RIP Mr. Sepulvado: The fight for life and not death continues
Chris Sepulvado and Alison McCrary, his spiritual advisor
Our thoughts go out to all those who knew and fought for Mr. Chris Sepulvado who died last night after struggling with his health for years. Under Governor Jeff Landry’s direction, Louisiana scheduled the execution of Mr. Sepulvado for March 17th. Instead of being executed by the government, Mr. Sepulvado died as an elderly man who had spent years engaging his faith and focused on redemption and helping others.
Mr. Sepulvado, may you rest in peace.
In March, Louisiana will enter a new era of darkness where it had planned to kill Mr. Sepulvado and intends to kill others. The mistakes and harms caused by humans toward one another are not healed through government violence. When a government chooses murder instead of investment in victim families or stabilizing communities, it chooses vengeance at the expense of building the better future that we all need and deserve. As such, we are all harmed by government violence.
Please join us in this fight for life and not death.
In solidarity,
The whole team at the Promise of Justice Initiative
Statement of Shawn Nolan, Mr. Sepulvado's attorney
Christopher Sepulvado’s death overnight in the prison infirmary is a sad comment on the state of the death penalty in Louisiana. The idea that the State was planning to strap this tiny, frail, dying old man to a chair and force him to breathe toxic gas into his failing lungs is simply barbaric. Such pointless cruelty in scheduling his execution in the face of all this overlooked the hard work Chris did over his decades in prison to confront the harm he had caused, to become a better person, and to devote himself to serving God and helping others. It was my honor to fight for Chris, a man who redeemed himself. May he rest in peace.
Excerpt of the Statement of Alison McCrary, Mr. Sepulvado's spiritual advisor
Christopher Sepulvado’s death overnight allowed him to transition home to his Creator on his own terms with his dignity in place as opposed to the State’s cruel and barbaric execution date of March 17th. The scheduling of an execution of an 81-year-old terminally ill, tiny man who would be strapped to an execution chair and gassed to death with poison shows how barbaric our criminal legal system is. If Chris’ case isn’t an example of what is wrong with the use of the death penalty in the United States, I am not sure which case is. I pray that our government’s leaders reconsider their cruel and unnecessary plan to execute people.
Chris would feed the leftovers from his meals to the blackbirds through the small cracks in his cell window on death row in the country’s largest prison. He told me that the blackbirds are the nuns who used to visit him and who have died but they come back as the blackbirds to say hello to him and to be remembered. I will think of Chris now whenever the blackbirds come to visit me.
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Within the confines of the prison, he studied scripture, deepened his relationship with God, and tried to follow in the footsteps of Jesus daily. Chris grew tremendously since the time he became incarcerated decades ago. Despite living with deafness, in a wheelchair, COPD, occlusion of an artery that brings oxygen to his brain, cardiovascular disease, asthma, significant cognitive decline, and other health issues, and while enduring 100+ degree indoor temperatures in Louisiana summers without air conditioning, he maintained a positive attitude and desire to help and serve others. Chris had completed every course and offering available to those on death row at Louisiana State Penitentiary including anger management, substance abuse education, a 12-step program, and values and character development courses. He attended every religious service that is available to those on death row and often was asked to speak with visitors who came through the prison.
Chris was remorseful and repentant for what he did. The victim’s family in Chris’ case met with me and Chris on death row several years ago. Chris demonstrated remorse, has sought repentance, and has demonstrated through his actions that he has dedicated his life to the service of others. Chris accepted accountability for the harm he caused and wanted to support the healing of those impacted by his actions on that day.