As a child my friends and I felt safe to run the neighborhood any time of day, playing at the golf course, in the creek, and walking to the Wichita mall. In 1990, after the disappearance of Nancy Shoemaker, a young girl my age, I discovered the reality of fear for the first time. The thought of her disappearance ran through my mind over and over again. I was horrified to think, what if that had been me, and I’m always s out and about alone. The news said that Nancy had walked to the store to get a bottle of 7-U for her brother who was sick but she never made it home. She lived and disappeared in a neighborhood only a few miles from where I lived, and I recall the news saying the bottle of 7-up was found not far from the Fantastic Sam’s salon where my mother took my brother and me for haircuts.
Nancy’s body was not found until 7 months after her disappearance in Sumner County. She had been kidnapped, raped and strangled to death. Her murders were not brought to justice for many years to follow. Doil Lane finally confessed to Nancy’s murder after being sentenced to death for the murder of an 8 year old Texas girl in 1994. While in custody, Lane confessed to killing Nancy, saying that his friend Donald Wacker made him do it. Wacker was later convicted sentenced to 15 years for aiding in the kidnapping of Nancy. He has been denied parole twice. Lane was found to be mentally restarted, therefore, due to a law eliminating the death penalty for mental retardation and limited mental competence, Lane was later taken off of death row and sentenced to life in prison.
In my opinion Lane should have been left on death row! He was competent enough to kidnap, rape and murder two innocent children, smart enough to flee, knowing he what he did was wrong, and adult enough to lie and say that other people made him do it. To me he sounds pretty smart. He may have a learning disability, but he is no idiot. Wacker also should have been given a harsher sentence. He drove Nancy to Sumner County where Lane defiled and murdered her, and watched the whole thing. Any human with a conscience would not sit back and watch a grown man hurt a child like that. To me Wacker is as guilty and should be charged with the same crimes and sentenced the same as Lane.
I was just sitting on my couch and for some reason, Nancy Shoemaker came to mind. I was only 8 years old when she was kidnapped but today I realized that I didn't know what happened other than she was kidnapped and missing. 8 year Olds don't pay that much attention to the news I guess. Anyways, these 2 sock individuals who tortured and murdered that poor girl, don't deserve to breathe our air.
ReplyDeleteI was around ten years old in Wichita. It's a name I can never forget. She might have went to my high school but she never got the opportunity to do so. I miss her and I didn't even know her.
DeleteDoil Lane is not as imcompetent as he would have you believe. When he was in Wichita he had a job and a drivers license. He knew enough to hide Nancy's body 35-45 miles away from where she was taken.
ReplyDeleteDoil Lane is not as imcompetent as he would have you believe. When he was in Wichita he had a job and a drivers license. He knew enough to hide Nancy's body 35-45 miles away from where she was taken.
ReplyDeleteDonald Wacker was a just scapegoat for the state. Doil Lane had his sentence commuted to life in prison in Texas. Kansas should have never dropped the murder charges. Thanks Nola.
ReplyDeleteI don't he had his charges dropped, Doil Lane is still in prison and cannot be killed on death row as it would break the 8th amendment of cruel and unusual punishments and Wacker is still in prison as well in December on the 1st he has a court hearing where he will try again for parole.
ReplyDeleteI was 9 at the time if her disappearance and lived a mere 2 blocks from her. My dad was in law enforcement and I was still scared to death. After reading these comments I realize that this kidnapping and murder impacted many kids at that time. Looking back I think it was a turning point for kids in Wichita. We no longer believed the world was a safe place. For ending one life and destroying the safe world for most Wichita kids alone I think both should at least be in prison for the rest of their lives if not sentenced to death.
ReplyDeleteWe lived on Gordon not too far from all of this. It was so scary being the same age as her, and running around, on our bikes, walking to Quick Trip, the skating rink, etc.
DeleteI was 8 at the time and living with my parents in south Wichita. I was always out with neighborhood friends, but this changed everything. My parents became more hesitant as did I. South Wichita use to be full of kids in the 80’s and early-mid 90’s, but I don’t think as much today. It’s just not as safe and wholesome as it use to be. A lot of kids parents were Boeing and Cessna workers and those companies have left. This case definitely changed things in Wichita. Wichita was not viewed as that wholesome, safe environment anymore. This is a horrible story and these men deserve the ultimate punishment. Anyone who would do this to a child deserves the worst, no matter what their “mental state” is. I’m am nearly forty now and living in California, a long way away from Wichita. This case has never left my mind. Hearing about this case in the news again, even here in California, brings up so many childhood memories of being in Wichita. When my family eventually moved to Derby, Kansas for the better schools- I lived on a street where my neighbor went to elementary school with Nancy in Wichita. Small world!! This precious girl had an impact on the whole community. We will never forget you Nancy- may you Rest In Peace
ReplyDeleteI live in San Marcos, Texas where Doil Lane kidnapped, raped, beat, and strangled to death Bertha Martinez. She was 8 years when she died in 1980. Lane’s stepfather participated in the rape and his mother also aided in the horrific crime. This kind of animal should never be released from prison, but now Wacker is free. This is not justice.
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