On September 6, 2018, off-duty Dallas police officer Amber Guyger entered the apartment of Dallas West Church of Christ member and Harding University alumnus Botham Jean. Mistaking his apartment for her own, she came through the unlocked front door, found Jean eating ice cream and watching TV on the couch, and shot him with her service weapon. Jean died and a jury later convicted Guyger of murder, sentencing her to ten years in prison. News media around the world covered every minute of the trial, but the moment that most people will remember is when Jean's younger brother, Brandt, forgave Guyger and embraced her at her sentencing. Five years later, Jean's older sister, Allisa Charles-Findley, still struggles with how her brother's murder plunged her into anger, despair, doubt, grief, and the struggle to forgive the killer. This fall, she released her first book 'After Botham', to write about that struggle. In this episode, you will hear from her in her own voice and words.
Link to an archive of The Christian Chronicle’s coverage of events surrounding Botham Jean’s murder
Link to Botham Jean Foundation
Link to Allisa Charles-Findley’s website
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After Botham, Chalice Press, Botham Jean, Allisa Charles-Findley, Amber Guyger, Dallas, Texas, Dallas West Church of Christ, Harding University, forgiveness, law enforcement, police brutality, Botham Jean Foundation, racism, grief, Grief Share, therapy, anger with God, anger, forgiveness, justice, accountability, Brandt Jean, trauma, police reform, no-knock warrants, Breonna Taylor, Amir Locke, chokeholds, Antwon Rose, George Floyd, Justice in Policing Act, decertification, Color of Change, BT Irwin
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