Family Seeking Death Penalty In Daughter's Murder

Sunday, December 2nd 2007, 5:08 pm

By: News On 6

Ann and Bruce Scott lost their daughter Elaine when she was sexually assaulted and murdered. Elaine Scottâ€™s killer was supposed to be executed, but he remains on death row. The News On 6â€™s Chris Wright reports Alfred Brian Mitchell, the man accused of killing Elaine, is now undergoing a third trial for the crime he allegedly committed in 1991. Elaine's family says legal technicalities are the only reason he is still alive.

The years have not tempered the anger Ann Scott feels towards the man convicted of killing her daughter Elaine.

"We're hoping for the death penalty. People like Alfred Brian Mitchell do not deserve to breathe," said Elaine's mother, Ann Scott.

Elaine Scott was attending OU and working part time in Oklahoma City in 1991. On January 17th, she was sexually assaulted and murdered.

Alfred Brian Mitchell was first convicted of the crime, and given the death penalty in 1992, but during the appeal process, it was determined that a forensic expert had lied on the stand. That led to a second trial in 2002. Again, Mitchell was sentenced to death, but that sentence was also overturned during appeal.

A third trial began last week in Oklahoma City.

"But when you get into the appeal process, it's not a question really of did he murder her or not. It's who didn't cross the I and dot the T," said Ann Scott.

Ann says time has yet to heal her family's wounds. She believes the stress from Elaine's death has contributed to her ailing health, and says she has watched her family become unglued. While the family wants justice, they also want the lengthy legal process to be over.

"This has taken way, way too long. There's been no closure, I don't know that there ever will be closure, but at least we would like to be able to put this behind us," said Ann Scott.

The Scotts left for Oklahoma City on Sunday. They are confident a verdict will be handed down this week. Even if that happens, the appeal process will begin again, and it would likely be several more years before Mitchell would be executed.

Watch the video: Family Hoping For Death Penalty In Daughter's Murder