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Friday, September 01, 2006
Ind. Law - "State next-of-kin law challenged"
"State next-of-kin law challenged: Confessed killers shouldn’t get bodies, legislators told" is the headline to an AP story today in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. The story begins:
INDIANAPOLIS – After Linda Young’s daughter and grandson were murdered in 2005, control of their bodies went to their next of kin – a man who was also their killer.Zachariah Melcher of Jeffersonville was sentenced last month to two consecutive life sentences in the death of his pregnant wife, 23-year-old Christian Melcher, and their 11-month-old son, Jaiden.
Young, who had to get permission from Melcher to bury her daughter and grandson, urged lawmakers Wednesday to change state law so that the surviving spouse would not be considered next of kin if that person confesses to murdering their husband or wife.
“I’m hoping to help future families to not have to go through what we had to go through,” Young said. “I’m asking you to put yourself in my shoes. I’m asking you what would you do if it were your daughter?”
The Interim Study Committee on Criminal Justice Matters is considering a proposal by Sen. Connie Sipes, D-New Albany, to change the law.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 1, 2006 09:19 AM
Posted to Indiana Law