Tiffany Ellis Brewer says she refuses to live in fear since learning of the release of a man who gunned down her sister in 1993, fatally shooting his 20-year-old estranged wife in the head while her baby slept nearby.

“I want answers,” Brewer, from Pearl, Miss., told msnbc.com on Thursday. “I will not stop until I get them because something is seriously wrong with our system. No one saw this coming and the governor needs to answer for this.” 

In his last act in office, former Gov. Haley Barbour granted more than 200 pardons, clemency or early release for people convicted of crimes including murder, rape and armed robbery. Most of those people were already out of prison.

Among the convicted killers to be freed: David Glenn Gatlin -- the man who admitted to fatally shooting Brewer's sister, Tammy, and wounding her friend, Randy Walker, in July 1993.

"We were never notified that any of this was happening," Brewer said. "The last thing we heard was that Randy received a call saying that [Gatlin] had been denied parole. Next thing we know, he's released on Sunday. Now, we have no idea where he is." 

• Read: Some Barbour pardons lack key info, experts say

Gatlin and three other inmates had worked at the governor's mansion doing odd jobs under a program that rewarded good behavior.

In an interview with The Associated Press in 2008, Barbour said releasing trusties who served at the governor's mansion was a tradition in Mississippi.

The last-minute act, however, has incensed some people in Mississippi. 

“The events since the news broke is having a tearing-down effect on victim's families," said David Ruth, the lead investigator in the Brewer case. "They have to retell their story every time, and I know news is news, but we also have to protect them. My hope is that [Gatlin] does not create any more problems for the family, because he has put them through enough."

'Demand answers'
State Attorney General Jim Hood on Wednesday claimed the pardons had violated the state Constitution. Hood told The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson that the law requires a legal notice of plans to pardon to be published 30 days prior to the action. He said his office couldn't find such a record.

Meanwhile, a Mississippi judge has temporarily blocked the release of the 21 inmates, scheduling a hearing on Jan. 23 in Hinds County Circuit Court.

Brewer plans to closely follow its developments.

"I implore all the victim's families to stand up and demand answers," Brewer said, "Mississippi has always had a stigma ... and our former governor has made that much worse."

Barbour released a statement Wednesday evening, saying "my decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases."

Barbour said in the statement 189 of the people he pardoned or gave clemency to had already been freed.

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Updated 8:40 p.m. ET: In response to criticism about the pardons, former Gov. Haley Barbour released a statement from his office Wednesday evening that said 189 of the more than 200 people pardoned were already out of prison.

"My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases," the statement said.

The statement, reported by WTVA of Tupelo, went on to say 13 of the 26 inmates released from custody cost the state a lot of money due to their medical expenses and can be returned to custody if they commit another crime.

Updated 8 p.m. ET:  Mississippi Circuit Judge Tomie Green has temporarily blocked the release of 21 inmates who'd been given pardons or medical release by Republican Haley Barbour in one of his final acts as governor.

Original story

JACKSON, Miss. -- The state attorney general on Wednesday moved to block the release of some inmates pardoned by Gov. Haley Barbour in his last days in office, claiming the move may have violated the state Constitution.

Attorney General Jim Hood said the law requires a legal notice of plans to pardon to be published 30 days prior to the action. He said his office couldn't find such a record.

“Unfortunately our research has revealed that Gov. Barbour violated the Constitution,” Hood told The Clarion-Ledger. “We’re seeking to stop the release of any prisoners.”

Hood told WLBT-TV in Jackson, Miss. that he planned to file an injunction at Hinds County Circuit.

Read original story from WLBT.com

On his last day as Mississippi governor, Barbour, a Republican, surprised friends and foes by granting more than 200 pardons, clemency or early release for people convicted of crimes including murder, rape and armed robbery. His actions included 21 people convicted of murder, according to NBC News. 

Also included were four inmates who had worked at the governor's mansion doing odd jobs under a program that rewarded good behavior.

Among the pardoned was the brother of retired National Football League star quarterback Brett Favre. Earnest Scott Favre was convicted in 1996 of driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of his best friend. He was sentenced to a year of house arrest and two years probation.

'Seems very excessive'
While pardons by outgoing governors and presidents are not unusual, the number and the types of crimes stand out, said Marty Wiseman, a Mississippi State University political scientist and director of the school's John C. Stennis Institute of Government.

"That seems very excessive to me," Wiseman told The Associated Press. "I don't recall this many crimes that serious being pardoned by anybody."

Barbour has provided no public statement on the decisions. Former Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, also a Republican, has officially taken office as governor.

Until this month, Barbour had issued only five pardons and three indefinite suspended sentences in eight years as governor.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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