Woman who survived shooting speaks out after death row inmate used final words to share message to victims
Amber Dawn Matthews had been helping Dreu Kopf pack for a move when she was killed by Wendell Arden Grissom
A woman who survived a home invasion and shooting that killed her friend has shared her thoughts on the last words of the killer before he was executed in Oklahoma.
Amber Dawn Matthews was just 23 years old when she lost her life in 2005 at the hands of Wendell Arden Grissom, who forced his way into the home of her friend Dreu Kopf because, according to what he later told police, he 'needed money'.
Grissom proceeded to injure Kopf with multiple gunshots, then tracked down Matthews as she tried to protect Kopf's two young daughters. Matthews was tragically shot twice and died, with Kopf later saying she 'saved [her] kids'.
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After being arrested and sentenced to death, Grissom faced the lethal injection at Oklahoma State Penitentiary yesterday morning (March 20), with Kopf and her daughters in attendance.
When asked if he had any last words, he said: "I apologize to all of you that I've hurt. I regret so much that I've put that hatred in your heart for me."
Grissom said he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when the killing took place, but continued: "It's still my fault. I'm not who I made myself look like that one day."
The convicted killer said he didn't deserve forgiveness, but expressed hope 'you all can forgive me', if not for his sake, then for their own.
"It is the only way you will find God in this," he said.
Following Grissom's execution, Kopf appeared alongside her daughters in front of reporters and was asked how she felt about his last words.
She responded: "I feel like it was sincere but it's too late. It took him a total of 13 minutes to die. It took him a total of two minutes to kill my best friend."
Kopf went on to share details about the injuries she'd received at the hands of Grissom, describing how she received eight bullet holes in the attack.
"There's still bullets in me," she said.
When asked if she felt Grissom's death brought justice, Kopf continued: "I think a piece of justice, but I don't think justice is ever fully served because Amber's not ever gonna be here again."
Grissom's execution marked the first death penalty carried out in Oklahoma this year, and came after he told witnesses at the execution that he considered the death penalty 'a mercy'.
"It's going to be all right," he said.
Emily Brown