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08 Şubat 2008 21:39:23
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Five Missouri inmates have penned a book detailing their lives in hopes that it might deter others from going down the wrong path.

One of the authors of "Lost Innocence: Understanding Youth Who Kill" is Christopher Bowers. He is serving 17 years for murder. KMBC's Peggy Breit reported that the book is a journey into the minds of men who hope that even if you hate them, you'll listen to what they say.

Bowers was convicted of shooting and killing J. Pat Maloney during an argument in 1995 at Blue Ridge Mall.

"What took a mother 16 years to build, mold and shape, I destroyed in a matter of seconds," Bowers told Breit.

Bowers has spent 13 years behind bars, often talking to students from visiting schools. The students come to the penitentiary in Cameron to find out what it's like inside the prison walls and inside the prisoners' minds.

"It's going to make me think about what I actually do before I do it," said Hamilton eighth-grader Paige Kline.

The students' day among killers, thieves and drug dealers makes an impression, Breit reported.

"I thought they were going to tell us how not to do drugs and stuff, but they told us a lot more," said Hamilton eighth-grader Jay Powell.

"I just don't want to come into a place like this when I'm older because it's so depressing," said Hamilton eighth-grader Jasmine Elder.

Bowers said he wants to reach out to more kids, especially those on the brink of disaster. So he asked other inmates if they would join him in writing their stories for a book.

Breit reported that the co-authors are all convicted killers who said they are ashamed of their bad choices and distressed by the havoc they've wreaked.

"I really wanted to do something to kind of make amends for what I did," said inmate and co-author Sean Johnson.

The authors said they are hoping to reach kids before it is too late.

"I don't so much want you to look at me, but look at the message. Look at my life because that's where stories lie. That's where answers lie," Bowers said.

"I'm not saying it's the answer to every kid's problem, but it could be a small piece of a puzzle -- life's puzzle. Even if it's the smallest little bit, it could be a contribution," inmate and co-author Enrique Padilla said.

The inmates' families have set up a nonprofit corporation for the book so that any proceeds will go toward printing more books or to charity. Some of the books have been donated to a juvenile center in the metro and at Van Horn, Central and Northeast high schools. The book costs $20.

Breit said she was unable to interview the fifth author of the book, Kenneth Gilbert. He is housed in Jefferson City.