Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Address(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Committed to ending the death penalty and creating a new vision of justice

  • Who We Are
    • Mission & History
    • Our Values
    • People Most Proximate
    • Coalition Members
    • Staff & Board
    • Our Funders
  • What We Do
  • Why End the Death Penalty?
    • Column 1
      • Racism
      • Innocence
      • Intellectual Disability & Mental Illness
    • Column 2
      • Public Safety
      • High Cost of Death
      • Waning Support
    • Column 3
      • Lethal Injection
      • Antiquated Sentences
      • Unfair Trials
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Get Involved
  • Donate

Search NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Stories from Death Row

Center for Death Penalty Litigation attorney and executive director Gretchen Engel in her office, holding a large-scale painting of a Native American girl in blue dress with an owl perched near her shoulder.

An execution’s aftermath: “I watched him die 15 years ago, and I still talk to him sometimes”

Aug 22, 2018
On that terrible day, the worst moment was telling Quentin’s family that the governor had denied clemency, and that he would be killed in 90 minutes. His younger sister let out a howl that I can still hear now. She sounded like an animal dying in a trap. A social worker and I then went to give Quentin the news. When we told him, and started sobbing, he gathered us into his arms and comforted us. Quentin was so much more than the worst thing he’d done.... Read More →

An execution’s aftermath: “I watched him die 15 years ago, and I still talk to him sometimes”

August 22, 2018 · Kristin Collins

Center for Death Penalty Litigation attorney and executive director Gretchen Engel in her office, holding a large-scale painting of a Native American girl in blue dress with an owl perched near her shoulder.
Center for Death Penalty Litigation attorney and executive director Gretchen Engel in her office, holding a large-scale painting of a Native American girl in blue dress with an owl perched near her shoulder.

On that terrible day, the worst moment was telling Quentin’s family that the governor had denied clemency, and that he would be killed in 90 minutes. His younger sister let out a howl that I can still hear now. She sounded like an animal dying in a trap. A social worker and I then went to give Quentin the news. When we told him, and started sobbing, he gathered us into his arms and comforted us. Quentin was so much more than the worst thing he’d done…. Read More →

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Latest News, Stories from Death Row, Why We Care

A life condemned: Remembering my client who died on death row

Nov 14, 2017
My client, Terry Ball, slipped away with barely a mention after living on N.C. death row for almost 25 years. I believe his life is worth remembering, and that his story, like all my clients’ stories, hold keys to understanding the origins of crime and our shared humanity with people labeled the worst of the worst.... Read More →

A life condemned: Remembering my client who died on death row

November 14, 2017 · Kristin Collins

My client, Terry Ball, slipped away with barely a mention after living on N.C. death row for almost 25 years. I believe his life is worth remembering, and that his story, like all my clients’ stories, hold keys to understanding the origins of crime and our shared humanity with people labeled the worst of the worst…. Read More →

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Latest News, Stories from Death Row, Why We Care

Footer

Contact

NCCADP Alternate Logo
NCCADP
123 West Main St., Suite 700
Durham, NC 27701
noel@nccadp.org
919-956-9545

The Latest via Twitter

Day 2 of an important hearing in KS. Focus on systemic racism and jury selection for death penalty trials. Thanks @brianwstull for keeping us posted #RacistRoots twitter.com/brianwst…

About 9 hours ago

Creating a new vision of justice starts with a new vision of safety! twitter.com/Emancipa…

About a day ago

Curious about this approach. What would you share?Want to help The N&O deepen criminal justice reporting? Share tips here. newsobserver.com/new…

About 4 days ago

Discrimination is not an accident. Prosecutors are trained for it. Follow the link for details on how to attend or watch this case before our state's highest court on Feb 8. #RacistRoots #NCDeathPenalty #CooperCommute twitter.com/RDunhamD…

About 4 days ago

RT @Kelan_Lyons They packed the courtroom early, filling so many seats that a line stretched out the door. In the past, many of the onlookers had been in handcuffs, jails and prison cells. Now, they wanted access to the ballot box A @NCPolicyWatch/@boltsmag collaboration ncpolicywatch.com/20…

About 4 days ago

Stay Connected

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design