Bodybuilder Sally McNeil shot and killed her husband, Ray McNeil, on Valentine’s Day in 1995. While McNeil maintained her actions were in self-defense amid years of alleged abuse, she was convicted of second-degree murder. Her case gained renewed attention with the 2022 Netflix docuseries "Killer Sally."
Key Takeaways
- Sally McNeil shot and killed her husband, Ray McNeil, on Valentine’s Day 1995.
- McNeil claimed she acted in self-defense due to alleged years of abuse.
- She was convicted of second-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to 19 years to life.
- McNeil was released on parole in May 2020 after serving 25 years.
- Her story was the subject of the 2022 Netflix docuseries "Killer Sally."
A Tumultuous Relationship
Sally and Ray McNeil, both former Marines and bodybuilders, met in 1987 and married shortly after. Their relationship, however, was reportedly marked by violence. Sally claimed Ray was abusive from early in their marriage, alleging he beat her numerous times. Her children from a previous marriage, Shantina and John, also stated in the "Killer Sally" docuseries that they witnessed the abuse and were allegedly victims themselves.
Sally McNeil herself described a pattern of abuse, stating in "Killer Sally," "I wasn’t the best wife I could be. I was the worst wife there ever was. I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to die."
The Fatal Confrontation
On Valentine’s Day 1995, after Ray returned home late, an argument ensued. Sally claimed Ray hit and choked her, leading her to fear for her life. She retrieved a shotgun from her bedroom and shot Ray twice, once in the abdomen and once in the head. In a 911 call played in the docuseries, she stated, "I just shot my husband because he just beat me up."
Ray was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries. During police interrogation that night, her son John reportedly reminded her that self-defense could be a valid claim if she feared for her life.
Trial and Conviction
Sally’s trial in 1996 saw prosecutors argue that the killing was premeditated, using her bodybuilding past and a prior nickname, "Killer Sally," against her. They contended she was "too strong to be battered." Her defense team argued she suffered from Battered Wife Syndrome. Despite expert testimony acknowledging she was a "battered woman," the jury convicted her of second-degree murder.
She was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison and began serving her sentence in May 1996. While her conviction was overturned on appeal in 2003, the Supreme Court reinstated it in 2005.
Life After Prison
Sally McNeil served 25 years before being granted parole on May 29, 2020. After her release, she lived in a Veterans Transition Center and met her current husband, Norfleet Stewart. She has reportedly found employment and is in contact with her children. Her son, John, passed away in February 2024.
McNeil has expressed her feelings about her sentence, stating in "Killer Sally," "I didn’t deserve the sentence I got. But I don’t care anymore. I’m free."
Sources
- Who Is Sally McNeil? Why She Shot and Killed Her Husband on Valentine’s Day, People.com.
- Murderer or Survivor? Why Bodybuilder Sally "Killer Sally" McNeil Claims Self-Defense in Husband’s Death, Yahoo.
- Bodybuilder Sally McNeil Shot and Killed Her Husband on Valentine’s Day. Here’s Why She Still Claims
Self-Defense, Yahoo. - Where Is Sally McNeil Now? Inside the Former Bodybuilder’s Life Today, People.com.
- Where Are Sally McNeil’s Children Now? Inside Their Lives Today, People.com.