Chapter 10

THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT

On  March  22,  1984,  Dale  Johnston,  his  hands clasped  behind his  back, his  face revealing  no emotion,  was  sentenced  to  die  in the electric chair. His  wife, Sarah, was  seated in the  first row of the courtroom.  Todd Schultz’s parents were seated in the row behind her.

After  sentencing, Don  Schultz, his  thumb turned upwards,  offered to  pay for  the electricity  to execute  Johnston. “When  they burn  him, I’ll pay the  electric bill.  This is  what we  were hoping for,”  he said.  “He killed  my son.  He killed my son’s girlfriend. He broke the  law. He has to pay for it.”

Sandra  Schultz added:  “When Dale  murdered those kids, he  knew there was a  death penalty. I think he got  what he deserved.” Her  biggest regret was that no one had taken action when Annette said her stepfather was sexually molesting her. “If someone had listened to Annette  years ago, this may never have happened.  And that really upsets  me. It was needless.”

Presiding Judge  James Stilwell set  the execution time and date for  10 a.m., Oct. 4, 1984—exactly two years after the teenagers disappeared.