GREENVILLE, S.C. — The mother of a gay man killed in May 2007 is taking her plea against the killer’s early parole to the wider, national community.

Elke Kennedy and the foundation Sean’s Last Wish are asking community members to speak out against the possible early parole of Kennedy’s killer, Stephen Andrew Moller.

“Sean Kennedy’s family will never see justice done for Sean,” an emailed statement from the foundation read. “Because of the inadequacy of South Carolina murder laws and the lack of hate crime statutes, his killer, Stephen Andrew Moller, could be out of prison as early as February. We must protest this injustice and ask the parole board to make Moller serve the remainder of his sentence.”

Moller was plea-bargained to a suspended five-year sentence and convicted of involuntary manslaughter. With credit for his time served before the sentencing, Moller will be eligible for full release by September 2009.

“The parole board is currently conducting an investigation to decide whether to allow him to have a parole hearing, so it is critical that they hear from you that Stephen Andrew Moller violently murdered Sean Kennedy and should serve the remainder of his sentence,” the foundation said.

Letters can be written to the address below. If community members write letters, they are encouraged to let Kennedy know and, if possible, send a copy. Kennedy can be contacted via elke@seanslastwish.org.

To write a letter: Include Moller’s name and inmate number (Stephen Andrew Moller – SCDC ID # 00328891) and send to:

Department of Probation Pardon and Parole Services
2221 Devine Street, Suite 600, PO Box 50666
Columbia SC 29250

Matt Comer

Matt Comer previously served as editor from October 2007 through August 2015 and as a staff writer afterward in 2016.