Attorney General's News Release

March 3, 2005

Names and stories behind “Murder Wall” convey impact of crime, Nixon says

Karen Long, daughter-in-law of the late James and Zelma Long, speaks at the unveiling of The Murder Wall as Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins and Attorney General Nixon look on.

Jefferson City, Mo. — The stories behind the thousands of names on the traveling memorial known as the Murder Wall convey the true impact crime has on society, Attorney General Jay Nixon says. Nixon spoke at a ceremony in the rotunda of the Missouri state Capitol today, marking the arrival of the wall in Jefferson City.

"It is always moving to hear first hand from those whose lives have been affected by violent crime," Nixon said. "All the statistics and data on crime compiled by government agencies do not carry a fraction of the impact as hearing the words of someone for whom this is a deeply personal issue."

Those attending the ceremony heard from Bill and Karen Long. Bill Long's parents, James and Zelma Long, were murdered in their Jefferson County home in 1996. Their murderer, Carman Deck, has received the death penalty twice. Bill and Karen Long were in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to hear arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on the case PDF file.

"The thousands of names on this wall are not some abstract concept," Nixon said. "Each name represents someone who was loved — as a son or a daughter, as a mother or father, as a brother or sister, and as a friend. They all were taken away from those they loved and those who loved them through some act of violence that defies rational explanation."

Nixon said too often society only remembers the names of those who committed murderous acts — not the names of their victims.

"We need to continue to change this way of thinking," Nixon said. "In the last 20 years, we have seen changes in the attitude of society toward crime victims. The principal of establishing and protecting rights for the victims of crime has taken root and become stronger in this country."

The Attorney General said law enforcement has taken steps to increase notification of victims and to establish victims' advocates in their counties, including the pioneering effort of the Victim/Witness Services Unit established by the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in 1978.

Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins and state Sen. Jon Dolan, of Lake St. Louis, also spoke at the ceremony.

"All of us need to work together so that we don't have to put any more names on this wall," Nixon said.

The Murder Wall... Honoring Their Memories was created in 1987 by Parents of Murdered Children, a national organization that has as its vision "to provide support and assistance to all survivors of homicide victims while working to create a world free of murder."

The Murder Wall will remain on display in the state Capitol through March 9.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818