Prison Letter 2
December 28, 2000
Mr. Convict,
It's too your benefit that you are in another state. In fact I think that you
have gotten off easy. My sister has taken the verbal punishment from her family,
for the crimes you committed. My mother had much to say when this incident first
occurred and as expected has jumped the fence to support our sister. My husband
and I have had much to say since this incident and have stayed on our side of
the fence. We have chosen this because we have children to protect, as well as
my husband's career. Neither of these things were taken into consideration when
our sister chose to marry you. We do not dislike you or harbor any bad feelings
towards you. Our sister has been your only defender and has done so admirably.
She is the one who deals with the gossip, the hard feelings, being judged and
everyone's opinions. You sit safely in your cell, sheltered from all of this.
Why she chooses to support you is a mystery to everyone. But it is her choice.
She chooses to fight your battle and expects everyone to sympathize and support
her. That's not the response she is getting.
You do not owe us any apologies. We don't owe you any forgiveness. You didn't
commit crimes against us. Our sister made the decision to marry a convicted
felon. This puts you in our family, whether we like it or not. We have nothing
against you personally. You will not ever be accepted to this family because of
the nature of your crimes. You held a loaded weapon, threatened people's lives
and both crimes were premeditated. In our minds you are a dangerous and mentally
unstable person. You are unpredictable and a threat. We realize that you are
trying to better yourself and we truly hope that you make the best of your life.We do not owe you any apologies. You have balls of steel to say that you forgive
us.
Although we realize that you love our sister and felt that we didn't support her during this incident, I will define the meaning of support for you. Support is picking my hysterical sister up on the day you were arrested. She was inconsolable. Support is letting her hide in our home for an entire week while the FBI was calling my husband and searching your apartment, looking to question her. Support is my husband putting his education and career on the line by sitting with her while the FBI questioned her. Support is letting her live with an attorney and his family while her boyfriend was in jail, thus making us look like idiots to the entire legal community. Support is praying that the FBI doesn't show up at our home to search it or question us in front of our children. Support is driving my sister to the tow yard to pay for the release of the truck, that you used in a crime, with money she didn't have. Support is my husband fielding calls and questions, from Judges and attorneys and having to save the job of a District Attorney for the crime you committed. Support is taking our sister back into our lives even though marrying you has hurt and will hurt my husband's career. Don't you ever say that we have not supported our sister.
Your actions have affected more than just yours and our sisters' lives. My
husband and I have to live among the legal community, you don't. You and our
sister will never comprehend the impact that your crimes and our sister marrying
you have made on our lives. Here lies the real issue...the issue is not about
you...it's that she married you. We didn't have a choice in whether we wanted a
convicted felon in our family or not. She made the choice for us. She knowingly
made the choice to jeopardize my husband's career and the safety of our family.
You are a non-issue.
Why does everything revolve around our family, you ask?? We are the only ones
with anything to lose. My husband did not go through seven years of school and
eight long years of setting up a practice to have a young, immature, uneducated,
criminal, ruin all his hard work by marrying my sister. Are we bitter? Yes...she
made a poor choice.
Just so we are clear. When you are released, you will not be a part of this
family, in any way, shape or form. You will not see our children, be invited
into our home or attend any family functions. Our sister is welcome, if she
chooses. We realize that you will more likely be her choice. We aren't trying to
put her in this position, but that is how it is. We respect her choices and hold
no grudges towards either one of you. We aren't doing this to be mean or
spiteful. We are simply not comfortable with your mental stability and what you
have proven you are capable of doing. I know this letter sounds like we are
attacking you and that we dislike you. That is not the case. Being direct and
honest is the only way we know how to be. We all make choices and the hardest
part of life, is learning to live with the consequences of thosechoices.
We do wish you the best and we honestly hope that you and our sister live a
happy life together. We make no apologies for our decisions.