James Duke Creel kidnapped, raped, and brutally murdered my 10-year-old sister, Tona Lynn Worthington. He caused our family to endure immeasurable grief and pain, and instilled fear into the hearts of countless people. Our pain, grief, and fear will last a lifetime, and his sentence should do the same. He only escaped capital punishment because the jury was told that it was about to be abolished in 1971, and that he might find a way to be released through a loophole. The jury knew what a dangerous man Creel is, and didn't want him to have any chance of release so they gave him a life sentence. I have a handwritten letter from the head juror to the judge wanting to make sure he'd never be released if they gave him life. Tona was not his first victim, and if you approve his release, we strongly believe she will not be his last.

NATURE OF OFFENSE - THE RECORD INDICATES THAT THE INMATE COMMITTED ONE OR MORE VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS INDICATING A CONSCIOUS DISREGARD FOR THE LIVES, SAFETY, OR PROPERTY OF OTHERS; OR THE INSTANT OFFENSE OR PATTERN OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAS ELEMENTS OF BRUTALITY, VIOLENCE, OR CONSCIOUS SELECTION OF VICTIM'S VULNERABILITY SUCH THAT THE INMATE POSES A CONTINUING THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY; OR THE RECORD INDICATES USE OF A WEAPON.