AN OPEN letter to Vicki Schieber:

Dear Mrs. Schieber,

Please accept my belated condolences for the tragic passing of your daughter, Shannon.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Shannon, but I prayed for her. All of Philadelphia grieved for her loss. By all accounts, Shannon was a bright and talented woman. I will not pretend to understand the pain that her death caused you and your family.

This city share your relief that, at long last, the police have in custody the man they believe responsible for her murder. I was relieved when Troy Graves pleaded guilty to kidnapping and other crimes related to six attacks on women near Colorado State University. As you know, he now stands accused of not only murdering your daughter but of also committing five sexual assaults in Philadelphia.

If he is convicted of Shannon's murder, the judicial system will have to confront the always difficult question of sentencing, and that is the reason for this note.

I read with interest a quote attributed to you. You said:

"I just have said very openly and publicly that we would rather, down the road, sit across a jail cell someday and talk to this person, and maybe he would realize what he did. But to put him to death, that would be very sad for me."

While I certainly understand your reluctance to sit through a long and painful trial, I must respectfully question your desire that the killer of your daughter not be put to death.

I do not want to be misunderstood, so let me say this clearly - I do not for one second question your love and devotion to your daughter. I would never imply that you are somehow not fighting for Shannon or honoring her memory in pushing for a life sentence. I have watched you on TV and my heart aches for you every time you are shown.

Having said that, my view is that if Troy Graves murdered your daughter, committed six sexual assaults in Colorado, and five more in Philadelphia, he should pay with his life.

It seems to me that if any of the victims had been able to take the life of their attacker, society would never have questioned that outcome. It would have been viewed as "just." So why should today be any different?

I know that you have filed a lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia because you believe that police should have broken down the door of Shannon's apartment. Well, what if they had done so, found her attacker doing her harm and shot him dead?

Would that have been objectionable? Not to me.

And perhaps not to you. The delay in apprehension should not alter that outcome.

Your opinion that Mr. Graves should not be put to death raises an interesting question: What weight should be given to your sentiments? I believe strongly in victims' rights. And for that reason, I believe ample weight should be given to your opinions.

However, I do not believe that any one citizen's feelings should determine that decision - even if that citizen is the victim. That would result in disparate sentencing in society. Troy Graves, if guilty, committed a murderous act against society, and society's interests must be paramount.

Society's interests require serious consideration of a death sentence. We never want another promising young woman to have her life cut short by a murderous thug, and we must consider the deterrence that a death sentence in this case might provide.