It’s been more than 25 years since Oregon native Rachelle “Shelley” Shannon set fire to abortion clinics in Oregon, Nevada, and California using homemade napalm and fireworks—and then attempted to murder an abortion doctor in Kansas. Shannon, who was called a “terrorist” by a federal judge before he sentenced her to 20 years in prison, has yet to show any remorse for her attacks.
And now, she’s coming home.
On May 21, Shannon was released from a federal prison in Minnesota and en route to the Pacific Northwest. According to information provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Shannon is currently in a Seattle halfway house (or “reentry facility”) until her November 7 release date. Moving to a heavily-monitored halfway house is often the final step in an inmate’s prison sentence—a chance to reintegrate into society. It’s unknown if Shannon will be allowed to leave the facility for job interviews or family events before her official release date.
Regardless, the news of Shannon’s return is making Oregon abortion providers brace themselves for the homecoming of an unapologetic, violent perpetrator—and leaves abortion advocates frustrated by her lenient treatment at the hands of the feds.
“My initial feelings were incredible fear,” says Grayson Dempsey, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon.
