“Since the reintroduction of the death penalty in the US in 1976, more than 8,000 people have been sentenced to death.” ~Netflix, I am a Killer series.
I am a Killer Episode 7 – A Family Affair
- Death Row Inmate #1036512
- Deandra Buchanan
On November 7th, 2000, Buchanan was involved in a fatal shooting in Columbia, Missouri. Buchanan was born to young parents; his father was a strong influence on him when he was young. He states that his father kept him on the straight and narrow. However, once his father passed, he got into drugs and made other poor decisions. Buchanan murdered his girlfriend as well as members of his own family on that fateful day.
He downplays the history of domestic violence that he was involved in. He claims that he has no memories of the murders. He fails to accept any responsibility for any of his actions, even those prior to the murders.
The reason there isn’t much on this case from the episode is because it was straightforward. He committed the crime and I didn’t care for his downplaying and dismissiveness of this behavior. He tried to act like it was no big deal for him to “occasionally” get into it with his girlfriend. He gets so mad that it is brought up, but it is a fact of the case and evidence of his behavior prior to the murder. He was an abuser to lose it when it no longer had control, that is.
On September 30th, 2003 the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the conviction by setting aside the death penalty. They commuted his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. I am not one for the death penalty, but in this case, I would make an exception. He is an abuser who sees nothing wrong with his behavior. He may feel bad about the murder but not because he feels bad actions, he feels bad because he no longer has possession of his girlfriend anymore. He is where he belongs, to say the least.
I give this episode a 4 out of 5 stars.