Federal death row inmates, whose lives were saved by President Biden's commutation of their sentences, have murdered victims from all facets of American society, from naval officers to 8-year-old children.
On Monday, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 federal death row inmates to life in prison without the possibility of parole, saying, “I am more convinced than ever that we must end the death penalty at the federal level.” announced. ”
Biden added, “Make no mistake about it. I condemn these murderers, I mourn the victims of their despicable acts, and my heart goes out to all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss. ” he added. “In good conscience, I cannot silently allow the new administration to resume the executions I had halted.”
Among those saved was Jorge Avila-Torres, a retired Marine who was convicted of killing Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Amanda Snell in her barracks in Arlington, Virginia, in July 2009.
'Squad' Democrats praise Biden for saving murderer from 'racist' death penalty
Federal prosecutors said Avila Torrez: The inmate “entered Snell's room through an unlocked door, pounced on Snell while he was sleeping in bed, tied his wrists with the power cord of his laptop computer, and strangled him with the rest of the cord,” the inmate said. confessed to the person.
Years later, Avila Torrez pled guilty to stabbing to death 8-year-old Laura Hobbs and 9-year-old Crystal Tobias in Zion, Illinois, on Mother's Day 2005, and a judge told him he was a serial killer. He was declared a murderer. ,” according to Associated Press.
Crystal Tobias, 9, and her friend Laura Hobbs, 8, were murdered by Jorge Avila-Torres in Zion, Illinois, in May 2005. Jorge Avila-Torrez, a Marine Corps veteran who pleaded guilty to killing Tobias and Hobbs, was reportedly a friend of Tobias' brother at the time of his death. (Zion Police Department/Getty Images)
Another inmate saved by Biden was Daryl Lawrence, who was convicted of killing Columbus police officer Brian Hurst in 2005.
The Department of Justice, which awarded Mr. Hearst the Medal of Valor posthumously, said that Mr. Hearst: He wore a uniform and was on a special mission. A masked gunman entered the bank and the two men exchanged gunfire.
“Despite being mortally wounded, Hurst evaded the counter and fired shots at the suspect before he fell to the ground. Authorities arrested the suspect several days later as he sought treatment at a hospital in Washington, D.C.” he added. “Officer Hurst’s quick action, extraordinary courage and tenacity saved the lives of many people at the bank.”
Biden commutes prison sentences of 1,500 people, pardons 39 others: 'largest single-day pardon'
Thomas Sanders will also no longer face the federal death penalty, despite being convicted in 2010 of the “brutal kidnapping and murder” of 12-year-old Lexis Roberts.
Prosecutors in the case allege that Mr. Sanders was in a relationship with Mr. Roberts' mother, Suellen Roberts, and that Mr. Sanders was visiting a wildlife park near the Grand Canyon over the Labor Day weekend when he crossed Interstate 4 in Arizona. He said he shot Sanders in the head and killed him near the train. He then forced Lexis into his car and traveled east with her captive.
Suellen Roberts, 31, mother of Thomas Sanders and 12-year-old Lexis Roberts. Undated photo provided by the FBI. Sanders was convicted of killing Roberts in Arizona in 2010 and kidnapping and killing Lexis days later. (FBI)
“Sanders drove across the country for several days before killing Lexis Roberts in a wooded area in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.” The Ministry of Justice stated:. “Evidence at trial demonstrated that Sanders shot Lexis Roberts four times, cut her throat, and left her body in the woods where hunters discovered her body on October 8, 2010.”
Other inmates formerly on federal death row include MS-13 gang member Alejandro Umana the one who shot his brother dead Ruben Garcia Salinas and Manuel Garcia Salinas at a restaurant in Greensboro, North Carolina in December 2007 “after they 'disrespected' his gang's sign by calling it 'fake.'” According to federal prosecutors.
Anthony Battle is Murder of prison guard D'Antonio Andrew Washington He also survived a 1994 attack with a ball peen hammer inside a high-security unit at an Atlanta facility.
In 1994, correctional officer D'Antonio Andrew Washington was murdered by inmate Anthony Battle at USP in Atlanta. (Federal Bureau of Prisons/U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General)
Amnesty International USA, Supporters of Biden's decision said Monday that “the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment” and that Biden's move is a “huge moment for human rights.”
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“With the stroke of a pen, the president has sealed his legacy as a leader who champions racial justice, humanity, and morality.” Anthony Romero added: Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union. “This will undoubtedly be one of the impactful outcomes of the Biden presidency.”
