Keep teen killer in prison until he’s at least 80

It is with sadness and disbelief that our federal courts keep changing the state laws and putting more and more murderers back on the streets of our cities.

Regarding teenagers being sentenced to life without parole, maybe we should resentence these murderers to 100 years and eligible for parole at age 80, and remove the words “life without parole.”

Granted, some teenagers have the mind of a child and should be placed in our court system for juvenile offenders, however, some of these teenagers do think like an adult, act like an adult and are as large as an adult in size.

The murder of Debra King on Jan. 29, 1978, is just such a case. James D. Vancleave should have been put to death by any measure, but because of his age, the jury sentenced him to life without parole.

Having investigated 60 or so homicides in my law enforcement career, this was the most brutal I have ever witnessed, a terrible scene. The cuts on Debra King’s hands indicated she fought for her life to the end. As the lead investigator I spent many hours interviewing James Vancleave. He never showed any remorse. Not one time. He was a very mature young man, very smart, very adult in mind and body.

James Vancleave should never be released before age 80 to 90 years old. Some say he’s rehabilitated. Great. I hope he is. But do we know for sure what’s in a person’s heart or mind? It’s time we think about the victims in these cases. Debra King will never raise a family. Her life was taken from her forever by this vicious attack by James Vancleave. HERB MARSHALL Hindsville former Washington County sheriff