Justice for the Family of Debra Marie Blackcrow: California Governor Reverses the Decision to Commute Sentence by Rae Rose

Shantel Hayes has been fighting for her mother and sister’s right to justice since their murder on March 10th, 1997. Shantel was just a child when she lost her mother. Her mother and baby sister’s murder forced Shantel to grow up fast. Shantel has had to fight a hard uphill and painful battle to keep their murderer behind bars. Her opponent in this fight, backed by a misinformed California Innocence Project, is Rodney “Patrick” McNeal. Mr. McNeal is known for his manipulative, abusive, and cunning nature.

During this last appeal process, Mr. McNeal twisted truth into lies to further fabricate an innocence he never had with the powerful backing of the California Innocence Project the C.I.P. He used his knowledge of the system to make the C.I.P work for him. Mr. McNeal knew how to use all of his connections to work for him. While Shantel, was left to fight a system she did not always understand and a manipulative abuser like Mr. McNeal. Shantel fought for the justice that is too often denied our Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.

The last time I spoke with Shantel my heart was breaking with the news she brought. Governor Newson had just announced his decision to release Debra and Samara Blackcrow’s murderer due to a very intense and misinformed campaign brought forth by the C.I.P. Shantel put out an emergency call to action to any and all who could help her fight this injustice. It is with relief and gratitude in my heart I would like to share with you Shantel’s statement regarding Governor Newson’s recent decision.

“Most people live their lives with this understanding that a family will heal once a verdict is handed down. I am a living example of how that is not always the case. For almost two and a half decades, I've had to fight tirelessly to keep my mother's murderer where he belongs, behind bars. I had to learn the meaning of appeals, habeas corpus, clemency, 1st amendment rights, statute of limitations, law amendments, commuted sentences and revised protocols throughout this process. Even through the unsubstantiated evidence provided by the California Innocence Project, the facts of the actual case, the testimony of the witnesses and the ultimate power of human empathy prevailed.

I want to give thanks to Governor Gavin Newsom and his team, Michael Ramos, Tamara StJohn, Deborah Matubee Shipman, Peri Pourier, Jason Anderson, Connie Lasky, Jason Keck, Darren Thompson, Melaine Stoneman, Kimberly Miles, and the countless change.org supporters. This reversal of the parole grant shows that justice can be retained for Domestic Violence Victims, Collateral Victims, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and proves that people in law enforcement will be held accountable.

Accountability. There is nothing more righteous than that.

I had three main points for justice in my mother's name on my Change.org petition. The next chapter is to hold the California Innocence Project accountable for all of their misinformation campaigns to get a guilty man released from prison.

My mother deserved her life. My sister deserved her life. Now that they can no longer fight for themselves, I am here to maintain what they deserve.... JUSTICE.”

~Shantel D Haynes, Daughter of Debra Marie BlackCrow Collateral Victim of Rodney Patrick McNeal www.change.org/justicefordebrablackcrow

From. left to right: Deanna, Debra, Shantel, Shantee, and Marcus. Photo provided by Shantell.

Debra Blackcrow’s family and friends acknowledge the support and generosity of the people who have helped them navigate the complicated judicial system in their search for Justice.

Along the way Shantel and her siblings found allies to uplift and fight with them for justice. The first and longest standing ally is Michael Ramos the original trial lawyer who later became the 35th District Attorney for San Bernardino County in California, now retired. Even after retiring Mr. Ramos has stood fast in his commitment to justice and accountability for the victims. He has been there since the beginning to support Debra Blackcrow’s loved ones, the collateral victims of Rodney “Patrick” McNeal’s abuse and violent actions.

Mr. Ramos was kind enough to talk to me earlier today and spoke to his respect of Shantel and all the hard work she did calling on Indian Country to see justice for Debra and Samara. He saw firsthand the strength of spirit that pushed Shantel to continue to demand justice even as she grieved for her loving mother and unborn sister.

Mr. Ramos spoke from personal experience of Mr. McNeal’s manipulative nature in regard to this case. Mr. Ramos’s commitment to seek justice for Debra and Samara Blackcrow speaks to his dedication as an advocate for the rights of victims and their families.

Another person I was able to speak with was Tamara St. John Representative of District 1 in South Dakota. She told me it was Representative of District 27 in South Dakota, Peri Pourier, who brought Shantel’s plight to Tamara. Tamara immediately reached out for help by bringing awareness to Debra and Samara’s case. When the Change.org petition began they set an initial goal of 600 signatures. Since then over seven thousand people have signed the petition asking for accountability and justice for Debra Blackcrow and her family.

When I asked Tamara about the C.I.P’s claims she had the following to say, “When I saw what the CIP was doing, I felt their “work” was a reach. It was such disrespect when the California Innocence Project called Debra a white woman. It was very clear to me their campaign was one of misinformation.”

Tamara tried to get news out through articles and news outlet’s in Debra’s homelands of South Dakota. Carleen Wilde from the Dakota News Now was the only one willing to carry this story forward in South Dakota. It was disheartening to Tamara and Shantel that a daughter of the land was largely ignored by all other news outlets except for Carleen Wilde’s coverage.

Shantel and Tamara also started a letter campaign along with Change.org’s petition to further their call to action. As these brave and enduring women fought for justice the CIP continued to help Mr. McNeal spread misinformation. In this way Mr. McNeal continued to abuse Debra and her children.

When I asked Tamara about her feelings regarding the C.I.P. after wading through the misinformation and outright lies, she had this to say, “they need to do better. The C.I.P. has a responsibility for their actions with the misinformation campaign they led against Debra Blackcrow in defense of Rodney “Patrick” McNeal. Their actions were insulting to Debra and her tribal heritage. I am hoping they do better in the future.”

Another ally in this search for justice, Deborah Maytubee Shipman, Executive Director of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women U.S.A had this to say regarding C.I.P’s misinformation campaign, “It is unfathomable that they would do anything to re-victimize Debra and Shantel. The C.I.P. re-victimized Shantel every-time she had to speak about her mother’s murder and the abuse Debra suffered at Mr. McNeal’s hand.”

The following is a statement from Deborah Maytubee Shipman, Executive Director of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women U.S.A, “First of all thank you to the Governor and to Shantel, Debra's daughter for going after this clemency like she did and for asking us to be a part of this. In the state of California, where the worst of the genocide happened, it says you care. That we are not invisible anymore. Less than 15% of the murders that happen to native women are even investigated let alone prosecuted. Losing this conviction would have set us back again and to say the least it blew my mind.

Thanks be to our Creator that we did not have to go there. He is a cold blooded murderer and he deserves to stay there. You saw us and recognized our fight and it says to us that we matter and for that we are happy. Our people are fighting for change and this victory solidifies that we are getting somewhere. Forever grateful you are a part of our healing.”

The C.I.P. allowed a known abuser the access and media to spread misinformation. What they did to the victims, those lost to us, and those still grieving is inflict pain, taking away from the victims right to heal or find the closure they deserve. In my opinion, they gave Mr. McNeal the power to abuse Debra and Samara’s memory and further inflict pain on the loved ones still surviving his abusive actions.

It was a hard fight leading to this victory. The road was paved with heartache and frustration, but Debra and Samara’s right to justice was finally heard. Governor Newson finally took action to protect the justice Debra and her family deserve. The justice that too often eludes Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Men.

It is with relief and immense gratitude to all who came forward to fight with and for Debra, Samara, and all their loved ones that I put forth this update. I hope this will bring a measure of peace to Debra, Samara, and the loved ones left behind to mourn their loss. Say their names, never forget the light loss to the Oglala and Arapaho Nations. Let us never forget what Mr. McNeal stole when he murdered these beautiful indigenous women.

By Rae Rose

Rae Rose is a Pacific Northwest author of Paiute, Mayan, and Japanese heritage. She writes historical fiction, poetry, picture books. “Stories are very important to me, I hope you enjoy these stories I share with you.” You can follow her @Rae_Rose7