California Governor Commutes Sentence of Murderer of an Indigenous Woman, Family Demands Justice by Rae Rose
On March 10th, 1997 Shantel Haynes, her sister, and two younger brothers lost their loving mother in the most brutal and cruelest way possible. Debra Marie Blackcrow and her unborn daughter Samara were murdered. Their lives were brutally taken, from those they loved and have always been loved by. Even worse the person responsible was the very man who was supposed to provide for and protect them, Debra’s husband, Samara’s father, Rodney “Patrick” McNeal.
The pain from their loss has haunted Shantel, Deanna, Marcus, and Shantee every day since they found out about their mother’s death. Deanna, Shantel, and Shantee were told of their mother’s death early in the morning on March 11th, 1997. Shantel said her father had to tell them about Debra and Samara. “Once we were all in the living room that was when my dad told us our mother was killed. It was horrible. We all started crying together. The whole household. My sister then went into her room and I went into mine. I had my arm hanging off my bed and I could have sworn I felt my mother holding my hand. That is when I went into my sister’s bedroom and stayed with her the whole night. I knew I had to be strong for her.”
Having lived with and being witness to Patrick’s threatening and abusive behavior they knew that Patrick must be Debra and Samara’s killer. That gave way to the family’s immediate concern for Marcus who had been living with Patrick and Debra. “Once it was confirmed that Marcus was safe, we all knew it was Rodney.” As relieved as they were to find out Marcus was safe with their Aunt. Debra’s family was still plagued with fear knowing Patrick was free to harm others. The relief of having Debra and Samara’s murderer behind bars did not come for another 3 years.
From. left to right: Deanna, Debra, Shantel, Shantee, and Marcus. Photo provided by Shantell.
In March of 2000, Rodney Patrick McNeal was finally convicted of Debra and Samara’s murder. Three years after he killed his wife and unborn daughter, Patrick was finally brought to justice. Debra and Samara’s family could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The trial and verdict came because of Patrick’s very suspicious behavior and his greedy rush to profit from his wife and unborn daughter's death just days after their murder. Patrick’s actions prompted the life insurance company to conduct a diligent investigation. An insurance policy for 100,000 dollars taken out by Patrick (the sole beneficiary) months before Debra’s death. A policy Patrick tried to collect on immediately after his wife and unborn child were found viciously brutalized and left dead in their home.
When Patrick was unable to collect the insurance money because of his conviction he then shifted to trying to collect the money through his children (not biologically Debra’s). This seems to have motivated his ex-wife to claim his innocence. During their marriage Patrick’s ex, Amber, had caused no end of financial problems for Patrick and Debra. In a card Debra sent to her children Debra wrote “Patrick’s girlfriend has us for almost half his income, so money is going to be short and in between until he gets a better paying job.” Debra goes on to ask them for any gifts they want so she could do her best to put any of her children’s wants or needs on lay away. Debra worked full time at the San Bernardino County Hospital and also at the Women’s Health Association of Southern Nevada, Debra always took care of everyone around her especially the needs of her children.
After all the pain, and grieving for their mother and unborn sister, Debra’s children finally thought they had a measure of peace when Rodney Patrick McNeal was convicted. Their world was devastated, any peace shattered the day Shantel came upon the California Governor’s commuting of Mr. McNeal’s sentence and the California’s Innocence Project’s claim that Rodney Patrick McNeal was innocent. Without word to the family or key witnesses, the CIP had made it their mission to set Debra and Samara’s murderer free.
When Shantel and her family confronted them, CIP patronized Debra’s family as if the family was not able to understand their “lofty goals”. One letter from CIP cites a different case, not Debra and Samara’s case, where DNA evidence proved another killer. CIP does not have any concrete evidence to support their claim of Patrick’s innocence currently. The case CIP used to patronize Debra and Samara’s family is a very different case and there is no evidence to exonerate Rodney “Patrick” McNeal.
Two separate cases, the same generic demeaning response. When Shantel asked them to look at the evidence the CIP told her they had invested too much to back down now and they would use all their resources to free Mr. Patrick McNeal. No Matter what evidence Debra’s family brought forward.
CIP cited what was most important to them was to “keep their record intact.” They did not care about truth, justice, or even who they trampled on in their pursuit to set a killer free. The CIP does not even care if someone else falls victim to a known domestic abuser and the convicted murderer of his wife and daughter. They said Patrick was innocent so they will use any half-truth, they will even outright lie, and they will ignore evidence to set Mr. McNeal free, all to keep their precious record intact.
CIP states Patrick was convicted only because “Patrick is a black man, and his wife was a white woman so when the police arrived and found Patrick at the scene of the crime, they assumed his guilt.” This statement alone shows CIP’s negligent approach to looking at the evidence. It also shows how much they leave out to create the illusion of Patrick as an innocent man oppressed by the very system he was a known part of.
The truth is Debra Marie Blackcrow was a Native American Woman of the Arapaho and Oglala Nations. Debra was not a white woman. Mr. Patrick McNeal was a black man who worked within the 911 system as a Parole Officer. To police, Patrick McNeal was one of their own an officer of the law. This is evident in the Domestic Violence reports downplaying his abuse and the threat Debra felt towards her life.
Photos L-R: Debra, Deanna and Debra, Debra and Deanna with family, Debra with friend Photos' provided by Shantel.
This is the evidence and the story told by Debra through the people that knew her best.
Debra Marie Blackcrow stood about 5 ft. 2in and weighed 117 pounds. She was a diligent and loving mother. Debra had worked her way through school to become a nurse. She was a person who is remembered for the support and care she gave to all those around her.
The summer Debra met Patrick she was a single mother of four children living in a small two bedroom apartment in Las Vegas, Nevada. Debra was well loved by her neighbors especially the kids. Those around her remember her making big pots of stew to feed, not only her kids, but everyone around her. Shantel fondly remembers “She would fill up her truck and take us and all the neighborhood kids to go and enjoy the outdoor movies. They loved her. Whenever she had groceries they would come asking ‘do you need help Ms. Blackcrow? It was the sweetest thing ever.”
Above them was Deanna’s best friend J (I will just refer to her as J for privacy reasons.). J was Patrick’s niece that was how Debra and Patrick met in 1995. The abuse started soon after they met. During one such incident, the kids thought maybe they were play fighting when Patrick pulled Debra’s arm painfully behind her back. “She yelped really loud” her daughter remembers. Obviously in pain, her younger children were crying. Shantel remembers telling Patrick to stop hurting her mother.
That was the children’s first time seeing domestic violence. After these episodes Debra made excuses for Patrick. “He didn’t mean to.” “He didn’t know he was hurting me.” Debra wanted to believe Patrick was a good guy and only accidently hurt her.
Shantel said Deanna, Shantee, and herself moved back with her dad because they did not like this guy (Patrick), Marcus stayed with his mom. Debra and Patrick were married less than 5 months from the day they met.
Debra tried to make things work, but Patrick’s controlling nature and his violent tendencies continued to escalate. Patrick would drain their bank account so Debra could not get necessities for herself or for her children. At first, she believed him when he would say they were broke but then she found 500 dollars in his jacket. Debra was hurt and angered by Patrick’s deceit. When Patrick realized his 500 dollars was missing. He came rushing back in a rage. Patrick accused Debra’s children of stealing from him. Debra asked him “What money?” (He had told her they had no money). Patrick quickly lied saying he was missing his 5 dollars. He had to drop his claim of theft because he could not admit to his pregnant wife he was stealing Debra’s paychecks, keeping her penniless. Over Patrick’s “5 dollars” he pushed his pregnant wife down. Shantel remember the painful thud she heard when her mother hit the ground.
Debra grew to be frustrated and angry. Patrick’s abuse pushed her until at the end of her rope Debra fought back. Debra was preparing to leave Patrick at the time of her murder. Patrick and Debra fought the night before he killed her. Debra’s anger was evident in her attack on the house. It was not the act of a crazy woman as CIP wants you to believe. For a long time domestic violence victim it was years of abuse and control that she channeled into. The only thing Patrick had ever seemed to care about was money and after a really bad fight Debra took her anger out on the material items Patrick loved more than her or their unborn daughter.
The day of Debra and Samara’s murder Patrick left angry well aware of the damage Debra had inflicted. Terry Lyn came to see Debra on her lunch break and her oldest spoke with Debra at 11:17. Debra was alive and looking forward to leaving Patrick. She just wanted to be free of Patrick. Debra was ready to leave, too be with her children, to be finally free from Patrick’s long time controlling and abusive behavior.
Patrick came home sometime before 12:13pm. This is known because a neighbor saw his car already parked in the driveway. Patrick murdered Debra so she could not leave him. Patrick murdered Debra so he could collect on the 100,000 dollar policy by killing Debra before she could enact her plan to divorce him.
At the funeral Patrick continued to show his disregard to Debra’s grieving family. During the closed casket funeral for Debra and Samara, Patrick sat in the back without a tear in his eye. He made no attempt to comfort or speak with Debra’s children. He appeared as a spectator to an event he had no part in.
The day of her death CIP’s time line is the only thing that “does not add up.” Patrick said he made a call to Debra at noon, no one saw him make this call. Two co-workers say they rode down in the same elevator as Patrick around 12:15. Patrick stated that he would not ask his co-workers to cover for him. Even more suspicious Patrick was supposed to be picking Debra up to take her to a 12:30 appointment why was he only leaving his work at 12:15? It was not enough time to go pick her up and get her to her 12:30 appointment. Unless he knew she would not be alive to make that 12:30 appointment.
CIP and Patrick put Patrick’s brother Jeff forward as the killer they suspect. His brother, who cried heartbroken for Debra and Samara at the funeral, Patrick did not show any grief or concern at. The same brother who took in Debra’s oldest daughter right after Debra died while Patrick would not even acknowledge Debra’s children. Jeff McNeal was no angel growing up in California’s gang infested streets, but he showed care and love towards Debra and her children, while Patrick showed none.
Patrick McNeal took away an irreplaceable presence from Debra’s family. Debra’s children have suffered for the loss of their mother. Debra couldn’t be there to comfort, provide, to celebrate, and cry with her children. The holidays, graduations, the ceremonies, everyday events, all of these were stolen from Debra and her children. What Patrick stole can never be replaced for Debra, Deanna, Shantel, Marcus, Shantee, or Samara. The only comfort anyone could give them is to make sure Rodney Patrick McNeal can never be released from prison.
CIP would like you to believe that they are qualified to be the judge and jury with the cases they pick up. They manipulate the information not for justice, but to “keep their record intact” so they can pat themselves on the back and promote an illusion for their collective ego to feed off of. I do believe there are innocent men and women behind bars. I believe everyone deserves a fair trial, not just for those facing prosecution, but especially for the victims and their families. I just do not believe CIP to be representing an innocent man in this instance. From the evidence I find the CIP guilty of tormenting the victims of Mr. Rodney Patrick McNeal’s crimes without due diligence.
In Patrick’s recent Parole hearing he admitted to Domestic Violence and of committing insurance fraud. Patrick admits to lying when it was convenient for him. He has no remorse and has shown no regret for the loss of his wife and unborn daughter. He speaks about what he misses and it seems Debra and Samara are not on his list of regrets.
Rodney Patrick McNeal’s living victims deserve justice. Debra and Samara deserve Justice. Please tell the California Innocence Project to leave Rodney “Patrick” McNeal where he belongs, in prison. Protect the victims of Mr. McNeal’s crimes, allow them their right to justice so the healing can begin and for the peace his conviction provides.
See family petition here
By Rae Rose
*Rae Rose (Paiute, Mayan, Japanese) is a writer based in the Northwest. Follow her @Rae_Rose7 or on FaceBook at Rae Rose