The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
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LARGO — Monique Pennywell awoke to the sound of glass breaking. She was in bed with her new boyfriend, Gregory Shannon. She dialed 911. Her voice seemed remarkably calm the morning of Feb. 4, 2002.
That changed when her schizophrenic ex-boyfriend, Dennis George Roache, charged into her bedroom and attacked Shannon.
"He's got a machete and he's killing him!" Pennywell screamed to the 911 operator.
Roache felled Shannon with a slash across the lower back. Pennywell locked herself in the bathroom.
She relived all that Friday as she testified at Roache's first-degree murder trial. Jurors also heard the tapes of her 911 call.
Pennywell testified that Roache threatened Shannon, then ruthlessly attacked.
"I told you to stay away from my damn baby momma's kids," Roache told Shannon.
"Okay man," Shannon told him. "Okay man."
That's when Pennywell said she hid. Yelling can be heard on the 911 tape. When Pennywell emerged, Roache was gone — with Shannon's head.
"Please hurry up, please" she cried to 911. "I'm scared. You've got to lock this crazy man up."
That's exactly what the defense wants the jury to believe: that Roache was insane, that the mentally ill 40-year-old could not have committed premeditated murder.
But the state argues it was jealousy, not insanity.
Pennywell says he chased off her children's fathers with baseball bats. She tried to get a restraining order against him. When Shannon died, Pennywell was three months pregnant with his child.
When she emerged from the bathroom, Shannon's headless body lay at the foot of the bed.
"Did I kill this boy?" Pennywell cried on the 911 tape. "He's only 18. He ain't never caused no problems."
The trial resumes Monday.
Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.
[Last modified: Oct 02, 2008 08:32 PM]
Comments on this article
by BJ
Oct 2, 2008 8:32 PM
First of all how old is she, and why was she having sex with a 18 year old. He needs to spend the rest of his life in prison. You can't control people, but her consious will eat her up everytime she looks at that baby. Put him away.
by Tom
Sep 29, 2008 3:50 PM
No gun, really? Now who/what to blame?
by Candi
Sep 29, 2008 3:47 PM
This is just awful, how any human being can attack some one and do such an act, is behond me. I guess he will be added to the rest of the death row inmate's waiting for the injection. I don't care what type of murder you want to call it. It's murder
by me
Sep 28, 2008 6:28 PM
She better pick a better baby daddy next time.
by Judy
Sep 28, 2008 1:29 PM
Sick, Sick,Sick!!!! This had gone on tooooooo long! Murder is murder, he's using the courts to his advantage. He's smart like a fox!! Get him off the planet!! Fire up ole Sparkie!!!!! No excuse's!!!!!!
by Kevin
Sep 28, 2008 12:36 PM
How many kids and how many "baby's daddies" was this one with? How about using birth control
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