Thank you for writing back but if I’m being honest, this will likely be the last time I write. I believed my letter was straight forward and explained who I was and why I was writing. Asking me if I am a pervert and whether I cheated on my wife or was interested in you … and asking me to send a full length photograph of myself …was all rather surprising. I was not asking for “dirty secrets” or any questions about your crime. I was simply asking how your life has been and trying to understand what you have gone through.
In answering your questions… yes I always found it a little odd you weren’t set for execution, but after reading the Opinion that commuted your sentence to life, I just figured the reason they never set a date was because you had a number of appeals going on. If that isn’t true, then I’m not sure why you never had a date. Also, I’m not sure what conclusion you were drawing. Did you think the State was harming you by not giving you a date? Did you want a date?
You also mentioned the State supposedly had an “open and shut case”. This was pretty true. Your defense team didn’t put up any defense in the guilt phase, didn’t contest the authenticity of your confession, and even told the jury before sentencing that they had made the right decision in finding you guilty. I’m sure not any juror has ever gotten the images of Wilma out of their head or any of the crime scene photos. They were definitely gruesome and haunting.
As to why they commuted your sentence to Life, according to the opinions of the Court, they decided your defense team was denied certain opportunities to present mitigating evidence at the sentencing phase. The Appeals Court believed the judge should have let the evidence in. In my opinion, your attorneys didn’t seem to do the necessary work in bringing forth witnesses on your behalf in sentencing. Perhaps they tried and the Court denied them. I’m not sure.
Also, I don’t know if you were aware but the DA in your case, Jan Krocker (who was pregnant at your trial), later became a Judge herself in 1994. The Houston Chronicle wrote about how biased and partial she was and the Texas Observer named her as one of the worst Judges in Texas on the basis of her bias against defendants. I’m sure you remember how angry and righteous she was in your trial. I always wondered what was going through your mind during the trial as you heard the evidence and Ms. Krocker attacked and berated you so harshly in her opening and closing statements. You were so quiet and never showed any emotion during the trial. I honestly don’t think it came off well to the jury. I just never felt like your defense really prepared you or worked your case very hard. (to be continued)
I am following the steps you outline in this article concerning, "what can I do?" This is a disgusting greedy money grab and after the money is so heavily taxed the state sells commissary goods overpriced, and provides substandard necessities to those who cannot pay for the overpriced goods. The burden falls squarely on family and friends of the incarcerated, and of course on those guys and gals who desperately need the necessities sold as exorbitant prices. Regulation of the entire industry is called for. All states participate in this travesty by way of monopoly and by kickbacks through contract conditions. My heart goes out to all those who suffer from the greed of corrupt America and the greed of county, state, and federal authorities and staff. Thank you for this article when properly considered, will lead the compassionate reader to outrage, and in hope, to action as outlined in the article.
I read the Pĕna post about solitary. I have a loved one inside. I'm looking for books to educate myself for when he is released. He is doing a 25 year set, and 10 of that was in the SHU @ADX of which he doesn't speak much of. I believe SHU does not have a place amd should be abolished. I thank you for your insight. I just want to educate myself as much as possible.
My love - I’m writing here, knowing you’ll never receive it - this morning you went home to our Lord. No more pain, no more suffering - no more bars. You’re free again - and I know you’re waiting for me. Tonight I know you’ll be here with me - finally - and we’ll never be apart again. Teddy sent me a message - thanking me for ‘loving his brother’. Funny - there was never a choice, was there? 60 years this summer - and no matter what, we always shared that love. If only we’d been wiser - more able to understand the paths we should have taken. We are indeed the products of our environments - and, as such, we had many hardships to work through. I am only thankful that we found one another again - and, that even though we were physically apart, we had our love to sustain us. I talked to Cella - she thought she’d have a chance to see you once you were moved to Vacaville - it just wasn’t meant to be. I reminded her that at least she’d made her peace with you - and that you knew she loved you. I also talked to Mel and to Theresa - give comfort to Theresa, please… I love you - now and forever…always and all ways….
To the transcribers - there’s no need to print nor send this letter - there’s no postal service where he is now. Thank you for all the messages you’ve passed back and forth over the years
Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post. Is this something you've been working toward for a long time? It seems like you have a kind heart and want to help those around you, which is very admirable. Again, I appreciate your posts, and will definitely be looking through and transcribing more of them!
RSS
Guy,
Thank you for writing back but if I’m being honest, this will likely be the last time I write. I believed my letter was straight forward and explained who I was and why I was writing. Asking me if I am a pervert and whether I cheated on my wife or was interested in you … and asking me to send a full length photograph of myself …was all rather surprising. I was not asking for “dirty secrets” or any questions about your crime. I was simply asking how your life has been and trying to understand what you have gone through.
In answering your questions… yes I always found it a little odd you weren’t set for execution, but after reading the Opinion that commuted your sentence to life, I just figured the reason they never set a date was because you had a number of appeals going on. If that isn’t true, then I’m not sure why you never had a date. Also, I’m not sure what conclusion you were drawing. Did you think the State was harming you by not giving you a date? Did you want a date?
You also mentioned the State supposedly had an “open and shut case”. This was pretty true. Your defense team didn’t put up any defense in the guilt phase, didn’t contest the authenticity of your confession, and even told the jury before sentencing that they had made the right decision in finding you guilty. I’m sure not any juror has ever gotten the images of Wilma out of their head or any of the crime scene photos. They were definitely gruesome and haunting.
As to why they commuted your sentence to Life, according to the opinions of the Court, they decided your defense team was denied certain opportunities to present mitigating evidence at the sentencing phase. The Appeals Court believed the judge should have let the evidence in. In my opinion, your attorneys didn’t seem to do the necessary work in bringing forth witnesses on your behalf in sentencing. Perhaps they tried and the Court denied them. I’m not sure.
Also, I don’t know if you were aware but the DA in your case, Jan Krocker (who was pregnant at your trial), later became a Judge herself in 1994. The Houston Chronicle wrote about how biased and partial she was and the Texas Observer named her as one of the worst Judges in Texas on the basis of her bias against defendants. I’m sure you remember how angry and righteous she was in your trial. I always wondered what was going through your mind during the trial as you heard the evidence and Ms. Krocker attacked and berated you so harshly in her opening and closing statements. You were so quiet and never showed any emotion during the trial. I honestly don’t think it came off well to the jury. I just never felt like your defense really prepared you or worked your case very hard.
(to be continued)
I am following the steps you outline in this article concerning, "what can I do?" This is a disgusting greedy money grab and after the money is so heavily taxed the state sells commissary goods overpriced, and provides substandard necessities to those who cannot pay for the overpriced goods. The burden falls squarely on family and friends of the incarcerated, and of course on those guys and gals who desperately need the necessities sold as exorbitant prices. Regulation of the entire industry is called for. All states participate in this travesty by way of monopoly and by kickbacks through contract conditions. My heart goes out to all those who suffer from the greed of corrupt America and the greed of county, state, and federal authorities and staff. Thank you for this article when properly considered, will lead the compassionate reader to outrage, and in hope, to action as outlined in the article.
I remain, John
March 2, 2022
I’m writing here, knowing you’ll never receive it - this morning you went home to our Lord. No more pain, no more suffering - no more bars. You’re free again - and I know you’re waiting for me. Tonight I know you’ll be here with me - finally - and we’ll never be apart again.
Teddy sent me a message - thanking me for ‘loving his brother’. Funny - there was never a choice, was there? 60 years this summer - and no matter what, we always shared that love. If only we’d been wiser - more able to understand the paths we should have taken.
We are indeed the products of our environments - and, as such, we had many hardships to work through. I am only thankful that we found one another again - and, that even though we were physically apart, we had our love to sustain us.
I talked to Cella - she thought she’d have a chance to see you once you were moved to Vacaville - it just wasn’t meant to be. I reminded her that at least she’d made her peace with you - and that you knew she loved you. I also talked to Mel and to Theresa - give comfort to Theresa, please…
I love you - now and forever…always and all ways….
To the transcribers - there’s no need to print nor send this letter - there’s no postal service where he is now. Thank you for all the messages you’ve passed back and forth over the years