The state of Missouri has carried out the execution of William Rousan, who was convicted of the murders of Grace and Charles Lewis in 1993.
Following his execution early Wednesday morning, one of the Lewises’ children, Michael, read the following statement to the media:
“I draw no real satisfaction from Mr. Rousan’s incarceration or execution, for neither can replace or restore the moments lost with my parents or give my sons back the grandparents they never got to know. Nor can it fully heal the broken hearts and lives of our family, or his family who my heart also goes out to.
“I hope that Mr. Rousan made peace with Jesus, for that is what Charles and Grace Lewis would want, for sure.
As for the death penalty, I think the delay from sentencing to finalization is too long. I have never thought of it as revenge or justice served in terms of an “eye for eye” so to speak. Nor do I see it as a big deterrent to would be criminals. But I still believe it is a humane and permanent prevention of further criminal activities by the convicted inmate.”
Lewis declined to take questions from the media. He was joined at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre by his wife, two sisters and a brother-in-law, none of whom spoke to the media.