Interview: Death row inmate says governor wasn't truthful with voters
»Play Video
PORTLAND, Ore. – The man sitting on Oregon's death row and wants the state to execute him had harsh words Wednesday for the man trying to save his life.
During a phone interview from death row, Gary Haugen took issue with Gov. John Kitzhaber, the man who blocked his execution in 2011. The governor said he wouldn't let anyone be executed on his watch.
On Wednesday, Haugen claimed the governor wasn't truthful with voters about how far he'd go in opposing the death penalty until after voters put him back in office in 2010.
"When he was campaigning, he knew fully well if this came up again he was going to do something different. ... But he didn't disclose that to the people," Haugen said.
Kitzhaber did say at a League of Women Voters primary debate April 1 2010, before getting re-elected, that he was "personally opposed to the death penalty." He talked about how difficult it was to allow two people to be put to death while he was governor the first time, and he didn't ever want to have to do that again.
Haugen's battle with the governor is now before the Oregon Supreme Court, and he insisted the issue is not about him but about the law.
"It's about the people and maintaining the integrity of the law," Haugen said. "The people voted the death penalty in. ... The people are the ones who voted in this statute that allows prisoners to waive their appeals at a certain appellate juncture. ... And (Kitzhaber's) not respecting the people on any level."
When asked if he'd consider taking his own life if he loses the case to save everyone the trouble and save taxpayer money, Haugen said, "That's the easy way. In my younger days in my experiences with drugs – been there done that – that's not part of the equation," he said.
Oregon's justices will likely rule on Haugen's case by the end of the year. They won't decide the legality of the death penalty itself, which has been extensively debated, but rather will consider the sparsely explored question of how much power the governor has to reduce, delay or eliminate criminal sentences.
Haugen was sentenced to death along with an accomplice in 2007 for the jailhouse murder of a fellow inmate, who was found with stab wounds and a crushed skull in the prison band room. At the time, Haugen was serving a life sentence for fatally beating his former girlfriend's mother in 1981.
During Wednesday's phone interview, he apologized to the families for what he'd done.
"To the Pratt family and the Archer family, whether they believe it or not, I'd give my soul if I could take it back," he said. "If I would have just responded in a different way – I'm sorry."
The Associated Press contributed background to this report.
Intriguing public discussion.Â
Does the public want the TRUTH?Â
The sheeple all around this state aren't protesting a Governator acting more like a DICTATOR with every passing day, that's for sure.Â
I do believe these criminals - who have rights - are calling it all like it is. And they have a clear legal point and no one in this state gives a dang about any of it.Â
This state instead - and our dumbed down legislators in Salem staying mute about it all - apparently like a DICTATOR who yields UNCONSTITTUTIONAL control over all - just fine. A Governator who just needs a cigar in his mouth and a Hummer or two in the garage - to complete the surreal image of John Kitzhaber and Arnold Schwarzenegger being one and the same...Â
Gary Haugen is my brother, I don't like the crimes he committed but I love him as my brother, I have never seen the violent side of him. I agree he is where he belongs but people need to stop being so hate full and understand what Gary is trying to bring attention to. Our Governor has stated he will not obey the Oregon Supreme Court if they decide to let the execution go through, did Oregon vote in a king that rules all???? I know I did not!!! Gary waived his appeals and is ready for the sentence he was given by the jury, our court system is so messed up and the prison system is worse average people have no clue how it all works . Gary is trying to wake people up to see the truth and try to find a way to make it work better , instead all the haters that don't know the whole story only what the press releases get on places like here and spit hate out. Educate yourself before you hate!
@StarrÂ
Your brother's a murdering scumbag. Â Hating him is the most reasonable response any person could ever have. Â I'm sorry for what your family is probably going through, but you and your brother are ignorant. Â Article 14 of the Oregon Constitution bestows upon the governor the authority to grant pardons and reprieves for any crime. Â Kitz isn't a king, he's the duly elected governor of the state, and as such, his authority in this area is inviolable.
@Diogenes @Starr I am in no way ignorant! I took a different path than Gary, I am college educated with a masters in nursing, I am compassionate with all people , I try motto judge it is not my job . Yes Gary really messed up with the path he took but he is at peace with his God as I am with mine.
I agree that Gary needs to be in Prison!!!!I knew the girlfriend who's mother he killed she was a nice girl and my heart breaks for her and her family and the child Gary and her created that was given up for adoption , her mother did not deserve what happened in any way! As far as the gang banger in jail that was killed Gary has never said he did it and the other guy is still appealing his conviction so much of that can't be discussed by attorney request. You can strike your anger at me for trying to get people that think they know what Gary is doing to understand what he really is doing. Also in prison there are codes the prisoners live by , I don't agree with them and I have never been to prison but I know if you are a snitch some thing will happen to you, that is the way they live . The reason I mention the gang banger is because his wife that he married while he was in jail talks about what a wonderful man he was, she like me still loved him even though he had no care if his victim lived or died . I help save lives from gang issues all the time in my line of work . No need to be hating on me I may be the nurse that helps save your life some day you never know , and no I will not state where I work.
@Diogenes @Starr you may think you are better educated, my grammar and spelling are complicated because of health issues that are none of your business, and I do understand the law , I also understand that the Governor has already stated that he does not care what the Supreme Court de ides he will do what he wants . It is working good for me but ignorant jerks like you may. Not like it when the Governor decides to do some thing that affects you and believe me that day will come , the man thinks he is God , hope it works good for you!!!!! You are not worth arguing with because just like the Governor you are an ass!
@StarrÂ
I don't think I'm better than you. Â I'm clearly better EDUCATED than you, as evidenced by my ability to formulate an argument and use proper English grammar. Â As for your knowledge of the law, you've made several claims that the governor isn't following the law, while completely ignoring the fact that the Constitution of Oregon gives him the authority to grand reprieves and pardons. Â So, how's that working out for you?
@Diogenes I can legitimately blame people for hating him when they were not involved and not a victim you have your opinion , I have mine, and did you bother to ask if I have knowledge of the law? Well I do this started in 1980 and I have studied the laws and will continue to do so . Why do you think you are better people than me?
@Starr
College education in now way imparts knowledge of the law; the Constitution of Oregon gives the governor the power to grant pardons and reprieves, so neither you nor your brother know what you're talking about.  And again, I say, I'm sorry for what you and your family are probably enduring because of the evil your brother chose to commit.  But your brother, no matter how much you love him, is scum.  You really can't legitimately blame anyone for hating on him.
@Diogenes @Starr Kitz is ignit. If Gary wants to die let him die. Seems to me they both want 5 mins of fame.
@Sundowner @TreeWizard @Diogenes it is all breaking the law, my husband is from Mexico but he did it the right way and is legal
You can follow me all you want ok lol :)
@TreeWizard @Starr yes we were I apologize ! Thank you for clarifying things!!!! I get very defensive when people are ignorant and can't think of better words to use than the hate filled name calling on here . They seem to think I am saying Gary is not a murderer he did murder a woman I agree he needs to be in prison but how can they vote in the death penalty and sentence people to death if they don't follow through with it , maybe to stop this crazy circus Gary and all of his victims family and all of our family are going through by getting an emergency bill to re vote soon on the death penalty and see what the citizens of Oregon want? It would be a fair solution, I feel the Governor is stepping over boundaries but that is just my opinion.
@TreeWizard @Sundowner @Diogenes I got ya now thanks I get defensive when people start throwing hate at me about my brother I have never been to jail only had 1 traffic ticket in my life and I am older than Gary but I know what is really going on because I talk with Gary and with his advisors, sorry I may have bit at you but figured you were hating like the rest
@Starr I think we are miss communicating.Â
@TreeWizard @Starr lost in what way?
@Starr Am pretty lost right now.
@TreeWizard @Starr @TreeWizard @Starr @TreeWizard @Starr glad to know that you are not following me
@Starr Am not following you.
@Starr Diogenes. We are horse trading.
@TreeWizard @Sundowner @Diogenes he gives you some thing ? Who is the he you are referring to ? The Governor because it sure is not me I am not a man thank God!
@TreeWizard deport illegals they are not following the law but neither is the Governor
@TreeWizard I'll remove myself from the conversation.
@Sundowner @TreeWizard @Diogenes Wasn't saying they were the same. I was working with him. I give him something he gives me something.
@TreeWizard @Diogenes There's a bit of a difference between a murderer vs someone who enters the country illegally.  Perhaps that's why the punishment is different?
@Diogenes @TreeWizard @Starr Alright, we will grant you that in exchange for deporting all the illegals. Wow wow wow... how is "y'all's penchant for punishing people." that weird?
@TreeWizard @Diogenes @StarrÂ
I think maybe the Governor of the State of Oregon doesn't really need to engineer a publicity stunt to get attention. Â The guy can call a press conference any time he wants and it'll make headlines.
And Gary should rot for the rest of his days. Â I've always thought the death penalty fetish on the right was a little weird, considering y'all's penchant for punishing people. We should render the sumbitch to Egypt and let the Muslim Brotherhood practice on him for a couple decades.
@Starr You have walked into the lions den and you don't even know it. May God be with you.
@TreeWizard @Starr what Lions den ????? I know exactly what I am doing , I hope none of you ever get caught up in Oregon's penal system or have a loved one hurt or murdered! I also hope none of you have to hear and read so many hostile comments , I am at peace with my God are you??????????
@TreeWizard @Starr You're so kind, Wizard. %)~
@Starr I never said he wants the easy way out. I said he's a murderer looking for media attention and he's getting it. The best thing he could do for you, us and himself is to take his own life. He didn't mind killing innocent women, so why get shy about killing himself? We already know what a fool Kitzhauber is, we don't need a fool and a murderer to school us.
@TreeWizard @Starr I am sure most people would and you are very sweet to admit that! I am not used to kindness when I get on these things trying to set things straight because very few people know the whole story and why Gary will continue to fight , it has nothing to do with wanting to die because he is locked up it is because they are not following through with his sentence, he has friends there and they do get to go out to exercise and play basket ball so it is not like these haters think , he has Ben in prison since 1980 he is used to it , he pretty much grew up there and the haters are saying he just wants the easy way out they don't get it , I guess I give up on these forums because it makes me so sad at how many hate filled people there are in this world! You on the other hand are a breath of fresh air and again I thank you for your kindness!!!!!
@Starr I image I'd be the same if it was my brother.
@TreeWizard @Starr @TreeWizard @Starr @TreeWizard @Starr thank you because I can't read any more of this hate it makes me sick I don't like what my brother did but I still love him . You are very kind!
@Starr Hey, I got your back. Am not one of these whity haters.
@TreeWizard
Too late.
@Starr @badcat @Shadow @Jack_Bauer @Lips@AshleiYour comments did one thing for me -- convinced me how right I am, that your brother should sit and rot until all his hair and teeth have fallen out from old age and until he spends half his day saying, "Guard, I've soiled myself again".  I purposely made sure my response to you went to several of the people you commented to (old story, nobody else will come back to it otherwise).  I, for one, don't give a rat's a** what "Gary is trying to bring attention to".
You talk about people being haters while you're busy defending the "rights" of a cold-blooded killer (did he ever tell you what it felt like to plunge some object into the body of a man 82+ times?)??  Anyone with half a brain can see right through him and see that this is all nothing more than him trying to ensure another 15 minutes of fame....no one will remember him otherwise.  What is it you said, "Gary is extremely intelligent and knows how to fight this it will continue until the day he dies" and then "Gary has an extremely high IQ he is not an idiot obviously he has been able to keep fighting this with his intelligence?"  Yeppers, he'll manipulate things as long as he can and some of us are quite proud of our governor not caving to your loser brother's whims. To Ashlei you said your brother isn't a monster because the guy he slaughtered in prison was a "Hispanic gang member" and then later "a freaking gang banger" -- you actually try to justify his actions based on that.  So your brother becomes executioner to someone who wasn't even sentenced to death and that's OK with you because the guy was a different kind of monster than Gary -- must be something in your family genetics to rationalize such things.
I hope your flood of blather opens some eyes as far as his motivation and his need to be vindicated in some way. Â There is no way in hell I support what he wants or what you want for him. Â He NOW wants to "maintain the integrity of the law" despite spending most of his free life doing the exact opposite, at tremendous expense to those he just didn't happen to like. Â And that says nothing of what his actions probably did to his mother. Â As for him being too much of a chickens**t to take his own life, I stand by saying that. Â He's quoted as saying ""That's the easy way...", and I disagree 100%. Â There is nothing "easy" about suicide, it's probably the most non-coward thing a person such as him could do.
Again, I hope some eyes were opened by your numerous diatribes and Haugen's motives (all self-serving, standard MO of criminals). Â Your brother is a low-life loser making a last-ditch effort to be infamous and I applaud Governor Kitzhaber for temporarily denying him his last wish. Â
@Sundowner @Starr @badcat @Shadow @Jack_Bauer @Lips @Ashlei as I stated before you show your class with all the hate you write, makes me sad for you that you are so angry, I will pray for your soul! I am only stating that this is the sentence he was handed it should be carried out , or why should we bother with courts and the whole system may e the Governor you stand behind should become a judge so he can make those choices or maybe he should stick to what the citizens of Oregon voted for if not then why vote? You must have a very sad life holding so much anger , I am not angry or hurt by any of your comments , you are not worth it , I could name call to and call you a loser for not getting the point but instead I feel compassion and sorrow for such an angry man
@Sundowner @Starr @badcat @Shadow well you said your piece and I stll disagree but that is the nice thing about our country we can disagree
@Starr I'm aware.
@Sundowner @Starr @badcat @Shadow what ever you are crude
@Sundowner @Starr @badcat @Shadow "but have no problem at all calling criminals all sorts of names" Except Illegals.
@Starr @badcat @ShadowFirst of all I'm a woman.  Second, why would you call me a name?  I didn't call you one -- I said your BROTHER is a loser.  I almost never resort to name-calling of commenters, but have no problem at all calling criminals all sorts of names -- they are what they are.  It took guts for you to come on here and make the comments you made, whether I agree with them or not.  I question your observation skills if you believe I'm angry and if you believe your brother is doing anything more than manipulating the system.....you believe what he says, it's unlikely anyone else does.  Oh, and don't bother praying for my "soul" cuz I'm not a believer.  Save your prayers for your brother and see how well that works out.
Must make the governor feel good when a convicted murderer gets more respect than he does.
@Shadow If idiots like you have more respect for a convicted murderer than a governor with convictions, I don't think he gives a crap what you think.
@badcat @Shadow Funny- they both have convictions Ha Ha Ha
@tally @badcat @Shadow there is nothing funny about any of this!
Kitzhauber is making Haugen into a martyr. I doubt that was his intention of suspending the sentencing.Â
@washcomomQuite the opposite, actually. Haugen wants to manipulate the system and the governor into making him a martyr. The governor is having the courage to make it otherwise.Â
Martyr - n. : a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion
@Mister TÂ His religion is the whole judicial system. Manipulate? Maybe. But that was actually Haugen's sentence by a judge. Kitzhauber took it upon himself not to follow through with the executive office that he holds, and that makes this whole thing a farce.Â
When you kill other humans you don't get to choose your punishment. If you prefer death over life in a cell, stuck contemplating how you've hurt people and wasted your life, tough __, that's your punishment! You don't get to force the governor nor society at large to stoop to your level and murder you back. This is not your opportunity to further debase and demoralize the good people of our state.
 The fact that this villain is so opposed to a life sentence shows how effective a punishment that it is.
 I think it's time that we stop giving this terrible person a heroic platform and remember what he is. On the flip side, let's please stop slandering our governor, who is taking a brave stand that affirms the highest of human morals.
@Mister T I agree with some of what you say, but if the governor is not going to allow executions he is supposed to give them life with no parole back in general population in the prison and he isn't , Gary belongs in prison , I hate what he did , I am non violent and have raised my children that way , Gary and I had rough child hood , I decided to go a different way and stay on the straight and narrow he did not , I partly blame myself if I had not moved to Chicago he would have been around me and my friends and this whole mess may have never happened so I carry guilty feelings with me all of these years and probably always will but he is still my brother and I don't have a button to turn off my love for my family .
@Mister T but our courts and the jury gave him the sentence of death and now they are not following through , so obviously the Governor thinks he can do what ever he wants. What will you do when he decides to do some thing that affects your life?
@Starr @Mister TA court and jury did NOT give your brother's victims a death sentence, your brother did.  I say enough of him calling the shots....low-life losers don't get to have their own way.  Governors do.  Makes me love the laws of our country even more.
@TreeWizard @Sundowner @Starr @Mister T no one is advocating for any ones release
@TreeWizard @Starr lol yes there are they are every where but that is life and I refuse to live in fear
@Starr No, there are no crazies.
@Sundowner @Starr
@Sundowner @Starr lol just read about what you said about reading comment on your way home , my friend just got a ticket for that be careful :)
@Sundowner @Starr look me up on face book Starr Arellano send a friend request I am not discussing any of that here but I would be happy to talk with you!!!!! I am a mother of six the youngest one my husband and I adopted, I also was a foster parent for many years so I know how broken the system is.
@Starr I would love to talk to you more in depth, not so much about your brother but more about the impact on your family.  I don't know if your mother (same mother, I presume) is still living, but as a mother of 3 adult children, I cannot comprehend the pain this brought on her and certainly on you.  For that, I have sincere sympathy -- you all were his victims too in many ways.  I read your initial comment to me on my drive home from work (a no-no, I'm aware -- country road, no traffic) and by the time I got home I was pretty hot.  I apologize for making you feel attacked...I've no excuse except that I'm just so opposed to him getting his way about this.  I admire your unconditional love for him -- I saw an interview with Jeffrey Dahmer's father who faced public humiliation and scorn for continuing to love his son while hating the deeds he committed.  Regardless of how this turns out, I hope for peace for your family. Â
@TreeWizard @Sundowner @Starr bin laden deserved to die for his role in 9/11 and I have never stated that Gary should not be put to death if you consider your self a Cristian(I am not) but I studied
Different religions in college and the bible says an eye for an eye so just do it and get it over with and all the media would stop and all the haters can turn to some one else to hate, I have done nothing wrong I don't get why some people want to hate on me I am just expressing the truth about some things that the media does not there is so much more to this story but it is redundant because it was done and it can't be changed .
@Sundowner @Starr I do agree with many of the reasons you disagree with the death penalty but in Gary's case he has said he is not innocent. But I do see your point of view thank you for replying with out name calling!!
@Sundowner @Starr So was killing Osama bin Laden a uncivilized thing?
@Starr I'm opposed to the death penalty for many reasons, the first being a moral one...I find it abhorrent that in a sane and civilized society we can say, "He killed someone and that is bad.  We shall kill him because that will be good". That's flat-out wrong to me.  The second reason I am opposed is because we KNOW that innocent people have been executed, particularly prior to the 'discovery' of DNA testing of evidence.  The third reason is because I believe the ultimate punishment is making someone live out their days with no hope of normalcy in their lives -- just like the loved ones of their victims.  The fourth reason is that I believe the death penalty is not administered fairly in the United States, with far more minorities, the poor and borderline mentally-challenged being executed -- I assume there are factual data to back that up, but it doesn't matter to me -- that's what I believe.  These are my own personal beliefs and ones that took a long time forming.  In reality, my issue in this case isn't really about your brother, it's about the Governor exercising his power under the law.  The court will detremine whether he has that right or not. Â
@Starr I was quoting Sundowner I haven't called him any names.
@Sundowner @TreeWizard may I ask why you are opposed to the death penalty?
@TreeWizard @Sundowner I agree that Gary did this to him self the way you put it is true, what I don't agree with is the name calling what have we taught our children if we throw hate and name calling about people we don't even know nor know the whole story? He did not beg for any thing it was what they decided ( the courts) not him but since that is what they gave him he is ready for it.
Our wonderful country with its wonderful foster care system has created more people like Gary that may even live next door to you and you would never know until some thing happens, stop judging and hating so much it is bad for your health! I will continue to love my brother that I have never seen the violent side of but I do not love what he did it was really horrific but I know the whole story so I u deer stand more .
@TreeWizard I'm opposed to the death penalty.  But that plays no role in my opinions about this particular case.  We elected John Kitzhaber as governor.  He has declared a moratorium on executions while he is in office. In so doing, he has exercised his legal authority to grant a reprive.  He has also said that if the court determines Haugen should be granted his death wish, he will not sign the execution order, also something that is within his legal authority.  When it comes down to public opinion vs law, I go on the side of the law.
@Sundowner @TreeWizard "low-life losers don't get to have their own way." So if he never wanted to be free and begged for a life sentence would you advocate his release? I don't get why you oppose his execution. Obviously more people then just him think he should be put to death or he would not have been granted one.
@TreeWizard Did you even read my comments?  I said this low-life killing bastard shouldn't be calling any shots.  I thought I was fairly clear in that.
@Sundowner @Starr @Mister T So if a murderer said he wanted to be in jail and not be free you would advocate his release?Â
@Mister TÂ Deception at best, is a high moral value?
@Mister TÂ Well said!Â