WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Sniper's former sister-in-law speaks out

Sniper's former sister-in-law speaks out

By David Spunt - email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Convicted D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad will die by lethal injection at a Virginia prison Tuesday night, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a last minute request to block it.

Muhammad, 48, has strong roots in Baton Rouge, after spending the majority of his life in the city. Sheron Norman first met Muhammad, then John Williams more than 30 years ago. He married her sister, Carol, and the newlyweds lived together in Baton Rouge.

“We were like the rest of America, saying I really hope they find whoever it is that's running around killing people because that horrified us,” she said.

A few days later the phone rang and Norman says it was a call that changed her life forever.

“Can you imagine they call one of your family members' names and say they are a serial killer, or the beltway sniper, we were totally surprised and totally shocked,” she said.

Norman says the news about her former brother-in-law was a blow to her entire family.  Since Muhammad was convicted in 2004, she hasn't spoken to him, but her sister Carol has.

“We’re just kind of bracing ourselves. We don't know what's going to happen. We’re just bracing ourselves right now,” she said.

Years before the shootings, Muhammad converted to Islam, left his first wife Carol, and left Baton Rouge. Just a few years later he met a struggling teenager named Lee Boyd Malvo, who would turn out to be his accomplice during the D.C. shootings.

“On behalf of my family, I'd like to extend our sympathies to those families and to let them know our prayers go out to them,” Norman said.

Norman says one of the most chilling parts of the story is what Muhammad will say to his first wife, just moments before he dies.

“He told her he has something to tell her, so he'll tell her when she gets there,” Norman said.

Muhammad’s lawyers have asked for clemency from Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. The governor has announced he will deny any form of clemency.

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