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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 0:52:13 GMT -6
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 0:56:32 GMT -6
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Post by Charlene on Oct 15, 2012 8:09:07 GMT -6
We have seen plenty of pictures of the murderer, but here is the victim. RJ was a guard at the SD penitentiary for over 23 years. He was a father of two and grandfather of six. He died on his birthday, said his son, Jesse Johnson. "He loved to relax and play with his grandkids. He never had a bad thing to say about anybody." Jesse Johnson said his father, known to friends and family as R.J., had lived through a riot at the penitentiary in 1993 and knew the danger of his job but never dwelled on it. Lynette Johnson, Ronald Johnson's widow, said she has a hard time responding when one of her six grandchildren ask about their papa. Ironically, this is my home town and when I was a baby, my dad was a guard at the pen before becoming a police officer. In fact, I was told I took my first steps in the warden's house on the grounds of the penitentiary.
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 15, 2012 8:48:14 GMT -6
After reading about his violent side I don't think he was such a model citizen.
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 8:54:16 GMT -6
No not really, from the violent side that he had. I did not realized the picture would blowup to a life sized portrait, I linked it off of the article. Oh well 12 more hours I dont think he will look as jovial
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 15, 2012 8:58:41 GMT -6
We have seen plenty of pictures of the murderer, but here is the victim. RJ was a guard at the SD penitentiary for over 23 years. He was a father of two and grandfather of six. He died on his birthday, said his son, Jesse Johnson. "He loved to relax and play with his grandkids. He never had a bad thing to say about anybody." Jesse Johnson said his father, known to friends and family as R.J., had lived through a riot at the penitentiary in 1993 and knew the danger of his job but never dwelled on it. Lynette Johnson, Ronald Johnson's widow, said she has a hard time responding when one of her six grandchildren ask about their papa. Ironically, this is my home town and when I was a baby, my dad was a guard at the pen before becoming a police officer. In fact, I was told I took my first steps in the warden's house on the grounds of the penitentiary. A good person all the way to the end. He wasn't even scheduled to work that day. He came in to cover for a person who called in sick.
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Post by whitediamonds on Oct 15, 2012 9:20:10 GMT -6
We have seen plenty of pictures of the murderer, but here is the victim. RJ was a guard at the SD penitentiary for over 23 years. He was a father of two and grandfather of six. He died on his birthday, said his son, Jesse Johnson. "He loved to relax and play with his grandkids. He never had a bad thing to say about anybody." Jesse Johnson said his father, known to friends and family as R.J., had lived through a riot at the penitentiary in 1993 and knew the danger of his job but never dwelled on it. Lynette Johnson, Ronald Johnson's widow, said she has a hard time responding when one of her six grandchildren ask about their papa. Ironically, this is my home town and when I was a baby, my dad was a guard at the pen before becoming a police officer. In fact, I was told I took my first steps in the warden's house on the grounds of the penitentiary. A good person all the way to the end. He wasn't even scheduled to work that day. He came in to cover for a person who called in sick. A tragedy, just doing his job to protect/ serve/take care of.
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Post by moonlight on Oct 15, 2012 12:36:35 GMT -6
He appears to be a frightening thug. Hope he goes down.
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 15, 2012 16:26:44 GMT -6
Less than five hours to go.
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Post by rick4404 on Oct 15, 2012 17:50:28 GMT -6
It's 6:50 p.m. Central Time in Sioux Falls, S.D. Three hours and ten minutes before the scheduled execution time for Eric Robert. There are no appeals and no clemency from the governor.
This execution is all but certain to take place this evening. Although the warden acknowledges that up until Robert is strapped down onto the gurney, he can change his mind and call off the execution, according to his attorney.
Not very likely that's going to happen.
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 15, 2012 18:06:06 GMT -6
Under three hours now.
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 15, 2012 20:00:30 GMT -6
Johnson's Widow: Execution Brings SafetySIOUX FALLS, SD - Eric Robert's execution is scheduled for 10 p.m. Monday night, just 18 months after he and inmate Rodney Berget killed Correctional Officer Ron ‘RJ’ Johnson during an escape attempt last year. And while Robert will be put to death Monday for the crime, the wife of Officer Johnson doesn't want her husband's death to be forgotten. RJ's wife, Lynette, along with her two children and their spouses plan to witness Robert's execution. And while it will never bring RJ back and, may not even bring complete closure for the family, Lynette says it can bring safety. Robert's final moments have been meticulously planned and prepared, from his last meal, to the lethal injection, and the cell where he will spend his final days. And while Lynette, believes Robert's punishment for killing her husband is just, in some respects it doesn't bring complete justice. "He's going to lay there and from what I'm told take seven to ten minutes. He's just going to lay there and go to sleep. How long was the attack for Ron," Lynette said. RJ was brutally beaten with a metal pipe by Robert and fellow inmate Rodney Berget. The two then put shrink wrap around his head, all in an attempt to escape. Lynette believes RJ's fellow correctional officers who went to work in the days, weeks and months following the failed prison break need to be remembered. She hopes Robert's execution will help keep them safe. "The focus has to stay on keeping our correctional officers throughout the state at all the facilities to keep them safe. My mission is that, that we have to move forward, things have to change," Johnson said. But correctional officers across the country are remembering RJ too. Lynette just got back from a weekend trip to Las Vegas where RJ was honored and where a correctional officer from Massachusetts who was attacked gave her his personal medal of honor in honor of RJ. "I know people don't mean to, but we do take for granted our law officers. Everyday they don't know what they're coming into. They don't know what they are going to get into and it's dangerous. Our correctional officers are behind the wall, they look at these people every day," Johnson said. And while Johnson prepares to watch Robert be executed she says it’s her husband and those officers who need to remain in South Dakota's thoughts and prayers. "My heart is broken and I'm here for Ron. I'm going to get through this for Ron. We all will," Johnson said. RJ worked at the penitentiary for 23 years. Lynette plans to make a statement in the training room at the penitentiary that has since been named in RJ’s honor following the execution. www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/johnsons-widow-execution-brings-safety/?id=138514
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Post by Charlene on Oct 15, 2012 20:49:39 GMT -6
A group of R.J. Johnson’s friends has gathered in support of R.J.’s family in front of the State Penitentiary. Jennifer Doese, a friend of the Johnson family, said it’s hard for her to describe how she’s feeling, but said it was important to them to be here in support of R.J. “I will just feel like justice has been served,” said Tonya Doese, Jennifer’s sister-in-law and friend of the Johnson family. The group of family friends arrived at the penitentiary at about 7 p.m. “He (Robert) gets the easy way out, said Cheryl Baumgart, another Johnson family friend. “R.J. didn’t get the easy way out.” sdexecutions.tumblr.com/
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Post by Charlene on Oct 15, 2012 20:51:42 GMT -6
Family friends of Ron Johnson hold a flag bearing the fallen officer’s likeness outside the training center bearing his name. Lynette Johnson, R.J.’s widow, had the flags made shortly after Johnson’s death.
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 21:13:22 GMT -6
He should be tasting it now
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 21:14:52 GMT -6
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Post by Charlene on Oct 15, 2012 21:42:52 GMT -6
It's over, family is gathering for the press conference.
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 21:46:42 GMT -6
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Post by rick4404 on Oct 15, 2012 21:48:58 GMT -6
Time of death 10:24 p.m.
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Post by Charlene on Oct 15, 2012 21:55:14 GMT -6
I just don't understand this fascination with the minute details of the execution....what he was wearing, how his chest looked, what words he spoke with emphasis, etc, etc. I bet none of these people asked those questions about RJ Johnson.
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Post by rayozz on Oct 15, 2012 22:00:40 GMT -6
There was mention of IVs being started at 9.35 or thereabouts. Is that just saline to make sure the lines are OK?
I found the presser interesting in a morbid sort of way. I assume they do something similar in other states, and it's just that executions are rare in South Dakota that it was televised.
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Post by Charlene on Oct 15, 2012 22:05:06 GMT -6
There was mention of IVs being started at 9.35 or thereabouts. Is that just saline to make sure the lines are OK? I found the presser interesting in a morbid sort of way. I assume they do something similar in other states, and it's just that executions are rare in South Dakota that it was televised. Yes, right on all counts. They start a saline IV that will be used to deliver the lethal injection at the appropriate time. This is all done before the witnesses are brought to the execution chamber. The coverage is unusual because an execution is unusual for South Dakota. In Texas it barely makes the evening news. But one thing is the same - the focus is always on the killer and not on the victim.
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 22:06:37 GMT -6
There was mention of IVs being started at 9.35 or thereabouts. Is that just saline to make sure the lines are OK? I found the presser interesting in a morbid sort of way. I assume they do something similar in other states, and it's just that executions are rare in South Dakota that it was televised. Yes the do a saline drip to make sure the vanes are open
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 15, 2012 22:20:09 GMT -6
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Post by starbux on Oct 15, 2012 22:49:39 GMT -6
Yeah it is very arrogant, like he has a say in the matter at the last few moments. Oh well like he said IT IS DONE . Heres to the double hitter thursday. Haynes and Ferguson. Texas versus Florida, who will execute their inmates first. Bringing it to you live from a death chamber near you
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Post by The Tipsy Broker on Oct 16, 2012 3:11:55 GMT -6
Sadly it's the way we are, the murderer will always have the focus, a lot of misguided souls feel sorry for them. Yes they make me sick.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
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Post by Californian on Oct 16, 2012 5:58:08 GMT -6
There was mention of IVs being started at 9.35 or thereabouts. Is that just saline to make sure the lines are OK? Yes. In medical parlance that's called a KVO - "keep vein open."
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Post by rick4404 on Oct 16, 2012 6:21:31 GMT -6
John Hult, a staff writer for the Sioux Falls, (S.D.) Argus-Leader was one of two media witnesses at last night's execution of condemned murderer Eric Robert. He wrote an essay on what it is like to be a witness to an execution. There is some video on this page as well.
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Post by rick4404 on Oct 16, 2012 6:26:31 GMT -6
I just don't understand this fascination with the minute details of the execution....what he was wearing, how his chest looked, what words he spoke with emphasis, etc, etc. I bet none of these people asked those questions about RJ Johnson. As you know, an execution in some states is a rare event and of course, the media covers it heavily. South Dakota has only executed two people in over a half a century. Thus, the news stories seemed to go into more detail. I know the Associated Press reporter who was one of the two media witnesses. He's based here in Fargo, N.D. and drove down to Sioux Falls to cover what is simply referred to in corrections jargon as "the event." I went to college and worked with Dave Kolpack's brother Jeff Kolpack. They are born and bred journalists. Their now-late father, Ed Kolpack, was a reporter and then sports editor for our local newspaper here, The Forum, for over three decades.
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Post by Stormyweather on Oct 16, 2012 8:09:54 GMT -6
I was watching Eric Robert's statement to the court. It seems that he understands the history of the death penalty than most.
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