In my pursuit of justice, I have been faced with the question of whether or not I believe in the death penalty. Well, after some debate with myself and based on my personal experience, I have to say I do believe in the death penalty. I’m sure some of you out there want to know why I take this stance, especially considering I am a Christian, as I didn’t believe in the death penalty 20 years ago. Well, my answer is simple—people with personalities who commit such horrific crimes as rape, murder, sodomy, etc., repeatively, in my perspective, have absolutely no regard for human life.
Case in point—let’s take a look at the case of Mr. Alcala, convicted serial killer, who is currently serving time on death row. The following information is taken from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20040654-504083.html.
CBS/AP) SANTA ANA, Calif. - Convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala, who is
on death row in California for five murders in the 1970s, is suspected in
the long-unsolved murder of a 19-year-old aspiring actress in the San
Francisco Bay area.
PICTURES: Serial Killer's Secret Photos: New Victims?
Marin County investigators believe Alcala, 67, is responsible for the
death of 19-year-old Pamela Jean Lambson, who went missing in 1977 after a
trip to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, reports The Los Angeles Times.
According to the victim's mother, Lambson went to meet an unidentified
photographer at an Oakland A's baseball game and was never seen again.
Lambson's body was recovered shortly thereafter near a Marin County trail.
Her murder went unsolved for more than 30 years until investigators
reopened the case after receiving word about Alcala's murder spree in
Southern California during the 1970s, says The Los Angeles Times.
However, detectives say Alcala, a photographer and one-time "Dating Game"
contestant, will not be charged with the crime due to insufficient genetic
material.
Alcala was sentenced to death last year for the strangling of four
California women and 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in the 1970s, all of which
prosecutors say were laced with sexual abuse and torture. After his
conviction, police released more than 100 photographs that were seized
more than 30 years ago from a storage locker Alcala rented. Alcala has
also been indicted in New York on murder charges in the deaths of Cornelia
Crilley and Ellen Hover.
Speaking from the perspective of a criminal justice student, I think the evidence is clear that this man has absolutely no respect for other’s lives, especially women, since all his victims seem to be women. Plus, after having studied psychology, it is probable this man suffered from a “mommy complex” and he hurts because he was most likely abused as a child. I think the death penalty offers a solution for criminals of this sort to put an end to their mental & emotional anguish.
This blog post is an official entry for the
Law Blogger’s Scholarship, sponsored by The Law Office of Joshua Pond,
http://www.joshuapondlaw.com.
