A while back I got a call from an editor who wanted to assign me to the firing squad execution of convicted killer Ronnie Lee Gardner. He asked me if I’d have any problems doing that, if it would get into my head or whatever. If I were to be a witness to this man being shot (and I’m not), would it affect me? I looked inside for some kind of feeling and found nothing. No reaction to the idea. So, “Sure, I’ll do it,” I said.

Of course, it’s naive to think that being part of the execution coverage would have absolutely no affect on you, but that was my first reaction. I have now covered several court hearings leading up to tonight’s scheduled execution.

The first assignment was to meet with the Kirk family, to tell their story. Deputy Nick Kirk was shot during one of Gardner’s escape attempts. He survived, but his health was never the same.

Another assignment was a hearing at the Utah Supreme Court, where Gardner’s attorneys were making an argument to overturn the execution. In the court you’re stuck in a corner and good shots are hard to come by. Outside after the hearing, attorneys spoke to microphones and TV cameras. I watched for a few minutes and left. In the lobby I came across a split second scene. Two widows of Gardner’s violence, VelDean Kirk and Kathy Potter, sharing a quick and emotional embrace. I only got two or three frames before it was over, and because of that the composition of the moment isn’t perfect…

I approached Mrs. Potter to ask for her name, which I didn’t know at the time. The man she was with waved me off saying, “She doesn’t want to be involved.” I was starting to back off when she said something like, It’s okay. My name is Kathy Potter. I am Melvyn Otterstrom’s widow.

To be continued…