SOME CRIMES HAVE MANY VICTIMS

Violent crimes leave many victims in their wake, not just those who are the actual targets.

Consider the case of Gary Lee Roll, who was executed last week for the 1992 murders of three members of the Scheper family in their Cape Girardeau home.

In recent interviews, surviving Scheper family members talked of how they felt -- and continue to feel -- victimized not just by Roll, but by the legal system. The failure of prosecutors to keep them informed on Roll's appeals and the legal status of his two accomplices as well as a lack of sensitivity on the part of officials about the family's feelings were among the concerns cited.

Now a Commerce woman, Susan Steel, is expressing outrage at how Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Cristy Baker-Neel is handling the case against two men accused of brutally killing Steel's mother, Willie Mae Vasquez.

Vasquez, 57, disappeared from her Scott City home July 26. Her body was found buried near the Mississippi River Aug. 9. The next day Gary W. Biggs, 36, of Scott City and Charles "Scott" Biggs, 31, of Cape Girardeau were charged.

Initially the two were charged with first degree murder -- or so everyone thought.

Steel was later shocked to learn Baker-Neel had amended the charges to second degree murder. Steel is calling on Baker-Neel to step aside in favor of a special prosecutor, and she also wants a grand-jury investigation.

Baker-Neel said the charges were always intended to be second-degree murder, but a typographical error led Steel, the Scott County Sheriff's Department, a private investigator hired by Steel and even the attorney for one of the defendants to believe the more serious charges had been filed.

Baker-Neel said the evidence she had in hand lacked proof of premeditation on the part of the Biggses, and therefore only the lesser charges were warranted. The sheriff's department was aware she planned to filed second degree murder charges, she said.

Not so, countered Sheriff Bill Ferrell, who said he thought the charges would be for first-degree murder. The department is still investigating the crime. Once that investigation is complete, Baker-Neel said, it's possible she might amend the charges to first-degree murder.

She should pursue the most serious charges the evidence will allow. And Baker-Neel should keep Steel informed and involved as the legal action proceeds.

Willie Mae Vasquez was the one murdered, but she is not the only victim.