My name is Crystal Howell. I am 26 years old and as of right now, I have spent one third of my life as an incarcerated individual. I feel as if I deserve a second chance at life. I want to go to college, have children, start a family; all simple pleasures often taken for granted. I have transformed into a stronger, better person and I know that I can leave prison and become a productive member in society. I want to help other victims of abuse so that their lives will not take the tragic turn that mine did at such a young age. Please, give me just one chance to prove that I am deserving of freedom and happiness. 

All I'm asking for is one chance. Thank you.

-Crystal Howell #1521235 Anson Correctional Institution

On Feb. 24, 2014, 17 year-old Crystal Howell killed her father Michael. She admitted to the crime and was sentenced to 25 years to life and an additional 5-7 years for failure to report a corpse.  But, there is more to the story that was never made known in any courtroom, instead, the State of North Carolina and the Haywood County Prosecutors Office felt she deserved to live most of her adult life in prison.

This petition is to plead to the courts of North Carolina and the Governor to take another look at Ms. Howell’s case and the extenuating factors that lead up to the crime.  Presented in the podcast, Killing Dad: A First-Degree Mistake, Ms. Howell recounts a childhood in and out of mental facilities, parental trauma, alleged sexual abuse at the hand of an uncle, and physical and mental abuse from her father Michael Howell. On the day of the murder, Ms. Howell felt her life was in danger after a verbal threat from her father, just one of many he made over the years not only to her but her mother and sister as well, which has been documented. 

Previous cases with similar circumstances as Ms. Howell’s have resulted in the minor/perpetrator in question being sentenced to 10-15 years, given probation only, and/or incarceration in a mental facility.  One can also compare the crime similar to that of a spousal killing where the abused spouse was acting in self-defense.  The creators of this petition feel that the State of North Carolina was too quick to sentence Ms. Howell to the maximum punishment rather than do their due diligence in reviewing all extenuating factors that lead up to the crime.

Please take a moment to sign this petition asking the State of North Carolina to review Ms. Howell’s case and lessen her sentence.