Book Reflects How Woman's Faith Helped Her Overcome Tragedy

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- It was a senseless crime that ended with an Edmond woman murdered in her own home. Now the woman's daughter is talking about it in her new book, Overcoming Evil, and how she was able to forgive her mother's killer.

Cindy Shell didn't write the book in hopes of making a dime, instead she says she wanted to use it as an example of how relying on faith can get people through even the toughest times.

It was a horrific crime that stunned the Edmond community and devastated a family.

"When I walked in and found my mother it was a feeling like I had never felt before just total devastation," Cindy Shell said.

What Cindy Shell found was her mother Shirley Shell lying on the ground with her throat slashed. During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland said, "He needed money to get back to Ohio so he burglarized this house and turned this burglary into a very brutal murder… As to why he killed her, we're still not exactly sure, and I don't think the defendant knows for sure."

"My mother meant everything to me, she was the most important person in the world to me," Cindy Shell said.

Cindy Shell doesn't have any ill will towards Michael Gary, the man who was later found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for the murder. Instead, in her new book, Overcoming Evil, Shell describes how her trust in God not only carried her through the tragedy but even made it possible for her to forgive her mother's killer.

In the book Shell writes, "I no longer have any ill feelings toward Mr. Gary at all, which is amazing. I think God has given me such mercy that I can separate Mr. Gary apart from his actions of June 5, 2007. I see him as another human being who made a terrible mistake."

"Somehow, at some point, it went from, 'I pray someone is found and they confess', to, 'I pray their soul doesn't get condemned for this and they seek forgiveness," Cindy Shell said.

Cindy Shell said even she was surprised how easy it was to forgive; something she says wouldn't have been possible had it not been for her faith. A message she hopes people will take from her book.

"I'm not special, I didn't do anything they can't do, it's all about running to Jesus and he will carry you those times," Cindy Shell said.

Knowing her mother would have wanted her forgive makes it easier for Shell to so.

"She would be saying it's all worth it," said Shell. "Good has come from something so tragic and she was taken, but she would be more than happy with what's happened." 

Overcoming Evil will be available to the public in June.