Son of woman murdered by man on death row asks Alabama officials to stop his execution

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FILE - The death chamber at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio, shown in 2001. Alabama is among the states that continue to carry out executions, most recently introducing nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment. (Photo by Mike Simons/Getty Images)

The son of a woman killed during a 1997 robbery is asking Alabama officials to stop the scheduled execution of her killer, saying forgiveness — not death — is what his late mother would have wanted, the Associated Press reported.

Will Berry was 11 years old when his mother, 33-year-old Margaret Parrish Berry, was shot in the back of the head while working at a gas station in Etowah County.

The man convicted of her murder, Geoffrey Todd West, now 50, is set to be executed Thursday by nitrogen gas, according to the AP.

Why the son of a murder victim opposes Alabama’s planned execution

Berry and West exchanged letters ahead of the execution date. West expressed remorse, saying he replays the killing in his mind daily. Berry responded by offering forgiveness.

"I forgive this guy, and I don’t want him to die," Berry told the Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I don’t want the state to take revenge in my name or my family’s name for my mother."

On Tuesday, Berry joined death penalty opponents in delivering a petition to Gov. Kay Ivey’s office asking her to halt the execution, the AP reported.

What they're saying:

In a prison telephone call, West told the AP: "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret it and wish that I could take that back."

"I wish I had the opportunity just to swap places and let it be me and not her," West said.

Berry said his mother taught him the importance of forgiveness. "Vengeance isn’t for the state. It’s for the Lord," he said.

The backstory:

Court records show Margaret Berry was shot execution-style after giving West about $250 from the store’s register, according to the AP. A jury convicted him of capital murder in 1999 and voted 10-2 to recommend a death sentence, which the judge imposed.

Alabama carries out execution with nitrogen gas

Alabama carried out the first-ever execution using nitrogen gas on Thursday night. The following day, officials spoke on the death of convicted killer, Kenneth Eugene Smith.

At sentencing, Etowah County Circuit Judge William Cardwell called the crime "clearly deliberate and intentional."

West has admitted to the killing, telling the AP he and his girlfriend were desperate for money at the time.

The other side:

In a Sept. 11 letter to Berry, Gov. Ivey said she appreciated his beliefs but that Alabama law "imposes a death sentence for the most egregious form of murder." She said it is her duty to carry out the law, according to the AP.

The Alabama Attorney General’s office said West has been on death row for 26 years and that "his sentence is due."

"She gave West the cash on hand, and he executed her," the office said in a statement.

How Alabama carries out executions using nitrogen gas

Big picture view:

Family members of murder victims often differ on the death penalty. Some see executions as justice; others, like Berry, say they prolong grief and deny the chance for redemption.

Alabama became the first state to carry out an execution using nitrogen gas in 2023. The method involves strapping a mask to the inmate’s face and forcing them to inhale pure nitrogen, cutting off oxygen.

What's next:

Unless Gov. Ivey intervenes, West’s execution is scheduled to go forward Thursday. Berry said he will continue to pray both for his mother’s memory and for West.