Historic release: Sentence vacated for woman who killed her abuser after decades in prison

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (WXIA) - A Georgia woman is celebrating 2026 as a free woman.

Nicole Boynton became the first person to be released under a new state law that protects survivors of abuse.

Now, Boynton wants her release to give hope to other incarcerated people who have similar stories.

“Looking around and watching cars drive by, I was like, ‘Wow. Is this really real?’” Boynton said of her freedom after release.

Freedom sounds like traffic, feels like fresh air and looks like cars passing by after 23 years in prison.

“It didn’t feel real at first,” Boynton added.

Boynton was just 18 years old when she stabbed her boyfriend during a fight inside their Cobb County home in 1999.

He died, and under Georgia law at the time, judges had no other choice in the sentence.

“Nicole was convicted of felony murder, which carried an automatic life sentence,” attorney Erin Edwards said.

Decades later, a new law changed everything.

Georgia’s Survivor Justice Act allows judges to consider whether abuse was a significant factor in the crime.

“Nicole has done it. She’s the first person to have had a sentence vacated and be resentenced under the SJA,” Edwards said.

Court records show Boynton endured years of physical and sexual abuse, starting in childhood and continuing throughout her relationship.

“When the judge told me she was vacating my sentence for time served, I just couldn’t do anything but cry and thank Jesus,” Boynton said.

On Jan. 5, a Cobb County judge vacated Boynton’s life sentence and resentenced her to time served, making her the first person released under the new law.

“It’s really powerful to work on a bill, get it passed, get it signed and then have it go into effect, and someone walks out of prison all within the span of 12 months,” Doug Ammar, executive director of the Georgia Justice Project, said.

Now, at 44 years old, Boynton has a job lined up, has earned multiple certifications while incarcerated and said she wants to help other women still behind bars.

“This isn’t even the end of it. This is just the beginning,” Boynton said.

Boynton’s attorneys said she is not under any supervision.

Advocates believe hundreds of people could be eligible for resentencing under the new law.