Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
A Tale of Two Pictures: An Interaction with Carman Deck, Scheduled to Be Executed in Missouri on May 3, 2022

A Tale of Two Pictures: An Interaction with Carman Deck, Scheduled to Be Executed in Missouri on May 3, 2022

Last updated on: May 3, 2022 at 7:29 pm by Jeff Hood

A Tale of Two Pictures: An Interaction with Carman Deck, Scheduled to Be Executed in Missouri on May 3, 2022 2022-05-03T19:29:03-06:00 Jeff Hood

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

April 30, 2022

A Tale of Two Pictures: An Interaction with Carman Deck, Scheduled to Be Executed in Missouri on May 3, 2022

For years, I believed that people don’t change. Until, I started to change. Now, I know people change.

In what can be described as an act of pure evil, Carman Deck brutally slaughtered James and Zelma Long of De Soto, Missouri. Of this, there is no doubt. In fact, Deck has admitted to what he did.

Under the guise of asking for directions, Deck knocked on the Long’s door. In an act of compassion, Zelma invited him (and his codefendants) in. When inside the house, Deck pulled a pistol and ordered Zelma and her husband James to lie face down on their bed. For 10 minutes, Deck listened to the couple beg for mercy. Then, he shot and killed them. Lies. Greed. Torture. Murder.

For whatever reason, time didn’t stop there. Deck continued to live. Those who remained, were forced to figure out what to do with him.

During his initial sentencing process, major mitigating factors were left out. Including, the fact that Deck was abused and abandoned during childhood. Such mitigating factors are presented to give juries information that might contribute to a propensity to exercise mercy during sentencing. Based on repeated process deficiencies, Deck’s death sentences have been overturned three different times. Presently, Deck is about to be executed largely based on the procedural fact that much of the mitigating evidence that was available multiple decades ago is no longer available to stop the execution. To say that the process has been legally deficient would be an understatement.

Now, we are left with another moment of reckoning. I guess we are defined by such moments. Next Tuesday, Carman Deck is scheduled to be executed. Those of us who remain, are forced to figure out what to do with Deck. How will we choose to proceed? The answer to that question will say more about us than it does Deck.

Which brings us back to the original line of thought. Do people change? I guess only you can answer such a question. Have you ever changed?

While I don’t know Deck, I can look at two pictures. Do you see any change between the initial prison shot and the latest prison shot? There appears to be great change. Maybe that which we were isn’t always definitive of that which we are.

The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood

Dean

The Rev. Charles Moore Professor of Prophetic Theology

The New Theology School

Convener
Clergy United Against the Death Penalty

The New Theology School

Zelma Long

Previous Post

April 26, 2022

The Tragedy of Carl Buntion: Dr. Barbara Laubenthal & The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood on The Movement to Abolish the Death Penalty, Melissa Lucio & Indifference to an Execution

Next Post

May 2, 2022 Clergy United Against the Death Penalty: An Introduction & Invitation to Support

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Danny & Jeff fresh writings latest poetics north texas fellowship of reconciliation Sermon theology from death row Thoughts Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did the disciples do when Jesus asked them to stay awake in the garden?

Select your answer to see how you score.

They sang They prayed They left They fell asleep