Women Behind Bars Tuesdays at 10p|9c


The first story features Donna Buchanan who, on the night of October 6, 2000, stabbed her boyfriend, Charles Gouveia, 54 times. Donna was 37 years old and Charles was 80. Donna claimed the murder was committed in self-defense and that she had endured years of physical and mental abuse from Charles. The police’s theory was that Donna, who had a long history of drug abuse, killed Charles in a drug-induced rage. Buchanan accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. On January 2, 2003, 2-year-old Serinity Miller died from injuries consistent with child abuse: multiple bruises to the head and body and suffocation. Her mother, 24-year-old Marion Faye Cason denied being at home when the baby died and claimed that she had left her daughter with her alleged roommate, 40-year-old convicted child abuser Frederick Stegall. Both Stegall and Cason were later arrested for first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect. Stegall took a plea of second degree murder and is serving 19 years on prison. Marion chose to stand trial, where medical experts placed her at the scene at the time of death. A jury found Marion guilty on all counts. Sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, she still maintains she is innocent.