Lucille Duncan claims her innocence in the James Pruitt murder case

Lucille Duncan claimed she was in an abusive relationship. The 36-year-old claimed her boyfriend, 44-year-old James Pruitt, broke her nose, destroyed her car, kidnapped her, choked her to unconsciousness and threatened to throw her in a river. But when he allegedly threatened her family, her brother intervened – he shot and killed her then-ex.

“I hate that someone died,” Lucille Duncan said in her first public interview with Snapped: Behind BarsVentilate Sunday at 7/6c To oxygen“But I had nothing to do with it. And two wrongs do not make a right. My brother is in prison. He takes full responsibility.”

More than two decades after Pruitt's murder, Lucille spoke from behind bars at the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri. Her story was first broadcast on Caught Season 20 in June 2017. Her brother, Gerald Duncan, also told his side of the story.

“Something really bad has happened to my sister,” Gerald Duncan said on Snapped: Behind Bars. “She's totally innocent. And it's like my father said. He was very traditional. He said, 'Take care of your little sister. Make sure nothing happens to her. If someone hits on her, take care of it.'”

Now Lucille and Gerald Duncan explain why Lucille should not be in prison and how their then 14-year-old son was threatened into testifying against his mother.

Lucille Duncan's relationship with James Pruitt

In 2002, Lucille Duncan and James Pruitt began a relationship after a friend set them up.

“He looked good,” said Jo Ann Duncan, Lucille’s mother, on Snapped: Behind Bars“And when he wanted to be charming, he was very charming. But when he got angry, he was very angry.”

Both Lucille and James had problems with sobriety.

“My father and Lucy were both poisoned by alcohol and drugs. Both,” said Holly Pruitt, James' daughter, on Snapped: Behind Bars“She was drunk and called my father several times. She called nonstop. All night long.”

Lucille claimed their turbulent relationship was often abusive – an allegation James' children denied.

“Because of that lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, our relationship was filled with a lot of challenges,” Lucille said. “He was very fixated on getting high. When he was high and came down and had nothing, he became violent. And that's when the abuse started.”

After Lucille filed assault charges against James, the two separated and he was arrested and pleaded guilty. He was scheduled to be sentenced and taken into custody on July 11, 2003 – but he was murdered on July 4.

Lucille Duncan and her son's account of the murder of James Pruitt

At around 7 a.m. on July 5, 2003, emergency responders in Boone County, Missouri, received a 911 call from a driver who had discovered a bag of blood-stained clothing on the road. Police found the body of James Pruitt in the woods nearby. He had been shot in the back of the head.

His ex-girlfriend Lucille Duncan admitted to police that she, her brother Gerald Duncan and their 14-year-old son Jeremiah Robertson were with him the night Pruitt died, but she denied knowing what happened.

“I wanted us to part amicably, so when he asked me to say goodbye to myself and my children, I said yes,” Lucille said. “My brother is a Marine. He's four years older than me. I knew Jim wouldn't hurt me in front of my brother.”

When teenager Jeremiah was arrested, he told police that his uncle pulled out a gun and shot Pruitt on the way home. He then claimed that his uncle dumped Pruitt's body in the woods. He claimed then and now that his mother had nothing to do with the murder.

RELATED: Missouri woman blames husband for ex's murder: 'I was portrayed as a horrible monster'

“She was even more freaked out than I was. And I was 14,” said Jeremiah Robertson on Snapped: Behind Bars“Someone who knows something is going to happen isn't going to freak out like that. She was almost hysterical. She didn't do anything.”

Lucille later said her brother “went into military mode” and “wasn't thinking about it” when he shot Pruitt. She denied knowing what was going to happen.

“My brother said we were going to be arrested in the hospital parking lot,” Lucille said. “I didn't know what to do. I was in shock. I never thought about covering up a crime. I never – I didn't think at all.”

Jeremiah Robertson says he was threatened to testify against his mother

Jeremiah Robertson was charged with embezzlement of evidence and spent time in juvenile detention before testifying against his mother.

“I was 14, but when I was recognized as an adult, they threatened me with life in prison,” Robertson said of the reasons for his testimony.

He claimed that the police and prosecutors had exploited him.

“I was on about 12 different medications at the time,” Robertson said. “For ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder and manic depression. I was definitely in a fog. 'Zombified,' if you will.”

When Lucille learned that her son could face prison, she convinced him to testify against her.

“Even if it wasn't true,” Lucille said. “Otherwise he would have gone to prison for something he had nothing to do with. There was no point in both of us going there.”

Robertson pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and was released on probation. His mother was charged with first-degree murder and he testified against her.

“He didn't look at me. But I looked at him,” Lucille said. “And I just felt sorry for him. Being so young. Having his whole life ahead of him. And having witnessed something so traumatic. I couldn't do anything but support him in what he was doing.”

On February 26, 2004, Lucille Duncan was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her brother Gerald Duncan took a plea deal and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2027.

Three years after the trial, Robertson recanted his testimony. Lucille had rejected several appeals but filed a petition for habeas corpus in March 2024. James Pruitt's family hopes the appeal will be denied.

“If Lucy got out of prison, I would be devastated,” said Brandon Pruitt, James’ son, on Snapped: Behind Bars“I don't think I can ever forgive her for what she did.”

Watch brand new episodes of Snapped: Behind Bars To Sunday at 7/6c To oxygen.