Daryl Linnie Mack, a black man, faces execution on Dec. 1, 2005 for the Oct. 28, 1988 murder of Betty May in Reno, Nevada. After a night of drinking, a neighbor, Steven Floyd, went to borrow money from Betty May and found her body.
Mack has waived his right to appeals, although he has maintained his innocence since he was accused.
Mack suffers from anxiety and psychotic disorders. According to the Supreme Court of Nevada, “A correctional casework specialist from Ely State Prison testified at Mack’s hearing that she did not consider Mack to be a violent inmate and that any disciplinary problems appeared related to changes in medication he was taking to maintain his mental stability.” However the court still upheld his death sentence.
Mack has shown signs of rehabilitation in prison. He has stopped using drugs which he had abused since 1990. He has helped other inmates with their adjustment to incarceration and with their rehabilitation efforts. Mack has been cooperative with both institutional and court personnel.
While maintaining his innocence, Mack has offered condolences to May’s family. He has also apologized to his own family.
Clearly Daryl Mack is not an appropriate candidate for the death penalty. He suffers from mental disorders that could arguably affect his judgment, yet the Supreme Court of Nevada has ruled that Mack’s waiver of his right to appeal was both intentional and voluntary. Furthermore, he is capable of being an asset to society while serving a life sentence without opportunity for parole by helping other inmates adjust to prison. Finally, while maintaining his innocence, Mack has shown sorrow for any pain that has occurred to May’s family and his own.
Please write to Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn requesting that Mack’s sentence be commuted to life in prison.
