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Vigil held by those against death penalty

By Nicole DiDonato - bio | email
Posted by Jill Lyman - email

EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - Some people against the death penalty held a vigil Thursday night at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville, just a few hours before the execution of Eric Wrinkles.

Tracy Hobgood read over some of the last letters Wrinkles wrote to her. Hobgood was in the house that fatefull night when Wrinkles stormed in and killed Hobgood's aunt, Debbie Wrinkles and Debbie's brother and sister-in-law.

Hobgood was supposed to be in Michigan City, Thursday night,  but decided at the last minute she didn't want to go see Wrinkles die.

Hobgood is against the death penalty and believes Wrinkles was already living out his punishment. She read part of his letter.

"I've had 15 years in here to try to deal with all of this shame, guilt, remorse and sadness, and it still isnt enough. I don't think it ever will be," said Wrinkles in the letter.

Mary Winnecke, the mother of victim Natalie Fulkerson, is also against the death penalty. She attended the prayer vigil.

"We're mourning our daughter's death, her husband, and Debbie. Now we're mourining Eric's death. So, it's a funeral," said Winnecke.

Winnecke feels it's not right for the Wrinkles' children to lose another parent.

mourningt their mother, and now they're losing their father. While he shouldn't be out on the street, it's still different to think tomorrow my father is going to be dead," said Winnecke.

As the family listens in on the prayer service, Natalie Fulkerson's grown daughter says she can't help but feel the death penalty is an easy way out. She says this will not bring any closure.

"There are people that care about him, and they're going to be hurting too. I care about the man he used to be. I greive for the loss of that man," said Natalie's daughter, Kim Dillman. 

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