Father's killer pardoned by Barbour

LUCEDALE, Miss. (WALA) - PARDONED BUT NOT FORGIVEN

In his final moments in office, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour pardoned more than 200 people. Tonya Simpson Miller of Lucedale was devastated when she saw her stepmother, the woman who killed her father, on the list.

"I was just sick. It made me sick," Simpson said.

"It's like it's happening all over again," Miller said. "Like the last eight years has been for nothing it's just all happening all over again."

FATHER KILLED IN 2003

Simpson was convicted of manslaughter in 2008 for shooting and killing Miller's father, Donald Simpson.

Miller said she was always disappointed that manslaughter was the charge rather than murder. And now, after just a few years in jail, Simpson's record has been wiped clean by Barbour.

"She killed him. She was convicted of manslaughter. She served three years and now she's out," Miller said.

Simpson was supposed to serve fifteen. Now Miller could well run into her father's killer on the street.

"I don't know what I would do if I ran into her. Honestly, don't know how I would react," Miller said.

MORE THEN 200 PARDONED

Fourteen of the people pardoned by Barbour were convicted murderers.
T
he rest were found guilty of numerous crimes such as: embezzlement, voter fraud, enticement of a child, rape, robbery, sale of cocaine, manufacturing of meth, larceny, arson,racketeering, burglary, dui homicide, kidnapping, and others.

"All these people have just been set free, and we feel bad for all the families, not just ours," Miller said. "There's a lot of people suffering."

SYSTEM NEEDS CHANGING

Many, including Miller, are calling for a change in the pardon system.

"I hope something is done to change so that something like this can never happen again," Miller said. "It's not right, and he should at least standup and say why he's done what he's done."

So far, Barbour has made no comments on his midnight pardons, leaving victims like Tonya Miller with no answers.

State records show a total of just 19 pardons by other Mississippi governors since 1980.

For a complete list of pardons, click here.

UPDATE:

Mississippi Circuit Judge Tomie Green has temporarily blocked the release of 21 inmates who'd been given pardons or medical release by Republican Haley Barbour in one of his final acts as governor.

For more information read Court halts release of some pardoned .