William Berry found peace despite Alabama’s execution of his mother’s killer, Geoffrey West, by spreading forgiveness and challenging state officials’ stance on capital punishment. Despite the governor’s decision to carry out the execution, Berry believes that killing West wouldn’t bring justice or closure for either him or his family. He spent weeks writing letters and speaking with officials before the execution, hoping to persuade them to spare West’s life, citing the possibility of it causing more pain than good. Ultimately, Berry found solace in knowing that God had a plan for both him and West, allowing him to be at peace despite the turmoil surrounding the execution.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/us/alabama-execution-william-berry-geoffrey-west.html