Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Levi King

by Pa Rock
Social Critic

I have written about Levi King before, though without revealing his name. Levi is the young man who brutally murdered five individuals in September of 2005 - two in Missouri and three in Texas. His crimes were heinous and horrendous. Levi killed an elderly man and his daughter-in-law in McDonald County, Missouri, before stealing their truck and fleeing to Texas where he killed again. His Texas victims were a man, his pregnant wife, and her fourteen-year-old son.  Levi also left the scene believing that he had killed the woman's ten-year-old daughter, but that child managed to survive the horror that befell her family by pretending to be dead in her darkened bedroom.

Levi stood trial last year in Missouri where he pled guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. This year the state of Texas had its turn at him. Levi again pled guilty, and for the past five weeks or so a sentencing hearing has been taking place at the county courthouse in Lubbock, Texas, to determine if he would be executed or spend the rest of his natural life in prison.

Texas is known for, among other things, its penchant for executing murderers. Those good ole Texas boys like frying killers almost as much as they do grilling steaks. The fact that Levi would be killed for his crimes should have been a foregone conclusion in the Lone Star state, but that was not to be. Yesterday a courageous jury separated themselves from the state's reputation for knee-jerk bloodlust and sentenced the 27-year-old to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The local press in Lubbock reported that most of the members of the jury were crying as the verdict was read.

I have much that I would like to say about this young man, the crime of murder, and the subject of capital punishment. I must, however, be rather circumspect in discussing Levi because I knew him on a professional basis through my work in child protection for the state of Missouri. Let me describe him thusly: Levi King was a child who grew up in a very isolated location under less than optimal circumstances. It would be fair, I believe, to conclude that his childhood was aborted by his circumstances in much the same manner that his adulthood was aborted by his crimes. Yes, he grew through childhood and he will probably grow through adulthood, but in both cases he was (and will be) tragically shortchanged.

(And yes, I fully understand that his victims and their families and friends have also been tragically shortchanged by the actions of Levi King. I am concentrating on the perpetrator because he grew up as a victim of people and circumstances that were beyond his control, and if the continuing cycle of American carnage is ever to be reduced, it will come through addressing the social and economic environment that produces killers - and not through grisly "deterrents.")

Levi was spared a meeting with the executioner primarily for two reasons. First, as alluded to in the paragraph above, his background was so "less than optimal" that even a Texas jury was able to bring humanity to the table when deciding his fate. They heard from his teachers, social workers (including myself), family members, friends, and people with whom he had attended church as a youngster. Day after day, week after week, jury members watched a picture of a sweet kid with a bright smile slowly transform into that of a savage killer, a monster who was literally the result of an unrelenting, heartbreaking environment.

The second thing that saved Levi from a death sentence was an amazing team of mitigators who spent over a year interviewing people who knew Levi as he was growing up, and organizing materials and testimony that would be presented to the jury in its sentencing deliberations. The team included attorneys, legal aids, researchers, and even a private investigator.

The mitigation team was funded by the state of Texas. Why? Because death is the most serious sentence that a state government can level against an individual, and once it is imposed there is no way to achieve redress should that become necessary. Yes, Levi King admitted his crime - but was he a free agent acting solely on his own accord, or was he himself a victim of a life so unfair that it was a wonder he maintained as long as he did? The mitigation team believed that Levi was himself a victim, and that was the case they were able to successfully make to a jury.

Is a sentence of life in prison a fair one for a young man who killed five innocent people and seriously wounded a child? No, it's certainly an unfair trade in favor of the killer who lives on. But what punishment is ever fair? Would death be a fair punishment for a murderer who truly was a victim of his circumstances - circumstances so tragic that they could make a Texas jury sob?

Some would argue, probably vehemently, that death would be the only fair punishment - the Old Testament eye-for-an-eye rationale. But death would be an act of vengeance, and would be of no benefit to anyone. Capital punishment is not a deterrent to murder, and there is no credible research that says otherwise.

Today the United States and Japan are the only two major powers in the world that still kill killers, and Japan just appointed a new justice minister who opposes the practice - and the justice minister in Japan is the person who must approve all executions. That leaves just us - and we are morally wrong to meet barbarism with barbarism.

Levi King will not be executed for his crimes, but he will spend the rest of his life in a dirty cage surviving among the absolute dregs of society. That bright-eyed little boy will know very little joy in his remaining years - and years - and years.

Maybe we all live in cages, only some of us are confined by social constraints instead of bars. Society demands a certain amount of restraint, and if we can't or won't keep ourselves under control, society necessarily steps in to set boundaries for us. We have speed limits, rules for drinking, areas where we can and cannot smoke, and requirements for voting. Society decides when we can drive, who we can marry, and how many fish we can catch on a trip to the river. Society even sets social norms that tell us how to dress and behave in public. Yes, we all live in cages, but most of us manage to successfully navigate through life in spite of, or perhaps because of, social constraints.

Levi King has beaten the odds and may survive for many years to come. It is my hope and prayer that he recognizes that he has been given an opportunity and the time to atone for his crimes, and that through some form of personal achievement in prison he can begin to repay the massive debt that he owes society.

The ball is in your court now, Levi. Catch it, hold it up to the light and admire it, and know that it is your last chance to prove to yourself and to the world that those twelve good people in Lubbock made the right decision.

83 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your kind words, for Levi and for the jury. I was one of those jurors who sat for over 5 weeks and listened to all the testimony, including your own. I have weeped many nights for the victims and thier family, but I have also weeped for Levi. I truly hope he does take this oppurtunity that has been given to him and that he makes something of the precious life of his that was spared.

Pa Rock said...

Thank you, Juror, for taking your task so seriously and listening patiently day after day, week after week, while a young man’s life was dissected and reassembled in a Texas courtroom. Thank you for having the heart to realize that while Levi did commit unspeakable acts of violence and murder, no child is born evil, not even Levi King, and he was pushed down a path toward tragedy at a very young age. Thank you for being compassionate when it would have been much easier to be vengeful. I hope and pray that Levi will be ever mindful of the opportunity that you and your colleagues on the jury have given to him. May he find the ability and resolve to do something positive with his life in prison, and may you find peace in your heart for your courageous decision to allow him to live. It could not have been easy.

Anonymous said...

Your kind words are sweet but I dont think Levi cares in all honesty. We waived around his paper from the state of Missouri stating the he was insane and once even told me and a group of friends that he could kill with this paper and get away with it. Sad thing is I guess he was right. 5 lives for the rest of his life in prison. I just cant see that equaling up. Also if he was so troubled and you could tell in the past by his eval then why didnt you suggest that he serve his full term and not get released to the half way house in Kansas City that he ran away from? I seem may people from poor MCDonald County with drugged torn families still do great it isnt a excuse. His brother Ben turned out to be a great role model from the same family. Levi did what he did cause he wanted to.

Anonymous said...

So why is it fair that he gets to wake up everyday, eat three square meals, and breathe fresh air. Behind bars or not, he gets too. Those people didn't have a choice. Now he gets to tell his story on television, as if we care what he thinks. How about a story on the victims...you jurors should be ashamed of, you should all mourn for the victims and our systems lack of justice. He certainly sane enough to do a TV show....

Anonymous said...

The man has absolutely no remorse or feelings for what he did. He isn't left to sit in prison & contemplate his crimes. He doesn't care! People CAN be Born Evil & he & his father are an example of that. The jury failed to bring justice to the 10yr old child who miraculously survived his shooting rampage in her farmhouse as her family slept. He killed for the peace it brought to his Evil mind. If Anyone in the state of Texas deserved the death penalty,its Levi King!

Anonymous said...

Amen, to the last post

Anonymous said...

Anyone who does any follow up on this story will see that he gets to be out of his cell most of the day and is able to wear pretty much what he wants,just because of good behavior. This is crazy. Without a doubt he is living better in prison then he was out.

Anonymous said...

I believe that seeing and hearing Levi King speak helps people to understand the evil mentality behind a murderer. We can see for ourselves his lack of remorse and understanding of the devastation his actions have caused is part of the characteristic of a murderer. The narcissistic world of his mind and how he rationalizes and understand his emotions and his actions is very terrifying to witness. The ability to feel remorse and empathy for other living beings is part of being human. The fact he does not have that ability tells us he is not human. There is a darker, evil side at work in his soul.

Anonymous said...

Where is he now? Very interesting story. I saw it on A&E. I feel sad for the families and also for Levi. His childhood didn't sound rosey.

Anonymous said...

Missouri

Unknown said...

Levi does have remorse, cares deeply for his family as well as people in general. He is not a monster and anyone who has the enormous heart that he has could just as likely responded to his hateful lifelong environment as he did. Be thankful you are not him. Locked up your entire life with the guilt of killing innocent people that you would rather die in their place. I cry for the victims. He dies every day for the victims. I cry for him.

Unknown said...

I feel so sad for the victims families as their lives will forever be changed! There are really no words to describe this horrible tragedy. As I am watching this story unfold on A@E, I feel something in my heart for Levi. As a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ, my heart goes out to Levi too. Its not in any way the same sympathy that I feel for the victims and loved ones. The young girl, Robin that is left without a family because of Levi's horrible act of evil. She's is such a courageous young girl! I can't help but feel a sense of compassion for Levi. I pray that Levi will truly repent for these horrendous acts, because all are never to far from GOD'S reach!!!

CZGator said...

I have to wonder why nothing was done to help Levi and his siblings while they were young, then this tragedy could have been avoided. If the people who gave evidence on his behalf in the courtroom had stepped up and DONE something on his behalf when it mattered that would have made a difference. The father who tortured his kids and animals is still walking around with no worries. Apparently they could not afford running water and electricity, but he could buy expensive guns and plenty of ammunition. It just doesn't add up.

Anonymous said...

#Question for Miriam Martian, Prison wife by any chance?

Anonymous said...

I just watched an interview with Levi King. At the end he says to this day he has no remorse or guilty for the lives he took and that he just does not care. Childhood may have attributed to some of what he became but I also think he was born with a predisposition to become like his father who sounds like he should be locked up as well. Honestly I think the death penalty would have fit the punishment better being that he will never have empathy for anyone but himself.

Anonymous said...

Seriously you obviously didn't watch an interview where he says he has no remorseor guilt to this day over the lives he killed. Remorse? Crying? Please.

M. Combs said...

Actually, His father took his own life.This is so very sad. Levi never had a chance!!! If all new his whole story they might feel differently. I'am not in any way excusing what Levi did!!! This truly makes my heart full of sadness for all involved.

Unknown said...

Mrs. Miriam Martin, Do you know Levi personnally?

Anonymous said...

I just watched the A&E show. Wondering if I missed this part. Whatever happened to his mother, was she in the picture? Where are mom/dad/sibs now?

Unknown said...

His father is deceased. His mother remarried and is living in his hometown. His siblings aren't very close with their mother.

Unknown said...

Levi's father keep them so completely isolated. Where there would be no one to help them. He was an extremist, survivalist and really didn't hold down a job. Also did drugs with his children. Very isolated and no guidance. The very worst upbringing. For some reason Levi was treated differently than the other children. Still not a good situation for any child. The area just didn't have enough resources to help Levi and siblings. Levi dropped out of school in the eighth grade.

Anonymous said...

Something is wrong with this system! Why is our tax dollars paying for monsters behind bars. Wow here's an idea to think of ... How about we build some more jails and fill them up with more people who don't deserve a free ride for the rest of their lives. Oh and hey if you struggle to put food on the table or a roof above your head just have some comfort in the fact that your paying for murderers to have three meals a day and somewhere to sleep:) ... Yeah reality sucks don't it? And ignorance is bliss.... This country is going to shit. Wtf

Unknown said...

Praying for the victims. Praying for Levi......

Anonymous said...

I say to a different statement on that comment of ( people are sometimes born evil and live out their lives as a evil person ; is such a unlieable statement ; I am one of the Personal persons , that knew Levi and totally watched him form into a unknow lost agree person, and as his Father ( Scott) chose Not to get his self or son"s and Daughter any mental help threw the whole years ! And it was My son who was unfortant of his ( brother) Spencer passing./ and after multiply times to his Father, by myself speaking to get help for him self and his kids too, at this point was not going to go I to affect for any of them! .,And therefore I took myself and my children out of that home, but way before that was taken place / I Personaly watch Levi take a dirty sock and put it in the microwave and heat it and then trying to eat it , as well as me telling him the whole time , he had No Knownledge of doing so ; at that point he had ate 24 motion sickness pills at once: I then went into Scott"s bedroom and told him of what Levi had done thinking it was food and it was a Dirty Sock ! Scott Laughed and didn't do any other kind of responds went back in his room finished smoking pot and left it at that! I cried at that point took the sock away from Levi and had him sit beside me and I fixed him a Burrito after I wiped out the microwave from the Dirty Smelly Sock! So I have to say that in some form of compassion and help that a person can make changeable actions on how the might have a chance to see the Brightness of a better or more understanding furture for our kids in this world that is totally destructing itself !! And as Parents we are the ones that are mostly allowing the destruction to become a part of their life's ourselfs : rather we see it at the time and make changes or that we just ignore it and it falls where ever and then try to justify it all based on Levi"s false behavior some what ; But really let's start Focusing on the helping instead of ignoring !! May God Bless Every one , may he Forgive us ALL for our False even the Smallest to the worst only HIM UPSTAIRS " can say whts Justice !! AMEN to All !

Anonymous said...

That statement with in it's self is Horrible Stupid Unknown statement of a uncompassionate / not knowledgeable status of his life out here nor life away that he is doing now!

Anonymous said...

Amen it TRUELY wasn't for none of us then !

Anonymous said...

Amen it TRUELY wasn't for none of us then !

Anonymous said...

That all said and TRUELY spoken from the compassion of a person not even knowing him personal as I did , and Yes he was very loving caring compassionate as a teen ager in his own times ; and yes ONLY The Lord Upstairs should make that Judgement ,And No One but Levi was in his place of mind or actions that day but Levi and God !

Anonymous said...

Judgemental people ! Don't see any WINGS on yur bck ! May the man upstairs forgive you ! You not that Man to make those horrible judgements ! Remember Carma also takes on unjustifiable people wth the wrong understanding of what is or should be what at all times !

Anonymous said...

can you please tell me where Levi is? i wrote him months ago, but i'm now wondering if he's no longer at erdcc. it's not hate mail, i promise. just writing as a friend. so please, help if you can.

Anonymous said...

Knew Levi and the rest of his family and was a really close friend to a few of their kids and spent a lot of time up there. Levi was also a roommate of mine for a while. Sadly, I wasn't surprised when I saw what he did. His parents (father mostly) were pretty dang bad though. I would put a lot of the blame on them.

Anonymous said...

Dropping out of school and living an imperfect childhood, like Charlie Manson, gives a person no right to brutally stab, shoot, cut, disembowel a human being. Drug use, poverty, bipolar, depression, is not a recipe for murder. Levi king is an animal. The woman in the jury who held out should be ashamed of herself for allowing a killer to live his life in a better environment than his own home, 3 meals a day, a bed, medical care. He's evil and like Charlie Manson will always and forever be EVIL, no remorse is as rotten as you can get

Mytexas said...

Maybe these jurors could put the name, addresses, etc of their family members sleeping soundly, safe at home in their beds in a online blog for pedophiles, murderers, thrill killers like Levi King to find? It seems to me jurors did no justice for these poor people who are innocent in their own beds, people whose lives were worth something to the world and society, instead of having so much sympathy for a thrill killing psychopath who has done nothing for anybody ever except bring pain and a lifetime of suffering to so many others? I definitely do not want a dollar of my taxes or anybody else's to go on paying for this guy to live another 50 years! Too bad if he had a bad childhood! Millions of Americans had horrid childhoods, way worse than Levi King could ever know. Me included. I suffered unbelievably at the hands of my parent, and others, but I decided not to let it define me, so I grew up, worked hard-2 jobs and went to school, got a education, cut ties with those bum type people and changed my future.. Don't even blame this murderous evil lower than spit, piece of dungs acts of violence, felonious choices on his upbringing. That's a insult to all the rest of us who didn't make his choices. Levi King is not mentally deficient, could have done well, he's a total con who more than so many others who got the death penalty for their crimes, deserved to get death and first in line. The laws in America are outdated and should be like they are in so many countries already. Guilty until found innocent. The reason I say that is because too many horrid known killers are getting away with murder because the laws are totally a circus defending the guilty. What about the rights of the victims? Is it because the dead are gone and cannot speak? Would you want Levi King as your neighbor in some future time? Too much horrid crime in this world since everyone is afraid to put bad bad people either away for good or make the crime fit the punishment. Our present law makers are total idiots, government sucks on crime because the majority are criminals themselves getting away with it. Time to take our country back and make it safe again.

Mytexas said...

Doesn't give him the right to go on a killing spree though does it? He should have gotten in the least, the same thing he gave to those families. Your friend was pure dirt who made his choices well in advance. He killed children, people who were givers, not evil thieves, total losers as he made himself to be. I hope to god, he gets his. He deserves to burn...

Mytexas said...

Are you nuts or what? Levi deserves a needle in his arm, not prayers for gods sake. Good, great, honest, loyal, hardworking, young people are dead because he just wanted the fun of committing murder! He's given nothing to this world and had every opportunity to do and become a asset instead of now another tax money sucking cockroach I have to support!! I resent him sucking air on my money... He has no right to be alive after killing 6 people who had and would, did, give back to society. His poor, bad background, childhood excuses nothing. We rise above those things not sink into hell with Lucifer as he has...

Mytexas said...

That juror has to be as evil as he is for sure. I don't understand why the judge didn't declare a mistrial so justice for this great, innocent, devout, tax paying, hard working family could have happened? Something surely went wrong with our system and I cannot understand since this was such a large, brutal crime of premeditated murder to a family who had no chance to know such evil would cowardly enter their home? Did that juror have a motive from somewhere? It just made no sense to most people knowing this Levi was so evil. If he were to ever get out of his present free on tax-payers accommodations, or even in prison it's more than highly predicted he would kill again. Only the biggest cowards take such a low road as to kill innocents like this, then think they have a right to either find freedom again or to be supported for life by the tax-payers. We do not want to support them nor do we want them breathing our clean free from their filthy minds and hearts "air". Let the crimes start fitting the punishments.

Mytexas said...

Much of what you talked about in Levi's young life was pretty sad, of course. It's unfortunate so many "bad" parents are able at all to have or make children. So many should undergo forced sterilization if they cannot take care of their own children, and they are mostly the ones who are killing the finances of this country by a very wrong, needing to be changed welfare system. Just too many out there these days and not enough workers and places to send children of these drug abused, lazy, under-educated or whatever else afflicts them mothers and fathers. Parents collecting any monetary money, food, should have to be drug and alcohol tested weekly before anything is given. Feed the kids at neighborhood food kitchens 3 X a day if needed. Would be much cheaper than handing over anything to these parents that's for sure. It's this giving, handout crap that is endorsing and aiding drugged and alcoholic parents anyway. Things must change in America.. As far as Levi as a grown man out on killing spree's, he's way way past the "poor Levi", times.. Many years past that. He knew right and wrong, he might not be educated but chose the murderous route on innocent families sleeping in their beds. Children for gods sake?!!! For his crimes, and the brain he has the only right justice and it isn't close to what he really deserves is death. This wasn't some random act on Levi's part. He chose to kill the innocent... He deserves death regardless of his childhood. By the way, mine could mimic his almost... I took the high road and got out and clawed my way up, doing right... I could have been just like him so there is no excuses for his horrific crimes. Pray for the victims, Levi is doomed for hell.. Nothing can wash away what he did...

Mytexas said...

I'll tell you what, when another Levi King pays a visit to your house in the middle of the night, gunning down your sleeping children, grandchildren, wife,husband, I'd like to see what you write about that person? He didn't lose his mind dummy! He didn't get held hostage fighting to get free! He walked in his right mind making a long before thought out decision to kill innocent men, women, children, old, young, babies!! He deserved to be hung

Mytexas said...

I hope your not the stupid one who voted and held out against the others. If you are I certainly feel sorry for your soul. Did you think about the innocent people he decided to be judge and jury over? To play God and end their lives, their futures, their choices, their happiness and their right to live life too? I've met and known murderers in my life, I've known many people who came from incredibly horrid childhoods. These people could make you cry from 1951 to 2016!! Beaten, raped, starved, drugged, living in filth for years. Little education too. But they didn't grow up to kill innocent people just because life deals hard hard hardships. This was not some 16 year old kid on the brink with nowhere to go. He is a grown man and that life was way in his past where he had adult choices to move up. He chose the low road where he could have chose the high road. This is America where he could have easily changed his life. Had he been in a poor horrible place in the world without options, maybe I could feel for him,, but not here. I spent 25 years traveling this world and have seen much horror, yet most even in those places do not even think of killing like he did! The least you could have done was think of his victims, their justice, their lives instead of crying over their killer who had choices. Shame shame shame on you!! He deserved death and you know it. I hope to god you never sit on a jury again because I'm pretty sure it was you....

Anonymous said...

I am in love with Levi king

Anonymous said...

I also am sad for Levi, I wish he was able to start over, I'd love him and make him feel loved. There's something behind those eyes, I'm in love with Levi king

Pa Rock said...

To "Anonymous" who posted on 9 September 2016: Have you met Levi? How would you support him and help see him through the difficult years ahead? What draws you to Levi? Please share your story.

Anonymous said...

I have to always go back to the old line, "What if it were my family?" Regardless of his horrific childhood, I believe the death penalty was absolutely called for. I am angry that children are allowed to live in environments such as his. Coming from rural Illinois, I know that appalling standards of life exist in these areas. The frightening part is that very few people really know because their lives are hidden. Usually social services are aware as are school administrators. It is so hard to picture these innocent victims content and secure in their homes and then this evil creature coming in and executing them. If ever the death penalty was warranted, it would be for him.










Anonymous said...

I do not or have not known any of the victims, their families or friends and I do not know Levi. I want that to be clear. What happened to Levi's victims is horrific and I will pray for them and all who love and care for them. To the poor little girl that had to play dead after her family was brutally murdered I will never no or understand your pain and how I wish none of this ever happened to you for none of you deserved any of this! I do not live in Texas I live in Ohio which also has an extremely high execution rates and what I wish everyone understood is just how much money it cost tax payers to execute someone, depending on the state they have so many appeals it is unreal and yes we pay for all of it. I understand all of your feelings when you say an eye for an eye and even that can be seen in other than just one way. Levi will not be executed, yet he will never be free to hurt anyone again. He will pay in more ways than we will ever understand and yes he still has to meet with his maker and only god has the ultimate say in what all of our punishments will be. Maybe it was the way I was raised, the faith I have, or just the fact that I myself could never condown anyone to death. Even when I punish my 5 year old I think about what will make a difference to help her learn what behaviors I feel are exceptable. I would never give her a punishment that I myself wasn't willing to have done onto me. There are also many executioners that are haunted for taking a life no matter what the persons crime was, they still have to face their maker and explain well that was my job and this haunts their lives and even causes some of them to take their own lives. 22 vetrians a day commit suicide which is a shame and we need to take time to save them, I wish you could all help save a vetrian rather then callin people horrible names for feeling sorry for Levi. Levi was horribly abused, things happened to him that I would never wish on my worse enemy. I have a family member that abused her child and I cannot tell you how horrible it wa to all of us each time her children were returned to her after we all tried to rescue them. Her children did not grow up to do the horrible and unreasonable actions that Levi took they still suffer unbelievably and I am sure Levi does as well and because he did horrific things we cannot sweep his suffering under the rug and that is what is wrong with our society. We all point fingers and express what we'd like to happen instead of standing up any screaming what we can do to change ourselves than what we can do to change or help to make a situation better! We should all stand up and fight for victims but not after the fact. Call king a juiror a name is just childish, I know for myself I wouldn't be able to sentence Levi to death after hearing about his past if I had to chose one person I felt deserve death it would be Scott Peterson, a kid that wasn't mistreated and had the world at his fingertips but was so selfish he killed Lacey and their unborn child but it makes me a hypocrite because I could not push the button or ask anyone else to push it. I was raise with the 10 commandments and I cannot kill even a killer! The 10 commandments do not say an eye for an eye, just because a person wrongs me, I do not wrong them or someone else! Think about it this way, why turn Levi into a victim? There will alway be people that feel sorry for him because that is human nature and there will always be people that say the system failed him and in a lot of ways it did. I do not condone anything he has done but I do not feel he was born evil he lived in evil and although he bother turn into a wonderful person all of us are wired differently and when wires are crossed bad things can and do happen. I do pray that all of you are blessed and never have to be victims and god forbid I hope none of you have to visit a loved one behind bars!

Anonymous said...

In my other post, I said that social workers and school authorities usually knew the families who had horrible living conditions. That doesn't mean they can always do anything about it. They try and try and sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Anonymous said...

I just seen this story the other day, I think a lot of sympathy goes to the criminals and nothing for the victims, which is insane. At the same time, I didn't have a great upbringing and so I understand that loneliness and anger towards society, I didn't realize I was abnormal until I grew up and realized everyone else is normal. So I can feel a degree of sympathy for Levi King in that he got lost in an evil world and played a part. But I'm glad he'll never have freedom because he doesn't deserve it, those people he murdered will never have a chance to live and he does.
I can't stand these people saying God will judge.... how evil is God to allow some to be raised in shitty circumstances and act accordingly and then be punished by him, how fucked up this world and after is ...

Anonymous said...

And also, these females that profess their undying love for these prisoners they've never met, as we say in Ireland ... wise up to yerselves!

Anonymous said...

I think a lot of people fail to consider the victims point of view. Over here, they're big on rehabilitation, that's all we hear. So, someone kills a person because they're angry, and they get rehabilitated so, ok, now they can go back into the world and run free... so, what does that mean for you? You, that lost your whole family because of this person? You, that lost your husband? Or mother? Or child? Nothing apparently because this poor person had a bad upbringing and he's now rehabilitated! Your loved one is gone, never to return, never to fulfill their purpose but that's ok because their killer is rehabilitated, their life musn't be as important as their killers. My point is, I have kids, I made them, if someone killed them because they were angry, I'd want nothing less than their heart ripped out

Anonymous said...

Sadly I agree. Those eyes yearn for love. If I could I would love to meet him. Regardless of his crimes, I would love him unconditionally

Anonymous said...

To PA Rock. This whole story is just so heart breaking for all involved. Is there another way to get in contact with you that's not on public display here?

Anonymous said...

Is he in demand for that? ( i'm not the same anonymous)

Educate women said...

3 square meals of semen and pubic hair or urine or feces in prison food

Anonymous said...

King says if he wasnt locked up he may kill again ...

nice job voting not for the death penalty .You are a disgrace!

Anonymous said...

Nobody has the right to judge this man. Only God. There is murder everyday in this country. Society failed Levi time and time again. He father and mother should have stood trial. He was groomed over a period of time to behave in a manner that made him feel nothing. He felt as though he was nothing. Its tragic from start to finish both for the peoples lives he took and for his own. Since this occurred their has been mass shootings of all sorts, people eating other peoples faces off while being on drugs.... i know for certain i dont not stand in the face of God and will ever say I choose to take a mans life for circumstances i have not walked myself. Yr a hypocrite if u say otherwise. That poor young 10yr old girl who lost her family told him that she forgives him. That in itself speaks volumes. He will never walk a free man. He will wake up and be reminded every single day of what and where his actions have done to himself and others. Shame on you society for not recognizing what possibly could have been corrected years before.

Firmbeliever said...

My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones ....and my heart also goes out to Levi and his siblings.
I've done a lot of research on Levi, his past and present.
As his upbringing is not an excuse for the killings, it is the reason.
I feel compassion and sadness for this man. For those whom may want to cuss me out, or tell me how "stupid" I am for feeling so, d ont waste your time.

Kisskisscake said...

I absolutely agree with you, Mytexas. I also know of many people who have been badly abused and if they killed someone, it was themself via suicide. I know of others who made a concerted effort to work closely with abused children, helping them to turn their lives around. Not only did this monster with ice running through his veins kill 5 innocent people, he destroyed a young girl's life for ever. Shame on you Amy Tompkins for not seeking vengence for the murder victims, but for giving a massin F.U. to that poor little girl who has had to live with this nightmare, knowing that this piece of evil will never have to worry about a roof over his head, food in his belly or medical costs for the rest of his days. Im disgusted with your comment to Mytexas that he sounds like a complete arsehole. You're the arsehole me thinks!

Kisskisscake said...

Bravo Mytexas. Your words are spot on.

Kisskisscake said...

I agree with you Anonymous.

Kisskisscake said...

👍

Kisskisscake said...

👍

Kisskisscake said...

Hear hear!

Kisskisscake said...

I agree.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone ever heard from the young survivor, Robyn, about what her thoughts on the sentence? I think as a victim and sole survivor she should have had some say in the sentence.

Wings said...

Levi is a close friend of mine and anyone here who speaks hate-filled words about him from what you heard on TV you are ignorant sheep who buy into anything the media tells you. And this Pa Rocks claims to have known him. I ask, why didn't you HELP?

K said...

I just saw a tv tv s that was telling this story. I wasn't able to finish it but it had caught my attention. I started researching it and have found some very interesting thoughts in myself as well as the comments and information I have read. Myself I am a survivor of mental/emotional/verbal and physical abuse, sexual abuse both childhood and adult, drugs and alcohol use due to the abuse from things I have been through. I am now sober and working on myself and the things I have suffered from or things I've done to myself. I've recently been experiencing brain memory function. Until you become a survivor you may never understand this concept but it has helped me understand and see things from so many more angles then I ever thought existed. First before the attacks... The surviving daughter forgave Levi on TV and all reports. The family stated that the may have chosen a different outcome but that they trusted their state to make the right decision. So who is any of us to go against the wishes of the actual living victims? You say that he is born evil? Levi tells a story about his father Scott forced him to go for a ride with a shotgun and a box of puppies... This he only did to Levi none of the other kids, and shot the box up in front of him. Levi said it made him sick and he walked 2 miles home because he couldn't be around him father after that. His father continued doing things of this nature. All of you that have told about your hard upbringings did you live this portion? The frontal lobe of the human brain doesn't finish developing until the age of 26-28. This is what tells up right and wrong, yes we all know the basics but this is a very vulnerable state of a young brain. He wasn't born evil this story and the story of the people that knew him as a child he is sweet, caring, sensitive, protective child. He was never shown how to deal with emotion except hate and fear. No parent or adult tried to protect him. There was no suggestion that life and be sweet and gentle and loving. He never knew a mother's touch, healing, tender loving kiss, that is why people say they love him or are in love with him. Think of your child or one of their friends is suffering don't you want to grab them hold them tell them they will be ok and you will protect them from evil?

K said...

Pit bulls are good dogs when they are born. They are sweet and loving and want you to rub their belly and feel them and snuggle. But a neglectful angry abusive owner TRAIN them to fight and be mean! The dog is put down but the owner is what make the dog do it...when such a young mind is broken... Can it be fixed? Can you give it the nurturing and love that was missed as a child? Can you awaken the sleeping scared child inside and retrain that child to know and understand love, what is right and wrong what is guild and regret? When they are trained to not know those emotions can you reintroduce? I'm not saying Levi should be released but is there even in the slightest a chance to help him understand those feelings and how to be more normal? Levi did say he had no guilt and no regrets yet he is helping other inmates understand that murder will not make those feelings go away. From his experiences he can help others not commit the same crime. Is that not some form of regret? Does that not show some sort of emotion? Maybe if he understood what he went through and where is problems stem from and worked on them he could learn to feel guilty and regret what he did. I don't want you to agree with me or fight with me, I see all angles. There have been days I want my aggressors to suffer but I will not ever be compared to them in anyway or shape. But I know there were several days that I could have easily chosen the same path and my past is nowhere near the same! Everyone takes things different! You never know what someone else has suffered, you never know where someone has been, who are you to judge? Are you perfect? Have you never committed one single crime in your life? Never been angry? Never does something... Anything that made you question if it was right or wrong? He will never breath free air, he will never wear a pair of jeans or normal shoes, he will eat crappy food, he will never know what it is like to be worthy or loved, never have a family of his own, never go to bed or wake up when he would like, never get justification for the things that were done to Levi the child. Levi will never know the man he was intended to be when he was a little boy dreaming of being a fireman, or police officer. This is his life.... Until the day that he finally dies or is killed. Is that not enough?

K said...

Pit bulls are good dogs when they are born. They are sweet and loving and want you to rub their belly and feel them and snuggle. But a neglectful angry abusive owner TRAIN them to fight and be mean! The dog is put down but the owner is what make the dog do it...when such a young mind is broken... Can it be fixed? Can you give it the nurturing and love that was missed as a child? Can you awaken the sleeping scared child inside and retrain that child to know and understand love, what is right and wrong what is guild and regret? When they are trained to not know those emotions can you reintroduce? I'm not saying Levi should be released but is there even in the slightest a chance to help him understand those feelings and how to be more normal? Levi did say he had no guilt and no regrets yet he is helping other inmates understand that murder will not make those feelings go away. From his experiences he can help others not commit the same crime. Is that not some form of regret? Does that not show some sort of emotion? Maybe if he understood what he went through and where is problems stem from and worked on them he could learn to feel guilty and regret what he did. I don't want you to agree with me or fight with me, I see all angles. There have been days I want my aggressors to suffer but I will not ever be compared to them in anyway or shape. But I know there were several days that I could have easily chosen the same path and my past is nowhere near the same! Everyone takes things different! You never know what someone else has suffered, you never know where someone has been, who are you to judge? Are you perfect? Have you never committed one single crime in your life? Never been angry? Never does something... Anything that made you question if it was right or wrong? He will never breath free air, he will never wear a pair of jeans or normal shoes, he will eat crappy food, he will never know what it is like to be worthy or loved, never have a family of his own, never go to bed or wake up when he would like, never get justification for the things that were done to Levi the child. Levi will never know the man he was intended to be when he was a little boy dreaming of being a fireman, or police officer. This is his life.... Until the day that he finally dies or is killed. Is that not enough?

Sarah said...

I would write to Levi, if it was an option. Only positive correspondence. Not sure if he would welcome this? Very sad story for everyone.

Sarah said...

I would write to Levi, if it was an option. Only positive correspondence. Not sure if he would welcome this? Very sad story for everyone.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully someone brutally murders your (grand)kids.

Anonymous said...

Levi is one of the most amazing men I've ever known. He is someone that truly never had a chance in life. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. Who are we to judge which offense is heavier than the next? As far as I know none of y'all will be passing judgment when his time comes. I thank God everyday that he didn't get the death penalty. I want not nothing more than to show him the life and love he's always needed. Everyone deserves a second chance and I hope to find a way to bring Levi home so I can give him a life he couldn't even imagine! I can guarantee it'll make all the difference in his world! For those of you so against Levi, maybe try a little love and forgiveness. It goes a long way. If we as a society would have loved him enough back in the day, none of this would have happened! Levi baby, you are loved, supported, and wanted. Don't let anyone make you feel less than. You made a mistake, a mistake that I'm sure won't be made ever again if your given a chance. I'll do everything in my power to bring you home and give you the world. I'll be right here waiting no matter how long. When those gates open and you walk out,into my loving arms, nothing else will ever matter again besides you and i. You are amazing, smart, kind, and full of love that most cant imagine. You're my soul mate and I thank God for you everyday. If Levi was so evil, how could god allow him to save me? Everytime my phone rings, I have a new reason to want to see tomorrow. The dream of one day mending every wound ever bestowed upon him, loving him unconditionally, showing him a new life, and giving him the world, allows me to go on one more day, just for him! God wouldn't put such power in an evil being. Someone that's evil wouldn't even care. Everyday I see his care, concern, depth and love and everyday I'm in awe of him. He truly is innocent in such a way that I wholly and completely love and accept him for who he was, is, and will become. Levi is a victim himself. His is truly a tragic tale all the way around. I pray I can give him the happy ending he deserves. A free life, out of prison, and thriving with me! I care not what anyone thinks of my choice, I just wish everyone could forgive and rally behind him so that the injustice could stop in his life!

Tripple6g@yahoo.com said...

I'd love to know who you are because Levi definitely isn't in a relationship...I was locked up with him for my whole bid. The amount of women he has taking care of him...HUE Hefner ain't got shit on him hahaha

Anonymous said...

I know how these kids lived everyone did and they should have been removed from the so called home from the beginning you all haa as ve blood on your hands

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, you're right! Many in that town and situation have blood on their hands.

Anonymous said...

"AnonymousFebruary 17, 2021 at 2:18 PM
Levi is one of the most amazing men"

Are you still in touch with him?

Anonymous said...

Tripple6g@yahoo.com is that for real the truth?

Anonymous said...

Hey yeah he does all all different girls, not sure if he is still in touch with that particular one as I knew her myself. But hey ho, he’s in prison. Can you blame him? Just enjoy whatever it is yuu have with him if it suits you. But yes, he does tell lies. Probably quite frequently, at least when he’s not I the hole.. just enjoy though…. Life is short.

Anonymous said...

Tripple6g@yahoo.com could you tell me more?

Anonymous said...

To Wings February 26, 2020 7:04pm.

I too have wondered “Why?”.

The psychiatrist stated Levi did not have the connection to another as most of us do beginning with our infancy. Levi did not know that feeling of security, safety, comfort or love; even the love known through the touch of your mother. He had none of that. His mother left him with that sick twist of a human she chose to father her children and he, Scott King, is the one directly responsible for Levi’s lack of empathy, morals, caring, or even fear. When you are young and treated so terribly and you have no self worth, no value of self, how can you possibly value other human beings(?). Where were the professionals, the teachers, the police - where were all the relatives that saw this. No water, no electricity, no meals, no guidance, none of life’s basics, but a hoard of weapons and a sick minded man who took his young son out to witness his father shoot and kill puppies. But we, society, of course we put the blame on Levi King because he is grown and should know that killing is wrong. Yes, he knew that but again, he didn’t care about his own life or if he lived or died, so how could he feel differently about strangers(?). He was never taught as a child, nor was he properly shown what we expect from one another. Levi was left, isolated and living with Scott King who was unfit to be around children. Everyone that knew this family knew how terrible the living conditions were. Their mother couldn’t live like that any longer so she left her mentally unbalanced husband and selfishly left her children behind. Why? So she could remarry and start a new life for herself. She knew the kind of man Scott King was and she chose to give him Levi. The children were her obligation. Mom and the sick man she chose to father her son are the ones who are responsible for Levi’s behavior, for his broken thought process.
Look around you, read the news. Daily, hourly, there are killings in our neighborhoods, in our streets. Every day on the news is a new body count and those committing these crimes are from similar backgrounds as Levi King. Uncaring, irresponsible parents, kids tossed around the system, horrid living conditions and no caring connection, no contact, no love from another human being. These kids see no future, their own lives are totally unimportant to them so why would we expect them to value the lives of others(?). We as a society are expecting these kids to just automatically know how to grow up to be decent human beings. Just look at all of those adults who knew what kind of life Levi King experienced during his terrible upbringing, and did nothing to stop the torture and abuse by his father. How could Levi King have been any different when he didn’t know better.

Levi King may never understand what it takes to feel love, empathy or self worth; and we fault HIM for that? We know why this happens and instead of holding the terrible parents responsible for ruining the minds and the lives of their children through neglect and abuse, we blame the adult children and we punish them for their terrible acts. And, yes, rightfully so, but those negligent and abusive parents should be punished as well. That is where this all begins.

Anonymous said...

To k May 9, 2020 2:06 PM

I too have more understanding of what led to Levi King’s lack of empathy.
Oddly enough the reply I saw to your post that was left by Anonymous January 23, 2021 at 7:17 PM - showed the same mean spirited mentality that Scott King possessed. To disagree is one thing, but to wish someone be brutally murdered is a sick mind.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous January 23, 2021 @
7:17 PM

That was a terrible Reply to have posted. Disagree and state your reasons but to wish that anyone be brutally murdered, is a similar mentality to that of Scott King and is responsible for why Levi King made the choices he did. Shame on you.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous February 17, 2021. @
2:18 PM

Quite an interesting post however, be wise and know that you are certainly not the only female who feels a strong connection with this young man. I can’t imagine he will ever be released from prison and you choosing to wait for him would be a waste of your life. At this point, it would be in your best interests to be a good friend to Levi but search for love outside of prison walls.

Anonymous said...

I just watched a show where this guy was interviewed years after these executions/slaughters. At the end of the show they asked him if he had any remorse or was sorry. He flat out says no. If anyone deserves the death penalty, it's Levi