In a press conference after today's hearing, Roberta Wexler - Grandmother of Sarah Foxwell - used her forum to attack SBYNews and its publisher - Joe Albero. Wexler contends that Albero has "taken advantage" of her family and states that she has filed a complaint with the Wicomico State's Attorney's office. According to State's Attorney Matt Maciarello:
"... I have not received any information that Albero has committed any crimes."We at SBYNews hope that this plea deal does bring closure to members of Foxwell's family and that Ms. Wexler's baseless comments not be judged too harshly in light of the circumstances. The spin on this case from the State's Attorney's office is that the Foxwell's family is united in this decision. It needs to be noted that some members of her family, including Sarah Foxwell's father, did not agree with this plea deal. (However, today he did.) We also feel the necessity to note that some commenters seem to believe that this is a satisfactory conclusion because of the possibility of Thomas Leggs being murdered in jail. However, we live in a nation built on the rule of law and if Thomas Leggs deserved a death sentence, as we believe he does, then he should have been convicted of his crimes and receive that sentence.
While the State's Attorney's office and one side of Sarah Foxwell's family attempted to divert attention from today's unsatisfactory outcome, the citizens of Wicomico County should remember that this case is about the rape and murder of a little 11 year old girl and the need for justice. This includes justice for the citizens of Wicomico County and the state of Maryland. IF the citizens of Maryland desire to make certain crimes capital offenses, then such crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Using the excuse that no one has been recently executed in Maryland is not a valid reason for not seeking the death penalty. The message now seems to be that, with the possible exception of killing a law enforcement officer, there are no capital crimes in Wicomico County.