Pondering on Eric Knysz’ death and the Mason County corrections officers

A letter to the editor:

By now all reading this know that Eric Knysz hung himself in prison. Eric Knysz admitted to murdering Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Butterfield II out of fear of going to prison. In so many words, he said he made his decision to kill the Trooper when he observed him turn around to stop him.

I have to believe, Eric Knysz knew he was going to prison for life without parole when he was arrested that same night. He admitted that he was in fear enough of going to prison to decide and then carry out the brutal murder of Trooper Butterfield. This leads me to believe that Eric Knysz planned to escape custody or take his own life at the earliest possible moment to avoid going to prison for life without parole.

It has been said that Eric Knysz had been placed under suicide watch the entire time he was incarcerated in the Mason County Jail, some 7 months since his arrest. It takes diligent work to prevent a person from taking their life when they make up their mind to take it. It puts extra stress on the Correction Deputies because the person under the watch could do whatever necessary to escape or commit suicide including harming the deputies. Eric Knysz had already cost the County of Mason and the State of Michigan an untold amount of money in overtime pay to the officers/deputies/troopers for the investigation, manhunt, medical costs and the cost of two trials with one left to go. I don’t know what it would have cost Mason County had Eric Knysz taken his life or harmed himself in jail, to where it would have been necessary to have medical care for however long he would live. I am sure it would be an enormous amount of money.

Thank you Mason County corrections deputies for all that you do.

Another point to ponder is if Eric Knysz was truly remorseful for taking the life of Trooper Paul Butterfield then why didn’t he be a man by admitting what he had done and taken the punishment without putting Paul’s family, friends, co-workers, first responders and the citizens that stopped to help Paul through a traumatic trial.

Robert A Wilson

Fountain