Ray McNeil (born December 17, 1964- Died February 14, 1995) was a prominent American bodybuilder, entrepreneur, comedian, and US Marine Sergeant. He was a professional bodybuilder recognized for his exceptional body stats, which paved way for his participation in several bodybuilding championships and events.
Apart from bodybuilding, Ray was also interested in comedy, which prompted him to carve a niche for himself as a stand-up comedian. His life was, however, cut short after he was shot to death by his wife, Sally McNeil, on Valentine’s Day, November 14, 1995. His wife, who was also a bodybuilder, contended that it was an act of self-defense from her husband, who subjected her to both mental, physical, and sexual abuse. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about Ray McNeil.
Profile Summary of Ray McNeil
- Full Name: Ray McNeil.
- Date of Birth: December 17, 1964
- Died: February 14, 1995
- Ethnicity: Mixed (African-American)
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Profession: Professional Builder, entrepreneur, former US Marine Sergeant, and Comedian
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches (180.34 cm/1.8 m).
- Weight: 95 kg (209.43lbs).
- Marital Status: Married
- Ray McNeil’s wife: Sally McNeil
- Ray McNeil’s Children: (Stepchildren) Shantina and John
Ray McNeil Died at the Age of 30 on February 14, 1995
Ray McNeil was born under the Sagittarius zodiac sign on December 17, 1964, in North Carolina, United States of America. He died at the age of 30 on February 14, 1995. Ray McNeil holds an American nationality and belongs to the African-American ethnicity. There is little to no information about the identity of his parents, but according to reports, he grew up in a broken family and was raised by his aunt.
Regarding his educational background, Ray McNeil reportedly graduated from high school, after which he decided to join the United States Marine Corps.
Ray McNeil Won his Pro Card at the 1991 North American Championships
After completing his high school education, Ray McNeil chose to join the United States Army instead of pursuing his collegiate degree. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a sergeant for a long period of time. After retiring from his career as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps, he decided to begin a career as a professional bodybuilder.
Ray won his pro card at the 1991 North American Championships and began establishing himself by winning several regional bodybuilding championships. He was featured in several fitness magazines and also earned the title of Mr. California (1991) and Mr. Olympia. The former Mr. California starred in an advertisement alongside Jason Alexender and Lloyd Bridges.
A few years after venturing into bodybuilding, he began taking acting classes with the resolve to become a stand-up comedian. He performed free shows at The Comedy Club in La Jolla, San Diego. In 1995, the American bodybuilder began training for the Pro Ironman Championships in Redondo Beach, but unfortunately, he lost his life a week before the competition.
Ray McNeil Married Sally Lowden in 1987
Ray McNeil was married to Sally Lowden, a fellow bodybuilder and comrade in the marine for almost a decade. The pair met each other while they were both serving as Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton in the San Diego area. According to reports, Ray and Sally began dating after their first meeting. Three months into their romantic relationship, the pair got hitched in the year 1987.
At the time of the union, Ray was four years younger than Sally, who was 27 years old and a divorcee with three children. Despite the initial bonding, the marriage began to waver terribly due to alleged physical, mental, and sexual abuse on the part of Ray McNeil. According to the Netflix crime docu-series titled ‘’Killer Sally’’, the budding need to fulfill the financial responsibility of the family became the tension point which eventually led to an irrevocable tragedy.
To address the rising need to provide for the family, Sally started selling private wrestling lessons to males under the alias ‘’Killer McNeil,’’ where men would pay $300/hour to privately wrestle with her. While the hustle brought in proceeds to the family, it shook the foundation of the family as Ray McNeil began having affairs with different women. The affairs resulted in heated arguments and violent outbursts, which eventually led to the death of Ray McNeil.
How Did Ray McNeil Die?
Netflix crime documentary series ‘’Killer Sally’’ sheds light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Former American bodybuilder Ray McNeil who was shot and killed by his wife, Sally McNeil. The documentary delves into physical and mental abuse faced by Sally McNeil at the hands of Ray McNeil, which led to the death of the bodybuilder.
On Valentine’s day in the year 1995, a day when lovers around the world celebrate their love and affection towards each other, tragedy struck in the home of the bodybuilders.
At 10.40 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 1995, Ray returned home to his family after finishing a workout session at the gym. The couple got into a heated argument after Sally asked about his whereabouts. She claimed that during the argument, Ray punched her and grabbed her by the throat. Shortly after the fight, while Ray was cooking in the kitchen, Sally went into her bedroom, seized her 12-gauge shotgun, and shot her husband twice, hitting him in the stomach and jaw.
After shooting her husband, she called 911 to report the incident claiming that she acted in self-defense after her husband beat her up. Subsequently, Ray was rushed to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he was declared dead during surgery two hours after the shooting.
Despite her plea of self-defense, Sally was convicted of second murder and sentenced to 19 years imprisonment on March 19, 1996, after the prosecution successfully argued that the murder was premeditated as she shot Ray twice. She served 25 years at the Central California Women’s correctional facility in Chowchilla, California, before being released on parole on May 29, 2020.
Ray McNeil was a Step-father to Sally McNeil’s Two Children
Prior to the union of Ray and Sally McNeil, Sally was previously in a marital relationship with Anthony Lowden, with whom she had three children, Shantina and John. She separated from Anthony Lowden a year before her marriage to Ray. After her divorce, she gave up one of her children for adoption while she raised her other two children (Shantina and John) with her second husband.
In the Netflix documentary ‘’Killer Sally,’’ both Shantina and John, who were 11 and 9 years of age at the time of Ray’s death, confirmed that Ray was abusive towards their mother. They both recalled their parents’ violent outbursts and a time when Ray broke Sally’s nose. John, who was just nine years of age at the time of Ray’s murder, claims that Ray would regularly assault him and Shantina. After Sally was convicted, John and Shantina were sent to a care home before being raised by their maternal grandparents.
In an attempt to fill the void caused by the incident, Shantina and John joined the United States Military. Shantina served two tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, while John served five tours of Afghanistan. Sadly, after retiring from the military, Shantina suffered from PTSD in an aftermath of her military experience and an abusive relationship, while John also received treatment for PTSD and drug addiction.
What was Ray McNeil’s Body Measurements?
Bodybuilders spend most of their time in the gym, training hard to create and build their muscles to the desired shape and size. Through rigid and intense training with a disciplined diet plan, Ray McNeil has achieved a body weight of 95kg (209.43lbs) standing at 5 feet 11 inches (1.8m/ 180 cm).
Although his body weight falls below the likes of Lou Ferrigno (275 lbs), Roelly Wiklaar (265 lbs), Arnold Schwarzeneggar (250 lbs), Markus Ruhl (285 lbs), and Ronnie Coleman (296 lbs), he possesses an ideal bodyweight, including Fat Mass and BMI.
