On this date, 12 March 2000, Chester
Allen Poage, was murdered by three men in South Dakota. One of the killers,
Elijah Page, volunteered to be executed and he was put to death by lethal
injection in that State on 11 July 2007. Accomplice Briley Piper, age 19, also
pled guilty and was sentenced to death. Accomplice Darrell Hoadley, age 20, is
serving a sentence of life without parole.
In loving memory of Chester Allen
Poage, I will post quotes from his mother whom justice was served well for her.
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Chester Allen Poage
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QUOTE 1: The victim's mother, Dottie Poage, also witnessed
the execution. She described her son as someone who wanted friends, and made a
bad choice in befriending Elijah Page.
"He
stepped out of those boundaries, and considered someone a friend who took his
life and he paid the ultimate price," said
Poage. "Elijah Page had the ultimate penalty for
his ultimate crime. And for that I am proud of the state, the attorney general,
the governor, everyone at the penitentiary for a job well done. I am proud to
be an American."
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Dottie Poage
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QUOTE 2: Dottie Poage of Rapid City, whose son, Chester, was
murdered in March 2000 after being beaten and tortured by three men in Higgins
Gulch west of Spearfish, answered that this way: "Can
you put a price on your child's life?"
"Can
you put a price on your own life?" Poage
said, with emphasis. "To me, it's worth every damn
cent."
QUOTE 3: In her own way, Dottie Poage said she
"respects" one of the men who tortured and killed her son in a
Spearfish canyon 11 years ago.
It's an appreciation engendered by Elijah Page's decision to halt his appeals and accept in July 2007 the lethal cocktail that legally ended his life.
"I found out that Page, who didn't tell me but told someone else, was truly sorry for what he did," Poage, 56, said from her Rapid City home.
"He
said he can't take it back, but that he took full responsibility for what he
did. To him, being executed meant accepting his punishment and following
through with it so he could come to grips with himself for committing the
crime. And I do respect that."
QUOTE 4: Monday (15 October 2012) night's execution of Eric
Robert was the first since Elijah Page was put to death by lethal injection in
July 2007. Page was sentenced for his role in the brutal killing of
Chester Allan Poage.
"You
know, my son's life was cut way too short. He was never able to marry and
have children, to give me grandchildren. That's something that I can only
vision in my mind. What if?" Dottie
Poage said.
It's that
question that lies at the heart of the pain and loss still felt by Dottie
Poage.
In 2007,
Poage witnessed the execution of Elijah Page, one of two men sentenced to die
for the brutal 2000 murder of her 19-year-old son.
"It
does bring somewhat of closure, some sort of calm, but it still does not bring
your loved one back," Poage said.
QUOTE 5: Poage says that her heart goes out to Lynette
Johnson, the wife of murdered Correctional Officer Ron 'R.J.' Johnson.
"I
can very much identify with her as she probably can with me, knowing that one
step has been done and it prepares you for the second step and the final time,"
Poage said.
Just as
Rodney Berget is still awaiting his execution in the murder of officer Johnson,
Briley Piper is also on death row for his role in the killing of Poage's son.
"You
have to wait. You have to wait for the process to be done
accordingly," Poage said.
QUOTE 6: But more than 12 years after the murder of her son,
Poage says she still has faith in the system and the death penalty.
"It
does not bring your loved one back but it helps to strengthen why we have this
system to help us, to help make us a little bit stronger, to give us a little
more hope for other people," Poage said.
Briley
Piper is in the process of appealing his death sentence. However, Poage
says she's confident that the sentence will ultimately be carried out and plans
on being there to witness the execution.
AUTHOR: Dottie Poage is the mother of Chester Allen Poage,
who was murdered by Elijah Page and two men on 12 March 2000. Elijah Page was
executed in South Dakota on 11 July 2007.
I think about Allen a lot. He was a great person, and the world is worse off without him. :'(
ReplyDeleteI was really affected by the story of what happened to Chester. May God give you strength. Dont know how you can cope with this horrific ordeal. God be with you xxx
ReplyDeleteI was really affected by the story of what happened to Chester. May God give you strength. Dont know how you can cope with this horrific ordeal. God be with you xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you for your loss Ms. Poage. May your beautiful handsome son continue to rest in peace. Although, this world took your son's life away by its venomous and evil side. (Corrupted cowards'.) I know Chester was able to spend 19 years of his life in a world, where he had unconditional love, structure, and most importantly you. May peace, love, and great memories continue to dewll in your mind, heart, and soul. Ms. You are a fighter. You are a true definition of a strong Mother and woman. MaY our great creator continue to bless you.
ReplyDeleteUKNOWN WHO COMMITED IS A JERK RIP CHESTER MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN HEAVEN
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ReplyDeleteI first heard of Chesters horrific murder last week. My heart literally hurts. I can't stop thinking about him; the more I try not to, the more I think about it. I can't imagine the pain his mother and family are experiencing. Losing her beautiful son in such a horrific, depraved manner is more than heartbreaking. May God grant his family strength, comfort & peace. Rest in peace Chester. 💜
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ReplyDeleteI'm from Saudi Arabia and I just saw the story on ID channel.Being a mother ,Allan's face will stay in my heart's mind forever. I pray that God rests his innocent soul in Heaven. AMEN
ReplyDeleteThe episode of Murder Among Friends featuring Chester's plight was one of the very few episodes of any ID program that brought me to tears. Absolutely heart wrenching.
ReplyDeleteI just can't stop weeping. I just watched this horrific story on murder among friends. May his soul rest in peace and may God strengthen you (his mum).
ReplyDeleteI just can't stop weeping. I just watched this horrific story on murder among friends. May his soul rest in peace and may God strengthen you (his mum).
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I heard about this horrific story. One of the worst stories i've ever heard and I've heard a lot of them. The banality of EVIL. Trust nobody. So sorry for your loss. Peace be with you all if that's possible. Those bastards will burn in HELL, while your good son is in heaven. Guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I heard about this horrific story. One of the worst stories i've ever heard and I've heard a lot of them. The banality of EVIL. Trust nobody. So sorry for your loss. Peace be with you all if that's possible. Those bastards will burn in HELL, while your good son is in heaven. Guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. I cannot believe the evils in this world. Your son was such a handsome young man. You are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI have watched this episode of "Murder among freiends" on ID Channel. I am so sorry for what Chester had to suffer in the hands of those monsters. May God have him in a good place and comfort his family. I am from Brazil and I have too much to regret. In USA, system runs. In Brazil, no.
ReplyDeleteI am heartbroken at what Chester Allen had to endure and what his family has had to go through. I send out my strength and love to this family in their hardship. The mothers of these boys needed to make better decisions. Fathers, where are you? All of these men need your guidance. How did they become such mindless, cruel adults? It takes a village, but it starts at home.
ReplyDeleteI have felt upset by this story.
ReplyDeleteI have only just read about it and am waiting to hear of Pipers execution.
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