Robert Van Alstine

A once homeless man was murdered on Wednesday, November 18th. He was part of our program at Street Outreach Services (S.O.S.). He had been living in a transitional living situation with several other men. He was an active member of the program, and regularly attended groups and activities put on by S.O.S. He was a very gentle man, who loved to barbecue for others in the house where he lived, and for the women living next door to him. He had gone out drinking with a friend to Fields Landing Tuesday night. Around 4:30 am, he was heard banging on a door and calling for help. Robert Van Alstine, aged 30, was found by a man answering the door, mortally wounded. They called an ambulance, and took him to a local hospital, where he died around noon, Wednesday afternoon. He had been stabbed to death. The circumstances surrounding his torment and death remain unknown at this time.
I remember Robert as a quiet, lonely man. He had a tattoo over and under his eye-a vertical stripe, and several other tattoos on his person, including an anarchy symbol on his neck. He would be on the sofa, watching television, when we went to pick him up for group. He was always there. I remember once going with Robert and a group of people from S.O.S. to the pier on Woodley Island. He was like a child, exploring the water and the sea life. He was fascinated by the jelly fish in the water. He put his hand in the water, retrieved them, and gently released them back into the water. He did this several times, each time his fascination grew.
Robert did not say very much about himself. He was aware of everything going on around him, but he contributed little to the conversation. His presence will be greatly missed by the clients and staff at S.O.S. and the Hope Center, where he would hang out with his peers. I, personally, was effected by his death. I was at first very angry with him and the murderer. I wrote a poem in my head to the murderer, asking him in not very nice terms, how he could live with himself? Why did Robert go out drinking, when it was forbidden in the house? My anger dissipated and my tears and compassion took over. Why you, Robert? You, the quiet one, the shy one? You who would help anyone with a need. Your time of pain and suffering are over. May you be at peace, Robert, and may the one who took your hard, beautiful life be reprimanded.
This gets into a discussion on prisoners. I am of the belief that prisoners are also victims. I would like it if we could tear the prisons down and start over again. Give everyone a chance. I realize that some prisoners are dangerous, and should be kept locked up for society's sake. But most prisoners are victims of their upbringing. If only we could prevent their eventual fall into this lifestyle, of committing crimes, being imprisoned, let out, and the cycle begins again.
I do not believe in the death penalty. If Robert's murderer were to get the death penalty, I would protest it.
For every man and woman should get another chance at life. Until a man takes his last breath, he should be given the chance to reform himself. This is my belief. The fact that putting a man to death does nothing to bring back the life of another. It is a cruel, barbaric practice. Why is the death count in the United States so high? Retribution is not worth it. When we have restorative justice practiced in the U.S., then we'll have peace.