Green River DP

[Hugh]

If ever a case shows the abritary nature of the Death Penalty it's this one. Let me first state my position, emotionally I am for it, from a moral point of view howver I think it is wrong.

What is it imposed for, the number of murders, the brutality involved, the calculated planning, what, because the Green River Murder guy must surely be a candidate for DP. However because of his deal he has escaped, I reckon this deal will strengthen anti DP arguments no end

[Jeana (DP)]

Hugh, I take it the absolute opposite than you do. I think this deal will support pro-death penalty activists' arguments. No deals! That's what I support. However, I believe Mr. GreenRiverKiller may still get the death penalty in another state, so he's not out of the woods yet. I think another state has him on at least two murders and they're not making any deals.

[Toth]

Has anyone done any FINANCIAL calculations on this case? How many times would his victims have been arrested and jailed for prostitution if he had not killed them? How much money was saved there? How much disease would they have transmitted if he had not killed them? What were the financial savings there?
How much worse would property values have been if all those prostitutes had been out plying their trade? I think one reason he may have escaped the death penalty is that while he is a murderer many times over, no one really seems too upset by that fact. What is the cost of giving him free medical care as he ages versus the cost of killing him?

[Jeana (DP)]

Wow. I think they should execute him and make prostitution legal.

[jblfelines]

I guess the plea deal saves them a trial and all the appeals that go on for 10-20 years. They still have to feed and keep him plus all the appeals so maybe this is the cheap way out. I heard on TV someone saying he may end up like Dahmer. He will be in general population.

I do feel he deserves the Death Penalty.

[blueclouds]

Originally posted by Toth
Has anyone done any FINANCIAL calculations on this case? How many times would his victims have been arrested and jailed for prostitution if he had not killed them? How much money was saved there? How much disease would they have transmitted if he had not killed them? What were the financial savings there?
How much worse would property values have been if all those prostitutes had been out plying their trade? I think one reason he may have escaped the death penalty is that while he is a murderer many times over, no one really seems too upset by that fact. What is the cost of giving him free medical care as he ages versus the cost of killing him?



TOTH... PLEASEEEEEE tell me you're not justifying these women being killed. WHILE THEY had terrible pasts, prostitution, drugs and all... they do not deserve to have someone take their life.

Please tell me you're not thinking what I think you are...:nono:

[Toth]

I think its like those South American countries where the cities are overrun by urchins begging in the streets, particularly in touristy areas,,, except in the places where the police death squads go out and "remove the problem".

I'm not saying it should be legal or that he should not be punished, but I really would like to see the financial calculations on how much disease he stopped from being spread, how many robberies he stopped from being committed, how much neighborhood blight he removed, etc.

[blueclouds]

Originally posted by Toth
I think its like those South American countries where the cities are overrun by urchins begging in the streets, particularly in touristy areas,,, except in the places where the police death squads go out and "remove the problem".

I'm not saying it should be legal or that he should not be punished, but I really would like to see the financial calculations on how much disease he stopped from being spread, how many robberies he stopped from being committed, how much neighborhood blight he removed, etc.

Unfortunately Toth, I can respect the financial concerns, but how does saving money equate with a life... no matter how it's lead?

I think the money should be towards THE REASON THESE WOMEN ENDED UP IN THE STREETS AT 11 YEARS OLD IN THE FIRST PLACE. I think that's the crime, not what they're doing. I see so many of them as victims of their past. That they had to escape something so bad to turn to prostitution as survival?

It's scares me at the thought of how you could be more concerned to finances more than what happened in the first place for these girls to do what they do. Why is their life less important? Even Jesus ate with prostitutes (in hopes of saving them).

I don't know toth, I don't know...:dontknow: :twocents:

[AliSleuth]

Originally posted by jblfelines
I heard on TV someone saying he may end up like Dahmer. He will be in general population.

I heard that too

I watched him give alot of the guilty pleads, made me ill. I don't understand how someone could take another person's live. And if I ever do understand I'm going to check myself into a mental hospital.

[Jeana (DP)]

Mama, the way the system is now, of course it costs millions to execute someone. However, if I had it my way and it was only used for the worst of the worst, that wouldn't be the case as the backlog wouldn't be the way it is now. Also, now that we have DNA testing, the likelihood of having the wrong people on death row is minimized. I agree that its way out of control (the cost) now.

[WhiteWolf]

Originally posted by Toth
Has anyone done any FINANCIAL calculations on this case? How many times would his victims have been arrested and jailed for prostitution if he had not killed them? How much money was saved there? How much disease would they have transmitted if he had not killed them? What were the financial savings there?
How much worse would property values have been if all those prostitutes had been out plying their trade? I think one reason he may have escaped the death penalty is that while he is a murderer many times over, no one really seems too upset by that fact. What is the cost of giving him free medical care as he ages versus the cost of killing him?


Toth, he escaped the death penalty because he cooperated with authorities by giving them the names and locations of his victims (that he could remember), which in turn brought some closure for the victims families.

As for considering the financial calculations of the case (disease, property values, and crime), only someone who lives in the area would even consider it fair for someone to murder the prostitutes to alleviate the problem. Personally, anyone who would consider it a favor to the community is a few bricks short of a load.

[ajt400]

Originally posted by WhiteWolf
Toth, he escaped the death penalty because he cooperated with authorities by giving them the names and locations of his victims (that he could remember), which in turn brought some closure for the victims families.


Actually, they knew where most of the victim's were and who the were. He made the statement to the judge that he had killed so many women, he couldn't remember how many or who they were. Even I know their names and could recognize their faces. Tell me, how much of his "confession" was actually a help to the prosecution? Or was it just a way to shut the books on an awful case that has haunted Seattle for 20 years?

[WhiteWolf]

Ajt400, closure was definately a big part of the deal. Locking him up for the rest of his life is probably cheaper, too.

Do you know when the victims' families are going to address Ridgeway at his sentencing? I don't want to miss it.

[ajt400]

He just was not who I had ever pictured. Not saying the guy would have been hot or anything, IMO, but he was just not who I pictured. He looked like another Henry Lee Lucas to me....meek...what have you

[WhiteWolf]

Gary Ridgeway was sentenced today to 48 consecutive life sentences without the possibilty of early release or parole. He was also fined almost $500,000.

I watched the heartwrenching victims' impact statements to GR, and even the judge had tears in his eyes. GR did breakdown and cry during one of the family members statements.

GR's family still stands behind the Gary they knew. They stated there was clearly "two Gary Ridgeways", the man they knew, and the man who commited the horrible crimes.

[ajt400]

That is usually the truth.

[ajt400]

Although I tend to believe there was more than one Green River Killer....

[Sabrina]

Here is an interesting article about the case from a police perspective.

http://www.policeone.com/policeone/frontend/parser.cfm?object=News&operation=full_news&id=74117

[WhiteWolf]

My favorite crime writer Ann Rule is writing a book about the Green River Killer.

[ajt400]

I love Ann Rule, too. I don't know if she would do one on the GRK. But she would do a good job, that's for sure!

[blueclouds]

Originally posted by WhiteWolf
My favorite crime writer Ann Rule is writing a book about the Green River Killer.


WHAT? I'm going to her site. I didn't know that. She's always stated herself that she would never write some story (ie: Jon Benet) that is over done or done before. hmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Hanktothebank]

I used to be against the DP..but I am changing my mind. Since the DP isn't an option in Dru's case..LE has lost one hellava bargaining chip. Perhaps that creep would tell where Dru is..in exchange for his life.