Clo Stoner's Friend on Mark Montgomery's Plea

A long time friend of Clo Stoner sent us her thoughts on yesterday's plea deal that allowed Mark Montgomery to avoid the death penalty:

Oh, God help me! I was so afraid of this. We KNEW the SOB was guilty. AL isn't LA (OJ Simpson) or Pinellas County FL (Casey Anthony).

You see, now I'll never know what happened that day and I'll imagine 1001 things and always wonder and picture it: Who was shot first? How long between killings? DID SHE KNOW? DID SHE KNOW??? We'll never ever know whether they fought or there were drugs and booze or not or on who's part.

Now, I'll never know what happened that day. I'll never know if Clo was happy, or if she was unaware, or if they were fighting or if a 3rd person was involved in an altercation.

I'll never know if she was shot first or second, if she knew what was about to happen. If she had time to plead for her life, or start to run, or maybe even protect the dog, who may have been killed first.

I have waited and waited and waited for over 2 years to hear him tell his story of what happened that day and how and well, there is NO WHY. But, SOMETHING.

Now, nothing. No closure because we've ALWAYS known who did it. This is not what I thought would happen.

I'm sorry I can't put sentences together cogently right now.

I miss my friend so much. WHY did this happen to her? She was smart. She was educated. She was alone most of her life after her husband died.

And the DA had the NERVE to say this is a double death penalty case.

IS this a victory, Shoalanda? I am crying too hard to see. Is this any kind of justice when we still do not know what happened in that house and will never know? I KNEW he would get LWOP at the least. His own sister and mother were the ones who called 911. Jeez, where is the victory? Where is the relief?
Where is the FINALITY? There is none.

Sorry scum bastard was really a tough dude, wasn't he? Shot his very sweet, funny, smart, probably " keeping him up" girlfriend, my Clo, and his brother's gf, and an innocent little dog and he will have a TV, and books, and gain privileges, and never have to worry about being too cold or hungry or too hot or paying bills or anything at all for the rest of his PATHETIC LITTLE PILE OF A LIFE.

I don't understand why I am so hurt and angry but I am boatloads of BOTH. So, he saved the stupid state some money. The Montgomery family can now be martyrs.

And Clo, who will mourn for her? Who will go to her grave, IF there even is one? What about Joanne's friends and family, too? I bet they want to know what really happened if it's possible he could have ever told the truth.

Shoalanda, once he's settled in whatever prison they put him in, if you have the fortitude and the credentials to get in, PLEASE go and interview him and see if he will tell just some of it. I swear to you that I would if I could in any way but I have no press or writing credentials at all. And I'm not family. She only had some cousins, and maybe her mother in law in Huntsville.

I'm sorry this probably makes no sense but it is a shock to me. I just wanted to know what happened and how it happened, before it escalated to double murders and a little dog being shot to death too.

That horrible horrible COWARD. I hate him more than there are words, or thoughts or tears in my body.

Love you, and thank you for telling me. Help me feel differently about this if you can. Violent crime has never touched anyone I loved before now. Prison is too good for him. Way too good.

*****

Can we help Clo's friend feel differently? Probably not, at least yet. Will anyone ever interview Montgomery? It certainly won't be anyone from this blog--we're all commentators, not journalists. It's our opinion that Montgomery would enjoy nothing better than any limelight such an interview would give him.

Finally, was a plea the best outcome? At least it was certain. Viable insanity defenses are rare in this state, but there's always the possibility that Montgomery could have won some sort of eventual freedom at some point if his case had gone to trial. Think Ron Wikkid Weems who will be eligible for parole at some point.

Once again, our sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of Montgomery's victims.

Remembering Clo Stoner

 

Clo Taylor Stoner was brutally shot dead last Monday, along with a second woman and a dog. This blog isn't going to focus on the "why" or other data that will come out if there is a trial. We've been told that Mark Edwin Montgomery is so wrapped up in himself that he will request a trial in hopes of ensnaring jury members in his web.

A long-time friend of this blogger lives out of state and cannot be here for Mrs. Stoner's funeral. She is very concerned that, since Clo had no local living family, she will be overlooked in all this. We wish we could say this won't but true, but we have seen it happen. Our friend was very disappointed in Clo's obituary; therefore, we're going to publish what she's written to us about Clo:

Clo’s funeral will be Sunday at Elkins in Florence. She has NO family. Her obit. was a pic of her as a senior in HS, and some broad statements about having been a nurse for a number of years and loving her dogs.The relative submitting that obituary didn’t know her as well as I do. She was from Florence, graduated from either Coffee or Bradshaw, I’m thinking in 1975.   I know that she was a widow, that she graduated from Calhoun nursing school, and could have found out her graduation date.

To our friend and others suffering over the loss of loved ones, we say it's not about the worldly remembrances, for God knows their lives. We never met either of these two women, but we know their friends are suffering. Our friend from out of state has indicated she wants Montgomery to receive a quick death for his crimes. We say: Isn't living in a pure hell hole for the rest of his natural life a much better punishment?



Shoalanda