Witnessing McVeigh's last moments

Survivors, victims' families differ on death penalty but support viewing execution

By Gary Tuchman
CNN

This sentiment was painted by one of the rescue crews that searched the building after the bombing. It remains as a part of the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

(CNN) - Barring a last minute court decision, the loved ones of those killed in the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building -- as well as survivors -- will be able to witness the execution of the man convicted of orchestrating and carrying out the worst mass killing in U.S. history.

Timothy McVeigh, 33, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Monday, June 11.

The decision by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to allow survivors and victim's families to watch the lethal injection on closed-circuit television has not, surprisingly, been met with criticism by victims, even among those who are against capital punishment.

Bud Welch, 61, is an anti-death penalty advocate who tours the country speaking for the national organization, Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation. Welch lost his daughter Julie, 25, in the explosion. Shortly after McVeigh's arrest, Welch stated publicly that he is against the death penalty and does not think McVeigh should be executed. Welch said there have been times during his grief and rage where he wavered a bit but says he still stands by that belief. Nevertheless, Welch said he supports the right of others to witness the execution.

Kathy Wilburn, 47, lost her grandsons, Chase and Colton Smith, in the 1995 bombing. Wilburn, who has spent the last six years doing research that includes visiting terrorist-training compounds and white supremacist groups, has become friends with McVeigh's father. Wilburn says she also supports the concept of the closed-circuit viewing but is against the execution for different reasons than Welch. Wilburn, who has said she doubted the government's case against McVeigh and said she believes the bombing was part of a wider conspiracy, said she fears the "whole truth" will disappear when McVeigh is killed.

But most of the survivors and relatives of victims strongly support the viewing and execution. Dan McKinney lost his wife, Linda, who was a U.S. Secret Service agent, in the explosion. McKinney said McVeigh's punishment is more than warranted, and that he owes it to his late wife to witness McVeigh's execution.

Doris Jones said she believes the punishment is proper, too. Jones lost her 26-year-old daughter, Carrie Lenz, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency employee who was pregnant when she was killed in the blast. Jones said she believes the decision to allow witnesses to watch the execution on closed-circuit TV is the right one, but said she's not yet sure if she'll be able to watch. Jones said she will make that as late as the morning of June 11.

Some of those who have suffered most say they are concerned Timothy McVeigh will use his last words to taunt them. But most of those affected by the bombing say they will have to deal with the execution the best they can.

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