Daughter Denied Dad's Death Wish

19y.o. Girl Pleads to Be at Father's Execution

- Photo by Robert Cohen

"They want you to think that because he had a lousy childhood that he should not have to face the appropriate punishment... At some point, he has to be held accountable for what he did. A death sentence is justice for McEntee." These are the words spoken by prosecuting attorney Robert McCullough Friday, November 9th, 2007, in reference to Kevin Johnson, who was later sentenced to the death penalty by a jury that same day, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, for the murder of Sgt. William McEntee 2 years prior. 15 years later, Johnson is now nearing the time of his execution; but his daughter (who's under the age of 21) is being denied the right to be present during his execution as support.

July 5th, 2005, officers arrived at Johnson's home, believing he had violated his probation, which prompted him to awaken his younger brother -12 at the time - who ran to his grandmother's house next door. Having a congenital heart defect, he fell into a seizure upon entering her home and it's alleged Johnson's & the boy's mother was prevented by Sergeant McEntee from entering the home and tending to the boy, who later died at the hospital. Later that same day, Kevin Johnson executed McEntee.

Her father being imprisoned since she was 2 years of age, Khorry Ramey is pleading her case with the help of the ACLU to be present during her father's (Kevin Johnson) last moments, trying to fight against a law that prohibits persons under the age of 21 from witnessing such penalties. As reported by the Associated Press, Ramey urges that, “If my father were dying in the hospital, I would sit by his bed, holding his hand and praying for him until his death, both as a source of support for him and as a support for me as a necessary part of my grieving process & for my peace of mind”.

The execution is set for November 29th.

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Sources:

• (stltoday.com)

• (msn.com)