Sister's Killer Faces Execution After 37 Years

Harold Nichols is set to be executed by the state of Tennessee more than 37 years after he raped and murdered Karen Pulley. The crime occurred in 1988, the same year Ronald Reagan was president and George Michael topped the music charts. Lisette Monroe, Karen's older sister, has lived with the profound pain of the loss and the subsequent legal proceedings.

Monroe, who had recently returned to the U.S. after living abroad, was planning a visit to her sister in Chattanooga. Tragically, this reunion never happened. The years since Pulley's murder have been marked by continuous court battles over Nichols' death sentence, which Monroe describes as reliving "37 years of hell." She recalls her sister as gentle, sweet, and innocent, cherishing memories of their childhood dancing.

After the murder, Monroe and her husband moved back to Chattanooga but eventually relocated to the Pacific Northwest to escape constant reminders of the tragedy. Monroe's mother, in her grief, met with Nichols and gave him a Bible, an act Monroe views as potentially misconstrued. Monroe plans to be in Nashville on December 11 for the scheduled execution, hoping it will bring closure and allow her to focus on happy memories of Karen.