| Sheriff Charles Laux had to address
the issue that three people had been killed under his jurisdiction.
Had
John Lotter and Tom Nissen, both convicted felons, been apprehended
when they were accused of the
assault and rape of Brandon Teena, Brandon might be alive today.
Laux made the comment about Brandon “
You can call it “It” as far as I’m concerned,” and
made several other statements that made it obvious that
he thought Brandon was some kind of freak and that she deserved
what she got because she had pretended
she was a man when in reality, she was a female. In the insuing
trials, Tom gave an interview to Playboy
magazine, in which he admitted that he and John were responsible
for what had happened to Brandon.
John denied the whole thing, blaming Tom for the entire scene,
both the rape and murders. The police
Recovered two condoms from the scene where Brandon was raped
and beaten and DNA evidence
Proved that John was involved in the rape. There was also a
pair of work gloves, and a knife found
With the name, “Lotter” carved into the sheath
on the frozen river that they drove past after the murders.
Tom took a plea deal. In exchange for avoiding the death penalty,
he would cooperate with the police
And turn state’s witness against John. John claimed that
he waited outside while Tom was in the house
Killing the three occupants. Both John and Tom were found guilty.
Tom got life in prison while John
received the death sentence. The trial was only crowded the
first day, after that, the citizens of Omaha,
Where the trial was held, went about their business as though
Brandon never lived, loved and died in
The state they called their home.
JoAnn Brandon filed suit against Sheriff Charles L:aux and
the town of Falls City, claiming that Laux
Was negligent in protecting her daughter. Her suit said that
had Laux picked them up when Teena had
reported the rape, she would be alive today. And she might.After
a long and protracted civil trial, and an
appeal, JoAnn was awarded a cash settlement of almost a million
dollars. Little consolation to a mother
who not only lost her daughter, but her son as well. |
