Podcast episode makes international news in UK
Sharon Kennedy revealed in her podcast conversation with Patrisha McLean more than 40 ways that her ex Julio horrifically abused her and her 10-year-old daughter Marissa leading to a "breakdown of self" through coercive control. Photo supplied by Patrisha McLean 
Developed circa 1984 by Ellen Pence, Coral McDonnell, and Michael Paymar of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs in Duluth, Minnesota. It was based on extensive interviews with battered women who described the tactics used by their abusers to gain power and control in their relationships. Courtesy image
Sharon Kennedy revealed in her podcast conversation with Patrisha McLean more than 40 ways that her ex Julio horrifically abused her and her 10-year-old daughter Marissa leading to a "breakdown of self" through coercive control. Photo supplied by Patrisha McLean
Developed circa 1984 by Ellen Pence, Coral McDonnell, and Michael Paymar of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs in Duluth, Minnesota. It was based on extensive interviews with battered women who described the tactics used by their abusers to gain power and control in their relationships. Courtesy imageIn a podcast conversation with Patrisha McLean of Finding Our Voices, Sharon Kennedy revealed from prison the "breakdown of self" by her ex that led to the murder of her daughter Marissa is the subject of a long and sympathetic feature article in the Daily Mail UK - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/crime-desk/article-15643123/sharon-kennedy-mom-daughter-murder-maine-prison.html
Sharon is six years into a 48-year prison sentence for murder. Her ex Julio Carillo is serving 55 years on the same charge. "I was really glad to see that the Daily Mail reporter Kelly Garino 'got' how evil and devastating coercive control AKA psychological terrorizing can be," McLean said. "I am also happy for Sharon's story to be amplified to boost the chances of a sharp reduction or commutation of her spectacularly misguided sentence."
Sharon did not testify at her 2020 trial. "I feel I was not heard," she tells Patrisha in the podcast episode (https://findingourvoices.net/podcast) that is Sharon's first public comments since her 2018 arrest.
"'If I just knew about domestic violence in the beginning of this relationship, it would have come to a stop in a heartbeat instead of escalating like this." One of the ways Julio exerted control over Sharon early in their relationship was to move her from New York where she was surrounded by family to Maine where she knew no one.
Sharon did not testify at her trial in 2020. According to Sharon's lawyer Christopher MacLean, there was no physical evidence linking her to the murder. Plenty of evidence was presented however including witness testimony, photos, and video, of Julio psychologically terrorizing Sharon and Marissa in much the same ways.
Patrisha McLean wrote about the trial for the Free Press newspaper and contends that Sharon's confession, which was the cornerstone of the prosecution's case, was false and stemmed from Julio's coercive control.
McLean is the CEO+Founder of the statewide, grassroots nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse. She said her "Let's Talk About It" podcast, featuring 30 conversations with survivors, "Is one more way we are breaking the silence of domestic abuse so all understand emotional abuse IS abuse, it's complicated, and it is everywhere."
A previous guest was Randall LIberty, Commissioner of Prisons, talking about domestic abuse by his father.
Finding Our Voices is the grassroots survivor-led nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse and providing critical resources for Maine women to get safe and free, and provide safety and stability for the children. For more information visit https://findingourvoices.net
