Murderesses. They are uncommon and intriguing enough to warrant the creation of several well-produced TV series including Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Women as well as the brand-new series on A&E: Women On Death Row.
Granted, some of us may not consider these female prisoners to be “women” for they have committed such atrocities as to seem closer to monsters than to being what most of us regard as grown female human beings. Nevertheless, these characters are still part of womankind. The show reveals that they display kindness towards each other. They have tender feelings like the rest of us do. Every one of them was an innocent child at one time. Unfortunately, once in a great while, there is been someone falsely convicted among those sentenced to death. Ergo the argument against having Capital Punishment ~ it is not good to kill an innocent person, so allowing life until a natural death occurs seems to be the more reasonable option that prevents the killing of an innocent inmate.
In watching the show, we learn that in the USA, committing capital murder is not quite enough crime to make for a death sentence. This point is alluded to by the raven-haired Michelle Lyons, an American crime reporter and author, who has witnessed over 280 executions. I believe that these were all injection-induced deaths. [Lethal injection is usually considered the most humane method of capital punishment available.] Lyons mentions no firing squads, no hangings, and no electrocutions. What she does mention is that a death sentence tends to involve the defendant being convicted of Capital Murder plus an additional felony. Furthermore, she explains that if the victim is a minor, then that qualifies as an additional felony. [I believe that she meant without a separate event of a felonious nature.]
Nevertheless, even when such crimes have been proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, a death sentence literally takes many, many moons to execute, presumably because of the lengthy appeals process that typically takes place after the verdict. Such appeals can take years or even decades. Consequently, the stories go on about those who endure “the Row”. To date, these American stories only include about fifty females (according to the show’s opening facts as well as stated by the calm, articulate Michelle Lyons who was mentioned earlier). There are only three women on death row in Arizona.
Thanks to A&E, viewers get to look inside the lives of these so-called women. Their diminished, incarcerated selves speak, and they have plenty to say. One can see that they are routinely deprived of the amount of human contact and interaction that many take for granted. No matter which prison the inmate resides in, she has a resounding angst about her situation and living conditions. There is some severe squalor. Even these caged individuals need – require…dare we say deserve more humane conditions while awaiting their deaths? After all, this is the United States of America; we, as a country strive towards a humanitarian example for the rest of the world to follow.
The first episode of Women on Death Row features a cosmetologist gone vigilante leader Shawna Forde (born Rena Caudle 12/6/67). With her insightful statements about her situation, she may strike the viewer as possessing a higher-than-average IQ. Considering her checkered past and convicted crimes, she has proven to be highly manipulative. She is apparently also ruthless enough to direct the killing of a nine-year-old child, at point blank. I gather that Forde has convinced herself, and others, that she truly is innocent – innocent because she was not the person who pulled the trigger – she was simply the “mastermind” behind the crimes (she denies being the mastermind as well). Forde says that she considers her situation a “tragedy”, that she was taken in for something that she “definitely did not do”. Well, true, we can all agree that she was not the gunman who put a muzzle to the face of young Brisenia Flores, but she could have halted her mission once she realized that there was a child involved. She seemed to have been driven by a desire for money and power, and nothing was going to stop her. Well, nothing other than an astute set of heroes including Officer Jill Isley who is featured in the first episode, covering the murders of Brisenia Flores, her father Raul Flores and the attempted murder of her mother, Gina Flores. The devastated mother’s 911 call is shared.
Part of the show focuses on Forde tele-chatting with her now grown daughter Jaszmine (Forde was sentenced in 2011). How tragic for Jaszmine who believes in her mother. Although Jaszmine seems wistful about her mother’s fate, she also seems like a relatively well-adjusted person. The whole situation seems to be especially heart-wrenching for Shawna’s brother as well. He expresses his intention to tell his sister that he loves her and that he cares. In saying so, on camera, he says it officially to Shawna who will surely watch the show (and possibly read this article).
Another gripping aspect of this premier episode has to do with Shawna Forde’s extreme displays of leadership prior to incarceration. She was able to convince others to do her dirty deeds; literally getting people fired up for it.
If you are looking for a new way to decompress – and even renew feelings of gratitude for your life, then you absolutely cannot miss this well-done series. Women on Death Row airs on A&E on Fridays at 10pm ET/PT. Episodes are available for streaming the following day, on the A&E app and on AETV.com.
