Netflix true-crime documentary Killer Sally follows the story of a woman named Sally McNeil who shot and killed her husband on Valentine’s Day in 1995. Sally and her husband Ray McNeil had been married since 1987, getting hitched only a couple of months after meeting. Both Sally and Ray were ex-marines who had gotten involved in bodybuilding competitions. Ray pursued it professionally, while Sally turned to wrestle to support her husband’s career. The two had a difficult relationship, with Sally and her two children suffering physical abuse at the hands of Ray. Sally claims she shot her husband in self-defense after he had been choking her. She feared for her life and killed him before he could kill her.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
This story is unique because it looks at what it means to be a “battered woman” (as it was called at the time, now we would say survivor or victim of domestic abuse). Sally, being a muscled and aggressive woman, did not fit the image of what a battered woman should look like. As the Netflix documentary heavily suggests, this influenced the jury’s perception and, ultimately, their ruling in her case. She was convicted of second-degree murder (murder with malicious intent, but not premeditated) and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison. Sally served a total of 25 years in prison. We all know the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover,” so let’s take a look at the contents of Sally’s life and explore perhaps how the justice system failed to protect Sally McNeil.
Sally Was Punished for Not Fitting the Stereotypical Victim Profile
Netflix
Prior to her marriage to Ray McNeil, Sally suffered abuse from her stepfather and her first husband. Having dealt with chronic abuse throughout her life, Sally had become accustomed to a certain level of violence. According to the Netflix documentary, Sally believed growing up that the abuse she received was normal, and when she found out otherwise, it shocked her. Perhaps this might explain her aggressive demeanor, as described by Ray’s friends who testified against Sally.
It is very likely she was suffering from PTSD on some level and had to develop an aggressive and defensive demeanor in order to protect herself and her children. Of course, this didn’t match the ’90s definition of “battered woman syndrome.” They expected her to be a small woman, timid, emotional, and vulnerable. Instead, they were met with a large muscled ex-marine who was rather matter-of-fact.
This toughened exterior acted against Sally from the very beginning. And with her literal and straightforward persona, Sally admitted immediately that she shot her husband and didn’t request a lawyer until much later because she believed that the justice system was fair and that she would get the chance to properly defend herself. Perhaps she was not as emotional or broken as people expected, but having dealt with this type of abuse for her entire life, she was likely not as reactive to it as the jury would have liked to see.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Sally wasn’t a victim of domestic violence. We now know there is no one right way to be a victim of abuse. However, many of Ray’s friends testified that Sally was aggressive and controlling and would yell and scream at Ray. They claimed that the relationship was toxic, which is very likely true. But it is important to examine why Sally was possibly acting this way. For one, Ray was on multiple steroids, and this usage coincided with increased aggression and abuse. Ray also cheated on her repeatedly and had affairs openly.
Despite everything she had given up for him to support his career, Sally was met with violence and infidelity from Ray. Her fighting back doesn’t mean that she wasn’t acting in self-defense when she shot him, and it does not mean she was not a battered woman. Although she was a bodybuilder, her husband was still twice her size. And not only was he violent towards her but also towards her children.
The Court Case was One-Sided
Unfortunately for Sally, very few people could testify on her behalf. They allowed her twelve-year-old daughter to take the stand and describe the abuse that took place, specifically on that day when Sally shot Ray. Shantina explained what she saw and what she heard. However, Sally’s son John was considered too young to testify at the time, although in the documentary, he talks about his experience being abused by Ray and what he saw happen to his mother and sister.
Another testimony for Sally was from one of her closest friends, Peggy, who she told about what was happening at home. Peggy also saw the bruises and injuries Sally received. But beyond this, Sally had little support in her case, while several of Ray’s friends testified that Sally was aggressive and violent. This, of course, would sway a jury.
Before killing her husband, however, Sally filed a report when he broke her nose. She went to the hospital, and their records indicate her injury was sustained from being hit by her husband. But the report went nowhere after Ray abused Sally until she promised to take it back. This lack of investigation shows that not only did the justice system fail Sally McNeil, but also the police and those around her who did not intervene. And, of course, upon being arrested, Sally was questioned relentlessly for twelve hours and was not given a lawyer.
Not believing she had anything to hide since she acted in self-defense, Sally cooperated with them. This would ultimately lead her to serve 25 years in prison and miss out on her children’s lives.
