And no matter what we do, it will not bring her back.
Her murderers deserve punishment, no doubt. If they were tried and sentenced as adults, the eligibility for parole (yes, parole, not certain release) should have been 25 years.
A whole lot can happen in 25 years. A lot of regret. A lot of effort to make things better. A lot of settling down and growing up. A lot of real, heartfelt sorrow. A lot of indication that the redemption is real.
Just as the young girl, whose life was snuffed out in a cruel fashion did not deserve to die, neither do the young men who killed her deserve to die, if and ONLY IF their redemption is genuine. And if it is not, they do not deserve release or parole.
Think about it: Would you rather spend the next 25 years (or more) alone, without human contact, without a friend, ALONE with your guilt, than have a quick and painless - and USELESS - death? Which punishment would you prefer?
I know, there are those, like Clifford Olsen, for whom redemption does not seem to be an option. But those who show a sign of human decency, the door to redemption should be left open.