Bonnie Wheat, the mother of 18-year-old Charla Wheat, who was sexually assaulted and killed in 1991, discusses the emotional processes she and her family have gone through since her daughter's death. (HERALD Photo/Thomas Jenkins)
 

“There's a real sense of relief. We're just thankful to have this behind us, and although we were not opposed to the death penalty, this seems to be a solution to the situation,” said Bonnie Wheat. “I don't want this man to be free to hurt someone else.

“I don't think justice is ever really served because you never really recover. I think this is probably the best solution for now.”

Billy Ray Nelson, who was 22 at the time of the murder, was convicted of sexually assaulting and stabbing 18-year-old Charla Wheat to death in her home in the 2500 block of Hunter during the early morning hours of Feb. 23, 1991. Her roommate, Carol Maynard, also was sexually assaulted and stabbed, but survived to testify against Nelson in his trial.

In a pair of confessions he made to police at the time, Nelson said he was drunk and "schized" on cocaine when he killed Wheat. According to court officials, this fact was possibly a mitigating circumstance that wasn't considered in the trial's punishment phase, causing the appellate court to call for a new punishment phase to be held.

Nelson accepted a deal Thursday that will get him off death row, but force him to serve two consecutive life sentences, waiving his rights to appeal and parole.

Bonnie and Park Wheat — who both spoke in favor of the deal during the proceedings, speaking directly to Nelson at times — said in the years that have passed since her daughter's violent death, she and her family have struggled to understand what happened. However, being able to face their daughter's killer in court Thursday morning — after 17 years — has helped bring the ordeal to a close for her and her husband.

“It's been a process. Over the years we've learned to deal with it better. We've had more good times than bad times, but coming here today and facing him in court was very emotional for both of us,” said Bonnie Wheat. “I think what I realized the night before the hearing was this is 17 years later, and some of the numbness that was there originally has worn off. And we've lived with the reality for a long time. It was more like we didn't have that protective shell around us that we had in the first trial. In some ways this was more difficult, but there is a sense of satisfaction in having been able to be here today and having been able to look Billy Nelson in the eye.”

Park Wheat said the lose of their daughter is something they face on a daily basis.

“There are things you just have to face one at a time, and one of the things that increases the difficulty is you realize every day you're not making any more memories or any more history,” said Park Wheat. “That what happened on Feb. 23, 1991, stopped any future building of memories and things. Fortunately, in our memories in our minds, we're able to relive special moments and those stay with us, though, over time, some things fade. But some (memories) remain prominent. For us, the special times with Charla are much more prominent now. So, in that sense, it has gotten easier. However, you're aware of it every day.”

Thursday's deal will help bring closure to the family and friends, according to Park Wheat.

“We've been in the ministry a lot of years before this happened, and one of the things I had learned in working with other people is you separate issues of forgiveness and issues of pardon,” said Park Wheat. “Issues of pardon have to do with the judicial system. And it kept us engaged in the process without feeling like it had to be our solution, and we could focus on forgiveness and other things. The proceedings today have brought some closure to that pardon dimension, and that helps. It helps to have that settled because there's been, to some extent, 17 years of limbo through the appeals process, and we understood that was going to be part of it. You're sort of hanging all the time. So this helps.

“The experience and grace, the daily reassurance, as well as the reassurance of friends and family have been essential to us. We came to a point where we felt like we could function, where we could go on and enjoy life, and it helped remind us that we lost one daughter, not two. We did not want to ever forget there were two girls involved here.”

In the end, it's a matter of faith, according to Bonnie Wheat.

“Our faith hasn't just been important, it's what has held us together,” said Bonnie Wheat. “I can't imagine how people that don't have a faith can survive something like this. It was God's grace that got us through this.”

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it