Bill Long, the oldest living son of James and
Zelma Long read the following Victim Impact
Statement at the sentencing of his parents'
murderer, Carmen Deck:
Six years, eleven months, and 8 days ago my
life changed forever. There are no words to
describe what this feels like, but I will
try. One day everything was right and the
next day everything was wrong and will be
forever because of one person’s selfish
actions.
I can honestly say I speak for every member
of my family, and every friend of my mother
and father. With their deaths, it was like a
light that had been extinguished. There is a
dark place in my heart that will never be
light again when I remember the horror of
what happened to my parents. Not a day goes
by that I don’t think about how this tragedy
happened.
My parents were honest, hard-working, loving
people who did not deserve to be terrorized
and struck down by four bullets – all for a
robbery. Instead, I was robbed, I am a
victim, my children were robbed of their
grandparents. Their children were robbed of
a chance to know their great-grandparents.
This person who stands before us today does
not deserve mercy. No mercy was shown my
parents as they begged for their lives. Not
once has any remorse for my parents been
shown in the last six years, eleven months,
and eight days. His only concerns have been
for himself.
I stand here today in place of my parents
and ask that no more mercy be shown, but ask
for justice. Justice for my parents, my
children, my siblings, my family, my
parents’ friends, and most of all – justice
for the people of our country.
We need to be assured that someone like this
pays. No one else should have their lives
shattered by this person.