Area woman wanted to talk to Quinn on death penalty

SPRINGFIELD — Cindy McNamara, whose daughter Shannon was murdered in 2001 while a student at Eastern Illinois University, expressed deep disappointment Thursday that Gov. Pat Quinn never talked to her before abolishing the death penalty, despite her many attempts to contact him.

“He never gave me one little ounce of respect that I deserve,” McNamara said.

The Rolling Meadows resident has been a vocal opponent of abolishing the death penalty. McNamara said she asked for meetings or a phone call from the governor, but only talked to a staff member in his office.

“I don't know if he was scared of me,” she said.

Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson said he did meet with some victims' families.

“He did make a significant effort to get input from people on both sides of the issue,” Thompson said.

When Quinn signed the legislation, he acknowledged the suffering the families go through.

“I understand your pain,” Quinn said last week. “I know there is no way to erase the pain.”

Quinn commuted the sentences of the 15 men on Illinois' death row, including Anthony Mertz, the man convicted of killing Shannon.

McNamara has been vacationing in Mexico since the day Quinn signed the legislation and called reporters Thursday.

She said a friend called and told her about Mertz's sentence being commuted.

“I felt so defeated,” she said.