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Families Of Pan Am Bombing Victims React To Gadhafi's Death

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- For hundreds in the United States, Moammar Gadhafi's death has had a great impact.  They lost loved ones in the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Mary Bubala reports Gadhafi has long been called the mastermind of that terror.

Four days before Christmas in 1988, Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board.  That included 20-year-old Thea Kohn.

"He killed her and he also, in a sense, he killed me," said Susan Kohn, Thea's mother.

Kohn says for 23 years her family and others have been denied real justice. But now she feels some vindication that Moammar Gadhafi has been captured and killed.

"I make no apologies for wanting to dance on his grave.  I am delighted he's dead," said Kohn.

Susan Kohn says she watched the video over and over, and saw a picture of Gadhafi she wants to use.

"Wonderful picture.  I am going to be tempted to put it up on my wall -- I am not kidding about that -- and throw darts at it every morning," she said.

Gadhafi's other victims' families are rejoicing, too, including a Maryland mother.  Rosemary Mild of Severna Park lost her 20-year-old daughter, Miriam, in the Pan Am explosion.

"I've been choked up all day. She was deprived of her beautiful life, but she lives on in spirit," said Mild.

On Thursday night, Libyan-Americans celebrated in front of the White House.  Many remember the terror of Gadhafi's regime, just like so many families of Pan Am victims did.

"Most of us as family members wanted to see this handled in court, especially for the Libyan people to have their day in court, but you know I think ultimately justice was served," said Kohn.

In Arlington National Cemetery, there's a memorial dedicated to the victims of Flight 103.  Many have visited throughout the last two days.

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