When the tragedy occurred our family, friends, citizens thought of this as a super evil crime ….. the papers and news painted a certain picture based on talking to one suspect. But, when the case developed, & went to court, we got a different take on the crime.
End of May 2015, the lesser defendant plead guilty and was released on probation. At the early June sentencing for the main defendant, his attorney told the court some personal details of the defendant’s life which were very revealing to me as a parent, educator. He was a straight A student, moved to OR with a friend to work, came on hard times and then was on the streets 2 months.
When it came time for my statement during sentencing, I wasn’t feeling so mad at him. I wasn’t sure who to face …. the judge, the D.A. ….. didn’t think I could face the defendant. He and his attorney rose to face me and I was thinking, ‘don’t do that, I can’t deal with you’ …. but he was maybe 6 feet away looking right at me, I couldn’t avoid him. I decided somehow to look at him, I needed to be brave for Marc, not a sissy for family listening in!
After a few seconds, I was surprised at how calm things seemed, like he was a penetant student in the principals office. I wondered if I was interpreting things right, I was a bit confused? When it was time to make my statement about him personally, I paused a couple times I think, I just didn’t feel the old angry feelings I had for all those months. I felt I had to make a statement for the court record, and needed to be a ‘just’ Christian too, so I went on. While I spoke the defendant even nodded a couple times, like he was truly listening to my every word like a respectful student or son.
I can understand how some people can feel so angry at a defendant when he/she lures or preys on their loved one, leading up to the committing of a crime. It must be so hard when a defendant is a cold-blooded, evil, twisted person and the crime was vicious or depraved … the rage a parent must feel! But this crime was one of over-reacting to a perceived danger, and so I just didn’t feel I hardly had any anger left. I knew what happened essentially and I saw the defendant was a broken young man trying to come to grips with being this murderer. His sad puppy dog eyes gazed at me, and it was clear he was confused, sad and overwhelmed! I knew he’d been thru a very rough patch, and never intended anything bad to happen!
I shared for the record that God placed Marc in this world for a purpose. I couldn’t let the divine plan go unheard. I quoted Marc’s former boss Patrick’s letter and how he said we all suffer unimaginable pain losing Marc but our joy is greater …. and we’ll see Marc again!
The defendant gave the best statement in the world and turned to face me when he did, which was so respectful, wonderful! I’ll never forget it! The entire procedure was televised on the news that June 3rd evening. Priceless statement and coverage …. just proved to me what I knew all along …. that God was in all this!
KOIN6 Video at the main defendants sentencing:
http://koin.com/2015/06/03/remorceful-marc-sundin-stabber-sentenced-to-10-years/