General Discussion

I know what that feels like.

We had made plans for his cremation, had our last visit with him and shared brief hugs surrounded by his shackled arms, written a letter to those who supported us during the two decades he spent on death row, tried to figure how (or if) I should explain to my mother that "no, they were not going to give him sedatives to make his electrocution less painful" - they needed him to be fully aware of what was happening to him, and why - and debated whether I should accompany my father to the execution of his son - or stay home with my mother.

It was not the only execution date he had been given, but it was the only one which came down to the last minute.

I got the word via the car radio (on the way to pick up a siblings from the airport? I've lost track of the details) that the state Supreme Court had stayed his execution.

It is a nightmare that no family should have to go through. Executions do not bring back those killed - they just create additional grieving families. And - in the years between sentencing and execution, each time an execution date is set - all families involved (those of the victim and the perpetrator) are put through hell over and over again. In our case, that sentiment is shared by all of the closest family members of the two women my brother killed.