MICHAEL A. LYONS KIDNAPPED, MURDERED, CHILD
Forever Missed.
Michael was only 8 years old, when he was kidnapped walking home from school on May 16 1996. We
live in a small community in Yuba City, California. I never conceived that another human could do something so
horrable. This is a nightmare that will haunt us forever.
My son who was so full of life, dreams, adventures, would never come home again. A monster took him
and brutally killed him. May 16, 1996. Michael poor little body was found bludgeoned, partially clothed found the
next morning in the brush along the Feather River.
Rhoades, 46, was arrested about two hours later downstream, where a Sutter County deputy found the
barber from Sutter trying to dig his 4-wheel drive Toyota truck out of the mud. Rhoades was convicted in June
1998, but the same jury hung 10-2 in favor of the death penalty. A second jury was assembled in December and
on March 1999 rendered the death penalty verdict.
This monster is called Robert B. Rhoades. He is sitting on Death Row where I hope he rotts. We went
through years of trial, pain; anger only to find out Rhoades had committed other child murder. The pure pain for
the families of the children stay with me everyday. Years (15 years) of not knowing who murdered your child is
also unthinkable.
Michael was able to bring some kind of peace when the DNA used in his case, linked Rhoades to other
unsolved cases. The jury's recommendation and ordered Rhoades to "suffer the death penalty. Robert Boyd
Rhoades was sentenced to death for his brutal attack on 8-year-old Michael Lyons. Silence fell over the
Sacramento County courtroom as Judge Loyd H. Mulkey Jr. followed the jury's recommendation and ordered
Rhoades to "suffer the death penalty."
Michael is finally free.
You know you have to have justice before you can be set free, Even though as a family we still suffer a lot,
he is free. I think that people who victimize children should suffer the maximum the law allows, these monsters will
never stop. This monster is a sexual predator, like so many others on our streets. Rhoades, a twice-convicted
violent sex offender, testified in both trials, telling jurors he was at their riverbottoms the night Lyons disappeared,
but then walked to the road and hitchhiked to his Sutter home to collect a portable winch to pull his truck out of
the mud. He said this in court, My name is Robert Boyd Rhoades and I did not kill Michael Lyons. I am innocent
of the crime. But through all his lies the jury saw the truth.
In a case like Michael, I don't know if the punishment fits the crime. What he did to Michael, it was worse
than anything we could do to him, but here on earth that's the maximum law allows. But when he faces his maker
justice will be Michael's. Nothing will ever bring Michael back, but I will always live in his memory. I will always
fight, protect, and save as many innocent children that god allows me to.
Hug your children everyday, Hold them and let them know everyday. Every child must walk alone
sometimes. Empower them! But most of all KNOW THEM!!!!!
ForeverFighting,
Sandra Friend
Mother of Michael Lyons
Please visit Michaels Memorial Page Below, sponsored By Angels Above Us
KlassKids in Memory of Polly Klass
Send E-Mail to: sandyfriend@succeed.net
Copyright © 2001 Sandra Friend Michael Mother. All Rights Reserved