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

     

[bonfire]

Isn't it interesting that the man that wants her dead would worry about a few lil ole needle marks. hmmmm

[Ohioan from Florida]

Can we get anymore information about Tragos? I'm wondering if he was a state prosecutor in Florida. That would be a huge benefit to the Schindler legal team.

See the link on my previous post. Pegita found him! Greek against Greek, I like this idea!

[Ohioan from Florida]

He's scum, that's for sure.

[Pegita]

Thank you SO much, Ohioan ... in all things, the Lord surely does provide!

[tutstar]

bttt

[Ohioan from Florida]

YW. I just took a guess as to what it was supposed to be, and, as you said, the Lord provided! It's so nice that He likes the internet, too!

[cyn]

great! Thanks for finding that, pegita. Nice website -- and another specific person to pray for.

[cyn]

oops, meant to ping you in that last post to #20!

[TaxRelief]

Mr. Tragos has been selected by his peers as a Leading Florida Attorney in the areas of "Criminal Law: Felonies & White Collar Defense." To be selected, attorneys must receive multiple recommendations from their peers in a statewide survey conducted by American Research Corporation. Less than 6% of the state's attorneys are Leading Florida Attorneys.

Mr. Tragos is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Criminal law and has practiced over 20 years strictly as a trial lawyer. He has litigated in state and federal courts throughout the United States and foreign countries. In the area of criminal law, he has defended in state and federal courts all aspects of criminal defense, including but not limited to, white collar offenses, tax offenses, narcotics offenses, money laundering, bank fraud, securities fraud, health care fraud, and racketeering. He has represented the United States Government in the courts of Switzerland and conducted foreign investigations in France, Switzerland, and Austria. He has represented individuals in opposition to foreign and domestic treaty extradition. In the area of civil litigation, he has represented multinational corporations, and individuals in state and federal court. He has had in excess of 150 jury trials.

He is a frequent speaker at professional associations and organizations throughout Florida. His lectures include "Entrapment in Governmental Stings" for the Center for International Financial Crime Studies; and "Undercover Sting Operations: How to Protect Professionals" for the American Bar Association. He also lectures at Florida Bar Seminars and at Stetson University College of Law. He is the author of "Sympathy for Outside Counsel During Grand Jury and Agency Investigations" and "The 5th Amendment and the Corporate Officer," Florida Bar Journal; and coathored Florida bar Evidence Manual. He is listed in several editions of Who's Who.

Findlaw info link

[cyn]

thanks tr -- ping to above info on George Tragos, who has joined others in Terri's defense.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Excellent!

[cyn]

cat, dawg -- you are linked in my mind! just missing dog gone.

[Dog Gone]

Am I missing? Yikes!

[TaxRelief]

Here is some more background on Mr Tragos:

http://www.pehc.org/

STATEMENT ON EUTHANASIA

Due to the controversial case involving the provision of food and fluids to the disabled woman, Theresa Marie Schiavo, the group examined various statements regarding the issue. The consensus vote was in favor of the statement by the Anti-Euthanasia Task Force to effectively represent the position of the professionals.

• Life is a gift from God, over which we have stewardship, but not absoute control.
• The first duty of any medical person is to do no harm. Death should be the result of illness or injury, and should not be caused by dehydration or starvation when food and fluids can be provided using normal, ordinary, medical technology.
• If death is imminent and irreversible, the person has a right to comfort care and pain relief.
• If death is imminent and irreversible, such as with a metastatic terminal cancer, there is no obligation to provide or continue treatment that offers no hope of recovery.
• If it is uncertain whether or not a person is dying, normal medical treatment should be provided to give that person the chance for survival.
• If someone is not dying, but has a chronic, disabling condition (including brain injury), that person has a right to ordinary medical treatment, and food and water as well as comfort care.

  "Professionals for Excellence in Health Care, PEHC, is a local group of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, attorneys, clergy and their spouses with the shared goal of proclaiming God's truth regarding the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person. PEHC was formed as an alternative "voice" with which to educate a society often guided by misrepresentations, half-truths and innuendoes.

  "PEHC members believe that we must use our God-given talents to influence individuals and groups in our community in a positive manner. We are not affiliated with any particular religious denomination, and membership is open to all persons who ascribe to our mission statement and principles. We are a non-profit, charitable organization incorporated within the state of Florida."

[tutstar]

This is long but worth the read. This man sounds like he can get the job done. Also curious if anyone else comes to the same conclusion I did about the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

http://www.greeklaw.com/baboutattorneytragosb/

George E. Tragos

Mr. Tragos is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Criminal Law & has practiced over 25 years strictly as a trial lawyer. In the area of criminal law, he has defended in state & federal courts–all aspects of criminal defense, including but not limited to, white collar offenses, narcotics offenses, money laundering, bank fraud, health fraud & racketeering.

He has represented the U.S. Government in the courts of Switzerland & conducted foreign investigations in France & Austria. In the area of litigation, he has represented multinational corporations, publicly held corporations & individual, in state & federal courts.

Mr. Tragos is a frequent speaker at professional associations & organizations throughout Florida. He also lectures at Florida Bar seminars & at Stetson University College of Law. He co-authored the Florida Bar Evidence Manual. He is listed in several editions of Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America, & Who's Who in The World.

EDUCATION

* JD 1974, Florida State University;

* BA 1971, Florida State University

ADMITTED

* 1974 Florida; 1975 U.S. Ct. App. (11th Cir);

* 1991 District of Columbia; 1995 U.S. Tax Ct.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

* Criminal Division Chief 1983-85, United States Attorney's Office

* Middle District of Florida Former Felony Division Chief State Attorney's Office

* Former Lead Trial Assistant, Dept. of Justice.

* President's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Former Commissioner West German Government

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

* The Florida Bar Rules & Evidence Committee (past Chair)

* Florida Assn. of Criminal Defense Lawyers (past President)

* Clearwater Bar Assn. (past President)

* Past Chairmen Criminal Law Section, Florida Bar

* 6th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee

* Herbert G. Goldburgh American Inn of Court (Chancellor)

George E. Tragos is a Leading American Attorney

To be selected, attorneys must receive multiple recommendations from their peers in a statewide survey conducted by American Research Corporation. Fewer than 6% of the state’s attorneys are Leading American Attorneys.

Mr. Tragos was selected as a Leading American Attorney in the area of Criminal Defense Law. American Research Corporation conducts extensive, ongoing research on attorneys throughout Florida to determine the leading practitioners in each area of law. Thousand of Florida attorneys were asked to whom they would recommend a friend or family member in need of legal services. The result is a limited number of peer-selected Leading American Attorneys in Florida recognized for their abilities in specific areas of practice.

For additional information, contact

Leading American Attorneys

(800) 272-3386

This article about George Tragos appeared in The Champions magazine in the August 1991 issue.

"The criminal defense bar is far more ethical than the lawyers I encountered in civil practice."

George E. Tragos was born in Chicago "in a happy and stable home." He was an only child, "so it was easy for my parents to give me everything, God bless them. My father and mother were also smart enough to move from the cold Chicago weather to Clearwater, Florida when I was six years old."

In Chicago his father worked in the family business called None Better Bananas, banana wholesaler. In Florida, he opened the first of a number of successful restaurants they have owned over the years. As a result, during his youth Tragos worked restaurant-related jobs from dishwasher to bus boy to wait to cook to bartender. He says, "the only acceptable career choices for a Greek boy were to be either a doctor or a lawyer; otherwise it was the restaurant business."

He recalls knowing that he wanted to be a lawyer from the time he was 14 years old. "All of the attorneys who were friends of my parents seemed to be intellectually sharp, successful, and a lot more fun than doctors."

Tragos attended Florida State University, where he obtained his BA in 1971, with a major in government, and his JD in 1974. "I only applied to two schools," he says, "Florida and Florida State. Florida State had the better ratio of females to males, so I choose it."

Tragos cites law school Professor John Yetter, "who made criminal law exciting (he also gave me the highest grade I ever received in law school in Advanced Criminal Law)" as having influenced his career choice. "Until then," he says, "I thought I was going to be a tax lawyer."

While in law school, Tragos worked as a legislative aide and an analyst for the finance and tax committee of the state legislature, where he helped draft the Florida Administrative Procedures Act. He says that experience has proven particularly important now that he is so involved with the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (he is the incoming President of FACDL) and their lobbying efforts with the state legislature. "We try to quell the tide of law and order blindness that seems to create mass hysteria in state legislatures."

Although he wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer, Tragos accepted a job following law school as a prosecutor in the State Attorney's Office, eventually becoming Chief of the Felony Division of the Clearwater office. "There was no better place to train and get the necessary trial experience than to be a prosecutor. What I really loved were the stakes -- life and death, freedom or prison. But I also gained great respect for criminal lawyers during this time, since they were the only thing standing between me and winning every case I ever tried. No matter how bad the case, the criminal defense lawyer, at least the good ones, fought like crazy. The principles of the Constitution were so important to them that it did not matter if they liked the client, or whether they approved of the client's activity."

He left the State Attorney's Office to enter private practice, joining the firm of Case, Kimpton, Tragos, and Burke. "About 50 percent of my practice was criminal and the rest was civil trial work for the other partners."

After five years in private practice, Tragos accepted a job as Chief of the Criminal Division with the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, a rather infamous prosecutor known as "Mad Dog" Robert Merkel. Tragos says "It was a tough decision, since it meant a lot of financial sacrifice by my family, but I viewed it again as a career opportunity -- as a way to sharpen my skills as a criminal defense lawyer."

Of his time with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Tragos says, "it gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world to try the best cases against the best lawyers. I was appointed a Commissioner for the West German government and I was one of the first attorneys to represent the U.S. in the Swiss courts to obtain financial documents. It taught me on a regular basis the inner-workings of politics within the Department of Justice. It was an incredible experience even with all the sacrifices."

By 1995 Tragos decided "it was time that I dedicate my practice to criminal defense, sink or swim. I opened up my office as a sole practitioner and prayed that God would bless my practice."

Among his more interesting cases as a defense lawyer, Tragos lists that of defending a co-defendant (and close friend) of General Manuel Noreiga, which involved several trips to Panama directly after the U.S. invasion. Tragos also defended the third largest savings and loan in Florida in a fraud prosecution by the Department of Justice and he represented Jim and Tammy Baker's colleague Richard Dortch, the President of the PTL. He current represents the first officer from Desert Storm to be court-martialed in the U.S. He adds "My practice has included all levels and types of crime, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. One of the most important things I have found is that, without a doubt, as a whole the criminal defense bar is far more ethical than the lawyers I encountered in civil practice."

In another case Tragos represented a woman charged with trafficking in cocaine, which included a police videotape of the sale. In the course of his investigation he learned that his client had been propositioned by the confidential informant to be a nude model. In order for her to become a model, she was told she would have to provide the informant and his friends with cocaine, a scam which this informant had used on a regular basis with several other women. "

I also found that nude pictures the informant had taken of the other defendants were in possession of the Pinellas County Sheriff's office vice unit (apparently as evidence!) and the confidential informant had a habit of walking in on his targets naked -- or at least with his pants down -- and those who did not provide him with sex were the ones who got busted." The prosecution, embarrassed by the public disclosure of the informant's practice, dropped the trafficking charge. Tragos adds, "Sometimes we win outside the courtroom"

Tragos describes another satisfying victory in a case in Memphis, Tennessee. The son-in-law of the owner of a large newspaper chain was indicted for possession and distribution of marijuana and cocaine, "in order to intimidate him into cooperating against a fellow criminal defense lawyer in that city who had represented police officers accused of corruption. This attorney was such as thorn in the side of the government, they were willing to go to great lengths to get him. Once we were able to show the jury that the government was not interested in my client, but in the attorney, the jury was so incensed by the prosecution's conduct that they found my defendant not guilty. It was another case of the government targeting criminal defense lawyers instead of criminals."

Tragos says "the practice of criminal law is phenomenally exciting and beats any other profession hands down. We are gladiators who must honestly squeeze every drop of blood out of the Constitution and the rules under which we try cases. We cannot be intimidated or afraid of the prosecutor or the judge. Something more important than money is always on the line."

He continues, "many times I am asked how I can be a Christian and a criminal defense lawyer at the same time. To me, being a criminal defense lawyer is probably one of the greatest vocations that the Lord can give a Christian. It teaches us not to judge our clients; it is the principles established by our Judeo-Christian ethic that we are defending. The Constitution was written by men with strong beliefs to prevent the tyranny of government. Unfortunately, in this country we are heading away from these principles. It is my deep belief that the Framers of the Constitution would be shocked to see what the Attorney General of the United States is attempting to do with the Constitutional rights of every American.

Tragos says be initially joined the NACDL "just because I believed every criminal defense lawyer should. I sent in my dues and I enjoyed the publications, but that was as far as it went for many years." His state association, the FACDL, was then, he says, "basically a Miami-based organization." However, in 1988 Tragos received an invitation from those Miami lawyers to attend a meeting to turn FACDL into a truly statewide organization. "I was so excited I volunteered to chair the first annual meeting and seminar. From that beginning of approximately 30 lawyers we have grown to nearly 1,000 members. We are active and influential with the legislature and recently FACDL was named in the law as an organization with the right to appoint a member to the Grand Jury Study Commission established by the legislature."

Tragos says he believes that NACDL is as important nationally as FACDL is in Florida. He adds, however, "I also believe that NACDL is viewed by some as an organization with little interest in state practitioners. This must be addressed by NACDL if it plans on successfully representing all criminal defense lawyers in the United States."

In addition to serving as the President of FACDL, Tragos is a member of the Executive Council of the Criminal Law Section and Vice-Chair of the Rules and Evidence Committee of the Florida Bar, and he is co-author of the Florida Bar Evidence Manual.

Tragos and his wife Demetria have been married for 13 years and have three children: Louise (age 9), Gina (age 6), and Peter (age 3). His wife, who holds a black belt in Judo, is a registered nurse and works as the office manager for a pediatrician. Tragos says, "she is a wonderful wife and mother."

Tragos concludes "the single strongest interest that I have is my Christian faith. That is the guide to my family relationships as well as my professional relationships. Because of the constant scrutiny that criminal defense lawyers are under, it is essential that they operate an honest law office and conduct themselves with the highest degree of moral responsibility."

[Pegita]

Thank you, TaxRelief ... may God's grace rest upon this attorney's shoulders, and may His words, through this man, shake the foundations of this judicial system ...

[cyn]

Actually, you're not, lol! Check this out!

[Future Useless Eater]

bump! and Thanks cyn.

So does this mean the Schindlers may go back to visiting Terri today? tomorrow? anytime soon?

If none of the above, then I'd say its clear that MS staged this whole thing so there would be no witnesses to what happens to her next.

---

To ALL: I am retracting for now, any support I gave for our newest Terri 'supporter', lets just call him MB... who claims to be a P.R. expert, but comes here and spends dozens of hours trashing all our best activists. He could have instead just called the people at terrisfight.org and gotten their support first for his new 'strategies'. He claimed last year to have worked in the CBS entertainment division, and he appears to be a misguided retiree (or worse) with nothing else to do but argue on his computer.

I should have realized from his F.R. handle that he just loves "messing with peoples minds". Here is what this same Terri 'supporter' had to say about Terri on 10/24/2003, three days AFTER she was saved from the court-ordered-murder:

Life is much more than just a biological process. To me, Life, to be real life, must have real meaning and benefit to the person living it. There is a time for all of us to go. When that time is may be questionable, but when the Lord sends a signal that it is time, then.... it is time.
Science should not be used to defy his wishes.     [my emphasis]

I will not give MB the time of day again unless the insiders we trust the most give him their blessing.

[cyn]

btw -- doggone, you're fast -- are you by chance related to Support Free Republic?!

[Dog Gone]

ROFL, I'm honored. And I don't think I'm related to Support Free Republic, but maybe we were separated at birth.