Interviews with the Condemned

Interview no.7 (2005-11-21)

(Mr. Honken requested that his daughter's face be blurred out to protect her identity)

The seventh interview is being held with Dustin Lee Honken. Dustin just recently arrived at the federal death row unit at Terre Haute in Indiana, but already has contributed a lot to Death Row Speaks. Dustin just started to write a weekly journal about being in prison (death row), and his writings can be found by clicking the links below this interview. We are very grateful for his contributions and also for working with us on the "Interview with the Condemned" series. Like most people, we only know about Dustin through the media, but with this interview we're able to learn about the person behind the name.

Personality:

Name: Dustin Lee Donken
Prison Register: 06951-029
Address: USP – Terre Haute, PO Box 12015, Terre Haute, IN. 47801, USA
Age: 37
Race: White
Sex: Male
How long on Death Row: Newly arrived

1:

Question: Where were you born and raised?

Answer: I was born in Burlington, Iowa. I lived nearly all my life in North Central Iowa except for about four years in the late 80’s and early 90’s when I lived in Tucson, Arizona.

2:

Question: Will you share with us what it was like for you growing up? (Did you have a pet, a favorite game, hiding place, or favorite toy? Were you raised by both parents, a single parent or relative?)

Answer: My upbringing was fairly normal. My parents divorced when I was eight years old and both re-married. I was a middle child, liked the outdoors, and enjoyed helping my grandma with her Iris flowers and my mother while cooking.

3:

Question: Do you have a favorite childhood memory? If so, what is it?

Answer:  I guess my favorite childhood memories are Christmastime in general. It has always been my mother’s favorite holiday so it just rubbed off on me. I especially liked all of the old Christmas songs and the decorating of the tree and house.

4:

Question: Did you like school? If so, share with us your favorite memory from your school years.

Answer: I liked school when I was young but was more interested in socializing in high school than in studying. I absolutely loved college and still try to learn as much as possible by reading good books when I can get them.

5:

Question: What person or event impacted you most as a child?

Answer: The divorce of my parents affected me greatly, one minute you think nothing is wrong, and then the next minute you are being told that your parents are divorcing. My dad’s severe alcoholism was pretty difficult for me also; he has recovered a few years back.

6:

Question: What hobbies or activities did you participate in while growing up, e.g. scouting, sports, etc.

Answer: I wasn’t much of a sports fanatic. I did the football, basketball, track thing in junior high but discovered Martial Arts (Karate) when I was in high school and have since been interested in that area of physical activity.

7:

Question: What was your first job? Please describe your duties/responsibilities and whether or not you liked the job.

Answer: My first job was working for my stepfather at his auto-salvage place. I was 13 years old then and I think I got a whopping $2.00 an hour. My job was to take apart wrecked cars and sometimes fix cars that we were to sell.

8:

Question: As a child or teenager, what did you want to do when you grew up? Why?

Answer: I always thought about being a lawyer when I was young. For awhile in college I considered being a high school science teacher because I loved to teach study groups in science. My main thought was a chemical lawyer.

9:

Question: Do you have a favorite movie or book? Please elaborate.

Answer: My favorite movie is “Braveheart.” The flute music in it is simply beautiful and I love the passion that flows throughout the movie. My favorite reading is philosophy. My two favorite fiction books are “Don Quixote” and “The Three Musketeers.”

10:

Question: Where was the most beautiful or special place that you can remember having visited? Please describe it.

Answer: My grandparents took me to the Lake of the Woods Canada when I was young and I thought it the most special place on the earth. I loved the woods, the wildlife, the ease of finding solitude, and just the whole nature thing.

11:

Question: What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

Answer: Poetic Justice. I was 28 and mowing the lawn in the back yard one day. I had never been stung by any insect before but I didn’t like them anyway. There was a big bumble-bee on a dandelion in front of my mower. A couple of the little neighbor kids had been stung recently so I figured I had better get that bumble-bee before he got me. So, I shouted at the bee “Eat this bee!” as I pushed the mower over him. Well, it didn’t work out as I thought. Instead of being chopped up by the mower, he came flying out of the chute madder than heck. It flew right up into my ear. I batted my glasses of my face, ran sideways, and jumped around trying to get that bee away from my ear. The neighbors thought I was going crazy. It stung me right on the ear. My friends and co-workers thought it was pretty funny when I had to explain to them why the side of my face was so swelled up. I learned a totally new respect for the idea of leaving things alone that aren’t bothering me.

12:

Question: What job or occupation did you have prior to your incarceration? Were you employed at the time of your arrest?

Answer: I worked for Kraft foods at the time of my arrest. We made all of the Jello and pudding ready-to-eat 6-packs.

13:

Question: Were you involved with drugs or alcohol prior to your incarceration? If so, please share the effects this had on your life.

Answer: I didn’t drink, smoke, do drugs or really anything along those lines until I hit 24 years of age. For a few years I tried different drugs. I did methamphetamine more than any of the others but I could do without them and I have no desire for any sort of drugs or alcohol now.

14:

Question: What do you miss most about the outside world and why?

Answer: I miss my children most, and my family. I do not miss any of the materialistic stuff in regards to society, only the social stuff.

15:

Question: What is the one thing you regret most?

Answer: Failing my children and those whom I love.

16:

Question: Do you have any strong spiritual or religious beliefs? If so do they influence how you view the future?

Answer:  I am a spiritual person but not in the external sense. I guess I’m more a humanist. Only in the last few years have my idea on spirituality and man become solidified to some degree. I’ve done considerable study and reflection in this area and have learned to focus on the here and now.

17:

Question: How important is it for you to have contact with your family, friends and/or the outside world? Please elaborate.

Answer: I think it’s very important not only for myself but for my family also. It is easy for a person in solitary conditions to lose touch with reality. You must have a very strong mind and some sort of communication with the outside to keep from having mental issues.

18:

Question: Do you remember your first thoughts when hearing the jury’s verdict of death as your sentence? Will you share this experience with us, e.g. your thoughts, feelings, reactions?

Answer: I anticipated a death verdict so it didn’t really phase me. I’m pretty hardened emotionally to things like that from being in some serious prisons for the last ten years. The only thing that gets to me is when my family or friends hurt.

19:

Question: What is a typical day like for you on death row?

Answer: I’ve only been here for a week but I will adjust rapidly. The last prison I was at was pretty dangerous so being here nullifies that tension since you are alone here. My days will be spent doing art, reading, writing, and exercising. I’m sure I’ll have to do some legal work each day also.

20:

Question: Do you feel that capital punishment serves as a deterrent? Yes/No Please elaborate on you answer.

Answer: My initial reaction would be “no.” I have thought a little on this issue lately and have come to that conclusion. I have yet to meet a person in prison that: 1) thought they would be caught; 2) looked up the penalties for any crime they were to commit.

21:

Question: If you could change one thing in the world today, what would it be and why?

Answer: I think I would like society to be less materialistically driven and more principle driven. Loyalty is the greatest virtue to me. It took me a very long time to understand honor, loyalty, etc, but now that I do I wish everyone understood it.

22:

Question: If you could go back in time, where and to what date would you travel and why?

Answer: On a personal level I would go back to junior high and do my best in all things and do what is right over what is easiest. On a world wide level, to a place and time where human life is valueless and show/teach them all hope is not lost.

23:

Question: What has been the most important and life-altering event you have experienced?

Answer: Without doubt, prison. I would not have near the depth I have today without those ten years in prison and the trials that came with it. Prison has helped me to learn the person I was, the person I am, and the person I can be.

24:

Question: What is the most important thing that you want our visitors to know about you?

Answer: That I’m quite a passionate person, whether it is in the love of my family or the loyalty to my friends. That, although I have done many wrongs in my life, I now try to always do right no matter how difficult it is

25:

Question: If you have anything else that you would like included as a part of this interview, please share it with us now.

Answer: I guess I would like to close by saying that I am always open to questions someone might have if they wished to write, or to helping someone get through difficult times by suggesting things that have worked for me.

Visit Dustin's journals 

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