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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 28, 2006 Victim's family sympathetic to killer By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The family of a murdered sex offender say their hearts go out to the killer. No one appeared on behalf of 68-year-old David Evan Rice at the Thursday sentencing of David Michael Jurich. Convicted Wednesday of Rice's 2004 murder, Jurich, 26, was sentenced in Jackson County Circuit Court to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years before he is eligible for parole. Many of Rice's relatives suffered physical abuse at his hands, said former stepdaughter 45-year-old Lani Narducci, of Grand Junction, Colo., contacted by phone. Most were relieved to hear he had died, she said. "I cannot grieve for this man," she said. Narducci and Rice's granddaughter, 27-year-old Malaina Blickenstaff, of Tri-Cities, Wash., said they feel Jurich's sentence is too harsh, nearly characterizing the crime as a community service. Advertisement "As far as I'm concerned, he Jurich took a pedophile and a child molester off the streets," Blickenstaff said. Imprisoned and paroled for sex crimes against young girls, Rice met Jurich in the county's work center. The two panhandled around Ashland and drank together. Jurich returned on Oct. 29, 2004, to a motel room on Clover Lane that he had rented with Rice's identification to find the older man in his bed. He bludgeoned Rice to death, hitting his head with a metal bar 20 to 30 times. Although jurors rejected Jurich's testimony of suffering an "extreme emotional disturbance" when Rice sexually propositioned him, Narducci and Blickenstaff said they completely believe the story. Narducci said Rice goaded many people into just such a rage over the years. "I can't say that I wouldn't have done the same," Blickenstaff said. Jurich's father, 53-year-old Dave Jurich, of San Pedro, Calif., said Rice's family conveyed the same sentiments to him shortly after his son's arrest. Surprised at Wednesday's guilty verdict for which he says prosecutors failed to present a clear motive, Jurich said his son was a nice guy who was easily manipulated by a sexual predator. "If it came down to the benefit of the doubt," he said, "who would you give it to?" Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s