From Reporter to Advocate: Katie McCall Speaks Out on Her Fight for Justice

This program is being brought to you by Jim Adler, the Texas Hammer. And welcome back to The Factor Uncensored. The question is, when can journalism turn into advocacy? We had a conversation with former Fox 26 reporter Katie McCall and why she's actively involved in writing the parole board to keep one woman locked up for 20 years. Let's get to this conversation. And joining us now here on The Factor, I'm sensing a very familiar face from journalism here in the city of Houston and former Fox 26 reporter Katie McCall, who is now in the big leagues in New York City. And she joins us now. Katie, I saw an interesting post on your social media today. You were making a plea to the parole board here in Texas to ensure That Abigail Young is not released. Now, we may remember her from back in 2009, 2010, where she had a boyfriend and she tried to protect this boyfriend. And that same boyfriend was convicted in the death of her four-year-old little girl, Emma Thompson. And you, as a journalist, you know, many of us, we don't cross that line, but There's also a form of journalism called advocacy. When you're an advocate for the right thing, and many people would say, otherwise she's doing the right thing. Tell us why you decided to write this letter to the parole board to keep Abigail Young locked up. She was sentenced to 20 years in connection with the death of her young daughter who was raped by Lucas Coe, and Lucas Coe got life in prison. So tell us about that. Yeah, thanks, Isaiah. It's great to be with you. Terrible case, as you remember so well. Lucas Coe was found guilty of super aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of six. So just the description of that crime tells you how horrific it was. Abigail Young was fully aware of what was going on and facilitated that abuse on an ongoing basis. She was not just someone that was in the household or that was around this child. This was her four-year-old child. And there was very compelling evidence. The state proved its case. Keep in mind, both of these people have been tried and found guilty by a jury of these crimes. So in advocating, I am not doing anything on the other side of the justice system. I do believe in our justice system. Everyone has a right to be heard. You have a right to an attorney. The presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of our justice system. And it's important that everyone has a fair defense and both of these people did. They were represented by counsel in all of their hearings and at both of their trials. Lucas Coe had an attorney in his other child abuse cases in Montgomery County, which the defendant, the now convicted mother in this case and the woman I wrote about in my letter and I write every year to the parole board on behalf of this little girl, four year old Emma The mother was fully aware, Abigail Young was fully aware of what was going on. And unfortunately, and you know this from covering these cases, a jury is offered sometimes different options. And what they chose in this case is something called a lesser included offense. So they try to prove what they can. So the state in this case tried to prove that she was fully aware that she knowingly And intentionally. Committed this crime, but the jury was also given an instruction by the judge, as happens in criminal cases, that if they did not find that, that they could find this lesser included offense. And that's exactly what they did. So just the difference in that language between knowingly and recklessly or by omission. Made the difference between a life sentence and only 20 years. So as you pointed out, she was found guilty and sentenced in 2010. Which means that she will get out in 2030 if she served her full sentence and she may not. So this poor family every year they have this letter writing campaign. And I'm very proud to be a part of this. And I've Invited other people who've joined this cause and written on behalf of this little girl, Emma Thompson. I promised I would never forget her. Many other journalists in the Houston community do the same. Many of them in the Fox 26 newsroom do this every year, write to the parole board on behalf of Emma Thompson. Because we believe that her life mattered and we believe that justice would only be served if this offender served every single day that that jury gave her. And how many years have you been and she was convicted in 2010. So have you written every year since then to ensure that she stays behind bars? Every single year and I've been in touch with her grandmother and her aunt. Both of whom testified at both of these trials. This family goes through hell every single year. They have to have this campaign where they ask people to please not forget this little girl. And ask the parole board to write to keep this person in prison. And by the way, this convicted offender has never accepted any responsibility. She has never expressed remorse for her role in that little girl's death. It's just mind blowing. Well, Katie McCall, thank you for joining us and talking about this effort. What I consider advocacy journalism, sometimes there are good causes out there where you can step on the other side. Obviously, in this case, you've seen all the evidence and there is a conviction and you see right and wrong. And of course, you want to keep that mother locked behind bars. We appreciate you sharing. Your side of the story. And where can we find you on social media for those who want to go see this letter that you posted? Yeah, very easy to find, TV Katie McCall. And anybody can write to the Texas Parole Board. You do not have to live in Texas. Thank you so much, Isaiah. Don't go anywhere. We'll be back with more Factor Uncensored in just a moment. Stay with us.