EXCLUSIVE: Father of Brenda Lafferty talks about her life after the death of her killer

by Ron Bird

Wed, November 13th 2019, 10:53 PM UTC

KUTV anchor Ron Bird hugs Jim{ } Wright, father of Brenda Lafferty and grandfather of Erica Lafferty, who were both murdered by Ron and Dan Lafferty. Ron knows Jim from childhood. Jim was Ron's LDS bishop growing up. (Photo: KUTV)

KUTV anchor Ron Bird and Jim Wright, father of Brenda Lafferty and grandfather of Erica Lafferty, who were both murdered by Ron and Dan Lafferty. Ron knows Jim from childhood. Jim was Ron's LDS bishop growing up. (Photo: KUTV)

Brenda Lafferty, murder victim of Ron Lafferty. (Photo: KUTV)

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KUTV anchor Ron Bird hugs Jim Wright, father of Brenda Lafferty and grandfather of Erica Lafferty, who were both murdered by Ron and Dan Lafferty. Ron knows Jim from childhood. Jim was Ron's LDS bishop growing up. (Photo: KUTV)

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Jim Wright was relieved when he got word that death row inmate Ron Lafferty had died in prison.

Jim is the father of Brenda Wright Lafferty and the grandfather of 15-month-old Erica, the two people Ron Lafferty and his brother Dan murdered 35 years ago.

Jim told me at his home in Kimberly, Idaho:

It causes depression, anxiety, and a lot of sorrow.

He says it’s better that Lafferty died naturally in prison, which puts an end to any appeals and the spectacle of an execution.

“From the very beginning, we as a family turned that over to the Lord and the law,” Jim says, adding that the family has moved forward instead of getting caught up in hate “and things like that.”

Focusing on the lives of Brenda and Erica has helped the family in their healing process.

Brenda grew up in Kimberly, Idaho with five sisters and a brother.

“She was quite a scrapbooker,” Jim remembers as he starts flipping through pages.

Brenda was a talented singer, excelled in theatre, and at the time of her death was a student at BYU majoring in broadcast journalism. “She was a news anchor at BYU,” Jim recalls.

One of his fondest memories is giving his granddaughter Erica was ice cream for the first time. “I had to stir it up for her so it was soft like