Final statements by Brewer, families
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 30, 2003
David Brewer was executed Tuesday for the 1985 abduction and murder of Sherry Byrne, the wife of his former fraternity brother. Here are his final words and excerpts of comments by his family and Byrne's family.
Last statement by inmate David Brewer:
''Just that I'd like to say to the system in Ohio as far as the death row inmates are concerned there are some that are innocent. I'm not one of them but there are plenty that are innocent. I hope the state recognizes that. That's all I have to say.''
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The Rev. Thom Miller, Brewer's spiritual adviser and a nondenominational minister from Mansfield, Ohio, read the following statement from Brewer's family:
''We were able to spend some very meaningful time with David. We were strengthened by the peace he has found in Christ Jesus. By that same power, David has been strengthened by the peace this family has found in Christ. It is the prayer of David and his family that the same peace will be found and accepted by Sherry's family.''
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Sherry Byrne's mother, Myrtle Kaylor:
''There's kind of a peace today. I'm sure that peace is felt by family and my friends and those who have stood behind us during this terrible time.
''I hope that David Brewer today saw my daughter's face and her plea for mercy as he left this world. The punishment he received is much more humane than what he did to Sherry on March the 21st, 1985.
''I receive no pleasure for what is happening to the Brewer family and I thank God for His guidance in this matter.
''There will never be a complete closure for me because I will grieve for my daughter Sherry every day of my life. I hope though there will be a small relief knowing that after more than 18 years justice has been served.
''I hope also that when I go to visit her at the cemetery I can remember the good times and put aside the terrible ordeal that has brought us to this point. …''
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Joe Byrne, Sherry's husband, read from a four-page statement in which he accused the Ohio Public Defender's office of drawing out the appeals process and repeating some of Brewer's early claims that were disputed by the evidence. Some excerpts:
''David Brewer had to die. He deserved nothing less than death. He still to this day has not accepted full responsibility for his crimes. He's never apologized to us, despite some of the stories out there that he's a remorseful man. This man had his last chance today and still did not apologize.''
Byrne recounted at length the details of the crime and his wife's injuries, ''so everyone understands finally exactly what this monster did.''
''Today David Brewer went to sleep. That's all it was. … He's not a victim. …''
''Many people have asked me why I've stayed so close to this case. … I am happily married. I've got three great kids. I've been able to pull myself together. … I couldn't have looked myself in the mirror if I had not stood up for Sherry. She fought so hard to get back to us. I had to fight for her. … I wasn't going to sit back and allow her honor, dignity and integrity be cruelly and wrongly shredded by Brewer's despicable inability to ever fully tell the truth. He tried to blame Sherry. …
''May Sherry finally rest in peace.''