A Homicide

In the early hours of the morning of February 20, 1989, Virginia State Trooper Jerry Hines was found dead in front of his vehicle on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County.  

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The suspect in the homicide, Dennis Eaton, allegedly had shot to

death three other people on the same day. Eaton attempted suicide.

He failed in his attempt, was convicted of multiple homicides, and

executed nine years later.  Dennis Eaton pleaded guilty to the murder

of three people, including his girlfriend, but claimed it was she who

killed Trooper Hines. However, Eaton was convicted of all four

murders, and sentenced to death for the murder of Jerry Hines. The

jury was not told that Eaton was not eligible for parole and would

never leave prison. Some believe that information could have spared

Dennis the death penalty.

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We learn the tragic sequence of events that lead to these deaths. As his story unfolds, we also learn of Eaton’s religious conversion in prison. Dennis Eaton was a poor, uneducated and simple man who became remorseful of his crimes. In his last statement, he said, “I am so very, very sorry for the hurt and the pain that I have caused.” It is not clear that Jerry Hines’ wife and children were told about Dennis Eaton’s apology.

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Survivors

Jerry Hines was survived by his wife, Carol, and three children, Justin, Jonathan and Jennifer. 

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Jerry also had a sister, Maria. Maria’s response was not the same as Jerry’s wife and kids. She was overwhelmed with grief, but Maria was also deeply religious, in fact a former nun, and she began to question her position on the death penalty. Maria was inspired by the work of Sister Helen Prejean, who counseled death row prisoners. This led Maria to meet Dennis, and to seek out others who believed as she did. 

Dennis Eaton and Maria Hines began exchanging letters.  She visited him on death row and gradually came to forgive Dennis for killing her brother.

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Maria and Carol’s relationship deteriorated when Maria began to oppose Eaton’s execution. Carol knew that if she herself had been murdered instead, “Jerry would have seen it through to the bitter end.”  The family was interviewed twice over several years. Their views evolved over time.

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Transformation

In prison, Dennis found solace in religion. He was baptized and became a model prisoner. With few others outside prison to support him, Dennis met with Marilyn Kerstine, who belonged to a prison ministry and became his spiritual adviser. Marilyn's gentle support of Dennis became like that of a mother to a son. In the absence of family, who had abandoned him, Dennis became bonded to this spiritual woman. Hearing Marilyn’s story, we learn about the person that Dennis became.

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We introduce Trooper Hines’ widow and children to the concept of Restorative Justice. Hines’ sister, Maria Hines, had explored a religious path that appeared to give her a measure of peace regarding her brother’s death. Restorative Justice envisions healing major loss through learning, which is what Maria did.​​