My sister’s husband murdered her moments before exchanging Valentine’s gifts… she held their baby as he killed her
FOR most, Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and affection.
But for grief-stricken Kayla Coleman, 21, from Dallas, Texas, it’s a time of heartbreak, and agony.
Kayla’s big sister, Raesha Allison, then 29, was senselessly murdered on Valentine’s Day by her own husband.
The couple, who’d been married for two years, were moments away from exchanging romantic gifts when they got into an argument.
Whilst the mum held their newborn daughter in her arms, Roger Allison, 31, shot her eight times, killing her.
Her five-year-old son was on the sofa next to them, but by miracle, both children survived.
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Kayla, a university student, says: “Valentine's Day was meant to be a day filled with love. Instead, it had ended in gunshots and bloodshed.
“My sister had her whole life ahead of her.
";She was the best mother, daughter and sister anyone could ask for. I miss her every day.”
In 2011, Raesha was 20 years old when she got her first job at a burger joint.
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There, she met Allison, then 21, who worked on the till with her.
They were initially friends and Raesha met someone else and had two sons, Marcus, 10, and Aaron, 6.
Kayla says: “It didn’t work out with their fathers but Raesha was an amazing mother. And I adored my little nephews.
“Raesha and the kids lived with me and our parents.
“Although she was 12 years older than me, we barely noticed an age gap. We were attached to the hip.”
But in 2016, Raesha announced to the family that she’d fallen in love with Allison and they became inseparable.
She says: “When we all met him he muttered his words, and didn’t say much. As Raesha’s new boyfriend, we expected him to make an effort.
“Instead, he had no interest in speaking to us. But, seeing Raesha happy was all we cared about.
“He moved in, and he became a step-dad to Marcus and Aaron.
"They loved him. But no matter how hard I tried, I didn’t get anywhere with him.
“I’d ask how things were and he’d cut off our conversation. It was frustrating.
“Mum, Dad and I all agreed we didn’t like Roger.”
One night in 2018, after they’d been together for two years, the family were staying at a hotel while their house was being renovated.
Kayla says: “Raesha, Roger, Marcus and Aaron were in one room. And I stayed in an adjacent room with Mum and Dad.
“Suddenly, we heard Raesha crying and things were being thrown around.
“Dad ran out and saw police officers arresting Roger. He’d hit Raesha. I was horrified.
“Although I didn’t like Roger, I had no idea he was capable of violence.”
Soon after, Raesha and Allison broke up.
The family were relieved but say Raesha was in denial about the domestic violence.
Kayla says: “She swept it all under the rug.
“I urged her not to get back with him but months later the investigation was dropped and Raesha forgave Roger.
“We were worried sick after that.”
The following year, in 2019, Raesha and Allison moved into their own home and got married.
I sobbed uncontrollably, unable to understand how Roger could take her away from us
Kayla Coleman
Then in 2020, they had a daughter, Brooklyn.
With a new baby and house, the couple were faced with further stress and Raesha confided to her family about their financial problems daily.
Kayla says: “Raesha moaned every day that Roger couldn’t hold down a job.
“Soon, I even helped Roger get a food certificate for a job at a convenience store.
“But within five months he was fired from that too.”
In February 2021, Raesha came over to confide in her family again.
Kayla says: “She was in tears again saying she couldn’t do it anymore and that Roger wasn’t helping.
“She was going to have to get another job.
“Mum told her to come back home. Raesha was sobbing. I felt so sad seeing her upset, I hugged her tight.
“She worked so hard and she deserved more. Then Raesha announced ‘I’ve been considering leaving Roger’.
“Inside, I hoped she would. She kissed us goodbye and left.”
The following day was Valentine’s Day and Kayla had been at work all day.
She says: “When I got home that evening, Mum, Dad, Marcus and I watched TV.
“Raesha was at home with Roger, Aaron and Brooklyn. Suddenly, the phone rang and Mum answered.
“She said it was the police and they had the kids at the police station. We rushed there as quick as we could.
“When we arrived, we were led into a room labelled ‘Homocide’ then, I spotted a detective holding Brooklyn.
“She was covered in blood. And Aaron had some on him too.
“Aaron mumbled the words ‘Roger shot her. She’s dead.’
“Unable to breathe, I collapsed to the floor and mum screamed at the top of her lungs.”
The family discovered that earlier that day, before exchanging Valentine’s Day gifts, Allison and Raesha had got into a fight.
Raesha was stressed about money and wanted to leave him.
While she was holding Brooklyn in her arms, Allison shot her from behind, eight times.
When police arrived, Brooklyn was found next to Raesha’s dead body, unharmed and in a pool of blood.
Aaron was on the sofa, rocking back and forth, with his eyes shut.
Allison had fled the scene.
Kayla says: “I sobbed uncontrollably, unable to understand how Roger could take her away from us.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
“I was grateful he’d left the children unharmed, but my world ended that day.”
"The next day, Allison was found at his mum’s house and arrested."
Kayla continues: “Two days later, the police let me go to Raesha’s house to collect some things.
“As I walked past her car outside, I spotted a Valentine’s card and chocolates she was going to give Roger.
“Trembling, I walked into the house and there was blood everywhere. I wanted to be sick.
“I went upstairs and saw Roger’s gift for Raesha, wrapped up on the bed.
Valentine’s Day is a cruel reminder of the horrendous way she was taken from us
Kayla Coleman
“I picked his present and threw it on the floor.
"Valentine’s Day was supposed to be a day filled with love but he’d murdered my sister in cold blood.”
The family immediately fought for custody of the children, whilst Allison was charged with the murder.
In April 2022, Roger Allison, now 29, of Oak Cliff, Dallas, was found guilty of murder at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, Dallas.
He was sentenced to 80 years.
Kayla says: “It was revealed that Raesha had 16 holes in her body and they’d gone through her.
“Roger and I stared at each other for a moment during the trial. He looked sad for me. But, I knew he really wasn’t.
“Thanks to him I’d never see my sister again.
“We were relieved. But our lives had been torn apart forever.
“Now, we dread to tell Brooklyn about her father one day. Her, Marcus and Aaron ask for their mum every day.
“Aaron still suffers from PTSD and has night terrors, it worries us all.
“My sister was amazing and I miss her. Please, if you experience any domestic violence, don’t stay for the sake of your kids.
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“Leave, before it’s too late.
“Valentine’s Day is a cruel reminder of the horrendous way she was taken from us.”
