Nebraska Voters Repeal Death Penalty

Voters decided today that capital punishment will return to Nebraska. 

While results are unofficial and not all of the ballots have been counted, voters have repealed a law enacted by state lawmakers to allow the death penalty.

The item was placed on the ballot after a petition by Nebraskans for the Death penalty collected more than 166,000 signatures, far more than the 57,000 necessary to put the initiative on the ballot.

One of the most vocal proponents of the initiative was Vivian Tuttle of Ewing. Tuttle logged more than 9,000 miles since 2015 as she collected signatures and spoke in support of the repeal.

The reason for her dedication was personal and well documented. Vivian's daughter, Evonne, was killed in the 2002 U.S. Bank murders in Norfolk.

"My daughter was killed in U.S. Bank in 2002. She left a 3- and 5-year-old," Vivian said as she collected thousands of signatures. 

Vivian said time and again that she felt Nebraskans should decide if Nebraska had a death penalty, not the state senators.

"We've got the film. We know they're guilty, and I don't think the legislature of Nebraska has the right to take the away. I want justice for all of the people who have suffered because of the crimes that have been committed," she said.  

Current results show the repeal passing 56 percent to 43 percent.