Pueblo father hopes Holmes doesn’t receive death penalty

A southern Colorado man had a unique perspective as he sat in on the James Holmes trial.

Following Holmes’ conviction, he says he hopes the shooter doesn’t receive the death sentence.

Bob Autobee’s son, Eric, was working as a prison guard at the Limon Correctional Facility in 2002 when he was beaten to death by inmate Edward Montour. For years, Bob Autobee wanted his son’s killer to be executed but then had a change of heart.

“I’ve had 13 years to think about it,” he said. “It’s all I thought of for 13 years, what happened to my son.”

That change of heart led him to become an activist against the death penalty. He went to the proceedings in Aurora and even met and became friends with the shooter’s parents.

“You go through depression. I’ve been there and done that and it’s not a good thing. We think that killing is the answer, but it’s not,” he said.

He became a type of support for the Holmes family, saying they were victims, too.

Seventy eight people have been executed in Colorado.

Nathan Dunlap was supposed to be the next person executed for killing four people at an Aurora Chuck E. Cheese’s in 1993.

But Gov. John Hickenlooper stopped the execution by granting a reprieve.

In Autobee’s experience, a death sentence won’t lead to closure. He knows his opinion is not popular, but hopes his work and voice will honor his late son.