Ep:41 - The Murder of Ray McNeil (Bodybuilder killed by shotgun-wielding wife)

Sally McNeil, born Sally Dempsey on September 30, 1960, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, had a turbulent childhood marked by domestic violence. She attended Dieruff High School, excelling in sports, and later enrolled at East Stroudsburg State College to become a gym teacher. However, financial difficulties forced her to drop out.

Following in her family’s footsteps, McNeil joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving at Camp Pendleton and rising to the rank of Sergeant. She married Anthony Lowden, with whom she had two children. Their marriage ended in divorce due to abuse allegations. During her military service, she won the U.S. Armed Services Physique Championship twice but was eventually demoted and discharged due to behavioral issues.

Sally met fellow bodybuilder Ray McNeil in 1987, marrying him after two months. Their marriage quickly turned abusive. Despite domestic violence reports, Sally stayed with Ray while supporting his bodybuilding career. She engaged in "muscle worship" wrestling videos to finance his training and steroid use, even purchasing steroids from Mexico.

Ray achieved bodybuilding success, including competing in the 1993 Mr. Olympia competition. However, his violent tendencies, fueled by steroids, worsened. Reports indicate he was involved in physical altercations, including a violent nightclub incident.

Sally had a history of violent incidents, including attacking Ray’s mistress, brandishing a firearm at her first husband, and threatening police officers. She was also accused of neglecting her children, leaving them alone for extended periods.

On February 14, 1995, after confronting Ray about his infidelity, Sally shot him twice with a sawed-off shotgun, claiming self-defense after he allegedly attacked her. Ray succumbed to his injuries, and Sally was arrested.

Evidence during the trial suggested inconsistencies in Sally's self-defense claim, including the trajectory of the bullets and lack of her DNA on Ray. In 1996, she was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years to life.

Sally's conviction was temporarily overturned in 2004, but the U.S. Supreme Court later reinstated it. She served her sentence at Central California Women’s Facility until her parole was granted on May 29, 2020.

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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