It was Might 9, 1977, when the complete trajectory of Karen and Sharon Sanders’ lives modified endlessly owing to the alleged sexual assault they endured at the fingers of Vincent Simmons. In any case, as explored on CBS’ ’48 Hours: Please Don’t Inform,’ the matter not simply affected their total well-being, however it additionally solely got here to a detailed in early 2022 — practically 45 years after the reality. So now, should you want to study extra about the twin sisters, together with the particulars of their private experiences in addition to their present whereabouts, don’t fear; we’ve obtained you coated.
Who Are Karen and Sharon Sanders?
Karen and Sharon of Marksville in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, have been main an strange life surrounded by family members at 14 again in 1977, blissfully unaware that it sadly wouldn’t final lengthy. As per their accounts on the CBS episode, they have been at their grandparents’ on that fateful day till their then-18-year-old first cousin Keith Laborde got here round to ask them over to his home. He was going to drop them house as nicely, but they did make a cease at a 7-11 to get some fuel.
The fuel station is the place the trio ostensibly first got here throughout a Black man, whom they later recognized as Vincent. Based on the twins, they grew uncomfortable as quickly as the man requested for a experience, however Keith agreed, following which the man led the trio to the darkish and desolate Little California Highway. That’s the place he reportedly pulled out a knife, compelled the younger grownup into the trunk, and proceeded to violently assault each Karen and Sharon earlier than locking them up with Keith.
When the man ultimately allow them to go, Sharon recounted, “he informed us, ‘For those who inform anybody, I do know the place y’all stay. I’ve obtained mates.’ He stated, ‘And I’ll come again,” terrifying them to their core. Nevertheless, Karen and Sharon might solely hold the reported incident hushed for round two weeks, after which they spoke to the native authorities to make sure there could be no turning again.
Other than claiming they couldn’t describe their assailant as a result of “all Black individuals look alike” earlier than selecting Vincent out of a lineup, there have been additionally lots of discrepancies in different areas of the sisters’ statements. Between their preliminary police interviews and their testimony at trial two months later, they went from by no means mentioning a weapon to insisting he had a knife in addition to a gun and even added they positively knew his id since he had launched himself.
Where Are Karen and Sharon Sanders Now?
Not solely did Vincent Simmons’ protection fail to pinpoint these disparities for the jury, however the sexual relationship between Karen and Keith was additionally unknown again then, resulting in Vincent’s conviction. In the a long time that adopted, whereas some have contended that the trio concocted the rape story as a result of Keith allegedly had consensual intercourse with Karen that night time after locking Sharon in the trunk, they insist Vincent is responsible.

Karen even admitted to their connection to CBS Information, but she asserted it was earlier than Might 9, 1977. “That’s two separate incidents,” she stated. Keith vehemently denied participating in any such encounter with Karen, insisting that they had “performed round like kids.”
Coming to their present standing, though Karen and Sharon want to maintain their lives nicely away from the highlight today, it does look like they’ve moved on to the better of their skills. They’ve one another in addition to households of their very own, and they’re doubtless nonetheless based mostly of their house state of Louisiana.
Furthermore, when Vincent was granted a brand new trial in early 2022 upon enchantment, they agreed with the District Lawyer’s Workplace to drop the expenses towards him for good. The dual sisters didn’t wish to undergo one other trial “as a result of we’ve had sufficient. We’ve fought for 44 years, we’ve had sufficient, we’ve obtained 44 years, we’re pleased with that. We’re drained. We wish it behind us. He went in responsible, he’s nonetheless responsible, and he’ll die responsible. We’ve obtained our 44 years, reward God!”
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