Alabama's Amendment 3: What it means to one family
Alabama's Amendment 3: What it means to the family of murder victim Lisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann Millican's Story How Amendment 3 Started
Amendment 3 on the ballot this year has a story that dates back long before 2022.
The story starts forty years ago in Dekalb County's Little River Canyon at Lynn Overlook, with a girl by the name of Lisa Ann Millican and ends with her family, who we began speaking with back in 2018.
"She was a tomboy. She liked to play mother to her siblings. She liked music. She had a record that she would play over, and over and over." said Cassie Millican, Lisa's Sister-In-Law.
Lisa Ann Millican was a 13-year-old girl from Georgia, who did what most teens her age did.
"She had earned some money and she had wanted to go to the mall to spend it," said Millican.
However, September of 1982 would change Lisa's world and the world of those who loved her.
"...The details are, you know, a little blurry on how she got separated from the group. But she did and she ran into evil." said Millican, "She just didn't deserve what happened to her. And nobody does."
Lisa Ann Millican was kidnapped from Rome, Georgia by Judith Ann Neelley. Neelley tortured Millican, and Neelley's husband, Alvin, raped Millican at what used to be Five Points Motel in Scottsboro.
"They kept her for three days. So this was the last stop." said Millican, "There was never going home."
The family explained Judith Neelley shot Millican in the back, hoping she would fall forward at Lynn Overlook, but Lisa fell backward instead.
The Neelleys were arrested in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and given the death sentence. However, in 1999, Governor Fob James commuted Neelley's sentence to life.
The decision is what pushed the Millicans to find justice for Lisa Ann and beyond.
"It's virtually impossible to pass one bill It takes a miracle let alone two." said Millican, "So I feel very fortunate that I was able to get both through."
'Lisa's Law' An Introduction to Amendment 3
'Lisa's Law' which was passed in 2019, requires anyone convicted of a violent crime to notify the Attorney General's office if they are profiting of the crime they committed, such as a movie or book.
Senate Bill 196 is Amendment 3 on this year's ballot.
"This bill was a part of the original bill. It was two separate issues. So they had to split it." said Millican, "The first just sailed right on through and then the second one kind of bounced around a little bit. In 2020, they had to leave early."
The Millicans were still determined to pass the bill.
"This is the year. It's 2022. She [Judith] comes up for parole next year, again, and this was just perfect timing." said Millican, "I said 'there's no nos.' It's going through this year. That's it. That's it. That's all."
Amendment 3 On The Ballot
State Senators Sam Givhan and Steve Livingston are co-sponsors of the bill.
"The family came to us and asked us to see what we could do to make it where there was notification available. (We) sat down with the governor's office." said Senator Steve Livingston, "We worked out a deal where they could figure out what they wanted to do and ran through the Attorney General's Office. We have an agreement in principle of what to do. Fortunately, it's constitutional so let's go to people."
We reached out to the family of former Governor Fob James. James has retired in Florida and the family shared the reasoning behind James' decision. The family explained that James respected the jury's decision, who convicted Neelley to life in prison.
It's the judge who can change the sentence to the death penalty.
"I can't go back and reverse what was done. But this will prevent anyone else from having to go through it. Whether it's a reversal of death to love or a [delay]." said Millican.
Amendment 3 will appear on the ballot on November 8. At that time, a yes or no decision will be made on whether or not the amendment will be passed.