Alvin Melleth

I wanted to get to Marsha first, before the lawyers.

Yes, to hear about the case against David Wood from her perspective.

But also, I wanted to know what this was all like for her.

Following the lawyers around, it was easy to get a sense of how much they wanted to save their client to stop the execution.

I found myself wanting to know what's it like to be on the other side of that mission through all these years of delay.

Marsha is used to hearing from reporters.

So when Alvin and I call, she immediately gives us her address.

We drive up to her house in a gated mobile home park on the outskirts of El Paso.

Easy to find because she really likes lawn gnomes.

There are dozens of these little guys lined up guarding her house.

For an interview with a woman who lives alone, the proceedings were actually pretty crowded.

Marsha volunteers to rehabilitate wildlife in her home with a local animal rescue.

She has one of those dry erase boards in her living room, laying out which animals are in which parts of her home.

Right now I have the pigeon, the squirrel.

All of these animals are in addition to Marsha's dog, a six-year-old cockapoo mix named Muppet, who Marsha tells us is more of a hugger than a humper.

Although, when Muppet takes a liking to Alvin's leg at one point, that seems to be a distinction without a difference.

All this to say, Marsha's home is warm, inviting, casual, as is Marsha.

Initially, Alvin and I were a little hesitant about how to approach her.

Our first instinct was to do it delicately.

That seemed appropriate for an interview with a grieving mother.