Where is Lucille Duncan now? Details explored ahead of Snapped: Behind Bars on Oxygen

In 2004, Lucille Duncan was accused of killing her former partner James Pruitt in the first degree. In 2004, she was given a life sentence without the possibility of release. Her brother Gerald Duncan, who had admitted to the same crime, received a sentence of life in jail for second-degree murder, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

As per prison records, Lucille Duncan is incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, US, serving her life sentence.

Snapped: Behind Bars season 2 episode 4, titled, Lucille Ducan will replay this brutal homicide. It will air on Oxygen on September 22, 2024, at 7 pm EST. Lucille Duncan will also feature in this episode and tell her side of the story from behind bars and as she continues to assert her innocence in the murder of James Pruitt.

The official synopsis of season 2 episode 4 reads:

"After spending 20 years in prison for a crime in which she claims no involvement, Lucille Duncan breaks her silence for the first time. She details the harrowing events that led to the shooting of her ex-boyfriend and her hopes of freedom."

---

Lucille Duncan has not pleaded guilty to date for the murder of James Pruitt

According to reports by Oxygen True Crime, Lucille Duncan to date, has not pleaded guilty to the murder of her former partner James Pruitt in 2003. In 2005, she filed a motion to overturn the conviction following her sentencing in 2004. The conviction persisted nevertheless.

Reportedly, in 2015 and 2017, she challenged her conviction yet again with the State Supreme Court, however, all her appeals were denied. Her last motion was filed in 2018 in County Court but was again denied.

---

Lucille Duncan did not pull the trigger

Reportedly, James Pruitt, Lucille's ex, was shot in the back of his head by Gerald Duncan (Lucille's brother) on July 4, 2003. His body, wrapped in a blanket, was later discovered in a forest, on July 5, 2003.

Allegedly, James was shot while he, Lucille, Gerald, and Jeremiah (Lucille's son) were on their way home from an outing. James, who sat in the front passenger seat while Lucille was driving the car, was killed after Gerald took out his gun and shot James Pruitt in the back of his head, as the investigating officers presumed.

Lucille did not pull the trigger and Gerald confessed to the crime and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. However, Lucille’s son Jeremiah revealed to the authorities during the investigations that his mother and uncle had planned the murder, after which Lucille Duncan was charged with first-degree murder in 2004.

After entering a guilty plea to tampering with evidence at the crime scene in 2004, fourteen-year-old Jeremiah was sentenced to seven years probation. Jeremiah did not, however, testify against his mother and uncle voluntarily, as he disclosed in 2007. He claimed that he was coerced into confessing because he was allegedly threatened with 20 years in prison.

Even with Jeremiah's 2007 confession, nothing has altered, and Lucille's conviction has not been overturned. Gerald allegedly said that her sister had no involvement in the murder and wanted to testify the same, however, he was not given a chance as reported by Columbia Missourian. She remains detained at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri, United States.

---

Watch Snapped: Behind Bars, season 2, episode 4, to hear Lucille's side of the tale concerning James Pruitt's murder and gain a better understanding of the sentencing, the conviction, and the numerous unsuccessful attempts to reverse the convictions.