Letter: Father of murdered child deserves public compassion

Monday, June 2, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

I wasn't able to sleep last night, after reading the comment from Jill LeMasurier, director of Child Seekers, in the article on Page 1 of the Las Vegas SUN of May 28, titled: "Children's security at issue." LeMasurier states "how stupid of that man" (Sherrice Iverson's father) that he didn't know where his child was. Stupid? How cold that sounds. Iverson, in his grief, doesn't deserve that. That statement re-victimizes the father and makes it sound as if he's totally at fault for Sherrice's death.

This father did not kill his child, he did not rape her, he did not make the last moments of her life pain and fear. Iverson made a bad judgment call in parenting. Who hasn't, as a parent, made errors in judgment? Thank God, most of us have not had to pay the ultimate penalty; death of a child; for our mistakes in parenting.

Iverson will be burying his fourth child. He's also lost a wife. Instead of attacking him and calling him stupid, we should be praying for him and his family, especially his 14-year-old son. Father and son will always remember this grief and guilt that will alter their lives forever.

I am angry, I feel rage, I feel helpless, but isn't not because of Iverson and his decisions about Sherrice. These feelings are for the monsters who have violated Sherrice, and robbed her of her innocence and young life.

Stephanie McGaugh