This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
How ironic that an editorial on the opinion page of the Tribune on Feb. 5, spoke out against the death penalty, when the death penalty would have been the only just punishment for Nathan Sloop and his wife (and so-called "mother" of Ethan Stacy) Stephanie ("Nathan Sloop pleads guilty to killing stepson," Tribune).
It is so sad that few of the parents who kill their children, whom they are supposed to defend with their lives, ever face the ultimate penalty. The most innocent in our society never quite measure up in importance when the death penalty is considered.
Nathan Sloop did not take responsibility: "That boy died on my watch and I'm horribly sorry." How about "I tortured and killed Ethan." How convenient that he was mentally ill at the time of the murder, but now is not!
I am sickened by this whole fiasco. I can only hope that Stephanie gets what she deserves. Any mother who is so weak that she will not defend her child from a monster and actually participates in his killing, doesn't deserve to live.
My heart aches for Joe Stacy and his family. My prayers for peace and comfort go to them.
Charlene Pineda
Draper