Gingrich Angers Relatives of Slain Woman

Angry relatives of a woman who was slain along with two of her children declared Wednesday that they want House Speaker Newt Gingrich to stop trying to make political capital out of their tragedy.

“The family’s in grief,” said Fred Moody, the slain woman’s cousin, arriving at the funeral here. “We need support. We don’t need criticism. We would appreciate it if Mr. Gingrich would remove our family tragedy from his political rhetoric.”

In the attack last Thursday, Debra Evans, 28; her 10-year-old daughter, Samantha; and her son Joshua, 8, were killed by assailants who cut open Evans’ womb and left with her unborn child. Two men and a woman are charged in the case.

Gingrich told GOP governors in New Hampshire on Tuesday that the attack resulted from failures in the welfare, criminal justice and educational systems.

“I don’t care what Mr. Gingrich or anyone else has to say,” said Sam Evans, father of the slain woman. “It isn’t fair for any politician to use any tragedy for their own personal political gain.”