Mother of victim seeks change to next-of-kin law

INDIANAPOLIS — After Linda Young's daughter and grandson were murdered in 2005, control of their bodies went to their next-of-kin — a man who was also their killer.\nZachariah Melcher of Jeffersonville, Ind., was sentenced last month to two consecutive life sentences in the death of his pregnant wife, 23-year-old Christian Melcher, and their 11-month-old son, Jaiden.\nYoung, who had to get permission from Melcher to bury her daughter and grandson, urged lawmakers Wednesday to change state law so that the surviving spouse would not be next-of-kin if they confessed to murdering their husband or wife.\n"I'm hoping to help future families to not have to go through what we had to go through," Young said. "I'm asking you to put yourself in my shoes. I'm asking you, what would you do if it were your daughter?"\nThe Interim Study Committee on Criminal Justice Matters is considering a proposal by Sen. Connie Sipes, D-New Albany, to change the law.\nCommittee chairwoman Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, said she expects the group to endorse legislation making a change, which would be considered when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.\nBefore then, more work needs to be done on the proposal, she said.\n"There are a number of issues," Miller said, "but we will work through them. We pray this never happens to anyone else ever again"