Burtzlaff Gurwell to speak on violence
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SIOUX FALLS - The first person in South Dakota to use
battered-woman syndrome as a defense speaks Tuesday at the
University of Sioux Falls as part of domestic violence month.
Gloria Burtzlaff Gurwell of Whitewood was sentenced to 20
years in prison for a 1991 first-degree manslaughter conviction for
killing her husband, Larry Burtzlaff.
She was paroled in 1998, got her master's degree and now is a
substance abuse counselor. Gurwell also speaks to groups about
domestic violence and abuse.
She testified that her husband tried to drown her in a hot tub
and threatened her before she shot him in the chest with a
shotgun.
"They contended I had other options," Gurwell, 67, said in a
telephone interview. "Life was going down real quick that night. It
was going downhill real fast."
The abuse that led to that evening had lasted all of their 32
years of marriage, though she didn't recognize it, she said.
"I had been hit and slapped and emotionally and sexually
abused. But you know, domestic violence and any kind of personal
violence like that starts slow, and it's insidious," Gurwell
said.
"I never considered myself an abused woman."
South Dakota law was changed to allow battered-woman syndrome
as a defense shortly after she was found guilty, but the state
Supreme Court upheld her conviction in 1992.
Gurwell said she learned much about herself in prison - and
met the man she later married - but that the timing of the law
change still stings.
"The hurtful thing for me at the time and still baffles me is
why they said in November I had a fair trial and three months later
they said it's bad law. But that's the way that works," she
said.
Her message now is for people to recognize abuse and to know
they can be forgiven.
"I work in drug and alcohol counseling and see people in their
low spots in life. If you just have faith and hang in there, we can
all make it. Life doesn't end with prison or tragedy. I have a good
life. I'm grateful for it," she said.
The Rev. Dennis Thum said the University of Sioux Falls
brought in Gurwell and her new husband, Gary Gurwell, because of
their message.
"With Gloria and her husband both being ex-felons, they have a
lot to say about rehabilitation, rebuilding our lives after
disaster. They have a great faith story that they share," he
said.
Gloria Gurwell speaks to students Tuesday morning at chapel
and at a community program Tuesday evening in the Salsbury Science
Center's Zbornik Hall.
Gary Gurwell had been sentenced to 75 years for manslaughter
and was paroled in February 2002 after serving about 15
years.
On the Net:
Posted in Top-stories on Friday, October 19, 2007 11:00 pm
/news/local
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