Forty-Five Years and Counting…. Donald W. Gore- ApriL 17, 1981 to April 17, 2026

Life takes strange twists and turns…. 

Who knew that after 45 years of fighting for justice when a perpetrator so callously shot two men causing ultimate death, there would be even one person standing to lead the charge?  

One victim was my father, who was shot five times in vital organs in his vehicle, as he desperately tried in vain to drive himself to the hospital. 

The other victim was a ‘colleague in crime’ whose body was supposedly dumped in a nearby cemetery in Hartford. How inhumane! 

The most current strange twist and turn, is that while we observe a landmark 45 years of fighting for justice- for continuous incarceration as the ‘highest form of punishment’ available against the backdrop of the 1981 crime, there is another option that is playing out at nearly the same time - that of Sentence Modification for long term prisoners in Connecticut who care to apply.

In our case, sentence modification has been requested to be totally eliminated. As I write this, a final meeting and decision has yet to take place. 

After thousands of words written by yours truly, after innumerable conversations with many organizations,  with law enforcement, judicial staff  advocates, state agencies and non profits across the country,... 

After reams of former podcasts completed, we still need to be up for the fight over time.

It feels like a battle of wills. 

Nothing can be erased… We can only move forward, hoping that our justice will prevail, regardless of what the other side presents. 

Acceptance of the outcome is something with which  we all wrestle.

Has it been worth all of the time, effort, stress and heartache?

Absolutely… for not to try at all is the stuff of cowards and fools. 

After 45 years, I know that my Dad is more than satisfied with my efforts from his heavenly perch. 

Another strange twist of fate regarding crime fighting was the very recent death of Dr. Henry C. Lee, world famous forensic pathologist, lecturer and trainer of so many young criminal justice minds.

I had the good fortune to live ‘in the backyard’ of the preeminent Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science along with the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences located at the University of New Haven, in West Haven, CT.  Our paths crossed a few times and I was always inspired. He was a genius whose contributions will live on for eternity. 

If I had my way, I would have had Dr. Lee involved  in the case of my Dad’s death.

However, it was not a high profile case. 

The perpetrator was known. 

The investigation dragged on for 6 ½ years, not for lack of evidence or solvability, but for the ever so slow wheels of justice cranking, as the killer was serving time in another state on drug charges.

Although lots of blood was spilled in my Dad’s case,  there were no blood spatter patterns that needed to be analyzed by Dr. Lee. 

The double helix DNA twisted ladder structure was discovered in 1951 to 1953. 

However, DNA wasn’t used to solve  a crime until 1987 to exonerate an innocent suspect, subsequently identifying  and convicting killer Colin Pitchfork, pioneering the use of forensic genetic evidence in criminal cases.  

Clothing identification, examining stomach contents, ballistics and autopsy did play a role in the investigation.

No special experiments were conducted to my knowledge.

There was no battle of the experts at the trial concerning forensics.

Genetic genealogy came decades later…. 

But what if… Dr Lee is now in his heavenly place. My Dad and Mom are re-united as of six years ago. I would hope that the Connecticut contingent and my parents could acquire Dr. Lee’s sage advice concerning how he in fact would have managed the murder investigation. THAT is a conversation I would love to hear….

Maybe there is no time for second guessing.

On earth we have to deal with the constant realities of change. 

These two men, my Dad, and Dr. Lee were workaholics. 

I would say rest well…. But they are probably working on something they love!  

45 years is a long hard road… and also a testament to love. 

“31 Candles” by Artist Don Gore ( no relation to my Dad)

Thank you for reading and sharing! 

With Love, 

Donna