Utah Board of Pardons and Parole considering Ralph Menzies’ request for clemency

One after another, Hunsaker’s loved ones — including her husband and now adult children — tried to put into words what the last 39 years have been like without her.

“All of my memories of my mother are court cases,” Hunsaker’s daughter, Dana, told the board.

“I want you to know, I love that woman with every inch of my body, soul, mind everything,” said Hunsaker’s surviving husband.

Appearing remotely, her eldest son, Matt Hunsaker, spoke directly to Menzies several times.

“You killed my mom in cold blood. You left her to die in the mountains. 21 days. That’s all you got left,” he said. “I will be there and I will watch you get shot.”

Related: Utah’s history of execution by firing squad

Menzies stayed silent during the hearing as his attorneys pleaded for mercy. They argued Menzies is not competent enough to be executed. They noted his decades of good behavior in prison. They pointed to the fact that the trial judge no longer stands by the death sentence, and that it was based, in part, on perjured testimony.

Attorney Eric Zuckerman said the decades-long process has been cruel to all involved.

“If Ralph had been given life without parole, we wouldn’t be here today. There would have been no hearings, no appeals, no press coverage focused on him. I wouldn’t be representing him. None of us would. He would have faded into obscurity at the Utah State Prison in Draper,” said Zuckerman. “This should have ended 40 years ago. Granting clemency can end it now.”

An attorney for the state noted a judge has now twice found Menzies is competent enough to stand trial. He said carrying out the sentence will fulfill a promise the justice system made to Maurine Hunsaker’s family, and the public, nearly four decades ago.

“There is nothing that the state or Mr. Menzies can do that will make Maurine and her family whole. The best we can do is the next best thing and fulfill the promise to carry out the punishment the judge imposed on Mr. Menzies 37 years ago.”