Inmates in prisons really don’t like those who have committed crimes against children. It’s not surprising. After all, these convicts have targeted someone who was not only smaller but more innocent than they were. They have destroyed a life because of their criminal abuses. It’s no wonder other prisoners do not take kindly to these types of criminals. And sometimes, these prisoners take justice into their own hands.
Well, one Oklahoma prison inmate took justice personally when he learned the terrible crime his cellmate had been convicted for. Anthony Palma, a 59-year-old convict, met a violent and brutal end in prison at the hands of his cellmate, Raymond Pillado. The incident occurred on January 11 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
When Palma’s lifeless body was found in his cell, it was quickly removed and taken to the medical examiner. It was determined that he had died from “ligature strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.”
Two years ago, Palma was sentenced to life in prison for a cold-case murder from 1997. The case involved the disappearance of a beautiful eight-year-old girl whose body was never found. For years, her family agonized over her disappearance and suspected death, until the police finally caught up with Palma and connected him to the case.
Palma’s cellmate, Pillado, is 35 years old and is serving multiple life sentences for murder and shooting with intent to kill. He has a history of committing other crimes as well.
Last month, the prison reported Palma’s death, but they did not disclose the reason behind it. Killing someone in prison, even if they are a criminal, is still considered murder. However, the Department of Corrections is confident that Palma was killed in retaliation for his crime against the innocent eight-year-old girl.
“Those who are serving time for victimizing children are definitely more vulnerable,” explained Matt Elliott, spokesperson for the Department of Corrections.
Palma was found guilty of killing Kirsten Hatfield, who lived just two doors down from him. DNA testing linked Palma to her disappearance. He was then found guilty of kidnapping the girl, sexually assaulting her, and ultimately killing her to get rid of the evidence.
Earlier this year, authorities expressed hope that Palma would finally reveal the location of Kirsten’s remains during an interview. They wanted to bring her home and provide closure for her family.
“We’ve not had closure on this case, and we may never have closure because we wanted to find her body and bring her home,” said Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes. “Our hopes are, with any case like this… that hopefully, he would have some inkling of a conscience, maybe intervention by a higher power, maybe God, and come out and tell us exactly what he did with her.”
Although Kirsten’s killer is now dead, her mother Shannon Hazen refuses to give up hope. She knows that there may never be closure, but she will keep hoping for answers.
The family of the little girl has gone through unimaginable pain and suffering since her disappearance. Now, they can find some solace in knowing that her killer will never have the chance to victimize other children.
