In North Carolina, if you kill a 92-year old retired preacher, we will put you to death 21 years later. If you shake your infant son so hard that cause his eventual death, we will fine you $1,000 dollars and put you on probation for 2 years.

It should be noted that Perrie Simpson did take responsibility for and express remorse for his actions, a crime that he committed at 21 years old. The crime was brutal, and Simpson should have been punished. However, executing the 42-year-old is not the same as executing the 21-year-old.

Jessie Ullom has never admitted in court that he shook his son. He was convicted of child abuse in March 2004, after the incident. After Christian died, in December of 2004, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded "no contest" both times. Had he plead guilty, he would have at least, in some way, admitted guilt. At his sentencing, the judge said that because of his time served in Iraq (served after the Army should have discharged him because of the child abuse conviction), he could be considered "an authentic American hero." The fact that he's both a baby-killer and a statutory rapist (Christian's mother was 15 when he was conceived.) should really mean that he can't.