Documentary Showcase; Murder One

A co-production of Double-A and 80 Georgia Educational Television Network and the University of North Carolina television network this program is made possible by grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Harvard Center for Criminal Justice and the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. Good evening. I'm Robert MacNeil. Tonight we are going to see a remarkable film about murder and the death penalty in recent years. There's been a profound change in public attitudes and the laws regarding capital punishment. When Gary Gilmore was executed by a firing squad in Utah last January it was the first execution in this country in 10 years. The campaign to abolish the death penalty gathered momentum in the late 60s in 1972. The United States Supreme Court threw out all existing death penalty laws because the penalty was being ordered capriciously and arbitrarily 35 states and Congress then passed new laws to avoid those objections last July noting the will of so many states the Supreme Court upheld

capital punishment. It was not cruel and unusual punishment is outlawed by the Constitution. The court said if the character of the murderer and the circumstances of his crime were carefully considered the ruling upheld some state laws and struck down others. This growing political demand for capital punishment is reflected in frequent surveys of public opinion. This much Roper poll reported 71 percent in favor of the death penalty. A Harris poll found that a majority of Americans favor capital punishment even if it were not proved to deter murderers. Clearly society is afraid of violent crime and losing faith in the criminal justice system. It wants retribution. You we're never going to see how that sentiment touches six murderers and the people whose lives they shattered. This film is not an argument for or against capital punishment but I think you cannot see it without examining your own convictions very deeply.

This is the story of six men who were sentenced to die for their crimes. Three by the state of North Carolina the other three by the state of Georgia. They were all found guilty of first degree murder murder one. Although the condemned man in Georgia may be electrocuted soon. Those from North Carolina will not die by the hands of the state. On July 2nd 1976 the United States Supreme Court struck down the law by which 109 people had been sentenced to death in North Carolina. One of those spared was Henry Jarett a 26 year old ex-Marine. I want to be liked and I would like to live in peace and harmony. You know I would like to I would like you know beautiful. Pardon me this AM based in nothing you know. But you know human compassion. You know I will keep it on standby because if you understand me you can't help but love me you know in 1970 Jarett murdered two people

three years later he murdered again an orphan. Jarid was adopted by a rural Louisiana family after high school he joined the Marines to get a college education. Vietnam intervened. The war is something that comes in Robot fashion. This is at home and is done at home on ways and you might get a whole lot of compassion. You see a kid come in you know a look in Iraq and everything you want what you want to do 7:1 give them food some medical attention and decide to say I kill him you know. And I say what are you on a kid you know he's a kid and that's the enemy kid you know. And I shot him and they were all just after I shot him. He did explode because he had explosives on him you know Chai on grenades et cetera. And he was gone right to us. And once he got to us he was going to explode and perhaps kill off two or three of us.

You know it was hurting you know what. It was. That was one of those answers where you know you know what being you know what would you do with that robot. You know just cute an instrument you know and it was just bad you know. In 1970 Jared under medication for a back injury was shipped back to camp Luzhin. He dated a local barmaid Corinne laborin. She broke off the relationship on the night of October 7 1970. Jarett entered Corinne's mobile home where she and two Marine friends were sleeping. On this particular night. I was down in Jacksonville and we will point out and I had all drank some beer and some alcoholism some wine so forth and I had taken my medication. Well as a result. I ended up you know like more or less leaving my self you know blacking out. And

when I came back you know Coxs to what was happening around me said well what was happening around me. Well I will stand up and I will stay out and do you know. And it was me you know. You know I got busted for it. You know Jarrett had stabbed all three of them with a 10 inch dagger. 32 year old Corinne and 21 year old Sergeant George welts were dead. The other Marine was badly wounded. Jeric got 18 to 20 years with second degree murder and Odom prison. He quickly became a model inmate. It was Junior Chamber of Commerce day at the North Carolina General Assembly. As president of the prison unit. Jared was to attend while being checked in at the Raleigh Hilton then he simply walked away. Jared made his way to Charlotte where he abducted a 16 year old black girl after forcing her to drive into the country. He raped her. But promised her freedom when he found another

car. He found a car in Waxhaw. Where my son wanted to call him for. Him up here to this building here there's a laundry in the washer and dryer. Gmc. And as he found he was washing machine he was sitting in the car probably listening to the tape recorder tapes that he had in there while he was doing that. The car drove up. With a black couple. And the male got out and went over and tapped on his car window. Being human beings and nature of us expect to somebody who wants some information. He rolled the window down and he was stabbed to death. Right. The kid did I end up killing down in a place called all I. He died in the process of a scuffle. I was about to take his car.

I had become aware of it. So I pulled my knife on him and we stopped cuffed him when I was talking to him I was out of control in a sense so I couldn't knife moving in a different direction to keep it from going to him. But since it was a scuffle and it was real physical and all right by me leaning over him with the knife in my hand. And yet and grabbed him and he actually let it go to get to the point. The nice thing is I was out of control period. But his death still remain accidental. My intentions were not to kill him. But according to legislation law since I was in the process of committing a criminal act of stealing his car and he died in the process or that physical scuffle then boom with a capital crime. You know after this happened there's a young girl at home. I want to

find out. I want to thank them. That day call allowing Colclough. I know not what happened to my son. I talked to her about what happened here and she said that when the glass broke down just stabbed the boy. And he fell like. And one hand went up laughing and reaching for the handle of the other door and it grabbed him stabbed him again. He went down and didn't come up any more. He was. Away from here in the car and threw it out in the snow. This whole community got out look for him day and night for two days and nights before respire. This is a dead end which they found Timothy. He was covered up in snow on one hand stick and that my intentions were not to kill him. I will put a knife on him to scare him out his car so I can get away so I can go to freedom. And in the process of my

searching for a better life. You know Kelana period. He becomes the victim of circumstances. My son was the third person that he had stabbed to death. The father of the slain boy reach maturity. But the desire. Of somebody else who walked in a car without having to work for it. There are so many other instances you can look back and see the same thing happen. What would happen in a few year. If he's turned loose. And he wants something else. I feel so human I'll be I'm everybody and everybody is me. I mean I wouldn't trade me for no one. You know I don't know be nobody else but me. Circumstances

made me look bad in the eyes of others but I know if I had the opportunity I could prove how good I am. You know how how very much in conformity I could be with others you know. I mean I let me I love me I love that I I wouldn't have no other way. Jared will be eligible for parole in 16 years on the same day that the court struck down North Carolina's capital punishment law. Georgia's was found constitutional in Greg versus Georgia. The United States Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for murder and armed robbery of 29 year old Troy Leon Greg. Some people are naturally bad or born bad but I believe any man. If he is given the opportunity and the right environment can be rehabilitated to go back into society. I don't believe no man. Should have stay in prison all his life. I think if he's.

Given the right counseling the right. Environment that he can do and society you know. And live like he's supposed to I don't think he you know that they should stay in prison all their life because people think they're not fit for society. On November 21st 1973 Troy Gregg a part time truck driver was hitchhiking with his then 16 year old friend Sam Allen. Greg shot to death and robbed the two men who had stopped to give them a ride. Sam and I were going to North Carolina. I wanted to see my grandfather hadn't seen him in three years and I was going home have Thanksgiving with him. We were attacking on the onramp to the sunshine Parkway and now. We were picked up by two guys that were drinking. We got in the car and started on you know. Towards North Carolina. Guys. Troy shot to me they was all right. You know they've been working hard told us it is figuring on run the dairy farm sort of like you know out in Brownsville Texas

and I kind of like and you know laugh at us you know. Got to leave everything you know. Talk to us. You notice those guys. Kind of like play something that you yourself. You know guys I have worked hard. And know they're never going to start making their dreams come true. Thirty five year old Bob Moore and his 44 year old friend Fred Semmens were on their way to Brownsville Texas for a long vacation. More plan to take over his father's cattle ranch near Okeechobee Florida when he returned. I took them to. I didn't take them I showed them where to go. They needed gas in the car. While they were getting gas. I got a case of Budweiser 16 ounce cans and they were already drinking. And. I was I started driving for them because I don't drink. And. They said it would be safer with me driving would with one of them. So I started driving when we got back on the Sunshine Parkway. And about 60 mile out of Orlando the car blew up. And Fred and Bob had to go

buy another. So we rode with the record Troy and I rode with the wrecker up to the toll plaza. After a while we would talk. Was it a. Choice or you know he says I'm all Robby's cash you know. And I thought a kid you know I'm not Troy get off quite easy you know keep me out of fights and stuff like that. Yeah. You know like I didn't believe him. And he said you know this is what you do. Therefore I get six seven bucks on me you know. Yeah you're right. I don't think I will. So he said it was and then he said he didn't think he would. When we stopped outside of Atlanta. ON. Highway 20. We're Highway 20 crosses 85. And when I step out of the car Fred said he had to go to the bathroom. So when I stepped out of the car he stepped up behind me. With a knife in his hand. And I've got the scar right there where he cut me with a knife. And. I shot him. To try to keep him you know killing me.

And then I shot. Back. Because he was beaten down. To a great credit score on his channel and that's where he got it from I don't know. He didn't get it. I mean they made no struggle no threat moves or anything. Like you know the guy just got out stretch his leg you know in a. Trollish Hodas Rasco out and just blasted both from Bolivia. Well when the guy stepped out of the car and Swapna with the knife all I was thinking of him was to save myself you know because you know a knife scares me it scares the devil out of me. And he'd already cut me once. And the only way I could stay. I figured the only way I'd be able to stop it would be to shoot him. I didn't intend to kill a man. It's just the way the gun when I shot I did kill a. Jewish person or so down like Atlantas or steady on the roof car. He fired two shots into one main loop his arm and fired two shots to the other. The first shot within the head of the first made in. Same way with the other made.

It all went down into the corner where the minute fell after the dad and he took a lot of money off and brought it back up in the car and later on to see him driving off he said OK little boy is a big term you read on it I'm OK it does seem cute to people. Who's to say that he killed me after it was over I was really down and I didn't want to talk anybody I didn't want to say anything and I just said no. And one of us withdrew and myself and. After I came back to reality and realized what I'd done I wanted to. Now come and tell somebody about it. But like I said I got caught the flat chance to do this. And I never really you know had the opportunity to think about what would happen or what did happen or anything like that. I was just numb and scared. Forty hours later. A hundred and fifty miles from the scene of the murders.

Greg and Alan were picked up in Asheville North Carolina. The money and the car. Was the aggravating circumstance of my trial. I believe that you know. Helping the jury in deciding to give me the death penalty. They don't look at the mitigating circumstances you know. The good things about what happened it's just bad things they look at and. Had had it not been for the money and the. Car I think I would have got a life sentence out of it instead of a death penalty. He denied killing those guys and there was me I didn't take no money at it and pulled the trigger. I didn't do nothing. And now the way I see it now he got me just to do it for his career and everything. All I know is what they do is wrong. They didn't really give me so much as a chance. Sam Allen was sentenced to serve 10 years for armed robbery.

I didn't really ever think. That I would be in a position I'm in now. You know I'm going home for Thanksgiving. I was. Attacked and I killed two men and I I'm on death row now and could be executed. But you know it had never crossed my mind that I could be on death row. And one day I'm here and the next day you know I'm in prison on death row and the people that sit on the juries that are that are for capital punishment say it is a deterrent. To crime. Which I don't think it is because. Regardless of whether a man is going to get the death penalty or not if he's in a situation where he's going to kill somebody he's going to kill them anyway. And he's not going to stop to think about the death penalty until you know it's all over when he's in court and has a death penalty then he will you know. Think about it. But as far as being a deterrent. No it's not it's. That's it's just other people's opinions. But I don't think it's ever going to deter crime. Troy Gregg faces execution in Georgia's electric chair.

Georgia's capital punishment law was declared constitutional because a jury was required to consider both aggravating and mitigating circumstances on an individual basis. Death was not an automatic sentence upon conviction as it was in North Carolina. Before North Carolina's law was struck down. Thirteen convicted murderers were sent to death row from one eastern North Carolina pharming County District Attorney Joe Freeman bread sent them there. When I became district attorney in 1973 Robinson County had the highest per capita homicide rate in the nation. We decided to do something about it. We decided we would no longer plea bargaining and murder one situations and we would go for the death penalty in each and every first degree type case. We did that. We received 13 convictions. And as a result of that. We went from nine capital crimes in 1973 to one capital

crime in 1974 to zero capital crimes in 1975. We think it means something. One of the people Brit convicted was David Earl Dillard Dillard 25 shot his wife Mattie bell in the crystal light Methodist Church in Lumberton North Carolina. It was Easter Sunday morning 1973. When I first met my wife. I was in high school. I thought I was in love and I just thought I could just you know I play all the girls. But then she came along. And she did something to me and I felt something for you know. Like. That stopped me from being a lover. Right. And. So. The next day like I had a go with me and you say to her that's a mother. And so. About a month later she finally gave in and said yes you'll be my girlfriend. So we went together for about a year and a half. And during the time

who was going to go like. Young kids they. Really. Try to. Do some good marriage and the like she got pregnant and. It was all a job and when she got pregnant and so. She got pregnant we got married because a mother. Forced her to get married. Forced me to marry her too. But all the time I thought this was what she was really wanting. You know what I mean. Because I wanted her. So. When we got married I told my wife to come. Live with me. But she said and she said she want to live with her parents. She didn't want to go. So I said I live here. Until I can't take it up. So they had me sleeping out in the backyard. And I let go. Outside house. I did this for her. Because I wanted her. Like I would. I would go. When we go out like everybody have to go with us. You know the whole family has to go with us you know. And.

When I buy some I got to buy for the whole family. But I did this because I wanted her. But I told my wife that I was tired and sick of this. I want to leave and I can take it up. She. She wouldn't listen. So I left. And I left her. I stayed I went to Philadelphia for a year and we stayed up for a whole year. Mattie Bell stayed with her mother in Lumberton. After a year of separation Dillard returned Mattie Bell had agreed to set up house with him. He found the old problems were still there as well as a new one. His wife was involved with his best friend. Just by knowing that she and him was having a relationship. I mean this has really hurt me. I never really told her how much it hurt me because I didn't want to lose him. But. She just started misusing me and. Doing a year that we applaud and love things about her change. And

I couldn't adjust to him and she just wouldn't. You know she just heard it me. So I tried everything I could to try to. Make this thing work because I wanted that. But it wouldn't work. Dillard's wife moved back to her mother's house taking their 19 month old daughter Alyssa with her. The day before Easter delayed made a final attempt at reconciliation. And I was asking I said please come back home with me said do anything just come back home with me he said and she said I coming. To see it. Even. Though it hurt me to her say this. So then I left. Out I was mad because you heard me say she told me that she didn't want she was going to give it up. So. I. Met these guys that was going on out to have a little fun. And they had it. And a shotgun in the. Car.

So I asked them to let me borrow it tomorrow and I will get back to all. That was nice enough they let me have it. This was not a killing that occurred in the heat of passion. This was rather a classical first degree murder case first degree murder is distinguishment second degree murder by two elements. Premeditation and deliberation premeditation means simply to plan ahead for whatever we're shorter period of time. It doesn't necessarily mean to sit at a table and draw a schematic of how you're planning to kill another human being. But it means to form the plan and have a shorter period of time. The Supreme Court in North Carolina has said that premeditation can occur in the twinkling of an eye. It is more than a span of time simply a state of mind. Last Sunday morning I knew that she was going. To. My mind is still messed up and I had no sleep. I didn't think it was just hurt me.

I went on down there and when doing the time I was in a church. I was thinking all the while I was praying to god help me because I didn't know what I was going. I was helpless. David Earl Dillard went to the church about 7:30 in the morning and secret of a gun behind one of the trees. He returned later that morning and took the gun and hit it in a car coat entered the church wrap the gun up in his car coat and sat down on the pew to wait for his wife to enter. When my wife came into church and as she walked down how she had my daughter and arms. And. I didn't even think about my daughter enough and I just shot and I this child. I don't know how I missed my daughter but my daughter live on the same side that she got the first shot. I don't see how I miss my daughter. It just happened that way. It was like a miracle. He stood up and the weapon shot her to the floor. It

was a single shot 12 gauge shotgun he and breech the gun pulled out the shell put in another shell close the gun raised it to a shoulder aimed and fired at her on the floor. Lord the gun broke the gun pulled out the Schale put in another shell close the gun raised the gun aimed the gun and fired the gun. Yet a third time and then a he ran out the church and shot at several of the congregation who were outside. When I went outside I started. Going to LA really lost my mind started shooting everybody. So. That's one. Thing. That really hurt me as I went down the street. My mother and I was coming down the car. And I shot it down. And I don't know that's another miracle that I don't understand. I shot directly at her. But I never had a hit that time was the time. And I kept going. Down the road. I'm told that David Earl Dillard has problems that he has family hang.

Perhaps he does. Perhaps he killed his wife because his feelings were hurt. If he did. His feelings weren't the only ones that were hurt. No matter what the state does to David Earl Dillard it can't be nearly as bad as what he did to this girl in this picture. I can never live again like that was before this how. My life just. This. All. Destroyed. And the love I had for her. I still have it. Seemed like she would be dead but it was just as strong as it was. Even stronger because I really miss her. But I know there is no way that it could ever never again is over. My life is. Can never be the same again. I just. Really I'm just like I'm dead. I feel that way because that's the only thing I live for was her and my love. Delayed gave himself up. Minutes after the shooting he is eligible for parole in

six years. In two out of three homicides the victim knows his murder. And one out of four murders the victim is a relative. Billy Honeycutt a 36 year old itinerant farmer from Auburn in North Carolina also killed his wife. I guess you can learn to live with it. If you. Got through and told me like I am. It's hard to see it. On the night of June 6 1973 on their daughter Billie Jane's 10th birthday. Billie honey got stabbed his wife Brenda to death. Billie Jean witnessed the murder. She and her younger sister now live with their aunt and Miller. When the man told me that he had bad news for us when we drove up in the yard. It popped in my mind that he had beat her up. So when he saw the expression on his face and he said that he had bad

news for me. I said What's happened has Billy beat Brenda real bad. Is she in the hospital. He said no it's worse than that. He's killed her. I wait for all that's happened. Rander Chanuka said came to me and the sheriff's office here Canaan's. She's made a statement to me that her husband had stayed out in the trailer the night before lay on her crate all night long the night before. And she was afraid that he was going to kill her. She wanted to know what to do about. Viorst that. We could not do anything about him just leave it not there but hard to close our doors at night and try to keep him up. I guess to break in court was trying to keep me from my kids you know. And then he talked

and. She locked the door and. Wouldn't let me see him. And. What. A. Man that has his family. He can't just walk off and leave my kid. She just felt like she had taken all she could take along with you know with the beatings and she just felt that she had to get away from me and that she when she told us that she had already been to see a lawyer and he had talked to him about it and that she had just had all she could take. Out with the little girl. Like she was having a birthday that night and all this occurred and she made it her statement she had company that night and another little girl nearby was spending the night with her went around the back with a bottle

lying down to sleep I heard. That. Side the door handle calls of mom and dad will first time momma walked into the back bedroom and set down the bed. They are more and more and more and llamo can't walking up and down the hall. It says that we're about to make life for debate or barely walk through the kitchen. I heard a couple of things rumbling and they all came back. So Brenda in to maintain that movement is that pocket will tell mommy not to go. Said it won't hurt me. And she walked down the hall. His T-shirt we're here it was too short to get the knife. And. Stabbed her in the back. Brenda Honeycutt was stabbed nine times in the back and chest and then he turned around and pulled up the first to sit beside her. Her

mother and was taking a cigarette sticking to far too late. She was laying there. I cried for help. I can't say really. Really. Good because I don't really. When we just got in with a knife. But I think enough on the floor. And I ran out to try. And wipe it out on. Her. No. I mean I've had it done. On my head. But I did not. Take the knife and stabbed it. I could. Never believe what I did. And I'm not going. To fight it. Well it tells people it makes me get out of jail. You people are going to believe him she's lying and believe is telling the truth. They might get him out of jail. I always thought that they're all going to jail.

The first thing I do is find a job. Next thing I do. My. Best. I. Try to make. Her not better. Do something. I'm scared of those kids is going to get out of prison. I'm scared. That is it. When he's in prison out of prison. A hundred miles three and it wasn't STRs. Because he's he's maybe he's had where ever he is. He said before that if he ever got out of jail he was going to come after me and tell me for testing by testing an actor known for taking custody of us when he wanted his momma to read in the papers and heard on TV about the inmates on death row talking about how cruel the methods are that you

have used in the past to execute the gas chamber and electric chair about how cruel it was and I just think about how oil for instance how Brenda most of Zephyr and I don't think it would be any more cruel to execute him in that way than it was the way she died. I think that he should be done just like he did mom to make him do what it feels like. Well I didn't think you would think I deserve a pension. I didn't do it. Now I'm being. Honey cut remained at the scene of the crime. He is eligible for parole in 20 years. None of these North Carolina murderers will die in the gas chamber at Central Prison. Others may the state of North Carolina is currently drafting a new capital punishment

law. But in Georgia more than 60 people are waiting to die. 23 year old Carl Isaacs knows he will be electrocuted soon for the execution style slaying of six members of a Southwest Georgia farming family. I come from a family. With. 12 kids. There's. Five of them. Myself and four of the brothers are in prison. There's four of us running for murder. And. I think the. Only reason that we're here. Well not the only reason but. One of the main reasons. Is because of our home life. This. Actually wasn't the. Home life. You know when I was younger. I was moving from home on another. The courts removed Isaacs from his mother at age nine he ran away from

each of the foster homes he was placed in Isaacs turned to burglary and spent most of the next 10 years in and out of correctional institutions in Maryland. On May 5th 1973 19 year old Isaacs was sent to Marilyn's poplar Hill correctional institute. That night he escaped with his half brother Wayne Coleman and his friend George Dungey. They picked up their kid brother Billy 15 and headed south in a stolen car nine days later in Seminole County Georgia. They stopped to burglarize the mobile home of the old a family where went into a trailer about four o'clock. And. I say we were after money. We found about 70 75 hours. And we had just came out of the trailer. Heading towards the car. When the first two men pulled up. All four of us were armed.

There was a shotgun in the Jeep that the two men were grabbing. I don't know what made us decide. To kill them but. It was more or less we didn't want to go to prison as. They had seen as to what we did. And we knew that they could identify us. So. Rather than tie him up and just leave them. We figured that they couldn't send us back to prison if they couldn't talk. I had to say this. Next to the oldest one. In the south bedroom. And Wayne took the older one and the north bedroom. And both of them were shot. Once they were shot. I started coming back out of the bedroom down the hall. And Billy told me that there was someone else outside. So I walked into the kitchen looked out the window.

And there was a pickup truck out there. And it was two men in it. They didn't look like they were getting out of the truck. So I told Billy we'd go out and bring them in. We went out the front door and ran into the trailer. We went to the passenger side. I went to the driver's side. We told him to get out of the truck. We brought him into the trailer. And. Shut them down. And it's I took one of mine in the south bedroom. And took the other one in the north bedroom. Both of them were shot. As. We were all for standing in the kitchen after a day. When. I heard a tractor pull up in the driveway. That's. When I looked out the window. And. He just waited for the man to come to the door. And the man not wide open door. And threw down on him and told him to come on here. We shook him down.

He was. Telling him to lay on the sofa in the living room. Billy shot him. No sir. He shot him. We were. Coming back to the kitchen. And Wayne told me he said Well someone's going to have to move a tractor. So I went out. And was starting to move a tractor when Mary all day pulled up. And she just looked at me and then pulled up stop. I jumped off a tractor. And walked up behind her. Toward her just keep walking and. I took her in and put her pocketbook down on the table. I told ability to out transfer the guns and stuff from our car to her car. While they were gone. I rape Mary all day. While. I was doing that. Wayne came in and he raped her. And we tied her up. And we were all four of us went back to the car with her.

George and I rode and married all A's car with her. And when we drove in our car. And. We drove about. Seven miles up the road. To a wooded area. All day I was raped again. By me. Wayne George. And then she was shot by George. And then we got in the car and drove over to Alabama. And. The car broke down on us. And we stole another car over there. And then. Headed north into Kentucky. And we spent the night up there. Just laying around and watching the news. That 13 day crime spree came to an end in Welsh West Virginia they were caught after robbing a country store. Billy Isaacs agreed to testify for the state in return for a reduced charge of armed robbery. He got 40 years Coleman Dangi and Carl Isaacs got

death. I think he should have died the day that they found him after he'd done this crime because I think the people of the community. Got justice the day that they found water brought him back to the trailer and placed him right there. And then we got justice. They want his life and yet now they will never be forgotten. They may be memories of things that will run through your mind every day that comes. I know it hurts me but just think about the mother of the three bolas lost three sons and a husband all at one time. We don't understand how things like why are things like this. And I know my boys were good Boston. They didn't bother you in your mind he didn't even know these people and why they were chosen to go through this and we'll never know. And

now they just they love one another and they were very close. I don't know why they had to go through all of our guests guessing it was just God. Well it does happen. All church members all joining the church at the same time. All three were ordained as they come to the church at the same time and then they died again. I've thought. About the all these. The ones that were killed. And. I'm sorry that they were killed. Of course I know that that's not. Going to bring them back to life. It's not going to help their family to live with it. But. I

feel. Very bad about. Them being dead. And. I. Don't. Know this. It's a hard thing to live with and. Knowing. That. I took your life. I would I would like to push the button on it because I feel like that after what he's done I feel like I'd get revenge by pushing the book. And I don't think the good Lord will hold against me. I don't think you know that. The taking of my life is going to. Pay for what happened in Seminole County. Yes. I mean you know the people were killed. But. Killing me is going to bring him back to life.

Michael Berryhill 26 is also scheduled for execution. His victim was George Hooke's Jr. The 40 year old manager of the Union Carbide plant in Cartersville Georgia. BERRYHILL was a burglar with an early history of mental instability. I was 13 years old. I came home to the apartment and dad was there. He was packing a bag. And I didn't really think too much about it. Till after he left and then I went into my mother's room and found a note saying that he couldn't take this no job stuff anymore and that he was leaving. Berry Hill grew up with his younger brother in a loving environment. He played little league baseball and was proud to be a Cub Scout. When his father left. Things changed when he left. Mom had to work.

And. Just after this. A friend turned me on to glue sniffing. I didn't. Really had never heard of it for an hour and it seemed kind of funny and mangy hound. And so we rode to his house and there was some mothers over there and we just started sniffing glue. And. I really. I mean really got me off. And so I didn't try to hide it from my mother and nothing I've been glume my clothes and go home. And finally she asked me and I said mom I'm sniffing glue. He said well it's just something that I'm trying. I said all the boys are doing it. Take taking home and explain to them about how dangerous it can be to him that it could injuries health permanently. And he convinced me that it was just something he tried because the other boys were doing it and he wasn't going to do it any more because he didn't like it. He didn't like it but it actually he did like it.

I got and I just kept on sniffing glue and I got. Hooked on it. I mean you get hooked on it just like it can heroin or. Or drinking or anything like that and. Over the next two years. 6:13 over the next two years. I started the murder Isen. Homes. And. Ran around with Rovere crown. Of Glue sniffing glue. It. Kind of changed my. Train of friends. You know I didn't want to be with straight people no more. When Michael was 15 I carried him to child psychologist in Atlanta and after he'd seen Michael for several months he come into the office and he said that Michael was a definite sociopath. He could not live in society that

he needed constant care 24 hours a day and that if he did not receive this care he would continue to get worse. He recommended some type of home kids my age went and got the help they needed. But it cost eight thousand dollars. You know mom didn't have the money to. Just suit me. Hill spent most of the next eight years in correctional institutions. On the night of October 7th 1974 Berryhill and an old prison friend decided to do some burglaries. We spotted a house that had a light over. But it didn't look like even when I was at home. So we parked down below it. And. Went up to. Well I went up to. Ring the doorbell and make sure nobody was at home. And I was sniffing glue. Just like I always do. And. I

was really. Really Mr.. George and I were in our bedroom. It was 10:30. Or a little past 10:30 when we heard the doorbell rang and rang very insistently. And. I thought. At that time of night who could it be. I was. Quite apprehensive and I couldn't tell my husband. The worst one come not to go down. He put on his slacks and was out the room and downstairs. When. A. Door bell with the door had little. Glass panes around the room. You could see in the house and instead run it all happened I just stood there and a man came down in his. Bath robe. And he come over. He asked me who was. And. I don't know what happened I'm just.

When he asked me who was I just put my hand through the door and just started shooting him for no reason at all. I could hear the sound of glass breaking. And a lot of commotion. My husband. By that time had run up the stairs and into the bedroom. I couldn't imagine what had happened. I didn't even realize it was the noises that I heard. Gunshots. He closed the door. The bedroom door and was holding it shut with his body. And a bullet to. The gunman out there. Shot right through the bedroom door. The next thing I knew I was standing on top of the steps. I didn't remember going in the house or anything. And as I was go. Until there was a little boy come walking out into the hall. And that brought me back because my uncle's got a child back and remind me a lot of him and I saw him and.

I couldn't. You know what am I doing here. What what is this. And. I was getting ready to leave. I didn't know what was going on. And as I was backing out now the way the man had run into the bedroom. And he came running back. You know because I'm just kids. By that time. I didn't even know that he had. Four bullet wounds in him already. He fell into my daughter's bedroom. He was part in her bedroom and part out in the hall. And. BERRYHILL shot him again. When my husband went down he shot him. I remember seeing the blast of gunfire coming out of the gun. I looked over at my husband and I could see the blood coming trickling down the side of

the left side. He tried to a problem self up on the side of the door. And I looked at him. All the time thinking you know. That it's going to be all right this is just a nightmare we're going through. I was just freaked out. Mother came out of the bedroom. And. I don't know why I ask yes I know what I was going to have to run. I said this is it know I've done shots but. Berryhill. Kept threatening. He said that if you don't give me some money he said I'm going to start shooting into the bedroom my little 6 year old girl was. Had awakened and she was. Kneeling in the middle of the bed. Swaying from side to side not knowing what was going on. And Berryhill said I'm going to shoot. And he waved his arm back and forth. And then he told me says I'm going to

blow your face off. And when he had Stephen with his gun he had him by the hair. And pushed him into the corner. He threatened to kill him. The wife gave me some money out of her. Wallet. Pocket. I ran out of the house and. My friend. Who. Was supposed to be with me where he took off in my car and. I gave him my car and I gave him all the money I had to pack his clothes in just when he got ready to leave it to me his arms and he does it. I didn't kill anybody. And I said Mike I know you did. I said I know you know killer. And when I saw that child get in my car and leave. Biggest heartbreak ever had in my life to see him drive off and not know where he was going to go or what he was going to do or how he was going to make a living. But I felt like it was the right thing to do at the time and I still feel like it was the right thing to do.

Seven weeks later. Barry Yelle was apprehended in Missouri. It hurts me deeply that my children. Don't have the love of their father and the guidance in these years that are so important to them. And. My husband can't see his children grow up. He was very proud of that. They tell me that they're going to execute my son new. To me I can't accept this. They not only executing my son they're executing his family as well because we're not going to be able to live with this. And all I can do is ask people

who want the death. And it's just a search your heart. If it was your son. Or your daughter would you be able to say kill him. Whenever I think that I. May have some forgiveness. I have only to think about it the way my husband and I looked at each other. That one last look. He died without knowing whatever became of us. That memory haunts me. I believe. The way I am now they will let me out tomorrow. I couldn't trust myself to live with my family not after what's happening because it could happen again. Is this the way it is. Nothing changed. I haven't got any real psychological help out of being on death row

having the deaths and his throat so. They could have. And probably there's you know other guys. That start out the way I did are going the same direction I do because you know they have me in the prisons from 13 years old own up to 23. Now all these years they never did anything except where you've done your time and you're rehabilitated. There's got to be there's got to be something more than just just doing terror. Because there's other people to follow on in the same steps that I have that I was in. And there's another 13 year old board that said the same way. And. It's just. Stupid. This program was made possible by grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The Harvard Center for Criminal Justice and the Mary Reynolds Babcock foundation