Women Behind Bars Tuesdays at 9|8c

Chanel Boyd & Rita Nitz Tuesday, November 25 at 6pm | 5c


Rita Nitz and her husband Richard lived in a trailer in rural Illinois, near a park which gay men were known to frequent. Richard had a reputation for harassing these men and threatening to kill them because of their sexual orientation. In April, 1988, Michael Miley, one of the men from the park, began arguing with Rita and Richard in front of their home. Richard threatened to kill him if he didn’t get off his property, and then allegedly beat him to death with a baseball bat while Rita watched. Rita helped Richard get Miley's body into the trunk of the car. She adamantly denies that she participated in the murder. In the end, Richard was convicted and sentenced to death, while Rita was also found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Chanel Boyd grew up in inner city Chicago. When she was 15 she became pregnant by a local drug dealer, Jermaine Mullen, and gave birth to a daughter, Chontella. After Jermaine had been released from prison following a drug conviction, Chanel and baby Chontella moved in with him. In February 1988, eight-month-old Chontella began having trouble breathing and was rushed to the hospital. She was put on life support, but two days later, she died. Investigators found evidence of head trauma, and Chanel confessed to throwing her baby against a wall, but later claimed that Jermaine had smashed the baby’s head against the wall. They were both were tried for murder. Chanel was 16 at the time, but was tried as an adult, and found guilty of murder. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Jermaine was acquitted due to lack of proof that he was present when baby Chontella received her fatal injuries. Chanel still maintains she is innocent.
Upcoming Air Dates: Tuesday, November 25 at 6pm \| 5c Friday, December 12 at 9pm \| 8c Saturday, December 13 at 4am \| 3c