"Six months after fatally shooting her former boyfriend, Marilyn Caraway finally feels exonerated.

And now all the accusations can be put to rest. She didn't set up Johnny Ray Clark, nor did she shoot him to collect on a life insurance policy, the Pensacola resident said.

Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer, citing the state's "Stand Your Ground" law, said Caraway, 54, had reason to believe she was in danger when she shot Clark, 45, on Nov. 28.

Caraway grabbed a .357 revolver and fired after hearing noise outside her Langley Place Road home and seeing the silhouette of a "big man."

The man, who turned out to be Clark, was outside a sliding glass door that had been opened. The shooting was reported at 6:41 a.m.

"I know I told the truth all the way," Caraway said. "I have been exonerated here on earth, and I will be exonerated when I meet my maker."

Clark's father, Ray Clark of Cantonment, called the investigation into his son's death "lousy."

Ray Clark said his son meant Caraway no harm and had only gone to her home to get a gun scope.

Ray Clark said his son had mentioned to his mother he was going to Caraway's home to get his scope.

"She begged him not to go," Ray Clark said.

Ray Clark said his son might still be alive if he had listened.

"If hindsight was good as foresight, we all would be geniuses," Ray Clark said. "If it wasn't for that bloomin' gun scope ..."

Caraway said there was never a gun scope at her home.

The reason Johnny Ray Clark went to Caraway's home remains unclear, Rimmer said.

"Why didn't he knock on the door and say, 'I'm here to pick up my gun scope,' " Rimmer said.

Caraway said she is sorry about Johnny Ray Clark's death.

"It's been very, very hard," Caraway said. "I sympathize with the family, but I didn't know it was him."

Even if she did know, the law gives Caraway the right to defend herself, according to the investigative report on the shooting.

"Under the circumstances of this case, Miss Caraway had reason to believe that someone, even if she knew it was Mr. Clark, was attempting to enter her dwelling," the report said. "Under (Florida law), this person is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act."

In the Gunshine State, there is no duty to retreat. Without knowing a great deal more about the story its difficult to get a spot-on feel, but it appears that the ex-boyfriend was looking for more than just his old scope. Regardless. Break into someone's home and all bets are off. She was 54 and lived alone. Cannot ask a woman to sit back and welcome victimhood. Time and again I've told Lisa that should she NOT hear our codeword during times of stress, then blaze away baby. If I'm dumb enough to lock myself out and dumber enough to try forcing myself in and dumberer enough not to identify myself then the gene pool just got a good slug of chlorine.