Free Wendy and Her Family

Wendy’s Story

After experiencing twenty years of horrific violence from her husband, threats of killing her family, seeing him abuse their four sons and the family pets, hiding all the kitchen knives from her husband and covering dozens of holes he put in the walls of their home, after he knocked out more than half of her teeth and spent countless nights describing his fantasies of killing her and the people she loved, Wendy’s love for her children and her family compelled her to take the one and only action that would keep her family safe.

On May 1, 2005, Wendy called 911 asking for help because she had killed her husband. Wendy was arrested and removed from the lives of her four children. Except for the ten months she was out on bail, Wendy and her sons have been separated ever since. Although she acted to protect and to stop the victimization they endured, she and her children continue to be re-victimized by the State of Oregon.

Wendy and her family believe that their experience will help others. The Free Wendy and her Family Campaign was established to obtain clemency for Wendy and her son, Randy. Once that has been accomplished, the family and their supporters hope to establish an organization that will benefit those families in Oregon who find themselves in the same situation as Wendy and her family.

Our Mission

Ending the re-victimization of those children whose incarcerated mother’s actions—in defense of self or others—resulted in lethal force.