Shonovia Thomas: From brokenness to bars and back to life
Shonovia Thomas shouldn’t have made it.
By her own account, her childhood was marred by abuse, instability, and rejection. At 18, she was cast out of her single-parent home and found herself with nowhere to turn.
The man who offered her shelter soon became her abuser, trapping her in yet another cycle of control and violence.
“It was actually an abusive relationship I was in for nearly five years,” Thomas recalled. “I wasn’t allowed to have any freedom, I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone. That relationship was just another prison,” Thomas said at the recent launch of the Anti-Crime Summit and Youth Rally.
The breaking point came one night in 2010 when a violent confrontation ended with her striking out in self-defence, using a rat-tail comb — the simple tool she carried as a hairdresser. Her partner was fatally wounded.
Without clear evidence of the abuse she endured, Thomas was convicted of manslaughter by provocation and later served ten years in prison.
“I didn’t have the proof to show I was defending myself,” she explained. “I had no intent for a life to be lost, but mine was lost too when I went to prison.”
A familiar kind of prison
Surprisingly, Thomas said the transition to incarceration was not as jarring as many might expect.
“Prison wasn’t anything new for me,” she admitted. “I grew up without freedom so in some ways, prison just felt like an extension of that.”
But behind bars, she found a strange kind of stability.
“I received the family structure I didn’t have outside. Some prisoners looked out for me. Others targeted me. But I learned self-control, I got counseling, I learned skills like cooking and straw work. It was both good and bad — a paradoxical experience.”
Thomas’s story comes at a time when the BVI is confronting its own battles with crime and violence. Leaders have urged stronger collaboration between law enforcement, social services, and families, stressing that long-term solutions must start in the home.
Now Thomas is using her story to encourage parents to create a loving environment for children in an effort to lead them away from crime. She also spoke directly to young women who may be walking the same path she once did.
“At the very first sign of abuse — walk away,” she urged. “I encourage everyone to never stay in an abusive relationship. Do not accept abuse under any circumstance, be as independent as you can be, work for your own, because if somebody gives you something, they can take it away from you.”
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I commend you! Thanks for telling our girls to be steadfast and independent
May God continue to Bless you Ms. Thomas. In every Bad Story, there is some Good. I do hope Both Adult Parents and other Young People may take your Advice and turn things or Situations around for the Better.
Today, we have Children getting Children and Parents are afraid to speak to their Children especially Girls. I know, Because I am having that same situation around me, where the Mother instead of correcting her Young Daughter who has a Child, She is somewhat afraid of her Daughter and would instead of telling the Daughter to stay at Home and take care of her Child, She would Babysit the Child and let the Daughter go wherever she wants. There are only a few Strong Parents nowadays in our Society who would discipline their Children when they are going the wrong way. Some Children tell you straight up if you touch me I will call the Police on You. I Too, Thank the Organizers of this Crime Summit and the Government of the Virgin Islands for supporting this worthwhile Initiative. There is a lot of things going on in some Homes that people are not privy too. May God continue to Bless these Virgin Islands and Expose the Wickedness the Devil has set up to destroy our Youths.
Keep rising sister.
One if my favorite ppl. She doesn’t know that but it’s true lol. Great inspirational story.
She a real one! Honest and fair, don’t cross she tho lol. Good to see her getting her flowers.
Parents need to educate their young sons that violence is not the answer . Too many women are abuse quietly in the BvI and are sooo ashamed to speak out .
I am proud of you as a w
Former schoolmate, we were in BVI High together.
women please pick better men
that is all.
wa the song them young girls and grown women does say? she luv badman? ok hope wa comes with it
plentyy card, abuse, unmarried, babymamas, single mama etc etc luv it up gurllll
People can change too! You can be with a good man/ woman of the community and the minute you move in with them… PLENTY PROBLEM!
I am so proud of you shanovia, you been through everything that was plqced in your way, but you conqueted it all. You are a steong woman and I commend youfor your strength that you thought you never had. Continue to be great and look up and never you hold your head down. I respect your strength and your positiveness. Stay prayed up darling.
I really admire her .. she has come so far ! Some man just a hole back and it’s not okay for us as woman to take the bull shit from man but please ladies if your in an abusive marriage or relationship get out ! Before it get worse .
There are some loser men out there who some women gravitate to and let them drag them down the same road. DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH THEM. Do got no man feeling you up for a phone top up. Stop it.
The system let her down… hard, but she stands strong. Always a beautiful heart.