When They Execute a Friend, We All Hurt

It was about 6:45 EST when thoughts of Karl Chamberlain's scheduled execution raced through my mind. I wasn't at home and had no internet access. Hoping they would grant him a stay of execution as they did to Derrick Sonnier the inmate scheduled last week. Something about the protacol, the lethal injection issue. I was confident he would get a stay, despite his appeal being turned down by the high court. I suppose it was wishful thinking on my part. I had even sent him out another letter knowing it would not arrive until after the June 11th date he had. Mail is so very slow from Massachusetts to Texas.

I decided to call a friend and death penalty opponet, Annette Blankenship. She lives in Virginia, to see if she had heard anything. She hadn't , but assured me she would let me know as soon as anything came through. She immediatly accessed the internet with her husband Donald, and began to text me whatever information they could find.

Nothing definite, just news articles about Karl's appeal, and about him being the first from Texas after a 7 month halt on executions. The clock was ticking away, and it was beginning to look bad. "If he had got a stay it would be in the news," I thought. But nothing, so it was looking like "no news is bad news." Executions in Texas take place at 6:00PM, Texas time.

I phoned another friend, Andre, AKA Capital-"X," I call him X for short, looking for Ray Hill's phone number, another number I should have saved on my cell phone. He's from Houston Texas, and the number one prison activist in my eyes. Surely he would know something. But X didn't have that number handy either. But X was standing right outside the unit where they carry out executions. "Did they go through with it I asked?" I could hear the sadness in his voice, "Yes." My heart sank. I couldn't believe it, but then again, what's not to believe. After all, this is Texas, and they lead the nation in executions.

I asked about Karl's mother, if she was there. X said they had just driven her off to the funeral home. I can't even imagine, watching as they put your son to sleep, the way they do. I can't imagine the hurt. Karl had invited me to Texas to be with his family and friends the days before his scheduled execution. I couldn't make it, but now I feel like maybe I should have.

I tried desperately to help Karl. I wrote an article about the mitigating evidence in his case that was never heard. His mother "spilled her guts out" in an attempt to show the life he had when growing up. She shared her family secrets, and told what other people would try to hide. She is a strong women, a fair and compassionate person. Some people commented that it was no excuse. And I suppose I agree. But I still have to say it contributes to it. It reminds me of the children's verse, "Children learn what they live."

As I tried to get a grip on what had happened, and tried to rationalize it, if that is at all posable, I received another call from Christy. She lives in New Mexico where Karl's Mom lives, and she knew Karl. Her voice breaking up in sadness and grief. Christy also is a real trooper when it comes to the death penalty. She and X and Annette also have all "Walked 4 Life. X is still walking, and I don't think he will ever stop. Nothing I could really say to her to help her feel any better. Been there done that, and doing it again. This is not the first for me, but the first does hurt the worse I think. But it something you never get used to.

The article I was originally going to write, I decided not to when I read about Karl's execution. Karl was very remorseful. He was extremely remorseful in the letters he sent to me, and was very remorseful on that gurney. According to Associated Press and KWES news Karl's last statement was, "I want you all to know I love you with all my heart. I want to thank you for being here," he said. "We are here to honor the life of Felicia Prechtl, a woman I didn't even know, and celebrate my death. I am so terribly sorry. I wish I could die more than once."

I can only hope that Karl's execution has brought some closure to the family and friends of the victim. Karl, rest in peace my friend, you will never be forgotten.

Source :
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=8466992&nav=menu505_2