Life The Death Penalty - Page 10

Mama Hip Rockets · 08-07-2008, 09:48 AM

A friend of my parents is sentenced to be executed in a couple of weeks for being an accomplice in a murder in 1994. You can read the details of the incident below (written by his wife), and sign the petition if you feel inclined to do so. We are petitioning for his sentence to be changed to life in prison without parole, rather than death.

On Friday, despite the fact that we have two issues before the court, the Missouri Supreme Court set an execution date of Aug. 27. For those of you who would like to do anything to help try to prevent this state from killing my husband, your help is welcome and there are some fairly simple things you can do. For those who are not aware of the facts of the case, here are some main points:Allen Nicklasson, the man who shot and killed Richard Drummond in Aug. 1994 did so on his own after leaving Dennis behind in the stolen car. Allen has been consistent in telling the truth since day one - with his friends and close acquaintances, as well as with law enforcement - that Dennis had absolutely no idea that when Allen walked Drummond into the woods, Allen was going to shoot him. Allen had planned to tie Drummond up so that by the time Drummond could free himself and walk into town to all police, Allen, Dennis and Tim DeGraffenreid would be back in Blue Springs, hiding out.Instead, Allen decided to kill Drummond. His statements to police have been consistent and truthful, but the state successfully kept Allen from testifying in trial. The jury never heard the truth and thus convicted Dennis for first-degree murder as an accomplice. Allen has tried through the years to be heard in court, but the appellate courts denied him that right as well. We are still trying to get the Supreme Court to look at Allen's statements. Dennis is not an innocent victim, but he is innocent of first-degree murder. We are not asking that he be freed. We believe the sentence of death is excessive in this case, and that society would be safe and justice would be served through clemency, which means we want the governor to change Dennis' sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.In addition, Dennis has been actively involved in restorative justice even before the program was established at Potosi Correctional Center. He is the editor of Compassion, a publication written and edited by death row inmates across the country who have raised more than $34,000 in college scholarships for family members of murdered victims. This scholarship goes to family members regardless of their stance on the death penalty. For example, Zach Osbourne, one of the recipients, supports the death penalty openly and is going to school to become a police officer. Dennis compiled a book, "Today's Choices Affect Tomorrow's Dreams," that is distributed for free to juvenile centers around the country. The book has been so popular, he has been asked to do another. That book is currently being compiled.Dennis is chairman of the prison's Hospice group and has cared for many dying prison patients through the years. He is a co-founder of 4-H LIFE, a family strengthening program that teaches inmates to be better parents and includes a family 4-H meeting each month inside the prison. As a former president and officer of 4-H, Dennis has led fundraisers to send money to children's programs in the state and to send 4-H LIFE members to summer camp and state leadership programs. 4-H LIFE has won several awards and is now active in several other prisons.Dennis has actively worked to build bridges between the Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Islamic and Native American religious groups at the prison. He is a founder of the Charity Carnival - in its second year - that raises money inside the prison for charitable organizations. The carnival is today, but he is locked up and cannot carry out his responsibilities for that event.Dennis speaks to university student groups on a regular basis to give them insight into the death penalty and prison life. He is, and remains, a positive spokesman and positive role models for other prisoners.He is a leader in the Set Free Ministry, a prison ministry that works with thousands of inmates in Missouri and Illinois to help them in their Christian walk. The Ministry has grown from an office of three to an office of around 20 inmates at PCC and a second office in Charleston's prison. The Ministry continues to expand in prisons in the two states as well as into jails.All of this is documented, not the exaggerated account of a wife desperate to save her husband.For those of you who have asked, I am terrified, but determined to fight for justice for my family. Murdering my husband is not justice - it is harming me, my son, Dennis' sisters, brother, nephews, aunts uncles, friends, etc. He is my soulmate, for those of you who understand what that means. A date is an extremely serious situation, but we have issues to pursue and this does not mean we're done. Please do not assume that this is inevitable, even though we have a very, very difficult fight in the next 32 days.I appreciate your support in any way. Should you want to write letters, file amicus briefs (friend of the court) with your church or other organization, let me know and I'll give you more info. If you choose to pray, please ask God to intervene and see that Dennis receives a lesser sentence.Thanks.

You can sign the petition at the link below. Thanks.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-dennis-skillicorn

beach tribe · 08-07-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Call me crazy, but I tend to see human life as infinitely more valuable than the lives of animals.

Me too.

Just not this guys life. I see it as less valuable.

At least I can eat the animal.

bishop_74 · 08-07-2008, 11:35 AM

Tell that guy to enjoy his death. Too bad he abandoned his own family by committing these crimes. Makes what he did even worse. Not sure why his wife is so interested in saving him. Makes her a bad mother if you ask me. I wouldn't want that kind of influence in my kids life.

**Skip Towne** · 08-07-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I tend to agree with Mic. I've sort of come full circle on this issue over the last 10 years. I'd rather the guy rotted in prison.

As an aside, if he is given the chair, I'm not going to shed a tear for him.

Remember Shannon Agofsky? The guy who robbed the Bank of Noel Mo? And murdered the banker? His life was spared and a couple of years later he killed a fellow inmate. He is now on death row where he should have been in the first place.

Micjones · 08-07-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsFan4Life

Who are you to judge? How can you not judge for human lives but you can make a statement like this? You're getting ridiculous now.

Humans have the ability to reason. Animals do not.
Carry on though...

You're right. I'm crazy.

Demonpenz · 08-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

We should all just hold hands and sing Kumbaya.

good song

Micjones · 08-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Remember Shannon Agofsky? The guy who robbed the Bank of Noel Mo? And murdered the banker? His life was spared and a couple of years later he killed a fellow inmate. He is now on death row where he should have been in the first place.

The Justice System is flawed.
And innocent people have been put to death.
This can be argued both ways.

**Rain Man** · 08-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Call me crazy, but I tend to see human life as infinitely more valuable than the lives of animals.

I'm kinda the opposite. My hierarchy is:

1. Animals
2. (Close behind.) People I know and like.
3. People I don't know.
4. People I know and don't like.

eazyb81 · 08-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsFan4Life

Who are you to judge? How can you not judge for human lives but you can make a statement like this? You're getting ridiculous now.

Totally agree, his view is comical at this point.

Redrum_69 · 08-07-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Call me crazy, but I tend to see human life as infinitely more valuable than the lives of animals.

which brings about a more suitable question....

Should Claythan start seeking out Prison Chicks who may be getting out in 2008, 2009, or 2010 for conjugal visits?

those women would be desperate as a wpi contributor or editor refreshing the fatchatter.com website seaching for new material

ChiefsFan4Life · 08-07-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Humans have the ability to reason. Animals do not.
Carry on though...

You're right. I'm crazy.

Animals do have the ability to reason, just not to the extent of humans

Nice try though

**Lzen** · 08-07-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Totally agree, his view is comical at this point.

I am seriously starting to consider the possibility that he is related to Denise.

Valiant · 08-07-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

In a grand sense? Absolutely.
Obviously, I've never taken another human being's life, but my view of the world makes me every bit as fallible as the next man. And since I'm finite and only capable of so much cognitively... I'm not qualified to make a decision on another human being's life.

Not putting the man to death is hardly overlooking the crime altogether.
There are other ways to achieve retribution.

Yet your tune would change greatly if your family was brutally murdered, especially if it were from them helping somebody..

Midnight_Vulture · 08-07-2008, 11:38 AM

I hope he gets the death penalty and dies slowly. What a scumbag. And I am sure glad that you liberals feel soooo much compassion for death row convicts. Seriously, it warms my little heart.

Love your backwards...I mean...left wing thinking.

markk · 08-07-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

this guy is guilty beyond any reasonable doubt, and what he's doing now is asking for mercy.

I agree. No doubt really that he's guilty, people are just asking for the state not to impose the sentence that the judge imposed?

I have no doubt that his attitude is different now that the day of reckoning for what he's done is approaching. But people like this don't deserve an exception to be made for them. He can't complain about the hand he dealt himself.

**Baby Lee** · 08-07-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

i was friends with tim degraffenreid in elementary school real sad that he got tangled up in this shit, but i would still not sign a petition to save him or any of his "friends"

I had an . . . acquaintence, wouldn't call him a friend, interacted with him more than most, but everybody bagged on him [he was a Claythan type, not that I'm suggesting Claythan has this guy's bad qualities, but he was the doughy boy who reveled in being picked on]. When I was in college, he and a buddy of his called upon a guy who had advertised a car for sale, test drove the car with the guy, killed him and took off in the car.

08-07-2008, 09:48 AM
Mama Hip Rockets You don't faze me, Gobble. Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $9915644	The Death Penalty A friend of my parents is sentenced to be executed in a couple of weeks for being an accomplice in a murder in 1994. You can read the details of the incident below (written by his wife), and sign the petition if you feel inclined to do so. We are petitioning for his sentence to be changed to life in prison without parole, rather than death. On Friday, despite the fact that we have two issues before the court, the Missouri Supreme Court set an execution date of Aug. 27. For those of you who would like to do anything to help try to prevent this state from killing my husband, your help is welcome and there are some fairly simple things you can do. For those who are not aware of the facts of the case, here are some main points:Allen Nicklasson, the man who shot and killed Richard Drummond in Aug. 1994 did so on his own after leaving Dennis behind in the stolen car. Allen has been consistent in telling the truth since day one - with his friends and close acquaintances, as well as with law enforcement - that Dennis had absolutely no idea that when Allen walked Drummond into the woods, Allen was going to shoot him. Allen had planned to tie Drummond up so that by the time Drummond could free himself and walk into town to all police, Allen, Dennis and Tim DeGraffenreid would be back in Blue Springs, hiding out.Instead, Allen decided to kill Drummond. His statements to police have been consistent and truthful, but the state successfully kept Allen from testifying in trial. The jury never heard the truth and thus convicted Dennis for first-degree murder as an accomplice. Allen has tried through the years to be heard in court, but the appellate courts denied him that right as well. We are still trying to get the Supreme Court to look at Allen's statements. Dennis is not an innocent victim, but he is innocent of first-degree murder. We are not asking that he be freed. We believe the sentence of death is excessive in this case, and that society would be safe and justice would be served through clemency, which means we want the governor to change Dennis' sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.In addition, Dennis has been actively involved in restorative justice even before the program was established at Potosi Correctional Center. He is the editor of Compassion, a publication written and edited by death row inmates across the country who have raised more than $34,000 in college scholarships for family members of murdered victims. This scholarship goes to family members regardless of their stance on the death penalty. For example, Zach Osbourne, one of the recipients, supports the death penalty openly and is going to school to become a police officer. Dennis compiled a book, "Today's Choices Affect Tomorrow's Dreams," that is distributed for free to juvenile centers around the country. The book has been so popular, he has been asked to do another. That book is currently being compiled.Dennis is chairman of the prison's Hospice group and has cared for many dying prison patients through the years. He is a co-founder of 4-H LIFE, a family strengthening program that teaches inmates to be better parents and includes a family 4-H meeting each month inside the prison. As a former president and officer of 4-H, Dennis has led fundraisers to send money to children's programs in the state and to send 4-H LIFE members to summer camp and state leadership programs. 4-H LIFE has won several awards and is now active in several other prisons.Dennis has actively worked to build bridges between the Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Islamic and Native American religious groups at the prison. He is a founder of the Charity Carnival - in its second year - that raises money inside the prison for charitable organizations. The carnival is today, but he is locked up and cannot carry out his responsibilities for that event.Dennis speaks to university student groups on a regular basis to give them insight into the death penalty and prison life. He is, and remains, a positive spokesman and positive role models for other prisoners.He is a leader in the Set Free Ministry, a prison ministry that works with thousands of inmates in Missouri and Illinois to help them in their Christian walk. The Ministry has grown from an office of three to an office of around 20 inmates at PCC and a second office in Charleston's prison. The Ministry continues to expand in prisons in the two states as well as into jails.All of this is documented, not the exaggerated account of a wife desperate to save her husband.For those of you who have asked, I am terrified, but determined to fight for justice for my family. Murdering my husband is not justice - it is harming me, my son, Dennis' sisters, brother, nephews, aunts uncles, friends, etc. He is my soulmate, for those of you who understand what that means. A date is an extremely serious situation, but we have issues to pursue and this does not mean we're done. Please do not assume that this is inevitable, even though we have a very, very difficult fight in the next 32 days.I appreciate your support in any way. Should you want to write letters, file amicus briefs (friend of the court) with your church or other organization, let me know and I'll give you more info. If you choose to pray, please ask God to intervene and see that Dennis receives a lesser sentence.Thanks. You can sign the petition at the link below. Thanks. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-dennis-skillicorn
Posts: 13,675

08-07-2008, 11:35 AM	#137
bishop_74 Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Denver, CO. USA Casino cash: $8654993	Tell that guy to enjoy his death. Too bad he abandoned his own family by committing these crimes. Makes what he did even worse. Not sure why his wife is so interested in saving him. Makes her a bad mother if you ask me. I wouldn't want that kind of influence in my kids life.
Posts: 3,642

08-07-2008, 11:38 AM	#148
Midnight_Vulture Starter Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	I hope he gets the death penalty and dies slowly. What a scumbag. And I am sure glad that you liberals feel soooo much compassion for death row convicts. Seriously, it warms my little heart. Love your backwards...I mean...left wing thinking.
Posts: 622