Dead And Buried (37 page)
Authors: Corey Mitchell
FIFTY-NINE
July 20, 2001
Superior Court, San Luis Obispo, California
Superior Court, San Luis Obispo, California
The same cast of characters gathered one last time for the formal sentencing of Rex Krebs. In addition to the judge, the attorneys, the defendant, the court reporters, and the bailiffs, the contingent was also joined by Rachel’s sister, Ashley Newhouse, and Jody Crawford and Gail Eberhart Crawford, who had added her daughter’s last name before the trial.
Judge LaBarbera assembled the group for the final time. He complimented the attorneys on both sides for their professionalism.He also complimented Rex Krebs for his exemplary behavior in the courtroom. The judge then stated that he had read the probationary report conducted on Mr. Krebs and then asked John Trice if he had anything to add.
The prosecutor stated, “I’d like to present some written statements.” Cindy Marie Apsey and Karen Coffey from the victim witness division of the district attorney’s office read the victim impact statements. Apsey first read a letter written by Jeanne Steffan-Skelly, Rachel Newhouse’s aunt. The letter related Steffan-Skelly’s fears of being a mother, a parent, of sleepless nights fretting over the dangers the world presents to children. She spoke of how she dealt with those fears, but how she could not deal with “a phone call saying that your child is missing.”
Apsey continued to read Steffan-Skelly’s letter which spoke of the pain suffered by her sister, Montel Newhouse, and the entire Newhouse family. She worried about their mental health after losing Rachel. “When will their lives ever be the same again?” she wondered. “That answer is more obvious. Never.”
As Aspey continued to read the letters, tears welled up in the eyes of many in the gallery. She spoke of life not being fair. That even despite creating a loving environment, terror could strike a family at any time. And that to deal with the terror,one had to get out of bed every day and face what life throws at you.
“The pebble that ripples a pond does not stop at the shore,” Apsey quietly read. “It affects every moment from that second on and every living thing around it.”
She spoke of how people who suffer a tragedy must find a safe place to deal with their pain and suffering.
“It is my prayer that each of us who have loved Rachel in our own way can find the strength to go to that newly created place where we can repair our lives and rediscover happiness and trust. I wish that most for my sister and her family.
“Jeanne Steffan-Skelly.”
Karen Coffey then read a letter from Jody Crawford. In the letter, Aundria’s grandmother spoke of unfulfilled dreams. She also spoke of the necessity of executing Rex Krebs. She was very succinct.
“The day he took Aundria’s life, he gave up his own.”
Finally, Apsey again rose before the court. This time, she read a letter written well over a year earlier by Gail Eberhart Crawford.
“My heart is gone. My life, my being, the person I thought I was is gone. Aundria was my only daughter, my only child. She was my future. She is my past. I now have only past memories and pictures.” Apsey continued to relate the tormentthat Aundria’s mother endured since Aundria’s murder. More tears began to flow in the courtroom.
Apsey then read about Rex Krebs. “He murdered many lives when he murdered Aundria.” Apsey forged onward. “But she, of all of us, suffered more than anyone can imagine.”The letter continued to lay into Krebs, striking out at his lack of mercy, his lack of compassion, his inability to explain why he did what he did.
“This person knows right from wrong; he simply has no concern for any life other than his own.”
The letter conveyed Crawford’s disgust at Krebs’s crocodiletears. “He cries only for himself. I truly hope he is a dead man walking.” She spoke of how Krebs attacked her daughter,“like a snake in the grass, like the devil himself strikes in surprise, tortures and kills without mercy.
“Aundria is an angel now, and Rex Allan Krebs should burn in hell for all eternity.”
Apsey folded the sheet of paper and stepped back.
“Mr. Maguire,” inquired Judge LaBarbera, “do you or Ms. Ashbaugh or Mr. McLennan want to say anything?”
“No, Your Honor. However, I did tell Mr. Krebs that he would have an opportunity to speak to the court today if he wished. He asked me to inform the court that he tried to expresshow very, very sorry he is for the harm and grief that he’s caused. He tried most of last night to put that in words and found that the words were inadequate.”
“Thank you,” the judge replied. “All right. I’ll begin by reading from this judgment.” The judge read each count against Krebs for which he had been convicted, including the two charges of murder for which he would be executed. The judge ordered that Krebs pay $70,000 in restitution to Gail Eberhart Crawford.
“Mr. Krebs, it is now that I would ask you to stand.
“It is the judgment and sentence of the court that for the first-degree murder of Rachel Lindsay Newhouse, committedwith the attendant special circumstances alleged in the information as Enhancements One, Two, and Six, defendant Rex Allan Krebs shall be put to death within the walls of the California State Prison at San Quentin in the manner prescribed by law upon a date to be fixed by this court in a warrantof execution.
“Further, for the first-degree murder of Aundria Lynn Crawford, committed with the attendant special circumstancesalleged in the information as Enhancements Three, Four, Five, and Six, defendant Rex Allan Krebs shall be put to death within the walls of the California State Prison at San Quentin in the manner prescribed by law upon a date to be fixed by this court in a warrant of execution.
“The defendant is ordered remanded to the custody of the sheriff of the county of San Luis Obispo, without bail, to be delivered by him within ten days from Friday, July 20, 2001, to the warden of the California State Prison at San Quentin for the execution of said death sentence.
“Mr. Krebs, you may be seated.
“And your appeal is automatic.
“And we’re adjourned. Thank you.”
The most spiritual human beings, if we assume that they are the most courageous, also experience by far the most painful tragedies: but just for that reason they honor life because it pits its greatest opposition against them.
—Frederich Nietzsche
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you Lisa Valdez, Karen Spisak, Debbie Norrie, Heidi Kyzer, Ann Burum, Valerie Valine, John Trice, David Zaragoza, Larry Hobson, James Maguire III, Patricia Ashbaugh, Judge Barry LaBarbera, and Rex Krebs.
A special thank you to Aphrodite Jones. Also Paul Dinas and Karen Haas, former editors at Kensington, Michaela Hamilton, current editor-in-chief and resident angel who bent over in every way possible to help me deal with my grief and still complete this book, and copy editor Steffie Finnegan.
Thank you doctors Mark Goodman and Richard Ross. Also Paula Loring for providing the young men’s grief support group. Thank you to the kind souls of that group who have shared their pain with me and softened mine along the way.
Thank you to all of my friends for being there for me after Lisa’s death, especially Peter Soria, Dennis McDougal, Dana Holliday, Chris Goldrup, Beverly Rubin-Goldrup, Erika Cavi-cante,Steve Brenner, and David Weiner. Also to Mike Sheppard, Knox Williams, Ray Seggern, David Schafer, Bob and Sandra Price, Kathryn Soria, Lynette Sheppard, Kelly Nugent, Phil Savoie, Mark McComb, Clint Stephen, Kevin and Shana Fowler, Trey and Missy Chase, Ricky Butler, Lupe Garcia, and Cindy Rapp. Thank you also to everyone who attended the funeral and/or sent cards. Your support was and is incalculable.
For my wonderful in-laws, Ted and Donna Popp. Lisa lives on through both of you. For Lynn, Leane, Ted Jr., Sara, Craig, Tres, Connie, Mike, Howard, Sonja, Ilona, Charlie, Sherrie, and Gene.
For my family, thank you for everything, before and after. My incredible parents, Don and Carol. My loving brothers Kyle and Darrin. Their fantastic wives Ramona and DeDe. For Ronnie and Madison Mitchell, Dick Yarbrough, Renee and Bill Runyan, Barbara, Mickey, and C.J. Rehak, Todd Solomon, and Jeremy Frey. Rest peacefully Grandma, Aunt Bessie, Marjorie, and Daddy Mitchell.
An extra-special thanks to Audra Burke for giving me a reasonto love life again.
Thank you, Lisa. I will love you eternally. You are still alive inside of me.
Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals connected to this story.
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Copyright © 2003 by Corey Mitchell
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ISBN: 978-0-7860-3202-0
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