Woman allegedly killed boyfriend while his kids were home, asked girl to lie on 911 call

Alabama- As an attorney for 31-year-old Mobile, Alabama stepmother Jennifer Nicole Heathcoe and her father assert that she fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Taylor Rawlins, in self-defense while his children were present in their apartment two weeks ago, prosecutors in Mobile County are focusing on a 911 call to establish “consciousness of guilt” and argue the killing was murder.

It is undisputed that Heathcoe stabbed and killed 33-year-old Rawlins on the night of August 22 at his apartment, with his children present. However, Heathcoe has pleaded not guilty, with her lawyer claiming she was in a “tumultuous” and “violent relationship,” leaving her no choice but to defend herself with a knife.

Heathcoe’s father, Donald Cain, has publicly supported the self-defense claim, stating, “It was self-defense.” He added, “Every time I saw her in the last year while she was with him, things just went bad for her,” according to local CBS affiliate WKRG.

However, the self-defense argument faces a significant challenge, as questions have arisen about the content of the 911 calls reporting the stabbing. Rawlins’ 9-year-old daughter, in a desperate attempt to save her father, called 911 from her room and initially identified Heathcoe as the person who stabbed him, according to the call transcript reported by local Fox affiliate WALA.

“My stepmom stabbed my dad,” the girl reportedly said. “ Please come quick! My daddy is gonna die.”

Crucially, Mobile County prosecutors are reportedly focusing on a moment during the call where Heathcoe allegedly coached the girl to blame the stabbing on someone else.