No Crime Found Against Schiavo, Police Say

Tampa Tribune ^ | 3/31/4 | DAVID SOMMER

[cyn]

CLEARWATER - There is no evidence a crime was committed against Terri Schiavo this week, police said Tuesday, but authorities will continue to investigate a complaint from her husband that someone repeatedly stuck a needle into the brain-damaged woman.

``The medical experts found nothing that gave them any pause,'' Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said. ``Our position right now is information gathering. We have a complaint, but at this point we have no evidence of a crime.''

Michael Schiavo ``considers it a criminal assault on her person,'' attorney George Felos said of multiple needle marks on Terri Schiavo's arms, reportedly found Monday by a nurse.

The discovery came after Bob and Mary Schindler spent 45 minutes visiting their daughter, Felos said.

Terri Schiavo was hospitalized Monday night while her blood was tested for unauthorized substances, Felos said. The toxicology tests found nothing abnormal, and the 40- year-old woman, in a comalike state since 1990, was returned to her room Tuesday at Park Place of Clearwater, an assisted-living facility.

Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers are locked in a 5 3/4- year dispute over Terri Schiavo's fate. Her husband contends her brain was destroyed when her heart failed in 1990 at age 26. He has convinced a series of judges that, prior to her illness, Terri Schiavo made statements indicating she would not want to be kept alive in such condition.

The Schindlers contend their daughter expressed no such wishes. They say she responds to them during visits and could improve with therapy. The St. Petersburg couple have blocked repeated attempts by their son-in-law to have Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed so she can die.

Michael Schiavo's complaint to police this week is the latest in a series of cruelties inflicted on the Schindlers, their new criminal defense attorney, George Tragos, said Tuesday.

``It's an excuse for him to cut off the family's access. Once again he has cut off the flow of information,'' said Tragos, a former federal and state prosecutor who volunteered to represent the Schindlers.

Not only wouldn't the Schindlers do anything to hurt their daughter, it would have been virtually impossible for them to draw blood or inject medicine without being caught, he said.

An off-duty police officer guards Terri Schiavo around the clock. ``Her door is open during the entire visit, and medical people are in and out during the entire visit,'' Tragos said.

Felos said Terri Schiavo was found in a disheveled state with her feeding tube wrapped around her back and an allergy alert wristband pulled up her arm ``tight, like a tourniquet.''

What appeared to be a purple needle cap was found in the folds of her hospital gown, Felos said.

Terri Schiavo's physician, Stanton Tripodis, identified what he termed ``needle puncture marks'' on both her arms, a scratch on her abdomen near where the feeding tube is inserted, and a second scratch over the needle marks on her right forearm, Felos said.

Gov. Jeb Bush, who intervened in the case in October and ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding tube reinserted after she went six days without nourishment, on Tuesday asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to keep him abreast of the Clearwater police investigation, spokesman Jacob DiPietre said.

Reporter David Sommer can be reached at (727) 799-7413 / dsommer@tampatrib.com

Write a letter to the editor about this story -- http://tampatrib.com/opinion/lettertotheeditor.htm

     

[floriduh voter]

This is why it's great that Attorney Tragos has come on board to help the Schindlers. White collar crime is his specialty and this is the mother lode.

[MindBender26]

Thank you for your "support."

We have contacted family representatives and begun the process to get them increased public support through improved public relations.

In 1862, Abraham Lincoln said "With public support, anything is possible. Without that public support, nothing is."

Public support is critical in this case because of the family's tenuous legal position.

Hopefully, Terri and her family will soon reap the benefits of increased public support.

[MindBender26]

Thank you for your "support."

We have contacted family representatives and begun the process to get them increased public support through improved public relations.

In 1862, Abraham Lincoln said "With public support, anything is possible. Without that public support, nothing is."

Public support is critical in this case because of the family's tenuous legal position, and the damage done by previous well-intended but misguided supporters.

Hopefully, Terri and her family will soon reap the benefits of increased public support.

[floriduh voter]

Thank you! Abe Lincoln's my favorite President.

[a5478]

"Is there any update on Terri?"

That's what I was wondering - has visitation been restored? I can't find mention in posts unless I missed something.

[Future Useless Eater]

[FV's] efforts are scaring the opposition and have been effective -- otherwise Michael/Jodi/Felos would not have bothered to send disrupters.

I'll 2nd that! - I haven't seen this much troll activity
since Oct 22nd, when Terri was rescued, and the Hemlock
Society was livid! It means they are besides themselves
with worry that they are losing.

[cyn]

Hi, a -- it's good to see you here. Bump for an update on Terri.

If anyone would like to be added to the card for the Easter box I'm making up for Terri, please respond by post or freepmail. I'll plan to send it out tomorrow express mail to the address at Terrisfight.

[phenn]

Please consider joining me in taking the Hospice Life Pledge which serves to 'affirm the value of all human life regardless of age, disability, or the disease process involved, and reject the prevailing notion that some lives are less worthy to be lived than others'.

The Hospice Life Pledge can be found on:
http://www.hospicepatients.org/I-affirm-life.html and is a project of the Hospice Patient's Alliance at
http://www.hospicepatients.org.

[a5478]

please add me to the good wishes.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Bump!!

[cyn]

Hi, phenn -- thanks for the link.

Is there anything we can, should be doing right now for Terri and her parents? What do you all see is really needed, beyond our prayers?

Can the Schindlers make a stink that Felos leveled what turns out to be a false accusation and vicious attack against them? That Terri's true injuries are quite different from what was originally described by the physician and Felos? That Terri is missing 2 (TWO!) teeth, has a decubitus ulcer that will get worse if Terri continues to be neglected?

Furthermore, Terri's priest is barred from seeing her, and this during Easter week. I'm outraged at all this. Can you see the smoke rising across the state and country?

My thought is to continue contacting the media, including letters to the editor of the St. Pete Times at the link included in this article.

NO, Terri will not be a 'lamb to the slaughter'.

[cyn]

Done! Thanks for the bump, ts, do you want your freeper name on the card, too?

It's such a cute little bunny I'm sending -- gray, looks so real! I'm gonna miss it on my computer!

[Dante3]

PLease add me.

We are horrified as to how Terri has been treated by Michael and by the judges.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Of course I want my name on that card!! As I said it would be an honor. How thoughtful of you to send the card and the bunny. Happy Easter, cyn!

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Cyn, did you see, "The Passion" yet? I know you know the story. One of the things that struck me, is that our dear lord is suffering so terribly, and no one can do a thing to help him. It is an utter feeling of helplessness. Imagine how powerless and frustrated Mary must have felt. I think it is much like that for the Schindlers.

Thus, it is a relief to know that folks like you and others on this board are there to help the Schindlers fight back. I am certain you are a great comfort to them. Believe me, I know.

At the moment, all I can do is comment here or there, bump, btt and pray. Hopefully, I will soon be able to do more.

[Future Useless Eater]

>>NO, Terri will not be a 'lamb to the slaughter'.

Here is what I recall from catechism, plus I had to look some of it up...

Passover celebrates the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In 2004, Passover begins [today] April 5 at sundown and ends at sundown on April 13.

It was customary during to slaughter a lamb and smear its blood on their doorposts so the angel of death would pass over their homes.

[so the mention of Terri being a 'lamb' made me cringe, it's a little to real for comfort]

ALSO, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday are holy days of obligation.

If a priest or bishop is willing to visit Terri on any of those days, and Michael is STILL denying visitation, I would think he should be brought up on charges for denying Terri's rights as a Catholic. (and since the Pope obviously has considered Terri's case recently, it would be a VERY nice gesture for a BISHOP to offer to visit her THIS WEEK)

It might also be possible to push thru an emergency motion to stop this ILLEGAL denial of visitation. I don't believe any legal body (courts or LE) is currently forcing the visitation freeze. Its just the devil in Michael.

[Future Useless Eater]

add me too please

[GeekDejure]

The globalization of Terri's Fight was something that Michael/Jodi/Felos were blindsided by.

And the worldwide headline I'd love to see is simply this:

"Michael Shiavo receiving 72 Virgins"!!! ;-))

.

[cyn]

's what I'm thinking, too.

the dirtballs. (not you -- them!)

[floriduh voter]

bttt for www.terrisfight.org