Man on death row in 'Boys Don't Cry' case is engaged to be married

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130513/NEWS/705139955/1685#man-on-death-row-in-boys-don-t-cry-case-is-engaged-to-be-married

Published Monday, May 13, 2013 at 12:30 am / Updated at 12:23 pm

By Joe Duggan

LINCOLN — A Nebraska death row inmate whose killings were depicted in the movie “Boys Don't Cry” is engaged to be married.

John Lotter and a woman from Washington state recently applied for a marriage license at the courthouse in Tecumseh, Neb., the community closest to the state prison where death row inmates are housed.

Lotter, 41, said in an interview last week that he has not yet gotten married. But he otherwise declined to discuss his plans or his relationship with Jeanne Bissonnette, 50, of Lakewood, Wash.

“I'd really like to keep this part of me as private as I can,” he said.

FULL story at link.

[Nolimit]

1. Not surprising

There are some weirdos who have a fetish for prisoners. A lot of serial killers get lots of love letters and marriage proposal.

[anneboleyn]

13. True. Ted Bundy had groupies at his trials. Ted Bundy, ffs. I can't imagine what these women

are thinking.

[Tx4obama]

2. In my opinion there should be a law that says you can't marry while in prison...

I know that if you've been convicted of a felony you can't vote while in prison.

Letting folks get married in prison to me is just WRONG.

[morningfog]

7. I don't see the problem.

Consenting adults should be permitted to marry who they want. I would bet, but I haven't looked, that prisoners who marry show improved behavior/less management issues. If they are ever paroled, it no doubt improves the reentry to have a stable long term relationship to transition into. I would guess it decreases recidivism.

[Tx4obama]

9. Folks on death row shouldn't have the 'joy' of a marriage, it also cause legal problems

The women they marry will fight in court to have the 'right' to bear a child, via artificial insemination etc.
Why should a person on death row have a 'right' to reproduce?
Then there is the problem of the lifer not being able to provide 'support' for the child,
so if the woman is not able to provide for the child on her own the taxpayers pick up the bill.

The lifers on death row are supposed to be paying the price for committing a crime, not there to enjoy life, marry, or produce offspring.
It is not fair to the families of the victims.

Just my opinion.

[FreeState]

11. Marriage is one of the fundamental rights of man

Per the USSC. Your advocating taking away a fundamental right from a group of people? Why?

By the way being married in prison does not necessarily give you "a 'right' to reproduce."
Currently, only six U.S. states allow prison conjugal visits within their prison systems: California, Connecticut, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York and Washington, NOT Nebraska.

[Tx4obama]

12. If they do not want to lose their rights, then they shouldn't do anything to end up on death row.

If a person is found guilty of killing another human being (and or multiple people) then they should have their right to marry taken away.
They have taken the life of their victims away and should be punished - to not reproduce should be part of that punishment.


San Quentin inmates sue for right to reproduce
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7692182.html

Prisoners, their wives and the right to reproduce
http://www.bionews.org.uk/page_37869.asp

Prisoner's Rights to Artificial Insemination
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7223219_prisoner_s-rights-artificial-insemination.html

Killer dads to reproduce?
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2001-10-03/news/news-clips-mdash-killer-dads-to-reproduce/

[CakeGrrl]

14. I agree with this.

Marrying and having a family is to live a life that they denied their victims (however abbreviated it may be) - not reflecting on their crime.

[cali]

18. Actually, in Vermont and Maine you can vote while in prison for a felony

[Warpy]

3. Best husbands in the world are lifers

Think about it: you always know where he is, he never leaves you worrying when he comes home late, you don't have to put up with his drinking or temper tantrums, there is no way he can ever hit you, there are no nubs in the sink, the loo seat is always down, you don't have to worry about other women, he doesn't cut his fingernails in bed, it doesn't matter if he snores like a jetliner and hogs the covers and you never have to cook him anything or pull his filthy underwear out from under the bed to wash it.

You get all the benefits and none of the aggravation, showing pictures (mug shots) of your wonderful husband while never really having to deal with him beyond writing sappy letters and turning up on visitor's day to talk to him through bulletproof glass. You don't even have to look your best like a mistress does. Just put in minimal effort when you see him and you'll always be gorgeous.

The only anxiety would be around do gooders who'd want to parole them someday. Then you'd be desperately clawing for an annulment on the basis of non consummation and looking for another lifer.

(and no, this homophobic jerk shouldn't be let out unless it's to a nursing home)

[Earth_First]

4. Nice characterizarion of men you've got there... nt

[Warpy]

5. If you can't tell how tongue in cheek that was

I suspect it's your problem. Work on that.

[Texasgal]

6. Yikes!

Did you forget the sarcasm tag?

[morningfog]

8. People are giving you a hard time on this, but your point is accurate.

I have met lifers and their spouses who married while in prison. While incarcerated, the wife said similar things that you did, although with more seriousness. It comforted her to know exactly where he was while not having to deal with the problems of living with someone. When his conviction was overturned many years later and he moved in with her, they had a very hard time adjusting.

[SwissTony]

15. Good post, Warpy. On a lighter note, Catherine Tate - warning: contains comedy.

[Raine]

17. Actually for many that is the benefit of marrying a spouse that's a lifer. nt

[MADem]

10. Well, this guy is on death row -- I think it's unlikely he'll be mowing the lawn or painting the

picket fence anytime soon, and based on his crime, he shouldn't be.

He's also unlikely, given the age of his soon-to-be bride, to reproduce and pass on any murderous genetic code, if there even is such a thing. Besides, he'd have a tough time doing that (though it isn't entirely impossible) given the restrictions in the prison system where he is held:

Prison weddings follow a strict policy that allows only two witnesses and someone to perform the ceremony. The inmate is allowed to receive a ring and photos of the ceremony, but there can be no refreshments or decorations.

Nebraska does not allow the couple to consummate the union, nor does the state permit conjugal visits for married inmates.

He probably wants extra money in the prison canteen so he can have an extra candy bar or some other luxury items every now and again, and she wants the rights to his "story" after the state executes him. It's a mutual exchange for the benefit of both, perhaps.

Who knows, though? Who really cares about him?

I feel bad for his victims' loved ones--they're the ones who have to read this and go "UGH."

[BainsBane]

16. I don't know what possesses these women

to involve themselves with men in prison, let alone on death row. It's a very strange phenomenon. I wonder, do female prisons get groupies too?