What does a mother do when a son is sent to death row for a double homicide he didn't commit? One can only imagine the personal anguish Bobbie Steidl felt for 17 years while her son Randy fought for his life and his freedom. But what she did was attend each and every one of Randy's court appearances and provide him the inner strength that enabled him to survive those dark times.
Bobbie was there, of course, when Randy walked into the sunshine and away from Danville Correctional Center on May 28, 2004. Bobbie lived to see Randy make a life for himself on the outside, maintain employment, purchase a home, and become a national spokesperson against the death penalty. By the end of Bobbie's life, Randy had moved close enough to his mom to be able to stop and check on her every day. He was finally in a position to care for her, just as she had cared for him all those years of his wrongful incarceration.
Bobbie was a tiny woman, but her heart was huge and her love was boundless. Next to any list of exonerees should be a companion list of those family members and friends behind the scenes who push lawyers, investigate facts, raise funds, and lend critical moral support to wrongfully convicted prisoners awaiting vindication.
Barbara "Bobbie" Steidl belongs at the top of that list. She passed away on February 23, 2009, at the age of 79. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and especially by her sons Randy and Rory Steidl.
Read about Randy's anti-death penalty work
(Randy Steidl and his mom on the day of Randy's release from prison)
Thank the Lord for people like Bobbi!God bless her. Randy was dealt a horrific hand to play,he did it! What if his brother was not a ISP member? Would the brave man who stood up to the corrupton in a Federal court been as motivated to prove ISP Wrong. How can any sane person pretend to reform illinois now and totally dismiss the problems with police corruption and prosecutorial misconduct.Randy, check out reformillinoisnow.com. Does anyone have ANY ideas on how to get thru to this commission.
Posted by: Mr. Quigley | February 25, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Hi, thanks for bringing these terrible things to our attention, this is the second comment I have made and this story, again, brought a tear to my eye. Thank goodness he came out alive at least and made something of himself, unlike the previous poor fellow.
In my opinion these cases are exactly the reason why there should be NO death penalty.
Posted by: Franchise Directory | February 25, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Agreed regarding the death penalty -- and that's why Randy and other death row exonerees travel around the country speaking about their experiences.
Posted by: Karen Daniel | February 25, 2009 at 07:29 PM
Good for them. I am from Scotland and obviously we do not have such horrific ways of dealing with people. Aside from the case you wrote about, even if people are guilty of terrible crimes I do not see how in the new millennium we can justify ourselves as a society to play hangman still. in 100 years time people will look back at those countries that were "the last" to still have the death penalty and it will be written in the history books and debated forever on how and why these countries were so slow to abolish it.
Posted by: Franchise Directory | February 27, 2009 at 07:54 PM
It's great to have a great mom like yours.. This story is really inspiring.. About death penalty, it was already abolished in our country (Philippines).. Hope the other countries would do so also.. The highest penalty imposed today is life imprisonment.. Anyway, it is also great to hear that Randy was released for the crime he didn't commit.. This means that justice still exists.. :)
Posted by: HGV Training | April 25, 2009 at 05:10 AM