Should Terry Lee Alexander, the "Obituary Burglar," Be Given a Second Chance?
UPDATE: Alexander still has a job. For now. Details after the jump.
Department of Corrections Terry Lee Alexander's "obituary burglar" scheme cost him 14 years of his life in jail.
Terry Lee Alexander sounds like the last person in the world you'd want working around old people. The 22-time felon has spent 14 years of his life inside a jail cell, mostly because his chosen profession was taking other people's stuff.
Alexander was nicknamed the "obituary burglar" after police determined he'd used newspaper obituaries to locate his victims. The ruse was infinitely clever and evil: Alexander targeted homes left unoccupied because the tenants were attending a funeral, thereby doubling-down on his sin by robbing folks, mostly older, who'd just lost a loved one.
KIRO 7 smelled blood in the water when they found out that since his release from prison Alexander had been hired at a Kent senior acitivities center. Alexander works as the weekend attendant, letting in and locking up behind the people who rent out the space for birthday parties, wedding receptions, et cetera.
Reported KIRO of the hire, in the kind of breathless tone that's a hallmark of scary TV news programs everywhere: "It's one that has victims, police and taxpayers alike shaking their heads in disbelief."
One of Alexander's former victims and the prosecutor who helped put him away are understandably wary of the arrangement. As they should be. But Alexander's story is a little more complicated than a convicted felon being set loose upon the same vulnerable people he once specialized in burglaring.
Daily Weekly called Alexander's boss, Lea Bishop. She'd talked to KIRO but says they didn't get the full story.
"It's so upsetting to us because (Terry) has proven himself to be an excellent employee," says Bishop. "He's on time, does what needs to be done and then something like this slams him to the ground. It's just so frustrating."
KIRO says that Alexander told Bishop about his criminal past. That's true. But they also say it was because of his felony convictions that the county decided to only let him work nights and weekends. Bishop says that's not correct. The job of building attendant was always nights and weekends, she says. And Alexander only found it because he was recommended by a teacher helping him become an auto mechanic.
"It's a difficult job to fill," she says. "It pays $9.50 an hour. These are very unglamorous hours because people want their weekends. We had an opening. A person we knew at Green River Community College had a student who said was a good prospect but just needed a break. Terry never sought us out."
As a result of KIRO's report, Kent is now reviewing its background check system. Meanwhile, Bishop, her supervisor and the park director will be meeting this afternoon with Alexander to determine his fate.
Bishop says she's going to lobby hard to let Alexander keep his job. But she's not sure if her best efforts will be enough.
"The worst worry you have is that he will become a re-offender because no one gives him a chance to show he can be an upstanding citizen," says Bishop. "Now he has the stigma of the TV show where his face is all over the place. Finding someone else to trust him is going to be even more difficult."
Bishop says she'll let us know how things turn out after the meeting. We'll keep you posted.
UPDATE: Bishop described the meeting as "very positive."
But a final decision on Alexander's job won't be made until next week. After Kent's parks director has met with the city attorney. We'll keep you posted.
11 comment(s)
Nick P says:
Vick got a second chance. Let this guy have one too.
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 5 2009 @ 2:58PM
Michelle G says:
What about that TV Show "It takes a thief..." He gets paid to break into homes... and he makes lots of money doing it! Why can't terry have a second chance like he did!
Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 5 2009 @ 6:57PM
Robyn says:
Thank you for telling the real story. And yes, Mr. Alexander should be allowed to keep his job. He has paid his debt to society and has turned his life around. He deserves the chance!
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 6 2009 @ 9:32AM
Kris says:
Sad thing is Terry hasn't turned his life around, and those folks don't need to be hurt by him. He's done nothing but hurt the people around him and has no remorse for the crimes he's done over the years. Yes I can say this because I know him and have for years.
Posted On: Friday, Nov. 6 2009 @ 2:03PM
Elizabeth says:
I have know Terry since the 1970's, however I have not spoken to him in 20 years. He has never really worked for a living. I would be very leary of him having this type of job where potential victims are so readily available. That being said, maybe this past stint in prison changed him, but it is doubtful. I can't even count how many times he has been sent to prison, so this isn't a second chance, more like a fifth chance.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 9 2009 @ 7:41AM
Suz says:
I haven't said anything about this subject, it isn't an easy one to talk about. I was with/married to Terry for 15 years. Reliving this nightmare is not easy. The nasty looks and remarks are not fun. Over the years this man has tore my family and my world part, you cant imagine. Those of you that say yes, Terry should have a second chance, he did have that second chance years ago and he went back to jail, he had a third chance, he went back to jail he's now on his 14th or 15th chance, has he changed? no it's still everyone else's fault that he got in trouble in the first place and he still thinks the same, the only difference now is he's not on drugs. So Lea Bishop if you want to turn a blind eye to everything and to what people that really know him say, that's your choice, but I hope that you're willing to take liability for all those seniors if anything should happen to them.
Posted On: Monday, Nov. 9 2009 @ 11:04AM
Tammy says:
As I pointed out on the other post, Terry does NOT work with seniors. He works at the building when it is closed to senior activity. Those of you from his past need to leave the man alone and let him moved on without you.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 @ 6:16AM
Amber says:
Tammy, I would love it if this man would leave us alone, I would love it if he would stay out of my mom's life forever! he has hurt her to no end. he lied to her about his past at the beginning of their relationship right to the end with I'm guessing you. She's lost homes because of his crimes, both mom and my little sister have had guns pulled on them by the police, do you have any idea what that's like? and the list goes on and on. My mom is an honest hard working person, she's also a very giving person who would help anyone in need and Terry took saw that and used it against her. To say that those of us that are speaking out are unsavory, that's just wrong, we just don't want to see anyone else hurt, and if you can't understand that then you need to take a really good look at yourself.
You hardly know this man, my mom knows him better than anyone. One day you're going to be surprised.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 @ 8:56AM
Tammy says:
I have never said his past isn't full of bad things he has done. I am talking of the current, I think everyone just needs to move on.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 @ 9:42AM
Elizabeth says:
I wouldn't even care about any of this, except that my daughter is extremely upset having her name and location posted on the internet for any crazy to read. My daughter and I should have been left out of everything that was posted and written on Terry. She is a decent upstanding young woman with children and doesn't need any of this.
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 @ 11:16AM
Terry Alexander says:
Hello out there, I just want to say if Kiro had reported the entire story about me you would have found that I served 8 years in prison for these non-violent crimes and was released on Presidents Day in 2008. Since that time I have attended college and worked for a living as a law biding person is supposed to do. I do not have any contact with Suzanne, nor Amber I filed for divorce from "them" in 2004, they need to move on I have. Lea Bishop is a fantastic person and "God Bless" her! I resigned from my job due to the pressure this has put on her as an individual and the danger it has put the seniors in by letting the people from my past know where I work. I have changed, wether or not I deserved a second, third or fourth chance does not matter, I was given one this time out and I have acted on it. I surround myself with decent people and they know I have changed. Outside of this tight circle of beautiful people and family people have ugly ideas about me and their entitled to their opinions, I really could care less because I know I have changed!
Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 14 2009 @ 8:36PM