Victims’ Voices

Harralyn Rawls, a survivor of domestic violence and a victim advocate, is also the co-founder of Fellowship Community Outreach, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. She shared her story in a short interview where she discussed her experiences with the court systems, the lack of support within her community, her PTSD, and how counseling and Marsy’s Law have helped her recover from a lifetime of abuse.

David Toney's father, Tom Toney, was tragically abducted and murdered in 1994, just six months after their family moved to Tennessee from Kentucky. Upon learning about the upcoming parole hearing for his father's murderer in the fall of 2020, David, along with family and friends, mobilized to collect signatures for a petition demanding the killer remain incarcerated. Their collective efforts bore fruit when the parole board initially denied parole and declared the perpetrator ineligible for future consideration. However, their relief was short-lived as a new directive allowed life-sentenced inmates, including the murderer, to be considered for parole retroactively.

Mobilizing a coalition of law enforcement, prosecutors, survivors, and advocacy groups, including Marsy’s Law for Kentucky, they successfully challenged the directive, ultimately securing its repeal. Now, as legislators in Tennessee consider Marsy's Law, David is using his voice, and his experience, to help others in the state understand the importance of victims' rights through Marsy's Law. 

Lee Bertha Pickett-Allen was a founding member of the precursor organization to the Justice for Homicide Victims (JHV) organization, along with Marsy Nicholas' mother, Marcella Leach, and others. Lee Bertha also worked with Doris Tate, of the Doris Tate Bureau, alongside JHV in its program of going into jails and talking to prisoners about how their actions impact society. Lee Bertha is a retired social worker, working with at-risk populations.  

After her daughter was stalked and murdered by her ex-boyfriend and boss in 2011, Tina Gregg was never notified when the man charged with her daughter's murder left the state. Instead, she found out on Facebook. Her daughter, Brooke Morris, was a vibrant young woman and a loving mother to her 3-year-old son. Her family honors her legacy by sharing her story and fighting for victims' rights in Tennessee.

Sophia Fifner is an advocate and activist for women and girls. For more than 15 years, she has served as a bold change agent for issues regarding sexual assault and civic engagement. To fulfill this mission, Sophia serves on the Survivor Advisory Council of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the Board of Directors of the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, and is an alumna of the Jo-Ann Davidson Leadership Institute and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs’ new Leadership program. When she is not volunteering with a change-driven organization, she works for the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. 

Sheri Farmer’s oldest child, Lori Lee, was murdered on June 13, 1977, on her first night of Girl Scout camp. Sheri and her husband, Dr. Bo Farmer, subsequently founded the Oklahoma chapter of Parents of Murdered Children. For decades, Sheri has traveled throughout Oklahoma speaking to numerous organizations, including the state police academy, victim-witness coordinators, and at Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations training sessions.

Kristin Baker's daughters, Eva and Emily, were sexually assaulted as children by their paternal grandfather who is currently being considered for parole. Along with her daughters, Kristin is fighting his release after he has served only nine years of a twenty-two-year sentence. 

Crystal Matheson, once a victim of domestic violence and now a dedicated victims' advocate, has transformed her harrowing experiences into a force for positive change. Having navigated the justice system as a victim of crime, she is a strong supporter of Marsy's Law in Georgia and understands the positive difference it is making for other victims in her state.

Priscilla Dawson, a lifelong resident of Jackson, MS, is the mother of three and grandmother of five. When her daughter became the victim of sexual assault, she set out to fight for justice for her daughter. She graduated from John W. Provine High School in Jackson, Mississippi in 1984 before attending Jackson State University where she received my B.S. in Criminal Justice and my M.A. in Criminology & Justice Services. She is currently employed with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office as the Quality Assurance Coordinator.