The following letter refers to a piece titled "Disputing the Claims of a Killer" that I wrote in response to a letter by Ron Spivey that had been printed in Integra. My response appeared in the August/September 1995 issue of Port of Call, and in Integra a couple of months later. KP

Hello Kort,

I'm one of the people who crossed the path of Ron Spivey the night he killed Mr. McCook and policeman Billy Watson. I'm not sure how much background you had on Spivey when you wrote your NRA/Spivey article. But here are some things, not scientific, but typical of his efforts to stay alive. During his original trial, one of his supporters/witnesses was the author of a book called, I believe Sugar Blues.

The premise of that defense was "a Snickers Bar, or whatever, made him do it". After his retrial efforts failed, that defense went away. Around the time the time of the "Atlanta Child Murders", Spivey was stabbed multiple times in prison, for "ratting" or fabricating information about the possible killer. He possibly restored some good will with his fellow inmates by helping them with their legal efforts, and as a publicist of sorts. I'm not certain about this, but I heard it from more than one source.

Spivey had, as every article published about him seems to relate, a particularly high IQ and was a member of Mensa. (Less often mentioned is Billy had a child he never got to see.) He had a talent for taking most any subject and spinning it to fit his needs.

On the subject of guns and Ron Spivey, I can tell you the night he shot me, the guns he used may have saved my life. After shooting me several times, I believe he assumed I was dead. I would have fared worse had he run out of rounds and decided to use his hands and body (6' 7" and 350 pounds). Sort of Ironic.

Spivey always had a growing and evolving set of self-absolving rationalizations for his actions. In my case, and I'm quoting the person he kidnapped the night of the shooting, and said this to, "I shot him because he was a "smart-ass". He reached this conclusion because earlier in the evening I said the words to him, and only these words, "I'm sorry, we are closed."

More recently, Spivey attempted to use an investigation into the State of Georgia Parole Board to his best interest. In the last twenty-five years he has generated support from many organizations that could have better used their resources elsewhere. He showed a never ending willingness to involve himself on any issue that might in some way aid his cause.

Since Spivey no longer walks the earth, this is thankfully somewhat behind us. But, since you took the time to respond to his position, I thought you might want to hear this from someone who was there. Only for a few minutes. But that was as much Ron Spivey time as anyone would ever want and more.

BA