Derrick Dearman: Alabama murderer of 5 requests execution to provide 'justice' for victims' families

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

ATMORE, ALABMA: A man on death row in Alabama, said that he doesn't want to wait anymore to bring closure to the families of the five people he killed eight years ago. 

In his first interview with a reporter, Derrick Dearman mentioned that he sent nine letters this week to Alabama Gov Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, and others involved in his case. 

He informed them that he was giving up on his appeals and wanted to be executed. Dearman, aged 36, stated that he feels peace about his choice.

According to NBC News, the victims have been identified as Chelsea Marie Reed, who was five months pregnant, Shannon Melissa Randall, Robert Lee Brown, Justin Kaleb Reed, and Joseph Adam Turner.

What did Derrick Dearman report?

Derrick Dearman spoke over the phone from the William C Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. 

He said, "Now it’s time for the victims and their families to get the justice they rightly deserve to start the closure." 

He hasn't told the victims’ families about his decision yet, but he plans to write them letters. Dearman said, "I have spent many nights wondering what I would say to them if I had the chance." 

He explained, "I have laid many nights thinking, what would I say to any of them if I ever had the chance, the opportunity to say something?"

He added, “That’s part of the reason I’ve made my decision to have my sentence carried out. Words don’t have any weight in this situation. The only thing I would say is that everyone that was hurt by the actions to forgive me, not for myself, but for them. That way, they will free their heart up to be able to truly heal.”

Dearman made this announcement two months after the Alabama Supreme Court upheld his six murder convictions. He was charged with six homicides because one of the victims, 22-year-old Chelsea Marie Reed, was five months pregnant. Alabama has a law for fetal homicide that applies to any stage of pregnancy. 

Dearman said he went through the appeals process for his family's sake, not his own. He said, "They said, ‘Derrick just give us a few years in this appeal process,’” he said. “‘We deserve that, it’s our right as your family to fight for your life,’ and I said, ‘OK.’ That was almost six years ago, and I feel like I’ve given them the fair chance."

What did Derrick Dearman do in 2016?

The tragic events started on August 20, 2016. Derrick Dearman, armed with weapons, went into a house in rural Citronelle, Alabama. He was high on drugs and angry because his ex-girlfriend was there.

Dearman attacked the people in the house while they were sleeping. Then he took his ex-girlfriend's baby and ran away.

Laneta Lester, the ex-girlfriend, went to the police and told them what happened. Dearman turned himself in when he realized what he had done.

Dearman admitted to his crimes. He said drugs made him act violently, but he knows it's not an excuse. At first, he pleaded not guilty for his family's sake, but later he pleaded guilty.

After his guilty plea, he went to trial and was convicted. He wants to be executed by lethal injection. He knows there were problems with executions in Alabama before, but he's not afraid. He's focused on doing what he thinks is right.

When Dearman was asked about the failed execution, he said, "The execution ... I mean, does it scare me? Yes, and no. On one side, you have, you know, worse complications, for whatever reason, you know, it’s very agonizing and painful. I mean, there is that chance, Alabama has been known to have trouble with their execution process."

He continued, "Actually going through with it, I think about that least of all. My mind is so focused on trying to make sure to do the right thing."

He concluded, “I made this decision for different reasons. One of those reasons is so that all parties involved, not just the victims and their families but my family as well, can kind of get some closure and begin healing and moving forward.”