OKLAHOMA CITY — Jannie Coverdale, the grandmother of two young boys who died in the 1995 Murrah Building Bombing, is speaking out to save the life of death row inmate, Richard Glossip.
Here’s Coverdale’s letter to Glossip from August 4, 2015:
Dear Mr. Glossip,
I am Jannie Coverdale. And as you can see, I live in OKC. You first came to my attention when you and others were protesting the drug that the State was using to execute people.
Mr. Glossip, I am a member of the anti-death penalty group here, and I just don’t believe in capital punishment. It serves no purpose plus we are murdering too many innocent people.
I lost two grandsons in the bombing here in “95” and I ranted and raved about the things that should happen to Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Well, Tim was put to death and Terry wasn’t. At first I was angry that Terry was allowed to live. And I heard a voice one morning in my sleep telling me that there had been “Enough Killings.” When I awoke, I knew who had spoke to me, and since that day, I have been trying to forgive myself, for wanting those two men murdered, guilty or not.
I ended up writing to Terry Nichols, and he asked for my forgiveness, which I did, but I have to live with the idea that Tim was executed and that I played a big part for him being sentenced to death.
What I’m trying to saw is that even though Tim was guilty killing him was wrong, and with you I feel that if there’s any possibility that you are innocent, you should have the chance to prove it to everyone. And be let out of prison and if you are proven guilty again, just sentence you to time served and give you the chance to show that you are a good man who has learned his lesson.
I have (5) sons, and I don’t know what I’d do if one of them ever ended up on death row.
Mr. Glossip, I am praying for you and your family. And when I finish writing this letter, that probably don’t make too much “sense” I will write to Mary Fallin, letting her know that everone in this state doesn’t believe in the death penalty.
In the meantime, keep praying and keep fighting.
“In God I Trust.”
Jannie Coverdale
KFOR Report: How Jannie Coverdale overcame depression and hate after Oklahoma City bombing