By Skyler Cooper
The prosecutor who led the federal trial against Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh has died.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum confirmed Joseph Hartzler’s passing in a social media post. He was a U-S Attorney based in Springfield, Illinois and was appointed to the lead role of the prosecution team by then-Attorney General Janet Reno.
“He brought great honor to those who were killed and their families by the way he cared and guided the victims in the case.” The memorial and museum wrote.
Hartzler had multiple sclerosis and prosecuted the case from his motorized scooter.
He spoke moments after McVeigh was sentenced to death.
“This is not a day of great joy for the prosecution team. We’re pleased that the system worked and that justice prevailed, but the verdict doesn’t diminish the great sadness that occurred in Oklahoma City two years ago. Our only hope is that the verdict will go some way to preventing such terrible drastic crime from ever occurring again.” Hartzler said.
The Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum said a sign of Hartzler’s is still on display that reads “Don’t bury the crime in the clutter.” They said it reminded the prosecutors to cut through the noise and focus the jury on the crime that killed 168 people.
