Marny Wilson, a 40-year-old African American woman from Dayton, OH, tragically lost her life on August 7, 2011. She was a dedicated fraud investigator for the Ohio Department of Insurance, a wedding photographer, and a volleyball coach at Trotwood-Madison schools. Marny was also a loving mother to five children.
On the day of her death, Marny was moving her belongings from her former home when her estranged husband, Keith Wilson, allegedly shot her in the neck.
Marny's 14-year-old daughter, Mar'Kei, witnessed the shooting and made a frantic 911 call, saying, "My dad just shot my mom". Keith Wilson, who was 44 years old at the time, was arrested in Indianapolis the following day and charged with murder and felonious assault.
Marny had filed for divorce from Keith in May 2011 and had sought two protection orders against him due to threats he had made. Despite her efforts, Keith evaded being served with the paperwork. The case drew significant attention to the issue of domestic violence, as Marny's death was one of several high-profile cases in the area at the time.
The community mourned the loss of Marny Wilson, with hundreds attending her funeral to pay their respects. Her death was a devastating blow to her family, who had already experienced the loss of Marny's brother to homicide in 2001. Marny was laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery, next to her brother.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Marny Wilson's death highlighted the urgent need for better protection and support for victims of domestic violence. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact that such violence can have on families and communities.
