Some cases call for death penalty

Just two weeks ago, I wrote about the ongoing issue of capital punishment in this country and how sharply divided our society is over sentencing someone to death.

For those who oppose the death penalty, meet Nathanael Sloop.

Sloop was charged this week with murdering his 4 year-old stepson near Salt Lake City, Utah. Police say he "engaged in a systematic and progressively more violent pattern of abuse toward" his stepson.

The young boy lived with his father on the East Coast but a judge ordered the son to stay with his mother in Utah over the summer.

The addition to the family somehow bothered Sloop and he was reportedly angry at the new arrival and "tried everything" to discipline the youngster.

That discipline took the form of repeated beatings and progressively more severe punishments.

Sloop and his girlfriend - the young boy's mother - decided to get married at the local courthouse, for example. But since the child had visible signs of beatings, the couple decided to lock him in a room at home while they traveled to exchange their vows.

The mother later told police she sought no medical attention for her son because she feared her new husband.

The beatings finally took their toll and the young boy was found dead in his bed one recent morning. The couple knew they faced intense questioning so they decided to bury the 4 year-old in the desert.

But to cover their tracks, the stepfather bought lighter fluid to burn the body and perhaps hide evidence from police if the body were found.

And then the final act that hopefully will shake the faith of those opposed to the death penalty.

To avoid identification of the body, Sloop took a hammer to disfigure the boy's face and teeth. Read that sentence again and again.

I am blessed with a 4 year-old granddaughter. The thought of anyone - regardless of the circumstances - using a hammer to disfigure the face of a child is beyond disgusting.

Thank God this is an isolated case in a distant state. Thank God this poor child is now finally at rest. And thank God that Utah has the death penalty and, from past experiences, is not afraid to use it.

Michael Jensen