Oxygen is re-airing the recent Snapped: Behind Bars investigation into the murder of James Pruitt, who was shot dead by Gerald Duncan, supposedly at the behest of Pruitt’s ex-girlfriend Lucille Duncan, in Boone County, Missouri.
Lucille’s brother Gerald is serving time after he freely admitted that he killed 44-year-old Pruitt. His sister, Lucille, is also in prison, but she and a growing number of individuals are arguing that she actually had nothing to do with the killing.
In July 2003, Lucille and Pruitt had recently ended their relationship. It had reportedly been a tumultuous affair, with both parties suffering from alcohol abuse. Pruitt had even admitted to assaulting Lucille and was waiting to be sentenced.
However, a few days before Pruitt was due to be sentenced, Lucille drove him, her brother Gerald, and her son, 14-year-old Jeremiah Robertson, to the river to set off fireworks for the Fourth of July celebrations.
Pruitt was sitting in the passenger seat, and Duncan sat behind him. At some point in the journey, Duncan pulled out a firearm and shot Pruitt in the back of the head.
The next morning, a driver came across a bundle of bloody clothes on the road, and the cops found Pruitt’s remains in the nearby woods.
Gerald Duncan pleaded guilty to killing James Pruitt and claimed Lucille Duncan was innocent
Gerald Duncan admitted he was the shooter. He claimed that Pruitt had threatened his sister and the rest of the family and that he was just protecting Lucille. He also said his sister hadn’t known he was going to commit murder.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelThe police disagreed with Gerald’s last statement. They said that Lucille had been in on the plan all along. Jeremiah seemed to confirm their suspicions when he testified against his mother at trial.
Lucille was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Gerald pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2027.
Jeremiah Robertson claims Lucille Duncan didn’t murder James Pruitt
However, in 2007, Jeremiah Robertson retracted his testimony. He now claims that his mother hadn’t known about the murder and that the police pressured him into saying she was involved.
Jeremiah said the police had threatened him with a 20-year sentence and that he had been a scared 14-year-old whose judgment was impaired because he was on strong medication for a range of mental illnesses.
He also says his mother advised him to testify against her so he would avoid going to jail. He was ultimately charged with concealing evidence and spent some time in a juvenile facility.
Lucille Duncan has lodged multiple appeals but all have failed.
This episode of Snapped: Behind Bars re-airs Saturday at 10/9c on Oxygen.