Face To Face

The murder of their loved one haunted Amy and Linda White until a Texas prison mediation program brought them together with the killer. Now they've all got their answers -- and unique justice.

A A A Comments By Scott Nowell Thursday, Sep 27 2001

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Doerfler, who retired September 1, thinks there is the potential to make a tremendous difference. "It's not a panacea, but it sure as hell is a main element." He terms it "the closest thing to pure accountability you're going to get."

Amy White talks about finding peace from the session, especially when she learned of her mother's last words. "Someone in your family getting killed and having the actual complete healing of someone, forgiving and completely letting go -- not too many people get that opportunity."

Linda White

Unlike her killer, O'Daniel had an idyllic upbringing.

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Linda White, who completed her Ph.D. in August, sees Cathy's final statement to her killers as a blessing from her daughter for the later work in restorative justice.

"I thought about it constantly over and over all day. And a lot of it was because I could never think about it before -- those last few moments. It was such a validation for me and Amy…It's as if she said, 'Mom, you're doing the right thing,' " White explains. She knows there are other victims still clinging to a rage they cannot release.

"They'll never get enough vengeance," White says, "because there isn't any."

Brown says he's humbled by the kindness shown him by the Whites. He is concerned that the publicity over the mediation could make prison life harder for him -- inmates with sexually related offenses often face harassment from other convicts and even guards.

He worries. But for Gary Brown, the running in his life is over.

"I'm doing this because I done something wrong," he says. "I wanted to do everything I could to make things easier for them…any kind of relief that they could have, that's what I hoped would happen. I done something bad, but there's something good in me."