Mother of slain 7-year-old hopes Attorney General Bill Schuette can help keep killer locked up

Mlive.com ^ | May 29, 2014 | John Agar

[cripplecreek]

ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI – The 1967 rape and killing of her 7-year-old daughter, Sonya Santa Cruz, is never far from Edith Siordia’s thoughts.

Her daughter’s killer, Theodore Glenn Williams, isn’t, either.

How can they not be?

Williams killed Sonya after he grabbed her while she walked home from Stocking Elementary in Grand Rapids. He raped and killed Laura Jo Sutliffe, 13, of Sparta, the previous year.

Every year, Williams, who is held under a defunct criminal-sexual psychopath law, can petition Allegan County Circuit Court for release. His latest request is pending.

In response, Siordia fired off a round of letters to state lawmakers and judges, and started another petition drive from her home in Long Beach, Calif., in hopes that her efforts will keep Williams locked up.

“It’s hard to get started again,” she said. “I’m getting too old for this. It takes a lot of my spirit out, you know.”

She said she has a “second wind” now, with state Attorney General Bill Schuette’s announcement Thursday, May 29, that his office will join Allegan County Prosecutors Office in opposing Williams’ release from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry.

Schuette has asked Allegan County Circuit Judge Kevin Cronin to allow the state to file a legal challenge.

“It’s unimaginable that a child killer could have the opportunity to rejoin society, living a normal life in our neighborhoods, with our families, while the victims’ families live the rest of their lives mourning the tragic loss of their children,” Schuette said in a statement.

Siordia welcomed the news.

“I guess I just don’t want to get close to it again. But I can’t leave it alone, either.”

She felt betrayal along with her loss. Williams, the husband of a friend, watched Siordia’s other children while she frantically looked for her missing daughter. Williams at the time feigned outrage that someone could have kidnapped the girl.

“I’m still upset,” she said.

“I’m not so angry. I can’t change anything. Mostly, I don’t think he belongs in society.”

[cripplecreek]

I'm really only posting this because I'm astounded at the comments from people who think Williams should be released. It seems the primary reason they want him released is because AG Bill Schuette doesn't want him released.

How about some relevant facts Mlive. We know he has been locked up for pushing 50 years for this crime. Apparently the standard for release involves a determination if he is still dangerously mentally ill. What do OUR state psychiatrists at the Forensic Center say about that? If they agree that he is NOT dangerously mentally ill who cares what Bill Schuette thinks. If there is a dispute between psychologists as to his condition fine lets have a hearing but if all the experts say he is "cured" why isn't 50 years of incarceration enough.

[cripplecreek]

They walk among us.



Michigan legislative action thread

[a fool in paradise]

if all the experts say he is "cured" why isn't 50 years of incarceration enough.

Because it is punishment for several murders of children.

[cripplecreek]

If he hadn’t been ruled mentally ill, do these idiots think he should have never been locked up?

[Dagnabitt]

Release him!

(Just kill him first.)

[latina4dubya]

How about some relevant facts Mlive. We know he has been locked up for pushing 50 years for this crime. Apparently the standard for release involves a determination if he is still dangerously mentally ill. What do OUR state psychiatrists at the Forensic Center say about that? If they agree that he is NOT dangerously mentally ill who cares what Bill Schuette thinks. If there is a dispute between psychologists as to his condition fine lets have a hearing but if all the experts say he is "cured" why isn't 50 years of incarceration enough.

omgawd... some people are so far beyond reach... who cares if he is "cured." that should have nothing to do with the amount of time he serves... he deserved death 50 years ago... at the very itty-bitty least, he deserves being locked up until death...

[Vinnie]

If he had killed my daughter I’d do everything in my power to get him released. Then....

[SMARTY]

These people cannot be rehabilitated

[cripplecreek]

The interview with him.

Interview: After killing 2 young girls decades ago, Theodore Glenn Williams says he's not a threat

Even Theodore Glenn Williams, who has spent most of his life in psychiatric hospitals after killing two girls, wonders why anyone would want to see him free.

"I'm asking myself that all the time, " he said. "If it was reversed, and it happened to my child, I would never want to see the guy get released. I have a big problem with that, myself."

What a piece of garbage. Nearly 50 years later and the idiot is still trying to shrug off responsibility.

[painter]

Same here!

[cripplecreek]

Maybe an open carry release Williams rally at the gates of the prison could help change his mind.

[a fool in paradise]

Our government has an “odd” policy towards illegal immigrant criminals these days.

If they have been convicted of non-violent offenses, they should be permitted to stay (no jail time).

If they have been convicted of violent/sexual offenses, they are deported and released from prison (no jail time).

Wonderful policy. The more extreme the crime, the lighter the punishment.

You do a violent crime in this country, you should serve your time in this country.

[Pontiac]

Maybe I should move to Brazil marry a native, renounce my citizenship and illegally enter the Unite States.

It seems to be the path to a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card.

[Dagnabitt]

Or do anything in your power to get that prison job under a fake name.

[kiryandil]

If he had killed my daughter I’d do everything in my power to get him released. Then....

Zed's dead, honey.

[GeronL]

That happened back when it was still abnormal and shocking, before the leftist culture made it a daily ho-hum thing

[ApplegateRanch]

but if all the experts say he is "cured" why isn't 50 years of incarceration enough.

Yes, 50 is more than enough; execute him NOW: Father is getting tired of waiting to talk at this POS.

[Gay State Conservative]

Perhaps this psychopath would be wise to drop his petition.

[Gay State Conservative]

If he had killed my daughter I’d do everything in my power to get him released. Then....

...you'd take a person interest in seeing him suffer?

[bandleader]

I have ONLY ONE QUESTION?Why Is This MONSTER Stll Breathing???????????????????