Suvechha Sarkar
LaShonda Woodard was residing in Chicago, Illinois, when she endured a traumatic attack. As she moved forward in her life, the incident profoundly impacted her. She soon found herself trapped in a cycle of abusive relationships, marking her life with both trauma and survival. Desperate for self-preservation, LaShonda said she armed herself with a knife during several violent encounters. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Wives With Knives: I Slay’ focused on the details of her life, whose actions were not just acts of violence but the result of years spent in survival mode, shaped by repeated physical threats. It also features interviews with her and the individuals who had first-hand experience of the incidents.
LaShonda Woodard Had a Life Full of Dreams Before Violence Changed It
LaShonda Woodard was born and raised in Kankakee, Illinois. She grew up surrounded by the love and support of her mother, Barbara Burks, her father, her younger sister, Lakeisha Burks, and her younger brother, Anthony. By the time she was 14 years old, she was already turning heads with her talent in singing. However, when her parents divorced, she had to move across town with her father and Anthony. According to LaShonda on the show, her father often beat her. She said that since she began acting out, one day, the beatings resulted in an injury to her head. When it came to Barbara’s attention, she promptly made LaShonda and her brother move in with her. Soon after, they moved to Chicago, Illinois, due to her mother’s new job. There, she met Marcus Manly, who consistently pursued her. She eventually gave in on her 18th birthday.
However, things took a turn when Nikki, one of Marcus’ ex-girlfriends, got into a fight with LaShonda. As per LaShonda’s statements on the show, Nikki attacked her with a box cutter and cut her face. She explained that during her hard time, Marcus stood by her, and they began dating. A short while later, in a flash of rage, Marcus had hit LaShonda, which the latter also admitted. She claimed to have taken up a knife in self-defense, but Marcus overpowered her instead. A week later, she discovered that she had suffered a miscarriage. Since she could not express the truth to her mother, it made their relationship tense. So, she moved to the outskirts of Chicago around 2011. During that time, LaShonda reconnected with Antonio, an old friend, over social media. Their relationship progressed rapidly, and they moved in together. Shockingly, she stumbled across his gun but let it slide after confronting him.
LaShonda Often Found Herself Caught Between Danger and Survival
As per the show, Antonio lost his job, which led LaShonda to find a “sugar daddy” for herself. He admittedly had no problem in the beginning since she only received the money, and nothing more had happened. However, when her sugar daddy sent her flowers on Valentine’s Day, it led to a huge fight. LaShonda explained that when Antonio hit her, it provoked her to take up a knife and attack him, only for him to admittedly threatening her with his gun. While LaShonda’s version of events alleged that Antonio had shot at her, he claimed that he had shot in the air to scare her. Following the incident, she broke up with him. LaShonda got a job and moved on before eventually meeting her crush, Teonne Randolph. Their relationship took off quickly.
After three months of dating, LaShonda insisted Teonne should visit his friends. According to Teonne, Antonio met him during that visit and claimed LaShonda was carrying his child. Teonne returned home, and since he was drinking, in the heat of the moment, he admittedly punched her. She then reportedly stabbed him in the back and his hand, before she called 911 to report the incident. As per the show, when the police arrived and saw an injured LaShonda, they arrested Teonne on a domestic assault charge, and he had to spend the night in prison. Eventually, both of them decided not to press any charges. Following that, LaShonda broke up with Teonne and moved on with her life.
LaShonda is Focused on Hard Work and a Quiet Life Away from Her Past
Despite three incidents with a knife, LaShonda has never been charged or arrested. After the reported incident with Teonne, she decided to move to Galveston, Texas, in the hope of a new life and finding a person who would give her stability and safety. According to her, the decision to cut ties with her past has immensely assisted her to reflect on her choices and turn her life around. Expressing her thoughts on the matter, LaShonda stated, “I have my days when I think back to, damn girl, you’ve been through a lot, and you are still standing strong. My husband’s gonna love me.” When she left her mother’s home around 2011, she decided to build a stable future on her own terms.
LaShonda enrolled at Fortis College in Florida, setting her sights on a Cosmetology degree. By 2012, she earned her license in Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and as a Nail Instructor. Her professional journey began in 2013, when she took up a job at Flander’s as a Packer, steadily gaining experience. In March 2016, LaShonda stepped into a different role, joining Fishtales Bar and Grill as a Waitress. For eight months, she balanced her responsibilities and kept moving forward. By October of the same year, she had left the restaurant. Just one month later, the Warehousing Professional joined Walmart as a Cashier. It is a role that she has held ever since. As of writing, LaShonda has maintained a low profile. For her, it is now about finding consistency in everyday work and slowly building a life far removed from her turbulent years.
Read More: Where is Trena Archie Now? Wives With Knives Update
