GRAND RAPIDS - Diann Landers is as unrepentant about Clarence Ratliff's death inside a federal prison as the former Grand Rapids police officer who killed his wife – a district judge who was shot to death in the Hall of Justice in 1988 – appeared to be when he was ordered to serve up to life in prison.
“I don't really have a problem with that given what he did,” said Landers, who was Carol Irons’ lawyer, campaign manager and close friend. “That's sort of how it works with a life sentence.”
Ratliff's family and friends hoped the 75-year-old would serve out his final days with them outside the confines of prison. They were pursuing a medical commutation of the sentence or parole for the man who once enforced the law only to turn and break it on Oct. 19, 1988 as his marriage crumbled in a divorce.
Ratliff, who served on the major case team, motorcycle patrol and bomb squad before his rampage, even shot at fellow officers who responded to reports of gunfire at the courthouse, which at the time was connected to the force headquarters.
The former officer's supporters waged a campaign knowing that a terminal diagnosis of cancer on his spine and lungs left him with little life to live. They wanted him to die in their care, calling it a humanitarian effort since he had lost his ability to speak and could not sit in a wheelchair comfortably.
The parole board never got the chance to rule on that request as Ratliff died in a federal prison medical center Saturday, officials from the Bureau of Prisons said.
He was placed in Hospice care about 10 days earlier, according to John Smietanka, a former federal prosecutor who was working with the man's supporters.
Steven Ratliff, a son from Ratliff's earlier marriage, on Wednesday expressed disappointment and grief with the slow movement to gain his father's freedom.
“We tried and it didn't work, not much I can do about that now,” he said from his home in Alaska. “I'm not real happy with it. Seems like there was a lot of politics involved.”
Smietanka says the pain of Ratliff's actions cut both ways. It ruined his otherwise good reputation, wounded his family, and of course, left a respected judge – Kent County's first female jurist - dead from a 9mm gunshot wound to the neck.
“This is the final story of an all-around sad situation,” Smietanka said. “Justice was done back when he was convicted and society had its retribution with him.”
Ratliff, who had been drinking heavily before confronting his estranged wife, was convicted of manslaughter, two counts of attempted murder and two charges of illegally using a firearm.
He was ordered to life in prison, but because of sentencing laws at the time he became eligible for parole in 2000.
Sara Smolenski, the chief judge of Kent County District Court and a friend of Irons, said Wednesday she takes no joy from learning Ratliff is dead. She understands his family is grieving, but notes Irons' parents suffered with her slaying.
“The whole thing has been as grueling as it can be for everyone involved,” Smolenski said. “Cancer is a terrible disease, but I can separate that from something he did almost 23 years ago. The illness has made no impact on me.
“I still feel firmly convinced that he should never be released. The tragedy in his life is when he made the bad decision to pull the trigger. (Carol) was violently murdered and people sometimes tend to forget that.”
As the sun shone in Landers office Wednesday, she thought of Irons, who she first grew close to in the 1970s and the grisly crime that imprisoned Ratliff.
“I look outside and I'm sort of happy that he didn't get to enjoy a day like this,” Landers said. “I was kind of taken aback by the request (for his release) even being made.”
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