Illinois Governor Sets Free Four Women Who Killed Abusive Mates

The governor of Illinois has freed four women who were imprisoned for killing their abusive husbands or boyfriends.

“In each case, the battered women syndrome was an extraordinarily compelling reason for granting clemency,” said Diane Ford, a lawyer for Gov. Jim Edgar.

Velma Taylor, Christine Popp, Mary Young and Betty Jordan were granted clemency Thursday and released from prison.

“I couldn’t believe it at first,” Popp said Friday. “I was excited, I was overwhelmed. I guess I had mixed feelings. It’s kind of scary.”

Popp, 46, shot her husband in 1987. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Generally, prisoners in Illinois who behave well in custody must serve half of their sentence.

“I’ve been given so much, and I want to be able to give some back in some way,” Popp said. “I want to help women.”

Taylor, 43, had been hospitalized repeatedly because of her live-in boyfriend’s abuse. She stabbed him to death in 1990 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Young, 44, who stabbed her abusive boyfriend to death in 1991, was sentenced to six years. Jordan, 33, was sentenced to 10 years for shooting her boyfriend in 1990.

The Illinois Clemency Project petitioned the state last month to release 12 women convicted of murder. Edgar said only four cases met the standards.

The Cook County attorney’s office condemned Edgar’s decision.

“Granting clemency to four people who unjustifiably used deadly force is a disservice to all legitimate victims of domestic violence,” spokesman Andy Knott said.