Killer Sally is the latest true-crime documentary on Netflix you do not want to miss.
The three-part series, directed by Nanette Burstein, delves deep into the case of Sally McNeil, a former marine and ex-bodybuilder who was found guilty of the second-degree murder of her husband, Ray McNeil in 1995.
McNeil served almost 25 years in prison and always maintained she shot her husband in self-defense. She was released from prison on parole in June 2020.
In Killer Sally, Sally McNeil shares her side of the story, detailing the nature of her and Ray McNeil's romance, their respective bodybuilding careers, and the physical abuse she suffered at his hands.
Sally McNeil's children John and Shantina Lowden (from a previous relationship) also recall in the series what it was like to grow up with Ray McNeil as their stepfather and the day their mother shot him.
Newsweek has everything you need to know about Sally McNeil's children John and Shantina Lowden and where they are now.
What Happened to Sally McNeil's Children John and Shantina?
On Valentines Day, 1995, Sally McNeil, the mother to John, 9, and Shantina Lowden, 11 killed her husband Ray McNeil at the family home.
In a 911 call made by Sally McNeil, which is played at the very begging of Killer Sally, Shantina Lowden can be heard screaming in the background.
Sally McNeil has always claimed the shooting was in self-defense after Ray McNeil continued to physically assault her that evening. She told the 911 operator: "I just shot my husband because he beat me up."
As seen in Killer Sally, John, and Shantina Lowden were removed from Sally McNeil's care and taken to a children's home. They later moved in with their maternal grandparents.
In 1996, Sally McNeil was found guilty of second-degree murder. She was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.
Both John and Shantina Lowden appear in Killer Sally, sharing memories of their childhood, the shooting, and what happened next.
They speak of Sally McNeil and their stepfather Ray McNeil arguing more and more. They corroborated Sally McNeil's claims that Ray McNeil was violent, detailing an instance when he broke her nose in front of them.
Following the assault where Sally McNeil's nose was broken, she filed a police report, but it went nowhere after Ray McNeil allegedly beat her until she promised to recant, Sally McNeil explains in Killer Sally.
Shantina Lowden recalls moments she would hear her mother struggling to breathe and even testified during her mother's trial she recalled her mother making "distinctive" gurgling sounds before the shooting, as heard in Killer Sally.
At the time of her mother's trial, Shantina Lowden was just 12 years old.
In Killer Sally, John Lowden reflected on the time Ray McNeil would also be violent towards them.
He alleged that Ray McNeil would "spank" them when they did something wrong and make the other sibling watch. He recalled: "I remember how tortuous it used to be to have to sit there and watch him abuse my sister and to know that I was next."
On the night of the shooting, Sally McNeil was arrested and interviewed by detectives. When they informed her Ray had died, she cried out: "I didn't want it to be that way. I just wanted him to stop hitting me."
Audiences witness the real interview room footage where Sally is reunited with her children, John Lowden, who was only nine years old, reassured his mother in the interrogation room: "If you thought [he] was gonna kill you, then that's self-defense."
Where are John and Shantina Now?
Today, John and Shantina Lowden are settled with their families and working in their respective careers.
When their mother was in prison, John and Shantina Lowden had little contact with her. They lived 3,000 miles away from where she was incarcerated and would only see her approximately once a year.
As heard in Killer Sally, their relationship is as close as it has ever been and they continue to bond with one another today.
As an adult, John Lowden served five combat tours in Afghanistan and suffered from PTSD and drug addiction, which he has received treatment for.
In recent years, John Lowden has been able to reconnect with his mother and sister and as seen in Killer Sally, he walked his mother down the aisle when she wed her new husband Norfleet Stewart.
Today, he resides in Texas and has a young son.
Shantina Lowden pursued a degree in electric and electric engineering and went on to join the U.S. Army, serving for 16 years. Like her brother, she toured Afghanistan and also completed a tour of Iraq.
She too suffered from PTSD, which she shares in Killer Sally as a result of her army experience and from being in an abusive relationship herself.
Since leaving the army, Shantina Lowden worked for an aerospace and defense technology company and now works as an IT network administrator for Defense Logistics Agency. She lives in Georgia with her son.
Killer Sally is streaming on Netflix now.
Specialists from the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) sexual assault hotline are available 24/7 via phone (1-800-656-4673) and online chat. Additional support from the group is also accessible via the mobile app.
About the writer
Molli Mitchell is a Senior SEO TV and Film Newsweek Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on ... Read more
