Man Sentenced to Life in Trooper's '05 Death

After 45 minutes of emotional testimony Tuesday, Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Gael Wood sentenced Massigh J. Stallmann, 28, to life in prison for the 2005 death of Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper ...

[Ray]

Then I suppose if I were hauling a load of gravel for someone and had a wreck and was killed, would that make the guy that hired me to haul the gravel guilty of murder because if not for him I would not have been driving the truck at the time?? to me it is the same thing, the trooper was killed while doing his job, sad as it is, I don't think the blame should have been placed on anyone in an attempt to make the survivors feel as if someone had paid for his death.

[THE MAN 2]

sorry

[larry]

Sad as the story seems, It sounds as if this trooper was called out to kill someone,turned out he didnt need to be called out at all.

[Sister Lane]

The criminal should be locked up for life, his family should be relieved if they care for him. He is a danger to all around him and his life is out of control if he has chosen to live this way in the past.
Why should we feel sorry for a messed up person who chose to live a crazy addictive, abusive way of life?
Feel sorry for all around him and the victims.

[semodude]

A person can be found guilty of murder if they committ a crime and someone dies as a direct result of that crime. For example: if you rob a bank and the cashier dies from a heart attack, you can be charged with murder. It's a very simple concept. Trooper Tatoian would still be alive today if it were not for the actions of one man and his decision to victimize the public with complete disregard for thier safety and well being. Stallmann made a concious decision to terrorize a community for the benefit of only one person, himself. Trooper Totoian gave his life in the process of trying to bring that person to justice. I'm sure just the same as he did every day prior to that, just as the majority of lawmen do every day. Ralph Totoian swore an oath to serve and protect you and I. His death is a sad reminder of what officers are faced with on a daily basis. An officer's passing does not make him/her a hero. They are hero's the moment they take an oath. They know at that moment they may be called on to take a life, save a life, or give thier own in the line of duty. I doubt a skinny paycheck and crappy health insurance is thier motivation for doing the job. They are motivated by another force you will never understand. They don't seek gratification and are rarely appreciated but they do it anyway because heros are like that. They serve so you don't have to. Ralph Tatoian is a hero. He and his fellow lawmen are the real story here. Not some piece of shit criminal.