As Butler County residents prepared to celebrate Christmas, they also faced the unhappy reminder of a virtually unimaginable tragedy that gripped news pages in 2005. Amid the festivities of the season, it is appropriate to reflect on that tragedy — to ponder people's inhumanity to others, which happens every day in this country as well as throughout the rest of the world.

On Dec. 16, the Butler Eagle reported on the sentencing of Russell Hilliard, 37, one of the three individuals responsible for the torture killing of Jason Ritzert. Ritzert, a mentally disabled man, had been beaten and burned because the people with whom he resided in the city believed he was taking food items and small amounts of money.

The violence escalated over months until Ritzert was killed. Hilliard and the two other defendants in the case subsequently used a stolen truck to move Ritzert's body to a garbage bin, where it was burned beyond recognition.

Hilliard received the shortest sentence in the case, 20 to 40 years in prison, but what could have been the most productive years of his life apparently are gone forever. Co-defendant Timothy Caldwell is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. The other co-defendant, Caldwell's cousin Melissa Adams, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence.

Beyond the tragedy of Ritzert's death is the tragedy that four people with the capacity to be decent, productive members of the community, despite whatever limitations might have impacted their lives, instead became engulfed in a life view lacking compassion or a belief in self-betterment.

Hilliard, Caldwell and Adams had plenty of time to recognize that what they were doing was leading to a tragic conclusion that would, in effect, destroy their lives as well as Ritzert's. Yet they continued on their murderous path.

Four lives were caught up in madness that easily could have been avoided had the defendants embraced a spirit of compassion and common sense, rather than cruelty.

No doubt Hilliard, Caldwell and Adams spent Christmas Day reflecting on the crime for which they are responsible, and there will be many more Christmas Days with similar reflection.

Others whose lives include evil designs should engage in serious reflection regarding their thoughts and actions before they too are left to do so behind bars.

Unlike for the three Ritzert defendants, there still is opportunity to pursue a positive course. Now is a good time for that positive course to take hold and remain committed to the kind of spirit that embraces most people at this time of the year.