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Nancy Nelson protests in a fenced area outside the Washington State Penitentiary on Sept. 9, 2010, in Walla Walla before Cal Coburn Brown was scheduled to be executed. (AP Photo)

Relatives of murder victims oppose death penalty

BY Tim Haeck  on November 30, 2012 @ 10:15 am (Updated: 11:23 am - 11/30/12 )

Relatives of murder victims in Washington hope their voices carry some extra weight in the debate over the death penalty.

Retiring State Senator Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, was among a group of death penalty critics speaking out in Olympia Thursday. The six-term state lawmaker has a personal story to share.

"In 1980, my brother-in-law was murdered and his body was dumped in a park in Seattle," Regala told KIRO Radio. His killer was never prosecuted.

Still, she favors abolishing the death penalty. "We spend six to ten times as much money pursuing a death penalty as we would if we went for life without the possibility of parole," claimed Regala.

"When we look at the high cost, the staggering amount of money that gets spent on this, that money could be so much better used in giving police officers better tools to prevent crime, tools for helping solve some of these cold cases."

Other relatives of murder victims share Regala's viewpoint, including Karil Klingbill, the sister of Candy Hemmig, a bank teller murdered by Mitchell Rupe in Olympia in 1981.

Those who support the death penalty often cite closure for victims as an argument for keeping the law. But death penalty appeals can last for 10 years or longer.

"That prolonged process means that there is no closure for a long period of time and for many people, it re-opens the wound over and over and over again," Regala countered.

Washington is among 33 states, as well as the military and the federal government, that allow the death penalty.

Legislative opponents plan to re-introduce a measure in Olympia next session to abolish the death penalty and they are planning a rally on the steps of the Capitol building in January.

KIRO Radio host Dave Ross said he appreciates hearing from people like Regala. It's a different perspective that isn't always considered. It stops him from wanting to totally abolish the death penalty.

Dave says he knows it's hard for family members to relive the horror every time there's an appeal, but he suggests setting limits and not dragging out the process might be a solution.

One benefit of the death penalty is it gives prosecutors a bargaining chip. They cut a deal with the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, to avoid trial and he plead guilty. He would have been up for the death penalty, but those trials never happened and the victims got closure. He's not on death row, but in prison in Walla Walla for the rest of his life.

However, Regala doesn't believe it's appropriate to use it as a bargaining tool.

"We have people like Gary Ridgway who committed multiple multiple murders and they have life without the possibility of parole. And someone who committed one murder is on death row and may be executed."

Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (6)


  • Add A Comment

  • ron prevost wrote...
    It's not that some people shouldn't be taken out of society - forever. BUT.........
    November 30, 2012 10:16 am
    I oppose the death penalty for 3 reasons.

    First: I can never trust the State to make life and death decisions. Be they ever vindictive, that's one thing. But too many flat out mistakes are made. To error may be human, but we can't bring back the dead.

    Second: IF someone is guilty of a something currently meriting the death penalty, how much more punishment - and for how much longer - is confinement to a 6x9 cell 23+ hours a day, especially is no 'amenities' are allowed? About now, Gary Ridgeway may consider death a release.

    And finally, there is the cost. With virtually unlimited appears, the condemned car typically put off execution 10+ years anyway. With all appeals paid for by our taxes. ... Cheaper to just let them rot - forever.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    You and I agree Ron.
    November 30, 2012 11:41 am
    We are only making lawyers rich at taxpayer's expense.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    Personally
    November 30, 2012 12:20 pm

    First off it has to be a closed and shut case. With all the smoking guns and DNA and many witnesses.

    I think it should be up the the families of the the victim. That way some dumb a55 doo gooder would not be able to petition the state on their dumb a55 ideals and INTERFER IN OTHERS LIVES. ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

    If one of my family members were murdered. I FOR ONE WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT LOOKS THE PERP IN THE EYES AND PULL THE TRIGGER MYSELF RIGHT BETWEEN HIS EYES!

    The problem lies in the justice system. If they were found guilty by their peers. Then they get ONE appeal to the highest court within 3 yrs. If it fails then they should be EXECUTED THE NEXT DAY. Then it wouldnt cost nearly enough.

    I will say it again IF ITS MY FAMILY, DOO GOODER STAY THE .... OUT OF MY BUSINESS. I stay out of yours.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Ever since Ridgeway killed as many as he did and got life,
    November 30, 2012 1:42 pm
    no higher court will ever give a death sentence for a person that kills one. Unless of course, the victim happens to be a judge or prosecutor.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TWC040 wrote...
    No to the Dealth Penalty
    January 2, 2013 3:32 pm
    Tondja Woods Colvin-Advance, NC I thought that I agreed with the death penalty for first degree murder until The Innocence Project of North Carolina and the SBI lab being closed for fabricating evidence. Until there is a guarantee there are no more Greg Taylors, Dwayne Allen Dail and Darryl Hunts, the death penalty must be stopped.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TWC040 wrote...
    No Lawsuit
    January 3, 2013 1:36 am
    No lawsuit will ever be able to bring back a person wrongfully executed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }