Sean Kennedy’s Killer to be Released Early
July 2, 2009
Sean Kennedy
Upsetting news from South Carolina.
On July 1st, Stephen Andrew Moller was released early from prison after serving a reduced sentence for the 2007 murder of openly gay Sean Kennedy. Moller was found guilty in the death of Kennedy, who he attacked while using anti-gay slurs. While 30 states and the DC have hate crimes laws, South Carolina lacks any hate crimes protections, including protections for the LGBT community.
Elke Kennedy Speaking Out
Sean’s mother Elke Kennedy – with whom we have worked very closely to help bring awareness and visibility to Sean’s story and the vital need for LGBT-inclusive hate crimes protections – voiced her frustration with Moller’s early release, saying:
“He should have served every single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from prison today, one week early.
Where is the justice?”
After her son’s death, Elke Kennedy established the foundation Sean’s Last Wish to advocate for hate crimes legislation in South Carolina.
Sean’s mother’s full statement and information on her foundation Sean’s Last Wish after the jump…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1st, 2009
Contact: Elke Kennedy
Sean’s Last Wish
www.seanslastwish.org
(864)-884-5003
elke@seanslastwish.org
Stephen Moller get’s released 1 week early
Greenville, SC – Elke Kennedy was informed via Phone today, July 1st 2009, that Stephen Andrew Moller has been released from prison. Mr. Moller was responsible for the murder of her son Sean Kennedy on May 16th 2007. He was indicted for only involuntary manslaughter and sentenced on June 11 2008 to a 5 year sentence suspended to three years, received credit for the 199 he served in county lock-up. He was supposed to stay in prison till September 7th 2009, however he received 2 month credit for good behavior by getting his GED while in prison.
He was eligable for early parole on December 28th 2008 already. In an early parole hearing on February 11 2009 he was denied parole and his release date was set to July 7th 2009.
Again the judicial system failed they say one thing and do something else. He should have served every single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from prison today, one week early.
Where is the justice?
Related Posts:Sean Kennedy’s Killer Denied Early Parole
February 11, 2009
Coverage of Tuesday's vigil, including Elke Kennedy (right).
As we reported at glaadBLOG last month, the man who killed 20-year-old Sean Kennedy because he was gay was up for early parole after serving only 8 months.
After getting word of this, Sean’s mother Elke Kennedy called on the community for help through the foundation she started in her son’s name, Sean’s Last Wish.
Tuesday night, Sean’s Last Wish held a vigil in Sean’s memory at the South Carolina State House. The vigil was a call to local authorities to keep Sean’s killer behind bars, and to recognize hate crimes. Elke told WIS-TV news that the state needs a hate crimes law: “[Sean] always said, ‘when I get older, I’m gonna change this, make sure people are treated equally.”
Local South Carolina media reports today that Sean’s Killer, Stephen Moller, was denied early parole. South Carolina is one of only five states that does not have hate crime legislation on the books.
Click here to see local news coverage of Tuesday’s vigil.
Sean Kennedy’s Killer May Get Early Parole
January 6, 2009
On May 16, 2007, Elke Kennedy got a call that’s every mother’s worst nightmare: her son was in critical condition at the hospital.
Elke and her Greenville, South Carolina community soon came to realize that her openly gay son, Sean, was brutally and fatally beaten in what would be considered a hate crime in 31 states and the District of Columbia, but not in South Carolina.
Now, less than two years after his tragic death, Elke was made aware that he son’s killer, Stephen Andrew Moller, may be getting early parole this February.
Sean Kennedy
Through the foundation she started in her son’s name, Sean’s Last Wish, Elke is calling on the community for help:
The parole board is currently conducting an investigation to decide whether to allow him to have a parole hearing, so it is critical that they hear from you that Stephen Andrew Moller violently murdered Sean Kennedy and should serve the remainder of his sentence!
GLAAD's Cindi Creager, Director of National News, with Elke Kennedy
This fall, glaadBLOG caught up with Elke as part of GLAAD’s “Share Your Story” series. Elke has spent the time since her son’s tragic death as a community advocate, working toward LGBT-inclusive hate crimes legislation.
Elke has also contributed a chapter, “What I know now about losing a son” for Crisis, a book edited by Mitchell Gold. (Last year, GLAAD partnered with Gold to urge people to share their stories with friends and family during the holiday season.)
Elke has done just that–shared her story with friends, family, and the nation. She’s worked with GLAAD to help share her story with local and national media. As Elke said:
Each story I hear, each person I talk to assures me that I am doing what I need to be doing.
Elke’s story of dedicating her life to working for change for LGBT people, in her son’s memory, is an inspiration. GLAAD invited Elke to attend the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in both New York and Los Angeles as an honored guest. In his speech to attendees GLAAD President, Neil Giuliano, made special mention of Sean Kennedy’s story and of Elke Kennedy’s work supporting LGBT people.
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To take part in Elke’s letter writing campaign, please click here.
