A DEATH ALONG THE WAY

----by Dan J. McDonald



From December 1, 1980 - May 31, 1990, I worked as a Correctional Halfway House Director in Corpus Christi, Texas. As part of my responsibilities in that role, I was attending a Texas Corrections Association (TCA) convention in Huntsville, Texas, on Tuesday, October 30, 1984.

On that Tuesday, Thomas Andy Barefoot was put to death in the execution chamber at the Walls Unit in Huntsville, Texas. These last two statements have absolutely nothing to do with each other. But this coincidental intersection of events had a profound effect on how I have come to view the death penalty.

The following information regarding Mr. Barefoot is taken from the Death Row section of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) website. Thomas Andy Barefoot was convicted of capital murder for the shooting death of Carl Levin, a police officer of Harker Heights, near Killeen, Texas. Barefoot was an oilfield roughneck from New Iberia, Louisiana, and was wanted in New Mexico on charges of rape of a 3-year-old girl. He killed Officer Levin to avoid arrest. He had prison records in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Barefoot had prior arrests for aggravated assault, burglary, hit-and-run DWI, lewd molestation, theft, escape, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamines, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of an unregistered firearm weapon, attempted rape, robbery, assault and battery, and breaking and entering. Prior to October 30, 1984, four execution dates had been set for Mr. Barefoot - September 17, 1980; October 13, 1981; January 25, 1983 and December 14, 1983. All of these had been stayed.

As the execution neared that evening, I and several other people with whom I worked gathered near the Walls Unit out of simple curiosity. As we approached the area, we noticed two distinct groups of people. The first group consisted of perhaps twenty people standing silently in a circle with each holding a burning candle. From publicity about previous executions, I knew this was the group opposed to the death penalty under any circumstances. Their concern was not specifically for Mr. Barefoot, except in seeing him as another victim of an inhumane system.

Some distance away stood a much larger group, raucous and rowdy, many obviously under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Most of the people in this group were younger, primarily college-age if not actual college students. For these people, this event was a party, with many waving banners or signs containing words celebrating Mr. Barefoot's execution.

Prior to this time, I had from time to time engaged in discussions about the death penalty in a number of different settings, and could cite the familiar arguments on both sides of the issue. But I had never until this night had to directly confront the issue. At least to the extent I knew of Mr. Barefoot's life, I could find nothing of value therein. There was certainly reason enough that he now found himself in the death chamber.

As time passed, the contrast between the two groups of people became stronger. With the continued flow of liquor and other mind-altering substances, the raucous, rowdy group continued to increase the noise level. The effect was to make the candlelight group seem even more quiet, although they had maintained almost total silence from the beginning. I saw no cause for celebration. The longer I stood, the more sickening and disgusting the antics of the celebrants became, at least to me. Yes, maybe Mr. Barefoot deserved to die, but he didn't deserve this. Mr. Barefoot shared my humanity, and while he had behaved in a manner that denied that humanity, what was happening here tonight was a cause for sorrow and regret. Humanity was having to kill one of its own to protect humanity - what celebration can there be in this?

After a long while, I became so disgusted at the raucous, rowdy celebration that I joined the circle of silence. I was handed a lighted candle as I took my place in the circle and I remained there until the execution had been carried out.

There have been many spectacular crimes committed since October 30, 1984, and many executions have been carried out since then, especially in Texas. I still from time to time find myself engaged in discussions about the death penalty, and can still cite the common arguments on both sides of the issue. But every time an execution nears, no matter the crime, the criminal or the circumstances, I recall that night in October 1984 and am saddened that we find it necessary to to attempt to cleanse the evil from among us in this way.



NOTE: This item formerly appeared in my journal titled "On the Road Again." However, I am discontinuing that journal and moving appropriate items into other categories.