Timothy McVeigh prosecution left a lasting impact on Oklahoma County DA: 'I didn't realize how traumatic it was on me'

Oklahoma County's lead attorney reflected on the biggest case of her career and time spent prosecuting the man who killed 168 innocent lives 30 years ago. The federal case against Timothy McVeigh began only days after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Vicki Behenna said she was working in Washington D.C. on April 19, 1995 but immediately took a flight home to Oklahoma City.

MORE COVERAGE: Those Changed Forever: April 19, 1995

What was it like to be on the prosecution team for such a big case early in your career?

"I have to confess, it was hard for me to admit it at the time but I have very little memory of the trial. I remember bits and pieces of it. I remember meeting with the families in the afternoon because they would all meet at a church not far from where the courthouse was, I remember going over there. So, I have bits and pieces of memory but I think I didn't realize how traumatic it was for me."

What do you recall when you first saw Timothy McVeigh at his initial court appearance?

"When he walked into the room he was clean-shaven, stood straight up, stood at attention. I mean he looked like the boy next door. I remember being taken back thinking that can't be, that can't be him."

How did the trial impact your life personally?

"Judge Matsch moved the trial to Denver. In May of '96 I believe we all moved to Denver so we Iived there for 18 months. I left my family, I had three young sons and husband at the time. Once we started the trial it took us 12 weeks to try the case and I think it was a week or two after that we were able to get the death penalty."

Was this an easy case to prosecute?

"I didn't have any question about the quality of the evidence or whether or not Timothy McVeigh was involved or Terry Nichols, there was not question about that. As I said, within three days we knew the names of the individuals who committed the crime."

Behenna's husband Scott Behenna worked on the bombing investigation as an agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Behenna said they both knew many of the employees in the federal building who were killed.