Statement from Lois Davidson, Mother of Killer's Victim, in Response to Huckabee
January 11, 2008For Immediate Release:
Contact: Keith Emis
Email:victimsvoice@gmail.com
Statement from Lois Davidson, Mother of Killer's Victim, in Response to Huckabee
Lois Davidson, whose daughter Carole Sue Shields was raped and killed in 2000 by a criminal whose release from prison was championed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, issued the following statement today in response to Huckabee's contention in a television interview that her story was being "exploited" for political purposes:
- "Last night, Mike Huckabee accused me of being exploited and used for political purposes. I assure you, Mr. Huckabee, I am not being exploited. I am fully aware of the actions I have taken in attempting to inform the public of your role in my daughter's rape and murder. I have spent over 7 years thinking about this.
- "I am not a dupe. But you, Governor Huckabee, were duped time and again by convicted felons who once released from prison by you began hurting people again.
- "Mr. Huckabee, I am not a victim. However, my daughter was a victim. She was raped and murdered by a serial rapist that you wanted freed from prison. Please be honest about the role you played in releasing my daughter's killer."
Huckabee's dismissal of Davis came during an interview on the Hannity and Colmes television program following a Republican debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Davidson's story is the subject of an ad aired in South Carolina this week focusing on Huckabee's dismal record on the rights of crime victims. The ad was developed and paid for by Victims Voice, an Arkansas-based victims advocacy group and can be viewed on the Victims Voice Web site at www.victimsvoice527.com.
The 60-second ad from Victims Voice tells of how Shields was raped and murdered in 2000 by Wayne Dumond, a former inmate in Arkansas prisons whose release was championed by Huckabee. After his release, Dumond relocated to Missouri, where he raped and killed Shields and is believed to have killed another woman. Dumond died in prison in 2005.
Victims Voice is a non-profit 527 launched in December 2007 to expose the Mike Huckabee record of releasing hardened criminals from prison. During his 10 ½ years as governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee released over 1,000 criminals from Arkansas prisons. That total is more than that of the previous two Democratic governors combined, one of whom was Bill Clinton.
"Gov. Huckabee's suggestion that Lois Davidson is being 'exploited' is deplorable, and his callous dismissal of Ms. Davidson as a political pawn is shameful," said Keith Emis, director of Victims Voice. "According to all published reports, Huckabee played a key role in supporting Dumond's release, but now he's trying to run from his record. How many more women must die or live in fear before Mike Huckabee is held accountable for his actions?"