Happy Thanksgiving to me!

It has been a loooong 15 years spent entangled with Scott Roeder. There have been many ups and downs, twists and turns in that time. I thought this was all behind me after his initial sentencing at his first trial, but nooooo, the US Supreme Court had to hand down the ruling that only a jury is able to hand down "Hard 50" sentencing. In the end, it will be okay in my situation, because Scott probably doesn't have too much longer to be upright and above the ground. It was mentioned in the news article that he is having prostate problems, so my guess is that if they're mentioning it, then he more than likely has cancer. If he were human, I'd feel bad for him. Now, I can only hope that my daughter will be spared any chance of having to be exposed to him.

Man who killed abortion doctor gets more lenient sentence [Associated Press] ROXANA HEGEMAN Associated PressNovember 23, 2016

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The man who seven years ago ambushed and fatally shot one of the few U.S. doctors performing late-term abortions was given a more lenient sentence Wednesday of at least 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. At a surprise resentencing hearing, prosecutors withdrew their request that Scott Roeder serve at least 50 years before parole eligibility. Roeder also was sentenced to an additional two years for aggravated assault for threatening two church ushers as he fled. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said that the decision not to seek the added time was reached by prosecutors after examining Roeder's health, his expected life span and the likelihood of whether he would ever be released from prison alive. The family of victim Dr. George Tiller also was consulted, he said. Roeder was convicted in January 2010 of premeditated first-degree murder for the shooting death of Tiller as he was serving as an usher in the foyer of the doctor's church in Wichita on May 31, 2009. Tiller's murder was among the most notorious acts of violence since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the procedure nationwide in 1973. It alarmed the abortion rights community and came as numerous conservative states, including Kansas, passed restrictions making it harder for women to obtain abortions. The hearing Wednesday came just days before Roeder was set to go before a jury on Monday for what had been anticipated to be a two-week sentencing hearing. Roeder's original life sentence with no chance of parole for 50 years was among many vacated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that juries, not judges, must decide whether to increase punishment. "I was really shocked about today," Roeder said in a prison phone call to The Associated Press after the hearing. "I was glad obviously to hear the sentence reduced, but I was looking forward to being another voice for the unborn — so I was disappointed in that respect." He said he knew the consequences of his actions going in and has "no regrets" because children have been saved because of him. Roeder, who suffers from prostate problems, looked much thinner than at his initial sentencing in 2010 and was subdued throughout the proceeding. He chose not to make a courtroom statement before the judge pronounced his sentence. That was in contrast to the previous sentencing hearing that Roeder used as a forum to espouse at length his anti-abortion views in an effort to justify his killing the doctor to save unborn babies. Bennett told reporters after the hearing that "rather than putting the community and the victim's family and witnesses through another contested hearing" in order to extend a 58-year-old inmate's parole eligibility from 25 to 50 years, the state decided to withdraw the request. He cited Roeder's declining health and doubts he would live long enough to ever get out of prison. Bennett said the decision was made "in the best interest" of the community and Tiller's family. Bennett also read a statement from Tiller's family saying nothing will change the fact Tiller was assassinated, and the family continues to grieve his loss. The family cited the "very difficult and emotionally draining trial" in which Roeder was found guilty, and thanked those involved for ensuring it was a fair trial. Tiller's family said they had decided to support the sentence of a minimum 25 years in prison without parole. "With this legal closure, the Dr. George Tiller family will continue to heal and thrive and live fully in our communities," their statement said. The abortion rights group Trust Women, which opened a clinic in 2013 in the same facility where Tiller once practiced, said in a statement its staff is grateful the doctor's family has some measure of closure and healing. Its founder, Julie Burkhart, said Roeder deserves the maximum sentence allowed by law. "Dr. Tiller's assassination most certainly left a hole in the reproductive rights movement, but we remain committed to this critical work in his honor and memory," Burkhart said. Defense attorney Mark Rudy said after the hearing that he thinks his client is relieved it is over, and no appeal is planned. The defense has already lost on every other appeal issue and this is the minimum sentence Roeder could hope to receive, he said. "We are glad we can put this to rest," Rudy said.

DA withdraws Hard 50 for Scott Roeder

Posted: Wed 8:44 AM, Nov 23, 2016 | Updated: Wed 10:28 PM, Nov 23, 2016 The Sedgwick County District Attorney has withdrawn the Hard 50 sentence against Scott Roeder. Marc Bennett asked a judge this morning to default Roeder to life in prison with a chance of parole in 25 years. Roeder was also sentenced to 24 months on three counts of aggravated battery, those would be added to the end of that 25 years. Roeder was sentenced to the Hard 50 in 2010 after being convicted of murdering Wichita abortion provider, Dr. George Tiller. That Hard 50 was among many vacated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that juries, not judges, must decide whether to increase punishment. His re-sentencing trial was set to begin on Monday. Bennett says the decision was made after discussing with Tiller's family. He says the change in the sentence will spare the family, the community, the court system and the witnesses from another trial, which could last two to three weeks. After the hearing, Bennett read a statement from the family which read, in part: "There will be no further legal hearing or recourse afforded him. With this legal closure, the Dr. George Tiller family will continue to heal and thrive and live fully in our communities. We wish to convey our gratitude to all our friends and allies that have stood by Dr. Tiller and our family for many, many years." Bennett says, even with the new sentence, it is highly unlikely Roeder will ever get out of prison. Roeder will be 76 before he will see a parole board. Even if he's granted parole, he will still need to serve the additional 24 months. Some feel he deserved a harsher sentence. The Trust Women Foundation, which has continued Dr. Tiller's work by opening clinics that offer abortion care, released a statement saying in part, "There is not a day at our clinics that we don't remember Dr. Tiller and his dedication to women"..."The extremist who murdered Dr. Tiller deserves the maximum sentence allowed by law."