Robbery for Drugs Leads to Murder

Mrs. Marie Harris was 90 years old when she was killed by Wanda Epps—a 21 year old woman addicted to drugs. 

Mrs. Harris lived upstairs from Wanda’s mother and they were friends.  With the help of her mother, Wanda gained entry into Mrs. Harris’s apartment .  During the robbery, Wanda—in her drug-addled state—realized Mrs. Harris would be able to identify her later , so she killed her and took a television and $25.  Wanda pawned the television around the corner, in her own name, which is how she and her mother were convicted of the crime.

Failed attempts to talk   

Eight years after the incident, Mrs. Harris’s daughter, Denise, came to a personal realization:  Unless she forgave Wanda, then she herself would not be able to enter Heaven.  She made several attempts to go to the prison to talk with Wanda but each request was denied.   Finally, she contacted the Victims Services Coordinator for the Maryland Division of Corrections, who told her this type of conversation could be facilitated by the Serious Crimes Conferencing program offered through the Community Conferencing Center.

Coming together to talk   

After preparation interviews with Denise, Denise’s daughter Brenda, Wanda, and the prison Chaplain, the Serious Crimes Conference took place at the prison with all participants sitting in the circle. 

Denise requested that Wanda speak first.  Wanda opened by saying she had prepared something in writing, but she realized that she needed to just speak from her heart.  Which she did…quite eloquently.   A tearful and remorseful Wanda spoke for five minutes straight--sharing her feelings of regret, telling Wanda and Brenda that once she had gotten off the drugs she wrote a letter of apology but the lawyers would not deliver it.  She let the family know she understands her actions and mistakes have caused them unknowable suffering.    Denise was clearly moved.   She let Wanda know how difficult it was to lose her mother to murder; and that their lives have been changed forever .  Denise also asked Wanda about her children, and learned that Wanda had not been able to see her children in the past 10 years and her family was trying to take custody away from her.  Wanda added that her mother passed away within her first year of being incarcerated.  

And then Denise told Wanda that she forgives her for what she did.

With everyone in tears, Brenda let Wanda know that she had forgiven her long ago, recognizing that her actions were the result of her drug addiction.

The conversation continued at length, and towards the end, Denise offered to provide transportation for Wanda’s children to visit her.  Wanda thanked her, but indicated that circumstances within her family would make that impossible.  Wanda was grateful that she could occasionally see one of her daughter’s through a program offered by the Girl Scouts.

“I will speak on her behalf ”  

Both Wanda’s and Denise’s lives changed that day in the prison.  Before the meeting, Wanda had been administered several disciplinary actions due to her poor behavior in prison.  In the years since the meeting, she has had none.   Wanda says she is not the angry person she used to be.  Denise said to Wanda, “If I can forgive you, then you should be able to forgive yourself, “ and that forgiveness let Wanda feel—for the first time since the incident—that she just might be able to be a good person again.  Wanda reflected that Denise’s forgiveness “was my second chance.”  

Denise is grateful that she did not find that “same unconcerned, cold, uncaring person” when she talked with Wanda.  She could not have been “more pleased with the person she found.  Wanda was remorseful, and thankful for the opportunity to talk and apologized.”

Denise describes the Serious Crimes Conference as “an awesome experience” that freed and released her.   Denise told Wanda that when her parole hearing is scheduled, that Denise will not only speak on Wanda’s behalf, but she will also let the Parole Commission know she supports her release from prison.

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