In Demand of Civil Rest

It was a celebratory mood. There were drugs, alcohol, sex, and video cameras. Convicted murderer, Richard Speck was thoroughly amused by his exploits and Charles Manson was planning a wedding. Such has been the scene in prisons across the United States, as those incarcerated for heinous crimes live out their days after committing horrific acts against innocent citizens. While some may argue that capital punishment has no place in civilized society, it may also be argued that this effectively removes those who fail to behave in a humane manner, sends a message to those who would perpetrate grisly crimes, and gives some measure of closure to the victims and families. Passion abounds on both sides on the issue of capital punishment.
American Civil Liberties Union spokesperson, Ed Yohnka stated, "Our organization clearly believes that the death penalty should be abolished. We think this is a system that is so badly flawed and broken that it cannot be fixed” (Strausberg, 2001, para. 10). Opponents such as these decry the act as contrary to American values, discriminatory, fiscally irresponsible, and inhumane. Amidst this debate, heinous murders continue to be inflicted upon innocent families.

Further, civilized society cannot exist with individuals whose actions have clearly demonstrated they cannot be rehabilitated and have no desire to live peaceably amongst their fellow humans. Therefore, society must negate the effects and damages of these individuals by enacting capital punishment. The results are mixed regarding the deterrence factor of Capital Punishment. According to Liu, “Abolishing the death penalty, therefore, not only discards a valuable deterrent but also lowers the marginal productivity of other possible deterrents in reducing murder” (Liu, 2004, para.42). While these results may be varied, it never the less ensures that the convicted killer will not be granted freedom or enjoy the ability to perpetrate further abuse on the innocent.

The finality of death which these killers determined to be the fate of their victims must now become their own. However, they will not know the same grisly final moments which the victims suffered. Instead, they will be given years of appeals, legal and religious counsel, a last meal, and a humane death. Conversely, the victims and their families, bear the high emotional and financial costs of trials, travel, and the mocking behavior of the convicted. There are countless examples of those not fit to exist in society, who mock the system, victims, and humanity.

In 1966, a drugged out and drunken Speck took and handgun, and a knife and brutally murdered eight nurses, inside of their Chicago dormitory. Fast forward to 1996 and a documentary about the murderer by Bill Kurtis, which shows a hormonally altered Speck with breasts and silk panties, snorting coke off of another inmate’s bare leg, as he says, “If they only knew how much fun I was having, they’d turn me loose!” (Aecriminals, 2009). When asked if he felt remorse for his rampage, he coldly replied, “If you’re asking me if I felt sorry, no” (Aecriminals, 2009). The following video is illustrative of his life, after taking life.

                                                 Richard Speck in prison

 

In the 1972 case, Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court, “struck down capital punishment as then practiced” (Rogers, 2011, para. 5). This ruling prevented Charles Manson from receiving the death penalty. For decades the Tate and La Bianca families have endured parole hearings and the glorification of this cult leader and his operatives. Dorothy Tate, mother of slain actress, Sharon Tate, never witnessed the demise of her daughter’s killers. However, she devoted the remainder of her life to ensuring that those convicted of the crime did not receive parole. In her poignant testimony at the parole hearing of Tex Watson, she discusses the issue of mercy. “What mercy, sir did you show my daughter when she was begging for her life? What mercy did you show my daughter when she said, “Give me two weeks to have my baby, then you can kill me”? What mercy did you show her?” (Helter Skelter Forum, 2010). She went on to say, “Remembering back when this man was on death row, but for a fluke, when the death penalty was overturned, his sentence was commuted to life. It took California three months to get enough signatures to get that death penalty back on the ballot and was passed by some eighty percent.” Her poignant testimony can be seen in this clip.

                                                  Testimony of Dorothy Tate

Prolific serial killer Ted Bundy mocked the justice system repeatedly. Aside from representing himself in his trial, Bundy also made a successful prison escape, and after years of appeals was finally executed. A survivor of the Florida State University murders expressed her fear and stated,

“I got very emotional and very tearful. I woke up before 6 a.m. and I was listening to the reports, wondering if he got a stay or not praying it the execution would go through. I feel relief and hope it can finally be put behind us'' (Blanton & Dezern, 1989, para. 17). Lack of remorse is a constant theme. Consider the words of Richard Ramirez, the “Night Stalker” upon receiving nineteen death sentences, “No big deal. Death always comes with the territory. I'll see you in Disneyland” (Biography.com, 2014). Similarly, Richard Allen Davis who was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Polly Klaas extended both of his middle fingers toward the jurors after receiving the sentence of death, followed by his callous assertion that Polly’s last words were, “Don't do me like my dad." (Curtius, 1996, para. 3). Davis’ actions elicited this response from the presiding judge, “Mr. Davis, this is always a traumatic and emotional decision for a judge. You made it very easy today by your conduct.''(New York Times, 1996, para. 6).

12 year old victim, Polly Klaas

Killer and child rapist, Richard Allen Davis

              

 Polly’s father, Mark Klaas has been an outspoken proponent for the death penalty. His impassioned words helped create tougher legislation in California. Klass argued,

“It diminishes the victims when people burn candles and mourn someone who has committed a heinous crime. People on death row are some of the worst individuals that appear on the face of the earth. "There are no guarantees whatsoever, not even an inkling of a guarantee, that replacing the death penalty with life without the possibility of parole will guarantee these people will stay inside." (Klaaskids.org, 2014).

Unfortunately, there are many more victims and their stories are no less heart breaking. Three such cases are Jessica Lunsford, Dylan and Shasta Groene, and the Petit Family. Nine year old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped from her bed by John Couey who raped, imprisoned, starved, and finally buried her alive. Detectives reported that Jessie was found clutching her cherished purple dolphin, a prize won for her by her father at a county fair. The trash bags which held her little body, showed claw marks as she had attempted to get air. After hearing of Couey’s death while in prison, her father believed that due to the extensive appeals process, he did not think he would live to see Couey executed. He stated, “To me, death is sad," he said. "But her death, Jessie's death, has been redeemed ... I'm relieved. I'm glad it's over with" (CNN, 2009).

9 year old victim, Jessica Lunsford

victims, 8 year old Shasta Groene and 9 year old Dylan Groene

The Groene children were abducted by a repeat offender pedophile, Joseph Edward Duncan. After stalking the family for approximately two days, Duncan slaughtered the mother, her boyfriend, and older brother. He then took the two youngest children whom he continually molested, and abused before finally torturing Dylan and disposing of his body in a campfire. Shasta was the only surviving member of Duncan’s attack. Her father spoke about his feelings regarding the death penalty and said, “I've said it before I want front row, center seats when they fry this guy. If I don't make it that long, then maybe I'll have better seats than that” (KESQ.com, 2011).

The cabin where Duncan filmed his torture of Dylan

The Petit family was obliterated by two career criminals, who broke into their Connecticut home and beat the father, robbed, raped, sodomized, terrorized, and ultimately tied in their beds, poured gasoline on and burned alive, the mother, and two daughters ages eleven and seventeen.

The Petit Family

                         

Hannah's Bedroom

                            

        

The depravity of the two is apparent in the texts exchanged prior to their actions and reported in the New York Post,

Hayes wrote, “I’m chomping at the bit to get started, need a margarita soon.”

“After Hayes sends another text later, Komisarjevsky replies that he’s putting his young daughter to bed, adding “Hold your horses.”

Hayes responded, “Dude, the horses want to get loose. LOL.” (New York Post, 2011).

Unbeknownst to Stephen Hayes & Joshua Komisarevsky, William Petit managed a narrow escape and crawled to a neighbor’s home for help. When Connecticut considered repealing capital punishment he argued, "We believe in the death penalty because we believe it is really the only true just punishment for certain heinous and depraved murders'' (ABC News, 2012).

The stories are endless, as is the pleasure, self-gratification, and insatiable appetite these killers possess. Perhaps, those who argue for life in prison instead of capital punishment fail to recognize that these individuals do no respect or cherish a life apart from their own. Their time in detention is not devoid of comforts or rights as were the final moments of those they victimized. Unsurprisingly, these inmates such as Stephen Hayes, who recently declared himself an Orthodox Jew, file grievances such as the following, “Aside from seeking prepackaged Kosher meals for all Jewish prisoners housed in Connecticut prisons, Hayes seeks $15,000 to compensate him for his pain, suffering and "resulting weight loss" (ABC News, 2012). These types of shenanigans are amongst a cadre of insulting and taunting behavior which the survivors and their families are subjected.

There are those who argue the costs of execution are problematic and extensive. In answer to such, it may be argued that the lives which these murderers viewed so cheaply are in fact priceless. Society cannot put a price on the loss of those beautiful souls, nor can it ever truly know what great contributions they would have made to humanity.

Currently, there are thirty-five states which have enacted capital punishment. No matter the costs, however long the fight to add the remaining jurisdictions, the battle in favor of capital punishment must continue. While, this legislation will not bring back those so tragically taken, it will undoubtedly ensure that the killers and those who would commit such acts are sent a clear and convincing message that society will no longer tolerate such atrocities, gives the families and surviving victims some ability to close a painful chapter of their lives, and it ensures the criminal will never again harm another living being.
References

ABC News. (2012, April 4) Petit family massacre. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/family-massacre-survivor-william-petit-repeal-connecticut-death/story?id=16072574

AE Criminals. (2009, December 8). Retrieved from http://youtu.be/slm_YDzx4vI

Blanton, D. & Dezern, C. (1989). The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved from http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1989-01-24/news/8901240543_1_ted-bundy-theodore-bundy-kimberly-leach

Curtius, M. (1996). Mark Klaas. Retrieved from from http://articles.latimes.com/1996-09-27/news/mn-48142_1_marc-klaas

Helter Skelter Forum. (2010, April 17) Retrived from http://youtu.be/gr-MUJsROKQ

KESQ. (2011, September 27). Groene father reaction. Retrieved from http://www.kesq.com/Idaho-Victims-Father-Reacts-To-Duncan-Plea-Deal/491536

Klaas, M. (2014) Retrieved from http://klaaskids.org/

Liu, Z. (2004). Capital punishment and the deterrence hypothesis: SOME new insights and empiracle evidence. Eastern Economic Journal, 30(2), 237-258. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/198047817?accountid=32521

NY Times. (1996) Richard Allen Davis. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/27/us/before-being-sentenced-to-die-killer-disrupts-a-courtroom.html

Richard Ramirez. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 09:08, Dec 22, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/richard-ramirez-12385163.

Rogers, A. (2011). Capital punishment on trial: Furman v. Georgia and the death penalty in modern America. The Journal of American History, 97(4), 1187-1188. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/897971844?accountid=32521

Strausberg, C. (2001, Mar 13). ACLU: Death penalty is not tough on crime. Chicago Defender Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/246988738?accountid=32521