I am writing today as a family member of a murder victim.
Almost six years ago, Nick Sutton was executed in Tennessee for his crimes, including the murder of my great-uncle. Charles Almon III was my grandmother’s only brother and losing him left a gap in our family that was never healed.
My great-grandfather lived many years longer than his only son, whose life was cut short by murder. Before his death, my great-grandfather said, “Please don’t let them kill that man.” Despite his heartache, he desired peace and healing, not more violence.
My heart breaks for any victim’s family member trapped in the death penalty process, as my family was, with its empty promise of closure that is just that — empty. Mr. Sutton’s execution did not erase the loss and pain caused by the crime he committed decades before. Instead, it only brought up painful memories for my family and added yet another tragedy to those that had already occurred.
The death penalty did not offer healing to my family. On the contrary, every time an execution is scheduled and then carried out in Tennessee, my family’s pain is brought to the surface again, forcing us to relive this terrible moment in our lives.
Instead of offering tangible assistance for the long-term process of healing and recovery, the death penalty creates an ongoing emotional burden for families like mine, and an unnecessary financial burden for our state. With the opportunity for alternative judgments like life without the possibility of parole, there are sentences that are less expensive than pursuing the death penalty. There is no need to continue this costly system.
Taking a life does not restore life. While the state pours millions into executions, many victims are still waiting — for support, services and the basic things needed to assist in their recovery and the rebuilding of their lives, to the degree that this is possible.
The amount of time and money our state spends on supporting victims is minuscule compared to the millions spent on maintaining the death penalty system, including Tennessee’s recently reported purchase of execution drugs for nearly $600,000. Our state spends so many tax dollars to execute a handful of individuals who have already been incarcerated for decades, which does nothing for the majority of victims of violence or prevents the next violent crime.
Gov. Bill Lee and members of the Tennessee legislature: We don’t need more death. We need more care.
What truly helps victims is access to trauma-recovery services, financial and funeral assistance, counseling, safe housing and violence prevention programs.
As a surviving family member of a murder victim whose family knows firsthand the trauma of losing a loved one to violence (trauma that is only exacerbated by the death penalty system), I urge you to reconsider Tennessee’s reliance on this system.
Instead, let’s invest these funds into victims’ services, evidence-based violence prevention programs and solving unsolved homicides — real solutions that truly support victims, reduce harm and improve public safety for all of us.
Reverend Anna Lee is a United Methodist Church Minister and local pastor in Knoxville.
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