Poem For Becky O'Connell

Becky O'Connell's brutal murder in 1990 outraged the general public. Words didn't come easy for a lot of parents who were struggling to explain to their own children what had happened to Becky.  But one Sioux Falls mother found the words through a poem that she had written back then and still cherishes to today.

Carol Williams has written hundreds of poems over the years. She keeps them all in a shoebox. 

"I have a tendency to write whatever I'm feeling," Williams said.

What Williams was feeling 22 years ago, was the same thing a lot of parents were feeling, only she put hers on paper; writing a poem about a little girl she never knew, Becky O'Connell. 

"I know how earth can be painful at times," Williams said, reading from her poem.

While Williams never met Becky, her son went to school with her and recalls how scared everyone was, knowing a killer was still on the loose.

"That was terrifying. I kept my kids inside, I wouldn't let them play outside," Williams said.

But Williams' poem sums up what a lot of parents were trying to tell their own children about Becky's death. 

"Not all men are bad on earth and it makes me sad to know there are such monsters among us," Williams read.

A monster who will now die for his crime.

"But if they do or don't find God it will not be for me to judge, it will be God's on judgment day. So fly home little girl, fly home and be safe now in his world, for he is there waiting for you in his kingdom above and no more hurt will come," Williams read.

"It still brings tears to my eyes, because it was so sad," Williams said.

Williams says she plans on being at the penitentiary Tuesday night to show her support for Becky's mother.