Alfred
By Tami Olson
Alfred
By Tami Olson
“It was a vicious murder of a child.”
I remember the morning I read those words. I remember feeling anger and confusion and finally just breaking down and crying. How can anyone murder someone? Alfred was a really nice guy. I never once even thought he would kill someone. The papers talked how Alfred got mad because his girlfriend’s fourteen year old daughter Geneva wanted to use the phone and the only phone in the house was in Alfred and his girlfriend’s room.
Geneva came into his room around 1:00 am to get the phone to call her boyfriend. Alfred got mad and said, “no.” They fought for a while. Then Alfred lost it and started hitting her. When she hit the floor he started kicking her in the face. He dialed 911 and when the police arrived Alfred was in the front yard with his hands in the air.
The newspaper talked about how Alfred beat his girlfriend and how he has a history of violence.
But yet it never said anything about how Alfred went to treatment and he went to get help for the abuse. And it also never said anything about how Geneva had stabbed a girl in the face or her history of problems.
Geneva did not deserve to die and I often wonder if I cried for Geneva or Alfred.
I used to work with Alfred at an old job I had and I remember talking to him and giving him advice on what to do with his problems with Geneva.
Alfred is in prison serving a 23 year sentence without the possibility of parole. People have tried writing to him, but their letters are returned unopened and unread.
Alfred got what he deserved and maybe not enough, but what about the loss of Geneva? Will Alfred’s sentence make her mother feel better?
Geneva was only fourteen years old. Her life was cut tragically short by a man who lost his temper.
Murder. By murdering Geneva Alfred not only took Geneva’s life, but he took his own as well. And he may not have ended her Mother’s life, but he took a big part of it away from her.
With Alfred sitting in that ceil not talking to anyone he is ending his own life as well.