Women Behind Bars Tuesdays at 10p|9c

Denise Holsinger and Vanessa Crawley


The first of these stories features Denise Holsinger who was convicted, along with her boyfriend Michael Clagett, in the fatal shooting of four people at the Witchduck Inn. Denise had recently been fired from her job there as a bartender/waitress. Although Clagett admitted to being the shooter and begged to be given the death penalty, he claimed it was all Denise’s idea. Virginia’s law in 1995 protected Denise from the possibility of the death penalty because she did not pull the trigger. Michael got the death penalty and was executed. Denise is serving four life sentences at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Virginia. She volunteers for jobs that will help others, such as transcribing books into Braille for the blind. Denise has no contact with her three children or her ex-husband, and still insists that she was not the mastermind that Clagett made her out to be. When Vanessa Crawley’s husband Chris threatened her if she didn’t find someone for them to rob, Vanessa went along with his plan. She allegedly lured Al Roberts into their car on the pretense that he would be given a ride home with the intention of selling Chris and his two friends marijuana. Vanessa claims she stayed in the car and watched in horror as Chris allegedly pulled Roberts out of the car, robbed him and shot him five times point blank. Both Vanessa and Chris were charged with murder but Chris plead guilty and was sentenced to 60 years. Vanessa’s trial took place two and half years after the crime. She was given a guilty verdict and a 33-year sentence. She is still married to Chris and writes to him from prison. Vanessa harbors regrets but holds out hope that she can come home soon.