Melissa Boyd (Whetstone staff writer)

When his 24-year-old son was murdered in 1987, Rev. Walter Everett went from depression and anger to peace and forgiveness.

“Death is the beginning of a new phase of life,” he said at the beginning of his FYE lecture at Wesley College Oct. 19. “Is healing possible after the murder of a loved one?”

For the freshmen year experience lecture, Everett spoke about how he got through the death of his son.

He also said that Delaware is one of 35 states that have not abolished the death penalty.

“I was angry Scott was dead,” Everett said, “angry at the faceless killer, and angry at the police who didn’t care about the details. I was angry for months.”

He joined the group, “Survivors of Homicide,” where members of the group talked about the death penalty.

“The death penalty doesn’t do anything for the family’s victim,” Everett said.

Everett’s younger son wanted revenge on the man who killed his brother, but Everett convinced him otherwise, saying he didn’t want to lose another son.

The killer, who had been arrested 43 times before this, was found and convicted of second degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Two months later, Everett made a statement of grief to the court with his family.

The convicted killer also made a statement.

“I’m sorry I killed Scott Everett,” he said. “I wish I could bring him back, but obviously I can’t.”

Everett then felt the need to tell the man who killed his son that he appreciated his statement and wrote him a letter:  “I forgive you,” he said.

With Everett speaking on his behalf, the man was granted an early release.

Now, both men preach at prisons and colleges, and sometimes together. They have also been on the “Today Show.”

Students reacted differently to the speech.

“If serial killers have no hope for being good in society, lock them up or kill them,” said freshman Corinne St. Jean. “If I couldn’t kill them, I would want someone to.”

Amber Wiltibank, a freshman, saw it differently.
“No eye for an eye; I’m a very forgiving person,” she said. “ I don’t believe in the death penalty. Killing that person because they killed someone else isn’t good.”