"A sentencing judge in Fairbanks would say he had never seen so many positive letters from supporters as he received on their behalf."   

I think that more than anything else, this demonstrates how completely useless letters from friends and family are as a measure of  someone's character.  Me, I'm kind of an "Actions speak louder than words"  kinda guy, so let's examine her actions:  1) She was voluntarily present while her associates abducted a person at gunpoint.  Whether or not she knew that the plan was  to execute him is immaterial.   If the guy in the back seat is being held at gunpoint, you know you're not along on an innocent Sunday afternoon adventure.  You know that you're involved in a pretty serious criminal activity.  2)  She knew that Miner had been murdered, and not only made no attempt to report it to the law, but assisted concealing the murder.  Not a lot of sympathy here that she's been excluded from society and kept from reproducing.  Seems like a win to me.