Wendy Ann was a sweet, quiet and shy twenty-four year old girl. She was the mother of two year old Adam and pregnant with her second son, Baby David. She was a native of New York State, but was living in Georgia at the time of her death because her husband was stationed in the Army at Ft. Stewart, Georgia.

Wendy loved sunsets, rainbows, butterflies and horses. She adored her son and was thrilled to be expecting another baby. Her hobbies included painting and photography. She liked picnics and fishing, especially if they were done together. She always had a smile on her face and was an avid reader.

Wendy had planned to leave her husband, Michael, in April of 1990, because he was abusive to her, and had been almost from the beginning of their marriage. But he promised her again that "things would get better" and "he would change". She stayed. He went and bought a gun then, convincing her that "it was for her own protection".

She called us on the 21st of June, 1990, to let us know that she thought everything would work out between her and Michael. "It's gonna be ok Mom, he promised that it will be better and he will try harder." The last thing she said to me was, "I love you, Mom."

On June 24, 1990, three days following that phone call, Michael shot Wendy in the back of the head twice, while she lay sleeping.

This was a deliberate, cold blooded MURDER. He had to go to the bedroom for the gun, then to the kitchen, at the opposite end of their trailer, for the bullets, load the gun, go in the living room where she was sleeping, step behind her and shoot her. When she did not die instantly from the first shot, he pumped another bullet into her brain.

After committing this horrendous crime, Michael got in the car and drove around for FOUR HOURS, leaving little two year old Adam alone with his dead mother.

Michael turned himself in then. He calmly walked into the local police dept - laid the murder weapon upon the counter and stated, "I JUST shot my wife." The Police dept and the ambulance sped to the scene of the crime, tried to do C.P.R. on Wendy, not realizing that four hours had elapsed, that is when they found little two year old Adam there alone with his dead mother.

Michael was charged with first degree murder. After an autopsy was done, he was also charged with first degree feticide. We were told there would be no plea-bargaining. A trial date was scheduled for November, but it never went that far. He was allowed to plea-bargain the charge down to voluntary manslaughter for the murder of Wendy Ann. For the feticide charge, there was no plea-bargaining allowed.

He was sentenced to TWENTY YEARS for killing Wendy Ann, AND sentenced to LIFE for killing Baby David.

~~>UPDATE<~~

He has already had two considerations for parole: in June of 1997, and in June of 2005. Parole was denied both times. However, he will come before the parole board AGAIN in June of 2008.

PLEASE HELP US keep this cold-blooded murderer behind bars for life!

THREE ways to conact the Georgia Parole Board:

ONE:

Write a letter of opposition to parole to:

STATE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, S.E.
Balcony Level, East Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334-4909

Mark your opposition letter:
RE: Michael Croote - ID#EF-268624

Dear Parole Board;
Please DO NOT grant a parole date to the above mentioned convicted murderer.

The heinous nature of this crime should preclude this prisoner any consideration. He murdered his own wife and child!

Michael Croote committed this crime in your beautiful state of Georgia, where feticide carries a mandatory LIFE sentence. Please see that he serves it.

Thank you,

(your name)
(address)
(city/ state/ zip)

TWO:

E-MAIL your protest letter, and ask them to be sure the info in the E-Mail is given to the board of pardons and paroles before June 1, 2008.

THREE:

PRINT out a letter to the board and snail mail it to the parole board in Alanta GA..

Please remember to include:
RE: Michael Croote - ID#EF-268624

Mark All Correspondence "CONFIDENTIAL".
Write today, every letter counts.

Michael Croote was moved to Bostick State Prison in April, 2006. This is the second time they have had to move him! Please write TODAY!!!

Here are just two examples of what happens when a convicted murderer is paroled:

In September, 1978, 19-year-old Lisa Hullinger, was beaten to death by her former boyfriend, William Coday, Jr. After spending just 16 months in jail, Coday was released. In 1997, William Coday was arrested and charged with the July 13, 1997, murder of another former girlfriend, Gloria Gomez.

In 1983, 16-year-old Shari-Ann Merton was murdered by Corey R. Barton. Barton accepted a plea bargain from murder to manslaughter, and received 18 years in prison. He was released after serving just 9 years and 8 months. In November, 1998, Corey R. Barton was charged with the murder of 27-year-old Sally Harris of North Carolina.