A Mother's Mission: The Sue Molhan Story

Molhan's only son, Stephen, aged 20, was shot to death in Providence, R.I., in 1983, presumably for his jewelry, whose total value was about $25. That event was the lowest point in Molhan's difficult life, which included three failed marriages. The perpetrator of the crime was apprehended and sentenced to prison. Frustrated by the attitude of the courts toward victims of violent crime, she founded an advocacy group, Parents of Murdered Children, which later expanded to become Family and Friends of Murdered Victims. Eventually, the author arranged two mediation sessions with her son's imprisoned killer, in 1992 and 1994, although she maintains she has not forgiven him. Those sessions formed the basis for segments of the TV shows 20/20 and A Current Affair. Writing with freelancer Kavanagh, Molhan vividly conveys her pain and concludes that her life ``rests on an uneasy foundation of despair.'' A searing story. Photos not seen by PW. (Feb.)