Victim's family and defendant share their feelings

Watkins' widow, Betty Watkins of Dexter, was one of two people to speak on behalf of the victim during Wednesday's sentencing hearing for 41-year-old James E. Jankowski.

Watkins' widow, Betty Watkins of Dexter, addressed Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. Sharp on behalf of the victim.

"My strength to speak to you today, Judge Sharp, and your court comes from my faith in God and my love for Rick," said Betty Watkins. "I speak from my heart for family, our friends and myself."

Betty Watkins went on to explain that her late husband was co-owner of Watkins and Sons Funeral Service in Dexter and was on-call 24-hours a day. On the night of the accident, Betty Watkins explained, her husband was awakened around 10:30 p.m. by a phone call from the funeral home informing him he was being called out on a death call.

"He left our house sometime before 11 p.m. for the funeral home. He never made it that night," Betty Watkins explained. "He was hit head-on on Walnut Street by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by James Jankowski."

Although severely injured, Betty Watkins said that her husband was still conscious when he was removed from the vehicle by members of the Dexter Fire Department. At that time, Richard Watkins asked that his wife be called and then was sure to ask if the driver of the other vehicle was okay.

"The accident was clearly not his fault, but he was still concerned about the other driver," Betty Watkins explained, her voice shaky from holding back sobs. "That was the type of person Rick was."

Medical personnel tried to stabilize Richard Watkins' condition at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. It was soon decided that Watkins would need to be air lifted to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, however, Betty Watkins said that she did have just a few minutes with her husband prior to his being transported.

"In those two precious minutes, Rick was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand what he was saying because he had been intubated," Betty Watkins said. "The whole time I stood by him, he kept trying to tell me something. That image of him lying there with a tube running down his throat trying so desperately to tell me something will always be with me.

"I will always wonder what he was saying. All I could do is tell him I loved him and everything would be okay."

That would be the last time Betty Watkins would see her husband alive. He died at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau before his wife could arrive by car. The effects of her husband's untimely death with live with Richard Watkins' friends and family forever, according to his widow.

Betty Watkins explained that her husband's father sank into a deep depression following his death and that Richard Watkins' twin brother, who had been in poor health prior to his brother's death, declined rapidly. Rob Watkins died only 10 months after his brother.

Besides emotional suffering, Betty Watkins explained to Sharp the financial suffering she has encountered since her husband's death.

"Rick's death was both preventable and unconscionable," said Betty Watkins. "I am not saying that Rick was a saint, but he was a person who loved his family and friends. He had so much to offer to the people who knew him.

"I know in my heart, James Jankowski, that Rick has forgiven you for taking his life and for causing his family so much pain," said Betty Watkins, turning to look at Jankowski, who was seated at the defense table, "because he was the most forgiving person I've ever known."

Mike Grubbs, Richard Watkins' friend for more than three decades, enumerated to the judge many of the same points made by Betty Watkins. According to Grubbs, Richard Watkins was a family man who loved his wife and children deeply.

"In the course of our lives we meet a lot of people and make a lot of acquaintances," Grubbs told Sharp. "There are only a precious few that can truly be called our friends and Rick was that friend for me."

Jankowski was not unmoved by the words spoken on behalf of Richard Watkins. Looking remorseful throughout the proceeding, Jankowski looked especially stricken after hearing from the loved ones of the victim. Jankowski then asked the judge for permission to speak.

"I'm so sorry for what I have done," said Jankowski, looking toward the back of the courtroom where the victim's family and friends were seated. "I didn't mean for anybody to die.

"Whatever happens [in court] today doesn't mean anything," Jankowski continued. "I know that I'm at fault and I have to live with that. But please know that I am very sorry for what happened."

See Friday's edition for a story on the prevalence of drunk driving both in Stoddard County and the nation.

Sacha Champion may be reached via e-mail at schampion@dailystatesman.com