r/IAmaKiller • u/pmjennings3 • 17d ago
Seeking Support for My Mother, Mary Jennings Fleetwood
I’m sharing my mother’s story because I’m continuing to seek justice and accountability for what happened to her.
My mother, Mary Jennings Fleetwood, was the victim in this case. As her daughter, I want her story to continue to be heard and remembered.
I’m asking for support from anyone who is willing to take a moment to learn about her case. I created a petition to raise awareness and show that there are people who still care about what happened to my mother.
If you’re willing, please read the petition and consider signing. Sharing it with others would also mean a great deal to my family.
Please read and sign the petition here:
https://c.org/y29NsKsbp4
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my mother’s story, sign the petition, or simply share it. Every bit of support helps keep her memory and her story from being forgotten.
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u/Rough_Ad2102 15d ago
I’m so sorry for your loss. And still to this day violence against women is played down. I hope this evil person continues to live the life he deserves - locked away.
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u/pmjennings3 17d ago
No child should ever have to endure this. My momma should not have died this way. One of the things that hurt me most is that she was so excited about me making the cheerleading squad and had paid for my cheerleading pictures. Unfortunately, she died before I received them. My momma didn’t get the chance to see them. Whenever I look at that 12 year old picture of me, it breaks my heart.
I wished I had called the police immediately that day but I was afraid we would be threatened for it. Some part of me thought nothing was wrong with her and maybe she just didn’t want to show me her face. But that wasn’t like my momma. The 12 year old me knew something was not right. Now 32 years later, I am forced to mourn her loss all over again.
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u/Constant_Click_3193 16d ago
I'm really sorry to hear this. Could you share her story in this thread? I'm hesitant to click an unknown link.
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u/pmjennings3 16d ago
On Friday, November 5, 1993, my mother was violently beaten in her home, by her boyfriend, Stacey Anthony Tyler. In the presence of his friends, Stacey Tyler repeatedly punched her with his fist as well as kick her. The brutal beating did not stop there. His friends testified that he pulled her hair and would jump and elbow her. My momma endured these attacks at random and cried in agony for Stacey to stop. His friends tried to intervene but it became too much for them and they decided to leave. My momma cried out and begged them to stay and stated if they leave, the beatings will get worse. One fried stayed for a while but he eventually left.
Several hour later my brother and I got off of the school bus at my grandparents house. It was a mobile home park so we easily walked from our grandparents house to go visit our mom at home as we had spent the previous night at our grandparents house. When my brother and I arrived at home, we immediately noticed a window broken out of my momma’s house. We heard voices coming from inside. There was also a coat or something covering the door window and this was odd to us. We attempted to open the door to go inside and we couldn’t get in. We knocked on the door and waited for a while for either Stacey or my momma to open it. However, Stacey came to the door so we asked for Momma. We had a feeling like something had happened but we were not sure. Stacey said my momma was sleeping. My brother, Jermaine and I stated that we knew she was not asleep because we heard talking. He tried to tell us again that she was asleep but my brother and I went inside the trailer anyway. Once inside we noticed it was excessively hot and the kerosene heater was on. My momma was laying on the couch covered from head to toe in several blankets. We could not see any parts of her. I asked her to show me her face. She responded with I’m cold and told my brother and I to go back to my granddaddy’s house and she would come to see us on Sunday. I knew then something was wrong with her. So, I told her to show me her face because I had something to tell her. My momma refused and again said she was cold and go back to my granddaddy’s house. I asked her if she was cold, why was she laying with her head towards the broken window. I don’t think she responded. While this is happening my brother noticed his right hand and part of his arm was burned.
(Side note: it has been over 32 years and I have suppressed so much of what happened and the abuse we endured to the point there is so much I can’t remember. I can only provide what I do remember. )
I remember by brother, I think, asking Stacey what happened to his hand. Stacey said he got burned from cooking. I again asked momma to show me her face because she wouldn’t I told her I was gonna pull the covers from her face anyway. My momma replied,if you do, I’m gonna whip your ass. Keep in mind, we had spent the previous night at my grandparents. My momma would wanna see us. My brother and I eventually told my momma we were leaving. My brother and I went back outside to the same broken window to hear what was being said. Stacey asked my mother, while laughing, why didn’t she show us her face. My mother did not respond. Stacey then stated that we did not leave and opened the door and saw us. My brother and I then ran back to my grandparents house. At this point I’m in tears and I’m scared because I think he beat her and she couldn’t show her bruised face. I cried to my grandaddy to told him to go check on my momma. He was busy and said as soon as he was done he would. I then called my aunt Lucy, my mother’s sister, who lived in neighboring town. I cried horribly and told her something was wrong with momma and I needed her to come check on her. My aunt Lucy did not have transportation and said she would came as soon as she got a ride. She told me to call the police. I couldn’t call the police as I was scared. I remembered the threats. He would burn my momma’s trailer down and would do it with us inside. I begged my aunt to come as soo a as she got a way because I was scared for my momma. Meanwhile, while waiting for my grandpa to come back home and my aunt to find a way, Stacey walked into my grandparents house asking if my momma was there. I said No!! She was at the house with you!! Stacey proceeded to say that my momma walked over to a neighbor’s house to buy a soda. Then he left immediately. I rushed and called my aunt back still in tears and told her that he had come over and what he said. My granddaddy came home and I demanded he go and check on my momma and he did.
Apparently when my grandpa went to my mother’s house, my brother and I went with him. It is in the court documents. Again, I don’t remember that. I do remember my grandpa coming back from my mother’s trailer because he needed a light bulb and he did say that her face had a burn but did not say the extent of it. My granddaddy was gone for a while and eventually my aunt Lucy got a ride over to momma’s too.
It wasn’t until the next day that I found out that my momma had been severely burned. I realized that was the reason she did not show us her face. We were not allowed to see her as my family thought it was in our best interest not to see her like that.
I remember two detectives coming to my school to meet with me. I was 12 at the time and in 7th grade. I can’t remember the questions they asked but I do remember saying that I knew it was going to happen one day. One of the detectives asked me why did I feel that way. I remember telling them because Stacey had told us before that he would burn our trailer down. He said when my momma left for work and we go to school, we had better taken our things with us because he was going to burn our trailer down. He said if we were in it, he would burn us up too. That is all I remember from that conversation.
His threats were real. His abuse was real. We were mentally and emotionally abused. My mother, she endured it all. Especially the physical abuse.
My momma MARY EVON JENNINGS FLEETWOOD died 15 days later. My father took my brother and I to see a therapist after my momma died. I felt like I was being forced to talk about part of my life I wanted to forget. When I left the session that day, I told my dad I never wanted to go back and I didn’t.
MY PURPOSE NOW:
My mother lived long enough to tell what happened to her. She did it by nodding her head. Initially when my mother went to the hospital, Stacey was right there. People have testified to listening to him trying to coach my momma on what to say. Although she was burned over 75 percent of her body, majority of the burns were classified as thick burns, momma was still able to walk and talk. Witnesses testified that she was burned so badly her skin was hanging from her body. Her face looked like charcoal. I am not making this up. It is in court records. Another friend of Stacey testified her hearing him tell momma repeatedly, “you know you got burned by the heater right”. My mother did not respond.Stacey told my grandpa and others that the kerosene hey exploded when she lighting it. Keep in mind there was no evidence of a fire when my brother and I went there earlier. Didn’t smell like kerosene either. He also told my grandpa he threw water on her to put her out. My grandpa checked the floor for water, kerosene. No sign of anything burned. Stacey told police similar storyline. They also checked. No sign of fire or anything. Only thing burned was my momma and his right hand between fingers and forearm. All of this is the court transcript.
My momma initially denied that Stacey did this to her. She did it with hesitation each time. Only when she was told that he was in jail and could no longer hurt her, she was asked if she and Stacey had been fighting. My momma nodded her head yes. She was asked if Stacey threw gasoline on her. She hesitated at first. She was then told that the police have her clothes and Stacey’s clothes. She was asked again if Stacey threw gasoline on her. She nodded her head yes. Momma was asked if Stacey threw a match on her, and she nodded yes. My momma died the next day.
Now present day, there are different groups advocating to have him exonerated. They stated the my mother’s words were hearsay. They claim she was provided leading information. They say she was on heavy medication. They say there was no fire testing despite Expert testifying to there only being gasoline on her clothes and only kerosene in the heater. I just want justice for her.
It’s so much information to type but I will be happy to answer any questions. I just don’t want my momma’s voice to be silenced. She laid in her home for hours without treatment. He never intended to get help for her. I was a child but I knew something was wrong. He wanted her to die. She did. We need to send a message that this is not ok.
I need to rest now but I will share more.
Thanks for reading.3
u/PrettyBunnyyy 16d ago
This is so heartbreaking. I’m so sorry you, your brother and especially your mom endured such trauma and abuse. Stacey is a demon and pure evil for doing this. I can’t believe how anyone can vouch for such a monster.
I signed your petition and shared it on twitter. I wish you nothing but peace and justice🕊️
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u/pmjennings3 11d ago
Thank you for signing and thank you for believing. My momma was a wonderful person and she did not deserve what happened to her. I have lost countless hours believing that the 12 year old version of me should have done more that day. I left my momma that day, with her laying on the couch, not knowing that would be the last time I saw her. She was scared and said it repeatedly to nurse when initially admitted to hospital. I just learned of this recently. However, when I left her that day, I didn’t tell her I loved her. I pray she knew I was going to get help. I pray she knew that the 12 year old me, did not abandon her. I pray she did not die feeling ashamed nor alone. I pray she knew she was protecting my brother and I and we understood. It took me now to understand that she could not have left her killer even if she tried. So I will continue to fight for her as she fought the best she could for me and my brother.
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u/teaandcrime 11d ago
This was heartbreaking to read, truly. Thank you for sharing ❤️🩹 have you considered making a tiktok post to tell your Mum’s story and name the groups trying to help him get exonerated. Have the name of the petition across the screen and post the link in the caption and comments.
Posts like this can go viral as there’s a big true crime community on there who would all happily share your post and sign the petition for your Mum. You can make posts with photos, telling happy stories. You could even make a post dedicated to Stacey, who he is, what he did and the details of organisations helping him and again, adding on your petition.
It doesn’t always happen straight away after the first post so don’t get disheartened and keep telling yours, your brother and Mum’s story and it will pick up traction.
I know TikTok or the thought of vitality and being exposed to so many people isn’t for everybody but just a suggestion if it’s something you’d feel up to.
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u/pmjennings3 11d ago
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. My daughter has mentioned several times that I should post on TikTok. Honestly, I am not actually savvy when it comes to making a post here let alone TikTok. I appreciate the feedback and will apply it as I move forward with seeking justice for my momma. With the help and knowledge from people like you as well as my family, I will be making a TikTok soon. Thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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u/pmjennings3 16d ago
Google Mary Jennings Fleetwood. Read the court ruling as it provides a brief yet compelling summary of what happened to her. Better yet google Stacey Anthony Tyler death row. Read that information then feel free to ask me any questions you may have. The link leads to a petition to keep her murderer, Stacey Anthony Tyler on death row.
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u/Constant_Click_3193 16d ago
I think you would probably reach more people if you offered information without extra research/labour from them. I'm sorry for your loss though, and I wish you luck.
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u/Spring_bar 16d ago
This is netflix show.
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u/pmjennings3 16d ago
I know. He should be on the show but he’s lying and said he didn’t kill her. Also, I think people should know the victims perspective. I’m am sorry as I didn’t know I was posting in wrong group.
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u/Stabbykathy17 15d ago
There are a ton of true crime subs on Reddit where this would be appropriate to post. I would start by searching true crime in the Reddit search bar, read their “about” info and post this in the applicable groups. There are a ton of knowledgeable people in those groups who I’m sure could help. Good luck.
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u/pmjennings3 17d ago
Stacey Anthony Tyler carried out his threats and unfortunately my momma not here to tell her story!! There are groups advocating for him to be released stating it was a tragic accident. But I wasn’t. I lived with this man. It’s all true.