Murder Victims' Families Speak Out Against the Death Penalty: Aba Gayle's Story

It is hard to imagine losing a daughter to murder. For most people, it is impossible to imagine forgiving the person who is responsible.  Yet Aba Gayle, an extraordinary woman, was able to do just that.  

Auburn, California. Aba Gayle's beautiful 19 year old daughter, Catherine Blount, was stabbed to death in the early fall of 1980.  Police quickly located the killer, Douglas Mickey, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Afterwards, Aba Gayle remained frenzied with rage, anger, and a lust for revenge for 8 long and painful years.

Then, Aba Gayle stumbled on a metaphysical bookstore, where she began learning about forgiveness and unconditional love. After 4 years of healing and support, Aba Gayle was found herself able to forgive Catherine’s murderer, Mickey. Aba Gayle wrote Mickey, who sits on California’s death row, a long heartfelt letter, forgiving him for his crime. Mickey replied to Aba Gayle with a heartfelt letter of his own expressing his deep regret, and enclosing a San Quentin visitor’s request form.

The visit was the first of many to come. Aba Gayle was impressed with Mickey’s intelligence and profound remorse. She knew that she no longer wanted him killed; in fact, she befriended Mickey and now has become an advocate against the death penalty.

Aba Gayle established the Catherine Blount Foundation and is a member of Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation and Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights – national and international organizations of murder victim family members that promote healing through reconciliation. Each year she participates in the Journey of Hope, a two week speaking tour of murder victims’ family members opposed to the death penalty, death row exonerees, and family members of the executed and those on death row.

Aba Gayles emotional and remarkable story will be available in the soon to be released documentary, The Closure Myth. A trailer to this exclusive DVD is available here and a discussion guide will be soon available for teachers!