D.C. Sniper's Ex-Wife Speaks Out
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One person dead, no suspects, no motives. This morning, 7:41, shot and killed. Again, no suspects. 8:12, another shooting at the Mobil station across the street. 8:37, another shooting, Hispanic female, shot and killed.</s>KING: There you saw a quick reminder of life back in 2002 in Washington, D.C. and environs. Joining us now in Washington is Mildred Muhammad. She's the former wife of convicted D.C. sniper, John Allen Muhammad. Her ex-husband is scheduled to die by lethal injection tomorrow in a Virginia prison. Mildred tells her story in a riveting memoir titled "Scared Silent." Well, how do you feel tonight, Mildred? What's going through you?</s>MILDRED MUHAMMAD, JOHN ALLEN MUHAMMAD'S EX-WIFE: Well, what's going through me right now is the welfare and the emotional stability of my children. When I think of John, that is who I think of first, are my three children.</s>KING: How are they coping?</s>MUHAMMAD: They are coping one moment at a time. Certain emotions are starting to come up. But overall, they are doing well.</s>KING: How old are they?</s>MUHAMMAD: My son John is 19. My daughter Selina is 17. And my daughter Taliba is 16.</s>KING: Have they been able to visit their father?</s>MUHAMMAD: Unfortunately, they have not. So they have resolved their minds that they are just going to move forward and remember him the way that they did before. And that will be enough for them.</s>KING: Do they love him?</s>MUHAMMAD: Yes, sir, they still do. They just wish that he was...</s>KING: When's the last time...</s>MUHAMMAD: ...still a part of their lives.</s>KING: Yes, that this hadn't happened, I mean. When was the last time that you saw or had contact with -- with your husband?</s>MUHAMMAD: My ex-husband? September the 4th, 2001 at an emergency custody hearing in Tacoma, Washington.</s>KING: So not -- not since all that time since then, since found guilty and since imprisoned?</s>MUHAMMAD: Yes, sir.</s>KING: Did you try to contact him in prison?</s>MUHAMMAD: No, sir. I didn't have a desire to do that. I had emotionally detached from John when I asked him for a divorce. And my emotions were severed when he said that you have become my enemy and as my enemy, I will kill you.</s>KING: You -- you have said that you think he was out to get you. Is that right?</s>MUHAMMAD: Well, when ATF knocked on my door October the 23rd, they took me to the police station to question me when was the last time that I had seen John. And I told them the same information that I told you. That is when they informed me that I was the target. First, they said they were going to name him as the sniper. Then they said, well, didn't you know that you were the target? He was shooting people all around you. His friend from Tacoma, Robert Holmes, called the task force during the shootings stating, "I don't know much about your case, but you may want to look at John Allen Muhammad, because he is over that way to hurt his ex-wife." So I'm not the only one that feels that he came to this area to kill me. There are others who have stated this publicly.</s>KING: You testified at his sentencing. Was that hard for you?</s>MUHAMMAD: Yes, sir, it was very difficult for me. I actually went online to look at the courtroom to find all of the exits so that just in case he was able to get loose, then I would know which way to run.</s>KING: So you have no -- and I don't want to put words in your mouth. You are not -- you're not sad over what's going to happen tomorrow?</s>MUHAMMAD: I am sad for my children. My children love their father. And just like any child who is about to lose a parent, they feel anxieties that they are not aware of. And myself and my husband, Rubin, are here for them, as well as other friends who have come together to help them to go through this transition, because this is a difficult walk for them. And we need to be there for them, to help them through this.</s>KING: Mildred Muhammad, we'll be right back with her. Her book is "Scared Silent" When the One You Love Becomes the One You Fear." The other ex-wife and son of convicted D.C. sniper, John Allen Mo -- John Allen Muhammad, are speaking to us exclusively. And they're going to share some personal letters and their thoughts about what's coming up. But first, more with Mildred, right after the break.