Yesterday I received an odd and unexpected call from WRCB-TV in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The new sentencing for Mr. Harold Wayne Nichols has been handed down - the death sentence remains, but his years in prison were reduced from 600+ to 225. Upon searching the web, one of their reporters found my blog about Karen, looked me up and called to "chat."
I am suspicious by nature, but am doubly suspicious of anyone in the media, so I declined to discuss it with him. After I got off the phone, I wondered what his motive could have been for calling...what was he looking for...what did he expect from me...?
I concluded that he was probably looking for a newsworthy quote, so I e-mailed him this as my formal statement:
"It is the duty of governments everywhere to wield the sword of God's justice upon evildoers, and it appears this duty has been faithfully executed in the upholding of severe penalties for Mr. Nichols. I continue to pray for his genuine repentance, by which he may experience the lovingkindness and mercy of God so that, in the end, he may be received with joy into the Lord's keeping."
So...how likely is it that this statement will ever be aired? Slim to none, I suppose. It lacks that sensational quality on which news organizations seem to thrive, but it is nevertheless the sincere expression of my heart.
13 comments:
That is kind of nerve wracking that she found you by your blog...it makes me want to delete mine.
I think that your comment was very great and to the point. I hope they do air it.
You did just the right thing, Lori.
Yeah, Jessie, it kind of freaked me out too. This stranger starts by asking me if I'm the Lori Shaffer that used to live in Chattanooga. I met most of his questions with questions of my own, but did admit I was the one he was looking for. I guess they could just as easily show up at my door, if they can find my phone number. Yikes...
Hey, Angie...thanks. I hope I did.
Wow, Lori, that is very creepy. I would love to see your response in print, but if they do air it, they will probably butcher it.
I meant to say great and very thoughtful. Sometimes I get my words mixed around, especially late at night.
I did just find out that if someone does a google search using your phone number, it does pull up your phone book listing, including address if it is in the phone book. So, yes, they could come to your door. You can delete it by going to google, typing in your phone number w/ area code and then when it pulls up the entry click on where it says something like delete this entry. It worked with our land line which we don't even have anymore.
They were probably looking for someone eager to be on tv for her 5 minutes (or less) of fame.
That's what I figured, but being the "control freak" that I am, I prefer to PLAN my 5 minutes of fame. When I talk off-the-cuff I frequently show myself to be a bumbling idiot...god forbid I squander my "moment of fame" by saying something stupid!!
Hi, April! I wondered how many of these "....." might end up in the quote if they decided to use it. If they removed all the politically correct words and ideas, they'd end up with something like this:
"...it appears...[justice] has been...executed in... upholding... penalties for Mr. Nichols. I... pray... he may experience... lovingkindness and mercy..."
Or something like that!! :-)
Wow, Jessie! Have you quit blogging yet? If I had little ones it might freak me out more...then again, the whole situation which prompted this conversation reminds me that evil lurks everywhere, not just online. We are truly at the mercy of God's providence at all times and in every place and circumstance.
I haven't quit blogging, but I have pretty much decided to go private as soon as I get a moment to take care of it! I am just way too paranoid.
Hi Lori,
It's amazing how small the internet has made this world of ours. I knew Karen's family very well (her mother was my teacher at BBS and Karen and her sister used to come to our house pretty frequently), and I can still clearly remember the morning she died.
My classmates and I stood outside the school across the street and watched as they put her in the ambulance, and we were all so terrified at the realization of what had happened.
The effects of that day have never left me, and over the years, I've done a word search here and there to keep up with the case, and this time, it brought me to your blog.
After the details of the murder came out, I can remember hearing that one of Karen's roommates had mercifully been out of the house that night, and since that time, I've often wondered about you and how you've been.
I can't tell you how encouraging it is to know that you're in a place where you're able to pray for Mr. Nichols' repentance and salvation. That's true forgiveness if I've ever seen it.
Thank you for your kind words. It's always helpful to know that Karen has not been forgotten.
Lori, I sent you an email on this forum. I hope you got it. if so please call me. My name is Scotty Pulley. I am Karen's cousin, and i know in my heart she is my angel. my email is swpstl@charter.net.
I want to share more about Karen right now but i can't stop crying. I was not allowed to go to the funeral. I was in college and my parents said that there was no need to go to Chattanooga. "it is closed casket and you can't see her, just stay there and go to class" I never got to say goodbye to my "buddy"
I will share later i guess.
Scotty
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