Women Behind Bars NEW EPISODES: Tuesday, May 4

Deborah Rolle


Inmate Name: Deborah Rolle Charge: First-degree murder, convicted of second-degree murder Sentence: Life in prison Prison: Homestead Correctional Facility, Florida Deborah Rolle was born in Miami, Florida in 1960, into a large family of 12 children. She says she always wished she could have had more attention from her mother and father. Her father worked as a maintenance worker and her mother was a nurse’s aide. When she got older, she sought her independence by joining the Army. Once she joined, she became involved in communications. After being discharged from the Army, she earned an associates degree in computers in 1988. But she dreamt of a career as a traveling nurse so she re-enlisted in the military reserves. Then she began dating and went for the men she found physically attractive, not always being assertive enough when it came to how these men treated her. By 1991, Deborah had two children with different fathers, with her son living with his dad and her daughter living with her. That year, friends introduced Deborah to Allen Aganovic whom she married in 1992 after learning that Deborah was pregnant. A daughter was born in December. But Deborah felt isolated living in their secluded mobile home in the Ocala National Forest, and by 1994, after their second daughter was born, conflicts in the marriage began to surface. She claims that Allen became abusive and had a drinking problem. She took her children and left Allen in 1995, moving to West Palm Beach. She started a job as a nursing technician at the Veteran’s Hospital. But after a month or so, she called Allen and the couple got back together. In 1997, they separated for good, sharing visits with their daughters. A bitter divorce and custody battle ensued. Deborah believed Allen was physically abusing their youngest daughter. Allen videotaped their encounters at his front door when Deborah would go to his house to drop off the children. By the summer of 1998, authorities recommended that full custody of the children be given to Allen. In 1999, Allen and Deborah’s divorce became final with Allen being given custody of the children. In the meantime, Deborah met John Cahill, a retired Sheriff’s Deputy, whom she eventually married. On March 3, 1999, Allen and the girls went to Deborah’s so that she could give them their Christmas gifts. On March 4, 1999, six weeks after their divorce, Allen brought the girls to Deborah for a second time. Deborah claims she went to her bedroom to look for photos and when she turned around Allen was there, brandishing a knife. She picked up a gun she had borrowed from John Cahill to scare off a stalker, and fatally shot Allen. She called 911. Deborah was taken to the hospital for a superficial knife wound and then was released her into police custody. Six weeks after Allen’s death, Deborah was arrrested and charged with first-degree murder. At her trial, she claimed self-defense but the jury convicted her of second-degree murder, and she was sentenced to life in prison. Deborah appealed but a second judge upheld the ruling. Deobrah corresponds with her daughters and does not want them to make the mistakes she’s made.