Families of victims whose killers sit on death row had the chance to testify on Thursday afternoon about Governor Tom Wolf’s moratorium on the death penalty. Each family had a different view, but all agreed… something needs to change.
One by one, those who’ve suffered the loss that some of us can’t ever imagine, spoke from the heart.
“Trista’s killer is alive and well. Being able to see the sun, able to sleep every night,” said Morgan Eng, the brother of Trista Eng.
“A capital prison inmate is given a capital sentence, not life in prison for a reason,” said Suzanne Eng, the mother of Trista Eng.
The mother and brother of a York County teen who was killed in 1993 say the governor’s imposing of a moratorium on the death penalty has taken away their closure.
“How would you feel if for 21 1/2 years there was still no closure to your loved ones? We now feel that Governor Wolf is now making sure our family and every other victim’s family has no closure,” said Morgan Eng.
Representative Ron Marsico, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, agrees with the Eng family. He thinks Gov. Wolf has over stepped his boundaries.
“I think it’s wrong. I think that we have laws on the books right now. That those that are convicted by prosecutors and found guilty by juries and sentenced to death by this commonwealth. We should go ahead and follow through with this law,” said Rep. Marsico, who represents part of Dauphin County.
But, not every victim’s family whose killers sit on death row want that death sentence.
“I don’t need that to heal, and I don’t want any part of it and I don’t want that for me. That’s not what justice is for me,” said Linell Patterson, the daughter of two victims.
Linell Patterson’s step-brother and two of his friends were convicted of killing her father and step-mother. She made a connection with the family of one of her parent’s killers. She realized, they would have to suffer the same loss. She says that’s not justice.
“I need to heal, the death penalty won’t help me heal,” said Patterson.
But besides each family’s different view, both agree the way the system works now, is broken.
“The appeals process must be drastically changed. It needs to be reworked both on the state and national levels,” said Suzanne Eng.
When Gov. Wolf issued the moratorium last month, he announced that he wants to hear recommendations of the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Committee on capital punishment before making any further decisions.
That committee’s report is expected by the end of the year.
