Mum strangled to death after speaking out against violence faced by Black women

23 September 2023 , 03:14

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A mother was strangled to death a mere month after speaking out against violence faced by Black women (Image: cbs)

Around a month ago, 30-year-old Sierra Jamison was the victim of an attempted carjacking. She, like many other Black women in America, was likely targeted because of her gender and the colour of her skin.

Sierra fought off the perpetrator, however, along with a band of other women in the area who came to her aid, and she was able to escape unscathed. She shared her experiences with CBS Chicago, hoping her story would uplift other Black women who had faced similar violent crimes — many of whom weren't as lucky to escape unhurt, or even alive, like Sierra.

But on Monday, Sierra succumbed to the very violence she spoke out against. She was found in a parking garage, strangled to death by her boyfriend, 63-year-old Lawrence Boyle.

Sierra had been a mother, a phlebotomist and an activist who spoke out about violence against Black women (abc7)

That fateful day, Sierra had phoned her mother, and in their conversation, she told her that she was moving her car into a parking garage in an alley near her home. Boyle was allegedly waiting for her there, according to charging documents from the Chicago Police Department, reported HuffPost.

Her mother grew concerned when she didn't return home, and so she sent Sierra's brother to the garage to check out the scene. He found Boyle there, who had Sierra's phone.

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When the brother asked about the phone, Boyle reportedly told him Sierra had thrown it at him in a fight they had. But Sierra's mother didn't buy that story when the brother told her, so she went to the garage to check out the situation herself.

That's where she found Sierra lying under a tarp, strangled to death. Boyle had gone, but phone records and testimony indicated that he had called his ex-wife and confessed to the crime over the phone.

Lawrence Boyle, who murdered 30-year-old Sierra Jamison (Chicago Police Department)

On Wednesday, Boyle turned himself in to the police and confessed to the killing, and on Thursday, he was charged with first-degree murder. He allegedly told the police that he had originally thought she had a gun, but quickly realised she didn't, but he continued to strangle her anyway after that realisation.

Sierra had been a phlebotomist and the mother of a beautiful 6-year-old boy who not only lives with autism but who also had open heart surgery recently to address an undisclosed medical issue, she told CBS Chicago. Her son was who gave her the courage to stand up for herself during the carjacking, she told the outlet.

"I know how many sacrifices I've done for my family, my son, because he's been through a lot," she said of the incident last month. "My son had open-heart surgery. He has a disability, so he means a lot to me, and I'm not fixing to let this young man – with a knife at that – take anything I work hard for away from me."

She also said she derived courage and optimism from the group of women who helped her out that day. She told the outlet: "They literally stepped in and helped me. It was a lot of Black empowerment, women empowerment, that day."

CBS Chicago reporter Dorothy Tucker, who had interviewed Sierra last month after the incident, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her shock at the slaying.

"Numb. That’s my reaction. After learning of this young woman’s death," she wrote. "I was so impressed with her courage to share her story with @cbschicago. It was a story of a beautiful strong Black woman just trying to provide for her son. My condolences to her family."

Sadina Jamison, Sierra's aunt, told the outlet that Boyle had been someone Sierra had trusted and who "she was comfortable around" and had "no reason to fear."

Boyle had been friends with Jamison for around 10 years before they started officially dating, which only happened just a few weeks ago. His first court appearance was set for Friday, September 22.

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If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control you can call Refuge's 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. The number is 0808 2000 247

Jeremiah Hassel