An anti-abortion activist who shot and wounded George Tiller in 1993 and firebombed clinics in Oregon and elsewhere has been released from prison to a halfway house to finish her sentence.
The Federal Correctional Institution in Waseca, Minnesota, confirmed Tuesday that Rachelle "Shelley" Shannon has been sent to a halfway house where she will complete a 20-year sentence stemming from two Oregon cases for arson and other crimes targeting abortion clinics. Her final release date is Nov. 7.
Shannon has already completed an 11-year sentence for shooting Tiller, a Wichita abortion provider, outside his clinic. Tiller was killed in 2009 by an anti-abortion extremist who admired Shannon.
Tiller's clinic on East Kellogg was purchased by Trust Women. Its founder, Julie Burkhart, says Shannon's release raises concerns about the safety of clinic workers.