Daniel Kliethermes
New Bloomfield
Dear Editor:
I have worked in the Department of Corrections for close to 33 years and have worked around death row inmates in 1981 when assigned there. On the eve of Ernest Johnson's execution, death row advocates claim the execution is vicious and probably painful. Well, I say that is too bad. They worry about the inmate, but what about the vicious death they have caused - along with the victims' families that will never see their loved ones while they waited at home for them. Maybe they had children who will never see their loved ones who were working to support their families or maybe it was a second job so they make ends meet.
Johnson snuffed out their lives with a claw hammer for a mere $420 to support his drug habit, supposedly. How do we know they were killed with the first blow and maybe they were lying in a pool of blood begging for their lives in excoriating pain? Does he deserve to be sentenced to life in prison? He was convicted to death, and that is the way it is and should not be changed.
Death penalty advocates worry about his painful death. What about the victim's family? Do they think of them? Maybe they should ask the families of the victims if they deserve to die. Some might be forgiving the inmate. I would welcome his death if it was my family member whose life he snuffed out.
A lot of death row inmates probably kept their victims alive just to satisfy their obsession or their control and power over the victim before they brutally murder them while they begged for their lives. I know this will upset some people, but this is my opinion and reflects no one else's view. Once again, think of the victim's family even if it was 20 years or so ago.