DJ Says...

When we read articles about murder victims, they often mention that members of the victim’s family are seeking closure through the criminal justice system. For instance, the sister of Tracie Lynn Wallace, murder victim of Charles Dean Hood, frequently talks about her desire for closure when discussing the upcoming execution of Mr. Hood.

Am i bitter…. somewhat… but feel i have a right to be bitter…… he took from our family, someone special… Tracie was very child like and was a very big hearted person….. she nor ron or other murdered victim deserve what they got….. do unto others as you would others do unto you….. guess Hood thought he could murder 2 people and not have it done to him….. BULL**** HE DESERVES WHAT HE HAS COMING. I have all the time in the world to wait for that day.

To see it…. will bring closure to my life…..

And I’m certain that I too, if placed in her situation by events beyond my control, would be searching for something that would close the void left by violent criminals. But it may well be a futile search.

Former Harris County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler talks about this subject from her experience as a prosecutor in a post on Women in Crime Ink titled ‘There’s No Such Thing As “Closure“‘.

There are those moments that scar your soul when you have been a prosecutor for as long as I have. Those moments when it is your job to tell a mother and a dad who have lost their baby what to expect from the real criminal justice system, a system that is a far cry from what they imagine it to be.

I have also had that “other” conversation with them.

You see, in our world, the world of a prosecutor who handles such cases (as I have, far too many times), we also talk about the fact that as parents, they shouldn’t put their lives on hold waiting for a defendant to be charged or arrested . . . or waiting for a trial to commence . . . or waiting for an appeal to be exhausted or even waiting for an execution to happen. I tell them that too many other parents, who have walked in their steps and truly do know their pain, have told me the truth.

The truth. The truth is that there is no such thing as “closure.”

Kelly continues, telling us about a young mother whose 16 month old son was murdered and it took 25 years to bring the murderer to justice. She ends with this:

Pat told them–and she later told me and then the jury–that in that moment of disbelief, she began to cry and tremble. Because she had long ago given up on anyone but herself caring about what happened to little Sam. Because she had lost all hope in law enforcement and in the criminal justice system. Because she blamed herself for what happened to Samuel and because she had long ago lost all interest in living.

I made sure Pat Kiesewetter got to say all of that out loud, to a courtroom full of people, to the world, and to the man who was responsible. Not only for taking little Sam’s life, but for taking hers too.

Does Pat have closure today? She gave up on that a long time ago.

She may not have “closure”. But thanks to the steady and sure work of law enforcement professionals, Pat can rest assured that the murderer of her young son will not be hurting another mother’s son. And when Charles Dean Hood meets his date with the executioner’s needle, Tracie’s sister will no longer have to read personal ads he placed such as this one:

I’m a 28 year old man, black hair, blue eyes. I’m 6′ 3″ and weigh 200 pounds.

I’m looking for pen pals. I’m honest, sincere, great sense of humor, enjoy reading & writing, poetry & novels.

I read & write in English & Spanish. I also can speak Spanish a little. I pass time by drawing.

I’m looking for someone to correspond with on any subject. Women & men are welcome.

I am Catholic and believe in faith.

Please write if you would like to have a great time.

The criminal justice system will never be able to close those gaping holes left by these murderers. But perhaps it can provide some level of peace.