Connecticut Lawmakers Vote to Keep Death Penalty

With the execution of serial rapist and killer Michael Ross scheduled May 11, Connecticut legislators voted down a bill that would have overturned the state's death penalty, in spite of a plea from one of Ross' victims.

The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 89-60 against a proposal that would have commuted the death sentences of seven death row inmates to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"I'm not a killer. I couldn't do it," Vivian Dobson said. "I'm so sorry to the parents because I lived and their babies died. And I can't change that. But I don't want to be a part of killing somebody else."

Dobson escaped her attack by Ross and survived after pulling a knife on him.

"For 18 years, I've been hiding my feelings and holding in my feelings to help those poor girls that he took away from everybody. And I can't. I can't. I can't do it," said Dobson. "I've been carrying guilt because now his blood's going to be on my hands, too. And I can't do it. That's not me."

See Also:
Conn. Lawmakers Won't Ban Death Penalty

Background:
Profile of Serial Killer -- Michael Ross