The family of Tosha Woods Dunagin would like to  express sincere gratitude for Change.org and to all with a compassionate heart, with a desire to see justice done to all, not just Tosha.

Tosha was an honor student who married her high school sweetheart and produced four beautiful children. Her life was normal as a wife and mother. Then things changed drastically in her marriage at the hands of her high school sweetheart and husband she endure a near-death experience that placed her in intensive care and led to his arrest for assault and battery. Tosha outer scars healed but the memory of the man she loved entrusted haunted her causing severe mental anguish and fear. She eventually escaped her torture only to find herself in another physical and mental abusive relationship with a man whom she feared would kill her and her children. In the latter days to come this man used fear tactics call coercive control by firearms to exercise control over Tosha. 

Dr. Evan Stark PhD explains a detail account how this form of domestic abuse causes trauma in their relationships. Tosha was forced into a situation by her abuser that led to a capital murder conviction send it which is considered a death sentence. She has to serve 40 years flat under the current Texas law of parties rule for a capital murder life sentence. Tosha had no prior convictions, she went from being a law-abiding citizen and mother of four to a capital life sentence which requires her to do 40 years before she is parole eligible. Tosha has to do 40 years before she can envision holding her 10 grandchildren now. Tosha has now been incarcerated 16 years on a crime she did not commit. 

In 2004 Tosha worked at a men's entertainment establishment. Employers at this establishment preyed on young girls to utilize their bodies as a means of financial gain. In most instances the young women were forced to produce money they earned and relinquish it over to the establishment's owner. It came a day that her current coercive, abusive mate decided he wanted to rob the establishment and begin numerous text back and forth with the owner of the establishment over money Tosha earned and we're being forced to relinquish.

The situation escalated  into a ill-conceived plan to rob the establishment that Tosha worked at.

Tosha did not agree until she was threatened and  coerced by firearm from her abuser. Who stated that he would harm her children if she did not comply with his demands. Her past abusive relationship had instilled fear inside of her through the form of PTSD. And at that moment Tosha feared for her life and the life of her children safety with her main concern and as a result she made a choice against her will to follow through on her abusers plans to commit a unlawful act. The plan was to get her abuser inside the building and once that was accomplished she left the establishment and stood by her car while shots transpired she was helpless to leave the situation as the abuser took her car keys so she could not leave.

The employer shot and injured her abuser and the employer mistakenly killed a nearby worker she was arrested on capital murder charges and sent to trial and received a capital murder life sentence which requires her to do 40 years for something she did not do and the system has failed her. Tosha was in her 30s which means she will be 74yrs old before she can apply for parole.

This is utterly ridiculous how can a young woman without a criminal past who did nothing other then trying to protect her children forced under coercion by a abusive mate to become involved and something she disagreed with but as a result of the force of the abusive mate she made a choice to protect her children and risk her own life to save theirs. Amber Guyger killed an unarmed man h in Dallas Texas courts and received a 10 year sentence.  How could Ethan Couch kill 4 people Dallas-Fort Worth area and receive probation on four counts of murder because he was considered too affluent to know better? Why did Robert Durst receive a not guilty conviction when he killed and dismembered a man's body then claimed that it was self-defense?

Tosha attorneys did nothing in her defense. They did not use character witnesses they or professional witnesses. They did nothing to try and spare this young ladies entire life. Her attorney could have used the battered women's defense of duress. The 9th circuit Court of appeals overturn a case United States versus Lopez 2019  . Dr. Cheryl Karl testified in the US V.  Lopez. 2019

Doctor Karl testified about the long-term effects of battered women syndrome in conclusion. Tosha never killed anyone. She has no criminal history, was coerced by firearm and given a life sentence.

I implore you and challenge you to not judge and show compassion. Our family asks that all who reads this find it in their hearts to sign this petition at once. The time is of essence now. We asked that you show compassion with a non-judgmental spirit and sign the petition or donate funds towards this legal battle. We are a family mourning over the loss of our beloved mother and grandmother.

An enclosing we would like to add that the state of California and the wonderful residence voted to strike down the law of parties act in the state of California 800 people return to court to receive lesser sentences if they were not directly involved in the murder of a victim if they did not cause the actual death they were given lenient sentences under this law of parties that was cast out in the state of California in 2018 people receive their lives back which were so cruelly taken over the murder rule long or parties. We ask that all people involved please vote to have our legislator cast out the law of parties at here in Texas thousands of people are doing life sentences over crimes they did not actually commit does it seem right to take someone's entire life over a bad choice which day did not directly have involvement in?

This will be a tremendous task of trying to rectify the failed and flawed justice system who seems to convict poor people and women of color at an alarming rate. Thank you for all of your support and consideration and donations from your heart. We thank everyone from the Woods and Hal. Family