Russell had a six-year-old son, and one day discovered Pilger masturbating with a photograph of his son and other photographs of children from store catalogues. Russell didn’t confront Pilger, on whom he was dependent. Soon after, Pilger offered Russell $5,000 if he would arrange for Pilger to have sex with his son. Russell stormed out of the house and drove to see his girlfriend and son in Jacksonville, Florida. Weeks later, he drove back to Lexington, found a pickax that was lying in the living room, and attacked Pilger.
Pilger’s landlord soon became concerned that Pilger was not answering the phone. On December 5, 2003, he opened the door and discovered Pilger sitting in a recliner, covered in blood, with wounds to the chest and head. The only one remaining with Pilger at the end was his beagle, which was found lying near his body.
Dan Willett heard of the murder and felt pity for the seemingly unrepentant abuser: “It is not what I would have wished for him. My feelings are that, unfortunately, he didn’t make his peace with God before it was too late.”8Andy Mead, “Police: Priest Beaten to Death,” Lexington Herald-Leader, December 7, 2003. Pilger specified in his will that he did not want a Christian burial.
Russell took Pilger’s car and fled, but was arrested in Ironton, Ohio. The court appointed Russell an attorney, and only then did Russell learn that Pilger was a convicted child molester.9Cassandra Kirby, “Russell Tells Why He Killed Priest,” Lexington Herald-Leader, October 1, 2005.
Russell pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain; the district attorney could have asked for the death penalty, but wondered how the jury would respond to the history of the murder victim, Pilger. Not everyone echoed the sentiments of Willett. Michael Long wrote to the judge in Russell’s case that,
Russell “had done society a favor” by killing “a pedophile monster that preyed upon innocent little boys while in a position of authority and calling himself a man of God.”
“The damage a pedophile inflicts on young children is life-changing and life-long,” Long said. “The entire emotional and developmental wiring of a child is changed forever. Pedophiles are nothing but human debris. I have, for years, wished to do what Mr. Russell did.”10Associated Press, “Man Pleads Guilty to Killing,” Cincinnati Post, September 30, 2005.
But Long also wondered if he had been too weak in 1995; what would have happened if he had fought the plea bargain that kept Pilger out of prison, but that had led to his death and Russell’s conviction?
“If we would have been more adamant about his sentence, we would not be writing you now, and Mr. Russell would not be where he is as well,” Long said. “So you see, even now after his death, I still feel guilt.”11Associated Press, “Man Pleads Guilty to Killing,” Cincinnati Post, September 30, 2005.
Judge Gary Payne, moved by this letter, rejected the prosecution’s recommendation of life without parole, and sentenced Russell to thirty years in prison.12 Brandon Ortiz, “Life Without Parole Rejected,” Lexington Herald-Leader, October 22, 2005.
Russell was not repentant: “I know you can’t go around killing people, but I don’t see where I did anything wrong. I really ain’t got no feelings for child molesters.” Russell explained that he pleaded guilty because, “It wasn’t my place to take judgment on him. I’m not God.” The only deep regret that Russell had was for his son: “My son, he’s going to be the one who suffers. I told myself I don’t want my son to experience the same thing I went through, without having a dad. But it’s too late for that.”13Cassandra Kirby, “Russell Tells Why He Killed Priest,” Lexington Herald-Leader, October 1, 2005.
Footnotes
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8 Andy Mead, “Police: Priest Beaten to Death,” Lexington Herald-Leader, December 7, 2003.
9 Cassandra Kirby, “Russell Tells Why He Killed Priest,” Lexington Herald-Leader, October 1, 2005.
10 Associated Press, “Man Pleads Guilty to Killing,” Cincinnati Post, September 30, 2005.
11 Associated Press, “Man Pleads Guilty to Killing,” Cincinnati Post, September 30, 2005.
12 Brandon Ortiz, “Life Without Parole Rejected,” Lexington Herald-Leader, October 22, 2005.
13 Cassandra Kirby, “Russell Tells Why He Killed Priest,” Lexington Herald-Leader, October 1, 2005.
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