Charles Colson writes in the WSJ (article available seven days only):
Americans are still spellbound by the saga of Ashley Smith, the young Atlanta widow held hostage by murder suspect Brian Nichols. Reporters covering the story seem mystified that anyone at the mercy of an escaped inmate — one who had that very day killed another woman and three men — could remain so calm…The reason was that, as she herself implied in later interviews, Ms. Smith had learned to trust God.
Colson’s story made me think of another reprentant murderer who came to accept Christ: Karla Faye Tucker of Texas.
Of course, her faith and repentence did not persuade then Governor GW Bush to spare her life. As reported by reporter Tucker Carlson, Bush mocked the woman’s pleas for mercy before sending her to her execution.