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Juvenile Death Penalty Christopher Simmons |
Media Advisory
Contact: Sue McGraugh
314-303-4061
314-352-0903
For Immediate Release
Missouri Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Experts to Rally April 24 at Statehouse to Ask Governor to Spare Life of Christopher Simmons
Impending Execution Runs Counter to Midwest and National Moves to Abolish Juvenile Death Penalty
Jefferson City: Christopher Simmons, who suffers from schizotypal personality disorder and was age 17 at the time of his first and only criminal offense, is scheduled to be executed on May 1 in Potosi. Simmons' fate now lies in the hands of Missouri Governor Bob Holden, who has exclusive power to commute a death sentence to life in prison. The last time Missouri executed a juvenile offender was in 1993. Missouri legislators are currently considering a bill to repeal the juvenile death penalty in Missouri.
Cheryl Hayes, mother of Christopher Simmons will be joined at a news conference on Tuesday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. in the Rotunda at the Capitol Building by:
- Jennifer Brewer, attorney for Chris Simmons
- Sister Elaine AuBuchon, SSND, Criminal Justice Ministry, Society of St. Vincent De Paul of St. Louis, and spiritual advisor to Chris
- Elizabeth Gaines, Youth Policy Analyst, Citizens for Missouri's Children
- Senator Roseann Bentley (R-Springfield), sponsor of legislation to raise the age limit for the death penalty from 16 to 18 in Missouri
If Simmons' clemency is denied, Chris will be executed on Wednesday, May 1 at 12:01 a.m.
A web site has been established by the American Bar Association's Juvenile Justice Center containing information about Simmons' case and the juvenile death penalty in general at http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/simmons.html
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