery had. His first wife, Agnes, died after a hysterectomy. Another woman says he fathered her daughter and they married, but his family denies that. Melanie Lowery was his last wife. They were married five years before she shot and killed him.

After Melanie Lowery went to prison, Josh and her other son, Tim McDaniel, both from her first marriage, went to live with their father, L.M. McDaniel.

McDaniel took Josh to counseling, but he says it failed to help the boy overcome the trauma. "It ruined both their lives," McDaniel said. "When they came to me, they were beyond anything I could do." The boys are adults now, and Josh has a wife and son.



Mom gives support:

Among Melanie Lowery's strongest advocates are her mother, Willie Gray, and Gadsden lawyer Jack Floyd, who represented her when she pleaded guilty to the murder.

"Melanie Lowery is really and always has been a very good woman. When she was married to Jackie Lowery, she was abused and battered and so was her family, and she unfortunately killed to protect herself and her family from abuse," Floyd said. Law enforcement officials, including Etowah County District Attorney Jim Hedgspeth, have said that her claims of abuse are recent and a ploy to get out of prison.

According to court records, the allegations surfaced when she was sentenced. Her attorney, Mary Ann Stackhouse, told the judge in 1991: "The defendant's evidence would show that Melanie Lowery was a battered wife ... Jackie Lowery beat her and abused her and threatened her and intimidated her throughout their five-year marriage."

Stackhouse went on to say that Jackie Lowery had abused and beaten Josh on the night of the homicide and had threatened his wife with a loaded gun.

Initially, prosecutors charged Melanie Lowery with capital murder, accusing her of killing her husband for insurance money. The district attorney's office agreed to the murder plea after she and her family said he beat her and her sons, Floyd said.

She was sentenced to 30 years in prison. She is now 49.

Gray, who lives in Centre, has kept a lengthy journal and scrapbook of her daughter's relationship with Jackie Lowery. She sewed the dresses for their wedding and grew concerned about his harshness toward Josh from the beginning, she wrote. She wrote about witnessing Jackie Lowery's assaults on the children. Melanie Lowery tried to leave him several times, but he took parts out of her car and threatened to take away Hannah, the couple's only child together, Gray said.

She did not plan on making these details public.

"We tried to spare the Lowerys all this," said Gray, 82. "If they would have let her out and let it go, none of this would have been told."



Low risk:

But Gray's health is failing, and she wants her daughter home. Melanie Lowery took classes in electronics repair at Tutwiler Prison for Women and has job offers in northeast Alabama.

A psychologist with the Department of Corrections who evaluated her in 1999 wrote that she was a low risk for returning to prison.

She shows remorse, does not misbehave or cause problems and receives excellent reports from prison staff and teachers, psychologist Sharon Chadwell wrote.

Chadwell also wrote that Melanie Lowery had completed battered women's classes that "helped her identify the circumstances and emotions that led to her crime."

The attorney general's office, in its letter trying to persuade the Parole Board to reverse its decision, made no mention of Melanie Lowery's domestic violence claims. And it contained a mistake. "She shot her husband in the head, burned and dismembered his body, before chopping and burying his remains," the letter states.

According to the official record of the case and Hedgspeth, the prosecutor, Tim McDaniel and a friend burned and disposed of the body. McDaniel spent time in juvenile prison for it.



Erroneous information:

Chris Bence, a spokesman for Attorney General Troy King, said he obtained the erroneous information from his office's victim's services unit. "I was under the impression that she actually did it," Bence said.

Alabama's best-known victim's advocate, Miriam Shehane, contacted King because she disagreed with the decision to parole Melanie Lowery, and King's office got Riley on board.

"I was in shock that they granted this parole. It was awful," said Shehane, executive director of Victims of Crime and Leniency.

She said she doesn't know about the allegations of domestic violence and child abuse; parolee files are confidential.

Jackie Lowery's family said they owe a debt of gratitude to Shehane and her assistants.

"Those victims rights ladies, that's just a real special bunch of ladies," said Faye Lowery. "They jumped right in. We didn't know what to do, we were just crying."

Shehane, who works closely with the victim's services workers and the attorney general's office, plans to appear at Wednesday's hearing.

"Anything, anything to keep her incarcerated," Shehane said.

That is such a shame. Why don't the just let her go. I too was an abused wife and when no one helps you then yes sometimes you think the only way to get away is to do something your self

i thought alot about this, and its my 2 cents, but anyway...back when all this happened there wasn't as much forcus on abuse as there is now. Had this happened today 1. she would have never went to prison, 2. there would have been more help available to her and her children...therefor i'm more worried about what effect all those years in prison has done to her more than i am the fact that she killed her husband....!

Good point Denise...And those who read this news article if they pay attention to some of what is shared amonst the people involved in the attempt to prevent this lady from recieveing her parole..I noticed that several of the agencies did not know this or that..that in some offices the files were not all there for everyone to read! In otherwords facts llike the abuse were not in everyone file..Also one lady stated she thought that the entire crime was comitted by one person..didnt know that this:

"According to the official record of the case and Hedgspeth, the prosecutor, Tim McDaniel and a friend burned and disposed of the body. McDaniel spent time in juvenile prison for it. "

Sounds like all these agencies need to get their ducks in a row...this is just why the Feds need to come in a straight all the messes out. Nobody is on the same page from what I can see.

I agree and it's really sad that they are paying for a parole board to do their jobs and when they do their jobs someone jumps in if they don't agree with them. I feel for her and the families involved with this case.

I totally agree with you, Denise! I, myself, was a victim of DV and when me and this guy went to court (for my protection order)...the judge sat there and told him to his face that...I "had the right to protect myself with a weapon if I feared my laugh"...my dad went and bought me a gun and all but..my point is...I don't understand why they would give her soo much time for "self-defense" IMO. If she hadn't killed him...and went to the cops about the abuse...how much time you think he would get? Definately not that much...he would have got out and more than likely started the abuse again...if he didn't kill her and her children. Just my :twocents:

Selena

well, besides all of that, i believe there should be something done about the Governor, if they (the parole board) doesn't agree with him and does parole her I wouldn't be surprised if the second parole board is released themselves. the governor shouldn't even be involved in any of it...this is why we have the parole board to start with...

I could really get fired up about this mess. That poor women, yes your grante parole, oh no your not, the governor don't like it...what BS....DeniseJ

So true, Denise...I honestly didn't think Riley had a say-so in it...I thought it was entirely up to the parole board! I mean...if the parole board can't do their job (cause of Riley always going against their decision)...why do we even have a parole board!! :( Makes no sense to me whatsoever!!!

My thoughts and prayers are still with this woman and her family...I just hope they let her go home to them...this is (like you said) such BS! (Sweet Home Alabama...hmmm)

Selena

Office of the Governor


BOB RILEY
Governor





Press Office




http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/images/dot-black.gif

August 02, 2004

Governor Riley Against Parole of Convicted Murderer


MONTGOMERY - Governor Bob Riley on Monday called on the Board of Pardons and Paroles to reconsider as quickly as possible its unfortunate decision to parole convicted murderer Melanie Gray Lowery.



"I certainly do not believe this was an appropriate decision and strongly urge the board to reconsider this matter," Governor Riley said. "As I stated in letters to the board back in December and again last week, I believe Melanie Gray Lowery should serve every day of her sentence."



###



NOTE: The text of the letter Governor Riley sent on July 29, 2004 regarding this matter follows. Governor Riley sent a similar letter on December 22, 2003 when the Board of Pardons and Paroles was scheduled to consider the matter earlier this year:





The Honorable Sidney Williams

Chairman, Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles

301 South Ripley Street

P.O. Box 302405

Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3019



Dear Chairman Williams:



I understand that inmate Melanie Gray Lowery (164214) will be considered for early release on parole by the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles on August 2, 2004. As you know, I have supported an expansion of the size of the Board into two panels and an increased hearing schedule. These measures became necessary and are an integral component in our efforts to reduce crowding in Alabama’s prisons.



Not every inmate, however, should be released before serving out his or her sentence. After reviewing Melanie Gray Lowery’s file, I have concluded that she, far from being released back into society early, should serve every day of her sentence. I, therefore, provide this letter as a formal protest of Melanie Gray Lowery’s parole.



Thank you for your service to the State of Alabama and for this opportunity to provide input into this process.



Sincerely,



Bob Riley





For more information, please contact the Governor’s Press Office at 334-242-7150.

On July 11, 1939, a constitutional amendment was adopted, providing for the removal of the pardoning and paroling authority from the Governor and placing it in the hands of the legislature. The legislature passed an enabling act in August 1939 providing for the creating of a three-member State Board of Pardons and Paroles with complete and final authority in matters of pardons, paroles, restoration of civil and political rights, and remissions of fines and forfeitures. This act was substantially amended in 1951. (Title 42, Code of Alabama 1940, as amended). The present statutory authority is Title 15, Code of Alabama 1975,


NOW...YOU TELL ME THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT OVER STEPPING HIS AUTHORITY.....

On July 11, 1939, a constitutional amendment was adopted, providing for the removal of the pardoning and paroling authority from the Governor and placing it in the hands of the legislature. The legislature passed an enabling act in August 1939 providing for the creating of a three-member State Board of Pardons and Paroles with complete and final authority in matters of pardons, paroles, restoration of civil and political rights, and remissions of fines and forfeitures. This act was substantially amended in 1951. (Title 42, Code of Alabama 1940, as amended). The present statutory authority is Title 15, Code of Alabama 1975,


NOW...YOU TELL ME THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT OVER STEPPING HIS AUTHORITY.....


My two cent's worth: But I hope the PB does not buckle to the pressure the gov'nor is putting on them. This is an interesting situation and I'm anxious to see what is going to happen.

I am anxious to see what the results are. She definately should be freed.

ONE

I am going to predict that they reverse theirselves and deny her parole...who in there right mind would go against what the governor said. plus all those victim would surely have a very loud outcry if she is released....

Yes as of this day her parole has been resended and she won't come up for 5 years. Now if the gov as say so in this case why could he not help all of us who have written him for help lately???? We were told he had no say so remember. Imagine hearing you get parole then its taken back cause someone didn't like it. The decision was made so it should have stuck based on the fact they thought she was ready. As far as some are concerned they will never want her out im sure and you probably couldnt blame them if you heard there story. But the fact is she was granted.

Just saw this on the news...Be interesting if the Birmingham news was to get a copy of Your post Denise..about the 1939 Law and a reporter also get a copy of the Govenor's Letters...Looks like a rat in the wood [pile if you ask me!

From what I understand, the abuse of the children was never actually brought up in court...I hear "his" family says this was an afterthought by Ms Lowery inorder to try and get symphathy from whereever..but where did the letters from the children come from? From the wording these were written while the children we small and young. Why did not the attorney on her case bring any of this up..sounds like a sort of mistrial to me.

This is just another case of who's got more money and pull in the political arena! I am pray for this lady and about now she has been told to pack up her belongings to go back up the "hill" so the CO's can watch her better. Wouldn't want her to do something drastic like break down and cry and get angry. This whole thing is so sad!

I saw Troy King on the news with his high and mighty attitude and it made me sick. These people have absolutely no compassion and the idiots on the PB must be so scared to loose their jobs that they let someone else change their mind after they reviewed the same paperwork a month ago giving her permission to go home to her family..after all she has served well over 1/3rd of her sentence and taken all the programs required. I have seen too many cases of releases with people charged with the same crime get out after serving only 3,5,6 yrs..why is this lady any different as long as she has obeyed all the rules...dotted all her i's and crossed all her t's not to mention run victim abuse classes. Seems to me she has paid for her crime in more ways than one.

Okay I have rambled on enough. Have a safe night all!

GSPack

Board reverses vote to parole Lowery


Thursday, September 23, 2004 CARLA CROWDER
News staff writer
MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, under pressure from the governor and attorney general, voted Wednesday to keep Melanie Gray Lowery behind bars, a reversal of its previous decision to free her.

The contentious two-hour hearing was filled with graphic claims by her family that she killed her husband in self-defense after he'd abused her and her sons. His family told the board those claims were lies, and they were supported by Alabama Attorney General Troy King along with numerous local politicians and lawmen.

Melanie Lowery, 49, a mother of three from Centre, has served 14 years at Tutwiler Prison for Women for the 1990 shooting death of her husband, Jackie Ray Lowery. After the Parole Board voted last month to free her, victims rights groups complained to King, who asked for Gov. Bob Riley's help in pressuring the board to reconsider.

"This is not a case where the murderer deserves some sort of special consideration," Vernon Barnett, deputy legal adviser to the governor, told the board Wednesday. "She deserves to serve her entire sentence." Barnett said the governor's office had sent three letters to the board protesting the parole.

Board members, who were appointed by Riley and serve at his discretion, responded at her second hearing with a unanimous decision to deny parole. Lowery won't be considered again for five years.

Her supporters used the hearing to air details from her psychological evaluations by experts on battered woman syndrome - documents the board used for its first decision but had not made public.

Gadsden lawyer Jack Floyd also read from a deposition given by Melanie Lowery's son, then 9 years old, after her arrest. The boy gave details of being sodomized weekly by his stepfather.

Dozens of Jackie Lowery's relatives sat silently as Floyd detailed the child's accusations.

"It ended the night when Jackie died because he tried to do it to me then, but I screamed for Mama," Floyd read from Josh McDaniel's deposition.

Floyd, who represented Lowery when she pleaded guilty to murder in 1991, read from a 10-page report by New York psychologist Charles Patrick Ewing, an expert in battered women's syndrome. Ewing wrote that the abuse intensified after Melanie Lowery became pregnant and then learned that she carried a daughter. Jackie Lowery told her God had told him the baby would be a boy and accused her of infidelity. "He struck her, knocked her, shoved her, choked her and repeatedly berated her," Ewing wrote.

More than 50 people, including two state representatives, packed the side of the room reserved for victims.

"This bunch of lies, gentlemen, that we've heard this morning is preposterous," said Jerry Lowery, 65, Jackie Lowery's brother.

Because Melanie Lowery never filed police reports or received medical treatment for injuries, her claims are weak, relatives of her former husband said.

"What concerns me is there's not a record of any violence anywhere. When you have violence at home, usually the teachers are aware of it, or other family members," said Rep. Blaine Galliher, D-Gadsden, who spoke against her release.



`Rumors':

Jackie Lowery's supporters showed photos of his dismembered body and slammed the board for allowing her family's accounts of the abuse to be publicly aired.

"I'm disappointed and I'm disgusted by what I heard here today. ... It's trafficking in rumors," King said. "Y'all have allowed the character assassination of the dead to occur today and it's shameful."

At issue throughout the parole controversy has been inaccurate information released by King's office. King blamed Melanie Lowery for burning and dismembering the body, but her oldest son and a friend did that. The son spent time in a juvenile prison for his role.

Parole board member Don McGriff, who voted in August to release Lowery, interrupted witnesses who spoke against her and verbally sparred with Etowah County District Attorney Jim Hedgspeth.

The prosecutor suggested the Legislature needs to revisit how the board operates because its decisions are based in part on "privileged, confidential, unsubstantiated information."

"You're not going to stand here and berate the Parole Board. That's not what we're here for," McGriff said.

When Hedgspeth showed numerous photos of Jackie Lowery's mutilated body, McGriff asked, "Did Ms. Lowery do this?"

"This is a result of what she did," Hedgspeth said.

Wounded justice McGriff and board member Cliff Walker changed their votes. Board member Steve McGill stood by his no vote from the first hearing.

All three men are part of a special board appointed by Riley to help deal with crowded prisons. He can shorten their three-year terms, as the prison population drops. Parole board members earn about $76,000 a year.

Melanie Lowery's 82-year-old mother, Willie Gray, crumpled in her wheelchair after the decision.

Neither Gray nor Melanie Lowery's sons chose to speak at the hearing. Gray said she regretted her decision.

"I'm sick, but I wish I would have gone," she said.

Gray kept detailed accounts of her daughter's suffering and began recounting them for the news cameras.

King also appeared before the cameras after the decision.

He gave a short speech, saying "lady justice" suffered wounds from the previous decision to free Lowery and from the public testimony about the slain man's background.

But King was pleased with the decision. "They have mended up some of those wounds today."

Fiery exchanges fill hearing room

By Samira Jafari
The Associated Press

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/img/news_daily/092304/ALA_hearing1.jpgWillie Gray, right, is consoled by her daughter, Judy Pierce, after the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied the parole request for another daughter, Melanie Lowery, in a unanimous decision Wednesday in Montgomery. Lowery is serving a 30-year sentence for the murder of her husband, Jackie Lowery, in 1990. -- Bernard Troncale AP/The Birmingham News
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After heated exchanges between the parole board chairman and Attorney General Troy King, who called Wednesday's proceedings a "character assassination of the dead," the board reversed its decision to parole a Gadsden woman who killed her husband, allegedly after he abused her and a stepson.

The three-member board's unanimous decision to keep Melanie Lowery in prison came at the end of a two-hour hearing. It was held to reconsider her parole after Gov. Bob Riley, King and a few members of the Legislature protested the board's initial 2-1 decision to release her in August.

She has served nearly 14 years of her 30-year sentence for the killing Jackie Lowery, but members of his family urged the board not to let her out early. King was irate that testimony about abuse by Jackie Lowery was permitted.

"I am disappointed and disgusted by what's happened today. (The board) allowed the character assassination of the dead to occur," King said.

Chairman Don McGriff stopped King to ask, "General King, do you think we should make a political decision?"

The chairman told the attorney general that the board was obligated to hear from the inmate's family in addition to the family of the victims and the state.

Melanie Lowery, now 49, pleaded guilty in 1991 to shooting her husband three times in the back of the head while he was sleeping. According to records of the case, her older son, Tim McDaniel, and a friend burned, dismembered and disposed of the body. McDaniel spent time in juvenile prison for his role in the crime.

Prosecutors have dismissed the abuse claims, saying Lowery's motivation to kill her husband was cashing in on a $210,000 insurance policy.

Prior to the hearings, defense attorney Jack Floyd of Gadsden submitted to the board letters from Melanie Lowery's son, Josh, now 23, who said his stepfather singled him out along with his mother and his brother, Tim, during his fits of rage.

"He did sodomy on me from a few weeks after they were married until the week he died," Josh wrote in a July 4, 1993, letter to the parole board. "He told me he would kill us all and bury us in a deep hole where no one would ever find us if I told on him."

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/img/news_daily/092304/ALA_hearing2.jpgAttorney General Troy King, right, listens Wednesday during testimony concerning the case of Melanie Lowery before the state parole board in Montgomery. -- Dave Martin AP
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/images/misc/nin.gif

Josh McDaniel made similar statements in a sworn affidavit in 1991, saying, "He wouldn't be the same way to his young 'uns, wouldn't even do it to Hannah (his daughter with Melanie Lowery). He just did it to us -- me, Timothy, and Mother if he was mad about something, blaming it on us."

Melanie Lowery's family said she was too scared to report the abuse to authorities.

The Lowerys, including Jackie Lowery's three older daughters from two previous marriages, painted a kinder image of the community college teacher turned preacher.

"This bunch of lies we heard this morning is preposterous," Jerry Lowery, Jackie Lowery's brother, told the parole board. He said his brother was a "strict disciplinarian" who only spanked the boys when they misbehaved.

"I was in that house all the time, and I never was physically or sexually abused," said Christy Lowery, Jackie Lowery's daughter from a previous marriage, who was 13 at the time of the killing. "I was never informed of any abuse. I never saw any abuse."

King followed the family's statements, asking the board, "Are you going to reward wickedness with an early release from prison?"

After McGriff engaged in another argument -- this time with Etowah County District Attorney Jim Hedgspeth, who said the defense arguments were based on "rumor, slander and innuendo" -- the board rescinded Melanie Lowery's parole in a backdrop of heavy applause by Jackie Lowery's family and state authorities.

Melanie Lowery will not be eligible for parole until July 2009.

King said he was pleased with the board's decision but added he was disappointed in McGriff's actions. Both King and McGriff are appointees of Riley.

Wednesday's hearing "was a revictimization of Jackie Lowery," King said. "The chairman of the board acted inappropriately today ... he began to advocate on behalf of Melanie Lowery."

The board's reversal came as an unexpected blow to Melanie Lowery's family, especially her mother, Willie Gray, who was expecting her daughter to arrive home in a few weeks. Gray, 82, did not speak at the parole hearing but now says she wishes she had. "I'm sick, but I wish I had gone on. I could have given them a lot of examples of how he treated the children," said Gray, who uses a wheelchair. "She deserves to be out."

This just really upsets me!!!! :( I just don't understand why they didn't let this woman go home to her family...my goodness!!!!! My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family....

In disbelief,
Selena

Letters, faxes, and e-mail


Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Iwas amazed at statements Attorney General Troy King made regarding the parole of Melanie Gray Lowery. The parole board, which had information about allegations of abuse of Lowery and her sons, found that information credible before the board was strong-armed into reversing its decision. Board members said Lowery was remorseful and no danger to society, yet she remains in prison. I wonder: If her husband had beaten her to death in the "heat of passion," would he still be sitting in a cell? The statistics say no.
If the victim does call the police, she (it's almost always "she") may be arrested along with the perpetrator. Ironically, this usually happens when she fights back.

It's pretty sad that I, a lay person, could glean this information with about an hour's worth of research, while the attorney general continues to show his ignorance.

Kathy McMullen

Vestavia Hills

Domestic violence is a crime of control. It isn't just physical beatings, but also verbal abuse, threats and systematic isolation of the victim from family and friends. Physical assaults frequently go unreported, but that doesn't prove they didn't happen. The abuser blames the victim for bringing on the attack, apologizes and promises it will never happen again. The victim, embarrassed and intimidated, doesn't call the police or go to the emergency room.

That last paragraph (about DV not just being physical abuse) hits the nail on the head. As I was reading that...I remembered a part of my life I thought I had forgot about. :( I was "brainwashed" (if you may)...I thought it was all my fault...and that he meant it when he said "I'm sorry...it won't happen again". It took him almost killing me for me to open my eyes...and "get out". I went and got a protection order against him..but, guess what...he violated it but...we NEVER went to court on it...and they never did anything to him. All that was told to me (by the judge) was this: "You have the right to protect yourself with a weapon if you are in fear of your life..." but...hey, if that ever happened (which I pray everyday it don't)...I would be in this lady's position...trying to get out of prison...for protecting myself. It's crazy. IMO...the "abuser" has more rights than the person being abused. But...that's just my :twocents:. I still can't believe they didn't let this woman go home to be with her family...it just really upsets me! :(
BTW: was this in the b'ham news or something...like a "letter to the editor" thing? Just wondering.

Selena

I wander how long McGriff will be on the parole board! He went against what the big man wanted.Only the photo's changed his mind.They need to decide if they are going to let these people do their job or not.

I'm sure you all got the same letter I did when I wrote the Gov. " I have no say in pardons and paroles.Your letter is being farworded to the correct office where it will receive there utmost attention".

I hope he didn't send it to Troy KIng!!!!

I too have walked in these shoes of being in violent relationships.My first and second husbands both were violent.And I can remember blaming myself,not reporting it,lying about where the bruises came from.I was married the first time for almost 7 yrs.and this was just a normal thing with him.I only went to the police 1 time and I only went then because I wanted to leave him and he wouldn't let me have my daughter.The second go around I was married for almost 2 yrs.and it only happpened twice,but that's too many times.But I can honestly say if he hadn't filed for divorse I would probably still be there putting up with it.Even after the second divorce it took me almost a year to see the bad times.I was so blinded by love(I guess)that all I could see was the good times we had together.I'm with the rest of y'all, this women should be at home with her family.I wonder what response we would get if we e-mailed the Gov.and ask what was the difference with him being able to step in on this case,but we are all told he has no control?

:mad: Iam writing to you in response to a letter published on Sept. 28. The letter writer accuses me of ignorance about domestic violence and, even more troubling, of callousness toward victims of domestic violence.

I appreciate and share the writer's passion on behalf of the victims of domestic violence. In fact, I have no prouder moment as attorney general than when I have the privilege of advocating on behalf of those who are victims in our state or when I have the pleasure of standing at their side as we, together, pursue justice. Domestic violence is a brutal and shameful crime, and those who perpetrate it deserve harsh punishment.

I am, however, also passionate in my support of the victims of cold-blooded murder, a crime to which Melanie Gray Lowery pleaded guilty. The outrage I expressed following her parole hearing arose from the fact the Board of Pardons and Paroles permitted all manner of rumor, innuendo and defamation of the dead to occur without asking for the production of even one shred of evidence in support of the abuse allegations - no police reports, no hospital reports, no doctor reports, no school reports, no church reports - nothing but wild speculation where the focus was diverted from the brutality of Lowery's actions.

During the pendency of this hearing, it became clear Lowery concocted the abuse or "battered wife syndrome" allegations because she viewed them as her best chance to get out of a prison sentence to which she had previously pleaded guilty. To have allowed her to do so would have been a travesty of justice.

I have great sympathy for those who are victims of abuse. I have a determined resolution to seek the fullest punishments allowed under the law for those who abuse their spouses or the children of this state. Because this is a serious crime and to be taken seriously, I also have an equally deep disdain for those who falsely claim abuse to avoid their just sentences and who use domestic violence as a tool to inflict further victimization on a family that has already lived through the gruesome murder of a family member.

Lowery should serve the sentence for which she bargained in order to save her life. Her victim had no such opportunity to bargain for his. Neither was he present to respond to the outrageous allegations made against him.

Troy King

attorney general

Montgomery