Nikki Addimando was surrounded by supporters and seen smiling and hugging her two children Thursday as a free woman outside of the Bedford Correctional Facility for Women. The Poughkeepsie domestic violence survivor fatally shot her alleged abuser, Christopher Grover.  

Addimando was originally sentenced to 19 years to life in prison in by Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin for killing Grover, her children's father, in 2017. Prosecutors alleged Addimando shot Grover in his sleep. Addimando’s defense says that allegation was unsubstantiated and claimed she suffered years of physical abuse and sexual torture. Police and various medical professionals involved in the case also testified to the abuse.  

The sentence was eventually overturned and reduced in 2021 to 7.5 years by the New York State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division who ruled during an appeal that the case should have been considered for a lesser sentence under the Domestic Violence Survivor Justice Act (DVSJ).   

Addimando’s case has garnered national attention and widespread support with roughly 400,000 people signing a clemency petition that her defense group says went unanswered for two years by Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

A GoFundMe to help support Addimando and her children, now that she's released, has raised more than $35,000.  

The Nicole Addimando Community Defense Committee issued a statement to News 12 saying they are, "overjoyed to welcome home Nikki to the embrace of her family, friends and community.  Nikki earned a Limited Credit Time Allowance through her participation in a dog training prison program that allowed her to be released six months early on January 4th.

We are grateful the Appeals court recognized Nikki as a survivor allowing her to be resentenced under the Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act. The 10 years of advocacy work to pass the DVSJA, the pro bono help of Garrard Beeney and the law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell, and the thousands of people across the country who supported Nikki, have allowed this wonderful moment to happen and we are so grateful. We hope Nikki’s release will inspire others to become involved in supporting other criminalized survivors and fighting for their freedom."