I just got back from the execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner. No, I was not a witness, but I was across the street where people gathered. It was interesting. Most of the people there were friends and family of Ronnie Lee Gardner. Nick Kirk’s family was there, off far away from the Gardner family. We stood in between. I wanted to talk to Nick Kirk’s family, but I did not know what to say to them and I felt like I would be intruding. I was torn about it, but just felt that it would be best to not bother them. I just hope that they feel a bit of peace tonight, as justice has been served.
Not much really happened where we were, but we could see Gardner’s family. I will never forget it, as they played Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” over and over. I hate that song anyway, and 
now, I hate it more. It will now always remind me of delayed justice. But at least justice occurred finally. They also released balloons into the air around the time of the execution. It was late when this was all over, but, we decided to go for dinner. We had waffles of justice! When we left the area, I felt a bit of justice inside, and just wished that we could get these death penalty cases moving a little faster through the appeals process. Victims and their loved ones should never have to wait this long for justice. I found a quote that I like that seems to fit this: “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent”
Ronnie Lee Gardner executed by firing squad
Gardner executed
Ronnie Lee Gardner executed by firing squad
Ronnie Lee Gardner final day timeline
[...] View full post on Bonnie’s Blog of Crime [...]
By: Ronnie Lee Gardner has been executed; justice has finally arrived after 25 years on death row | Ozzmoe's Universe on June 18, 2010
at 2:13 am
I understand why you didn’t want to say anything to Nick’s family but on the hand didn’t you want them to know you WEREN’T there for Gardner? I”m glad you left a post about how lastnight went because you know I was going to email you on how it went anyways lol. Since this was your first time, Do you think your going to be ok? (mentally) I know your a strong lady but some think they can handle something and then BOOM , nightmares come etc. I just want to make sure your alright. By the way, I hope you enjoyed your dinner afterwards,
I’m sorry but I feel NOTHING for this piece of trash dying. An Eye for eye. your friend always, Brandy
By: Brandy on June 18, 2010
at 4:03 am
One of the women there has been on my blog, so she knows how I feel about him.
By: mylifeofcrime on June 18, 2010
at 8:57 am
Free Bird was kind of a strange choice don’t you think. Some guy leaving his girlfriend because he can’t change yet we were all to believe this brutal killer had changed and should be forgiven. I’m just glad it is finally over. Thanks Bonnie
By: DeeDee on June 18, 2010
at 5:25 am
IT IS GOOD THAT HE IS DEAD.
By: ROXANA on June 18, 2010
at 8:39 am
I don’t think I would have been able to find words for Nick’s family, but I know they are thankful to people like you who have followed the case through to justice.
By: GuardianSelfDefense on June 19, 2010
at 8:39 pm
I was do reading on Gardner (about his crime) because before it mainly about him getting ready to die. IF I read it right it said Nick Kirk got shot in the face (like the others) BUT lived. Did I read that right? It said he was shot in the face and had to live with those injuries for the rest of his life. Or did he die? Either way, Gardner deserved what he got because he killed two others , and IF Nick lived, getting shot in the face, Um yeah those injuries I’m sure he isn’t the same. But as for mylifeofcrime? She’s awesome! I”m sooo glad I found this website, it’s awesome, truecrime is my passion, and BIG C, IS AWESOME
By: Brandy on June 20, 2010
at 7:43 am
I think I wrote that, and I may have made a mistake on where he was shot. Heat of the moment there. He was shot, but I am not sure where.
By: mylifeofcrime on June 20, 2010
at 8:13 am
Bonnie, first of all, it is over and Ronnie has paid his debt to society. He did 25 years and now the state murdered him, so if it was wrong for him to be a murderer, then it is just as wrong for the state of Utah to murder him. I wish when people speak, they would have all the facts and report things correctly. Ronnie shot Michael Otterstrom at Cheers Tavern and he died, he also shot Michael Burdell at the courthouse while trying to escape and he also died, Mr. Kirk was shot in the stomach and did not die until years later, I believe of a heart attack. I am in no way minimizing what he did, but I am stating the facts. Ronnie received the death sentence for the killing of Mr. Burdell. The Burdell family testified that they did not want Ronnie executed, also four of the original jurors stated that if they had seen all the evidence, they would have not given him the death penalty. Jason Otterstrom actually visited with Ronnie and forgave him. Ronnie is the only death row inmate he was represented by public defenders who did the best they could do. Ronnie was also denied access to the press. Ronnie has a dream of opening a camp for children who went through a horrible childhood like him and his family and I will make sure that his dream comes true. Ronnie was a changed man and very remorseful but you would have no way of knowing cause you did not know him. I was his best friend for 32 years. You can hate the sin but love the sinner. The Burdell family were with us at the vigil and we had every right to mourn the death of our loved one and who gives a crap if you like the song or not. Who are you and I am glad you had a nice meal.
By: Debbie Evans on June 23, 2010
at 6:49 pm
Debbie,
Yes, I understand all that you said. And as I previously told you, I do not hate anyone, even the person who murdered my mom and my sister-in-law. However, that does not mean that I have to “love” the person either. I believe Ronnie got exactly what he should have gotten for the crimes he committed.
And he did not have a Constitutional right to the press. In fact, the Utah Son of Sam law prohibits a lot of that. So, that is no big deal there. There was no reason for him to talk to the press. The spotlight needed to be on the victims and their loved ones, not the killer.
He had a dream of this camp for children huh? How was that really supposed to happen? If they gave him LWOP, he could not have been there anyway. And technicially, it could have been considered profitting from his crime if he made money from it. He would never have stepped foot on it. You cannot possibly think he would have ever been released right? He probably would have tried to escape again, if he could.
And yes, you had and do have every right to mourn, and I am sure all of you are. However, please remember this, Ronnie WAS NOT murdered. Period. What is the definition of murder (or are you guys changing that?) It is the unlawful taking of a human life. Execution is a lawful sentence given from a Court of law. It is NOT murder. Just because you don’t agree with it does not change that fact. I may not agree with some laws, but that does not mean I can pick and choose the ones to obey.
Funny, before you kept saying how you loved him from the bottom of your heart and he felt the same. The closer his execution came, suddenly you guys were just best friends. And yes, you said in your last emails to me that you were still in love with him and always would be.
We will never agree on this situation, and that is fine. I understand that you and his family and friends love him and that is the way it should be. However, I look at things from a different standpoint and I will not change my feelings and beliefs because it bothers others. You believe everyone should be mouring his loss, but I don’t. I am sorry he wasted his life and took the lives of others. You say he had remorse, but others who were in prison with him said that is not true. But that no longer matters. The victims are the ones that need to be remembered from now on. Justice has now been served.
And of course, my meal sure was not as good as his last meal, now was it?
By: mylifeofcrime on June 23, 2010
at 10:59 pm
Bonnie,
Wow, I was not asking you to love Ronnie. I was making a statement in general about why we love him. I should have said, “we hated the sins, but loved the sinner”. I never said that everyone should love Ronnie. I just was stating that we do and many people have said that we had no right to hold a vigil or mourn. My dad was shot four times during a robbery and a bullet lodged in his pancreas and they believe that is what caused his death a few years later. I prayed for the shooters. They were young and although they hurt someone I loved, hatred only breeds hatred. We hated the crimes and there is not a day in my life, since the crimes happened that I have not prayed for the victims. It is hard when someone you know or love takes the life of another. I hope it never happens to you. You are talking about man’s law when you speak of the definition of murder. I disagree with you on that part, Ronnie’s death certificate reads homicide by the state. What Ronnie did was wrong, I agree, but the men that shot Ronnie signed up and were chosen in a lottery, so they chose to kill. Do you seriously believe that the Lord is going to tell them that that did not violate the commandment of, “Thou Shall Not Kill”. The state of Utah said it was okay so they should be just fine. Ronnie wanted to open a Non-profit camp so that children could feel good about themselves. He wanted to have to children to go through a program called back to basics, where they could find self worth. This has been his dream for several years. No, Ronnie was never going to get, most of us our pretty intelligent people, but he wanted us to get the program together, even if he only helped one child, it would be worth it, obviously our penal system is not working. Our system punishes these children who have already been abused and they end up turning out worse. The Lord knows Ronnie’s heart so he will be his ultimate judge. I read some of the most horrible things before Ronnie was executed, like put him in battery acid, do it at an arena, horrible thoughts. I have never heard such hateful things and most these people call themselves Christians, I personally think not. I do not want you to agree with me and I do love Ronnie with all my heart and soul and a piece of me went with him but I do believe that Ronnie and I shall meet again. Ronnie believed in the death penalty and he had shot people so he believed he needed to be shot. He walked up there like a man and took his punishment so I will continue to pray for all parties involved, the victims and also Ronnie’s family. There are no winners here. We will see to it that a camp is started so that we may help children not get to the point where they murder. We will be honoring the victims by trying to save the lifes of others.
By: Debbie Evans on June 24, 2010
at 6:33 am
Debbie,
You talk about your dad being shot and dying from that and then said I hope it never happens to you. Apparently you don’t read well. Even in my response to you I said I did not hate those who KILLED my mother and my sister-in-law. I have had more than one murder in my family. I have not had my mother in my life for 35 years now. I think about her every single day. She was not there when I got married, she has not been a part of my daughter’s life or my grandson’s life. I could not turn to her for comfort, advice, fun or anything.
Now, if you had read other posts in my blog and my comments, you will know that I do not like it when people bring up being Christian or religion or anything like that. My views are my own and yours are your own. Not everyone is a Christian and so they will not believe as you do. But remember, in the Bible, it does say “an eye for an eye…”, (said more than once in the Bible) which can be interpreted as justification for the death penalty as well. And if you believe that Ronnie will be forgiven by God, then so would the men who did the execution. So, it can be an individual interpretation and I will leave it at that. But for my blog, it is man’s law that I am concerned with. An And yes, his death certificate says homicide, but that does not mean murder. Sorry. Homicide is a death not caused by an accident, natural causes or illness.
And just so you know, I was not one of those who ever said the horrible things you mention (battery acid, etc.) and nor did I ever talk bad about his lawyers. I personally am not into the vengeance part, even for those who killed my loved ones. I have even defended his lawyers on other forums where people said they should be executed along with him. I do not agree with that either. They did their jobs and did the best they could. People seem to forget that our Country was founded on the principles in the Constitution and getting the best defense possible is part of that. I don’t agree with everything his lawyers tried, but that is just me. I do not believe in the death penalty as revenge or vengeance, but as a punishment and justice.
By: mylifeofcrime on June 24, 2010
at 9:24 am
Wow…guess I’ll leave this one alone! I’ll just keep providing protection for myself and others against people like Ronnie Gardner.
By: SafetyMode Systems - Personal protection products such as pepper spray, stun guns, tasers, hidden cameras and more. on July 1, 2010
at 10:49 pm
That’s all one can do SafetyMode. But for someone to come up on here and attack BIG C? She’s my friend and I’m going to defend her. I asked Big C to block her IF she could . But Big C is a big girl and does well at defending herself. But big C did NOTHING wrong . Big deal , she was there, well not there, there, and then had breakfast. IF this were this other ladies family member? She’d feel differently. SafteMode? just keep protecting yourself and others like you said. I’ll be doing the same thing. I have four kids. And I try everyday of my life to protect them from people like him, It’s not easy. It’s a very hard job. Because you NEVER know when something may happen. This world is so messed up.
By: Brandy on July 2, 2010
at 6:51 am