Deseret News | Ragsdale pleads guilty to murder

Reader comments
Ragsdale pleads guilty to murder

Mormons against Death Penalty | 3:21 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

I could say that we should execute him but I'm a Mormon and therefore do not believe in the Death Penalty.

Are you serious? | 3:21 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Are you serious? The one person he is suppose to protect and love he guns down in cold blood and we give him 20 years with the possibility of parole? What about the children, seeing their mother gunned down by their father. What have we come to as a society when we wonï¿½t protect our women and children and will not put people like this to death?

Some deal, prosecutors | 3:44 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Should have gone for no death penalty, but life with no possibility of parole. At least the family won't suffer through a trial.

Comments continue below

Justice Not Served | 3:44 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

I do not understand this sentence. If prosecutors are 'gracious' enough to take away the death penalty- the only other option should be LIFE in prison WITHOUT the possibility of parole. If scumbags choose to kill their wives or loved ones- they need to give up their life as they know it permanently. 20 years does not cut it in this case or any like it.

Ema | 4:18 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

This guy saying he is remorseful reminds me of my four-year-old niece: sometimes when she does something bad or mean she KNOWS she isn't supposed to do, she'll look at you right after and say "sorry I did that." It's infuriating because you know she's just sorry she got caught. Same thing here. I can't understand why he isn't going to spend the rest of his life in prison.

huh? | 4:21 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

We shouldn't be bargaining here. This is the most serious offense there is. Why is murder considered less serious if it is done to the one you are supposed to love and protect?

Pardon me | 4:35 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

but claiming membership in the LDS Church eliminates condoning the death penalty is mistaken. The Church does not have an official position against the death penalty.

BZZZZZZZT. Sorry, next contestant.

Utah Transplant | 4:42 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

He got away with this because this is Utah. I moved here from Texas, where he MIGHT have been offered a plea deal. If so, you can bet it would have included LIFE. Utah has very wimpy murder sentences. You can get a stronger sentence here for robbing a bank than killing someone.

Odd | 4:42 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

And I thought LDS people were nice.

Are you insane? | 4:53 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Ema,

You are a sick individual. Comparing your 4 year old niece to a murderer. I'm glad you aren't my sister and if I were your brother and you said such an evil thing about my daughter I would disown you and make sure you never get within 100 foot of anyone I love or care about.

Boooooo... | 5:01 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Whoever came up with this "deal" is an idiot. It should be life without parole. What he did was vicious and with intention. Come on prosecutors, step up and actually prosecute people for their crimes. Plea bargains have gone too far in this state.

Ema's right | 5:03 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Ragsdale's only sorry he got caught. But hopefully Ema will go easy on her niece.

Hasn't been sentenced | 5:27 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

To clarify: This guy now "faces" a sentence of 20-to-life. He hasn't actually been sentenced, yet. Death is off the table, but the judge could still order life without parole, if I understand the plea correctly. The reporting could certainly have been clearer.

TexasUt | 5:34 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

I guess in Utah the man is in charge of the wife and oh well if he shoots his wife in cold blood that does not warrant the death penalty. What a medival system!

Supporters of death penalty evil | 5:34 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Anyone, Mormon or not, who believes it is just or moral to sacrifice the life of one innocent person who is wrongfully convicted to punish the guilty is evil. We cannot and should not trade the wrongful execution of a few for the proper execution of many. It may well be true that the guilty are deserving of death, that they have committed a crime so heinous that death would meet the demands of justice but there is no justice for the person who is wrongfully executed. The individuals, their neighbors and members of their community who wrongfully prosecuted, convicted and sentenced them will never receive punishment for being a part of taking an innocent life.

The only way that the death penalty can be moral is if the state is responsible for every wrong action. If a witnessed bears false witness they are sentenced to the same punishment as the innocent, if the jury wrongfully convicts a person and they are sentenced to death then their murderers should die for their vote which killed an innocent person.

We cannot argue that it is just or moral to kill an innocent person while condemning the guilty to death.

Calvin | 5:37 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Too many prosecutors are reluctant to do all the work necessary to prepare for a capital murder trial. To avoid the work, they are willing to allow a defendant to plead in a way that will avoid such a trial -- and the work necessary to prepare for it. It appears that's what's happened in this case. Ragsdale and his attorney, I'm sure, are grateful for such prosecutors.

Travesty | 6:23 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

If this guy ever walks the face of the earth again as a free man it will be a travesty of justice.

Anonymous | 6:39 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

I feel sick.

Anonymous | 7:00 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

a case where no one wins. How sad.

Anonymous | 7:03 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

I'm LDS and i strongly support the death penalty. How else can someone even begin to pay for what they've done? Sit in Prison for life? Sorry, not even close. Gunned down in cold blood in front of children and we give him as little as 20 years. Unbelievable.

TN transplant | 7:26 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

life sentence or not, i'm just shocked the guy adimitted his guilt. this is a day when it is rare for someone to admit wrong and face the so called music. i don't respect the guy, but i would respect him even less had he plead innocent.

Sharjah | 8:05 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Are you insane,

Take it easy, Ema is comparing behaviors of individuals. She is not saying that her 4 year old niece and this murderer are similar. To call Ema sick is not correct. The comparison she makes is instructive - the confession of a person caught is always subject to interpretation.

Anonymous | 8:34 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Reading that an adult says it's infuriating to see her niece saying sorry when the little girls knows she did wrong is actually infuriating. I agree with the previous poster. It really impressed me badly to read that it's infuriating for her to see her niece saying sorry.

I am glad he finally accepted he did wrong. He hasn't been sentenced yet so let's hope the judge sentences him rightfully. If the victim's family are ok with this deal so there's closure for them, I am glad for them. Obviously, the people's opinion is life without parole. Let's see what happens in January.

Come on people! | 10:19 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

He hasn't been sentenced yet. And even if he ends up with 20 to life - all that means is that he is technically eligible for parole in 20 years. Even then it is extremely unlikely that he would be paroled. Utah sentences are worded so they seem light, but I don't think they necessarily are. I think the good news here is that the families didn't have to go through a trial. They've been through enough already.

Yeah he got caught | 11:12 p.m. Nov. 26, 2008

Like he tried to hide what he was doing. Like he snuck up on her when nobody was looking in a church parking lot in broad daylight.

How could people think he tried to NOT get caught?

TexasUt | 5:30 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

Sentence was what kristy would have wanted? She would rather be alive instead of being shot in the back muliple times. He is a coward and should be executed.

you are right TexasUt | 6:48 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

it's just "what Kristy would have wanted" pertains to the current circumstances. They are trying to find peace in what they have been given.
I think he should be executed too. I fail to see any good coming from being locked away for 50+ years. For anyone involved.

Been There | 8:50 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

I was a cop and very pro death penalty when my wife was murdered. I realized that the death penalty would not bring her back. Nothing the court system could do would bring justice. I have endured the trial, the insanity defense and longed for her daily for more than twenty years. Until you have been there, you really do not know the pain this family will experience.

This was a talented man, obviously out of his head when he killed his wife. He originally claimed insanity, which he could drag through the courts for years and maybe been walking the streets in five years. He chose not to put his family, her family and his children through this hell. Every birthday for his children will pain both sides of the family, with no parents present. You have no idea how this family will suffer. Executing him will change none of it.

We claim to be a Christian nation, turn the other cheek and all of that stuff, but what do we really believe? Just remember, by what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. I now prefer to be generous to others, because I am not perfect either.

Svoboda | 9:15 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

Whatever true justice needed will eventually be served when he stands before Christ on the Day of Judgement. All things will be understood and justice and mercy applied as appropriate.

The honest truth why he wasn't given the death penalty is because of the cost of the trial to the State. And mitigating factors as the drugs.

awesomeron | 9:31 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

I am a Mormon and I believe in The Death Penalty. The last time I checked Utah was a Death Penalty State, and from time to time they use it.

I will not argue that Murder is Wrong and he should Not have done wha he did. There where much better ways for him to take care of things.

My Choice would have been quit my business and make Picnic Tables for awhile, live off my assets and let everything go repo. Let her Sue me for Thousands of Dollars per month on an almost 0 income.

No requirement to support her in the life style is is accustomed to. No Law requires that.

She was Murdered that was wrong, and in a Church Parking Lot which is Wrong also. However He was the one that was aggravated.

She wanted almost everything he had and with out a Divorce just a legal Separation. While she thought about getting a Divorce. In Short Pay Me Get None.

He lost it and made a bad Choice.

20 years in this case is far more then enough.

I would have gone for Insanity or a Plea for a lesser charge.

Anonymous | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

You may not be perfect, "Been There," but you didn't deliberately pump your wife full of lead and knowingly orphan your children. Justice and vengeance are two different things, and justice is just as crucial as mercy.

Anon 808 | 9:52 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

Ragsdale should Not Have Murdered his wife. However the losers here are not Ragsdale or his Dead Wife.

The losers are the Kids, as they are without both a mother and a Father.

Considering the situation and what she did to cause or exacerbate his Aggravation. 20 years is more then enough.

I think he was Insane, as I do not picture a man of his Wealth and Sales Skills ever doing something remotely like this.

He should have just taken it to Court and got it and her over with and moved on. Payoff ,take his lose
and keep on making money. Find someone warmer and friendlier to spend his time with. If the kids had wanted to disown him, then do not pay for College.

He was not about what he was supposed to be about, neither by a long shot was she. If he had gone to trial and I had been on his jury, he would have walked or gotten convicted of a far lesser charge.

The kids suffer the most.

Fredd | 10:00 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

I think he has suffered enough. He admitted guilt, who are we to judge? He'll live with what he did the rest of his life. Also living with losing his children. Why do we feel we have to punish people twice?

Dr. Booty | 10:31 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

The sentence really does stink.
I am very grateful that I do not live in Utah County.
It appears that the Utah County Attorney is a wimp.
Why didn't he go for the death penalty? (Too much
work?)
By the way, when is this clown up for re-election?

Kevin | 10:35 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

If he were completely sorry, he knows that he must prepare himself and pay with his own life here. He is not there yet, but may some day ask for that. He must be his own judge. He must find the courage to be a man.

suzyk | 10:35 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

To: Fredd - He shot her 10 times..he is a blood-cold murderer. He deserves the death penalty and hopefully someone will come to their senses. He is breathing, Kristy is not and those wonderful children do not have their Mother...just an evil, angry and hateful Father. This is probably the reason Kristy was divorcing him...there is nothing worse than living with a guy who is out of control emotionally and physically. It fills your life with fear. He is one of Satan's followers and please don't pretend he cared about his children..if that was true he would not have put 10 bullets in their Mother's body right in front of them. He is sick and needs to be kept from civilization. The Lord will take care of him and it won't be easy. I'm glad she is where she is safe even though she is without her children right now. I pray the children will be able to psychologically recover from this tragedy and will be loved and supported.

jaded | 11:47 a.m. Nov. 27, 2008

There is no question that Mr. Ragsdale was wrong. Whether or not he deserves the death penalty is debatable.

I'm convinced that the way family law works is a major reason these things happen. For whatever reason or no reason whatsoever, a woman may divorce her husband, cash out and rape him out of everything he worked his entire life to build (probably to build for her), and then steal his children, too.

Then it gets worse. He is reduced to nothing more than a visitor in his children's lives, and has to pay egregious amounts of child support in addition to egregious amounts of alimony.

Suddenly, and without any choice of his own (again, regardless of the reason for divorce), he is enslaved for life, forced to pay as much as 50% of his income for children he never gets to see.

And then, if he complains or attempts to better the situation, he is labelled a deadbeat or selfish -- no matter what he does.

The problems with the system is what drives some people over the edge like that. It's wrong, no doubt. Fix the law, and this wont happen as often as it does.

Let him answer to his Maker | 12:28 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

Lots of speculation about his motives, his domestic trials and all; but what it all comes down to is he EXECUTED his wife in front of thier children. He shed innocent blood, so let him answer to his Maker.......preferably SOONER than later.

No hate, I don't know the man. No desires to observe the proposed termination of his life, either. Just let the man explain it to God, face to face, and let Him be the judge.

awesomeron | 1:04 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

Ragsdale could have always moved to Hawaii and then let her try to collect her child support and alimony then.

My father in law had to pay child support on his youngest daughter for about 8 years. I am not sure if he paid for College, but I know she went to ASU and got her Mrs. Degree, She married a nice RM, who worked his way through school while raising a family.

You do not have to have a whole lot to be happy. Health being the main concern.

I would bet that what the Mods are not putting up on this Topic, both points of view, there are those of us who do not think much of Mrs. Ragsdale.

The manner of her Death was wrong. However at lot of us see Mr. Ragsdale as a Victim also, add the Prescribed Drugs, and the Stress, and his loss of Priesthood and Calling because of the Affair.

I assure you a man who makes his kind of money is Talented, Stressed, and the last thing he needs to feel is that it is being taken from him and he has No Hope. His ability to Cope was overwhelmed.

Cats | 3:37 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

AwesomeRon: You might be a nice guy, but honestly, I can't believe you are actually rationalizing what Ragsdale did. She was divorcing him because he had been cheating on her and she had every right to do that and she had a perfect right to half the assets.

To gun down your wife in the Church parking lot is an act of total selfishness and pure evil. People like this are control freaks who believe no one has the right to take that control away from them. He absolutely deserves the death penalty, but apparently both sides of the family have agreed to this as the best solution.

This selfish creep will be called to account before the judgment bar of Christ at which time he will be given the appropriate punishment. In the meantime he has his entire life to think about it.

Anonymous | 3:40 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

There's no excuse for what he did. One thing is to don't judge others because we will be judged with the same measure but another one is to justify this kind of action. He bought his ticket, he should pay for it.

dmo | 4:45 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

He was not LDS

What the? | 7:52 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

If he held a calling, he was LDS. Not that it matters. There are some things God will have to sort out. The kids knew before they came here (to earth) that was the road they would have to go down. God puts people in our paths to help us along when the people that should take care of us, let us down.

Geraldine | 9:36 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

It is my understanding that the murder was committed in front of the children who were at the scene, and not HIS children. Which doesn't make it any better, of course, but lets get the facts straight. If they were his children there, then I apologize. At any rate, the death penalty, or at least life with no parole should be the sentence. I hope he is sorry for what he did. Regardless of the circumstances it was a horrendous crime.

Woody | 11:40 p.m. Nov. 27, 2008

Re pardon me.
She didn't say the church was against the death penelty, only she herself was. I'm a member of the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS and I'm for the death penelty. Me, Myself and I.

Anonymous | 12:41 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

way too light on the sentance...

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Ashley Franscell, Daily Herald, Pool

Dusty Kawai, left, lawyer for David Ragsdale, talks with his client during a hearing Wednesday in the 4th District Court in Provo. Ragsdale faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.