Posted on 06/17/2005 11:08:07 AM PDT by ClancyJ
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush asked a prosecutor Friday to investigate why Terri Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago, calling into question a gap in time from when her husband found the woman and called 911. In a letter he faxed to Pinellas-Pasco County State Attorney Bernie McCabe, Bush said Michael Schiavo testified in a 1992 medical malpractice trial that he found his wife collapsed at 5 a.m. and he said in a 2003 television interview that he found her at about 4:30 a.m. He called 911 at about 5:40 a.m.
"Between 40 and 70 minutes elapsed before the call was made, and I am aware of no explanation for the delay,'' Bush said. ""In light of this new information, I urge you to take a fresh look at this case without any preconceptions as to the outcome."
Terri Schiavo died March 31 from dehydration after her feeding tube was disconnected despite unsuccessful efforts by Bush to keep her alive.
The battle between her husband and parents over whether she should be allowed to die also engulfed the courts, Congress, the White House and divided the country. Her autopsy, released earlier this week, showed suffered from severe and irreversible brain-damage.
McCabe was out of state Friday and couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment from The Associated Press. But in comments published Friday by The Miami Herald, he said Terri Schiavo would not have survived if her husband had not immediately called 911.
"It's absolutely preposterous,'' Felos said. "If he had waited 70 minutes she would have been dead.''
Letter To State Attorney From Gov. Jeb Bush
" June 17, 2005 Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail Facsimile The Honorable Bernie McCabe State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit
Dear Mr. McCabe,
Wednesday the Chief Medical Examiner for Pinellas County issued his report on the autopsy of Terri Schiavo. While the report clarifies many questions surrounding the case, it leaves some unanswered.
Of particular interest are the report's findings as to the cause of Mrs. Schiavo's original injuries. The report indicates that there was little evidence of an eating disorder, previously the lead theory of the cause of her injuries. The report also indicates that blood tests conducted on Mrs. Schiavo in 1990 upon her collapse were routine and would not necessarily have detected or ruled out many types of drugs or toxins. The report rules out any overt or blunt trauma, but could not rule out or positively identify other causes. As a result, the cause of her injuries is more in doubt than ever.
Also of interest is the gap in time between Mr. Schiavo's discovery of Mrs. Schiavo's collapse and the 911 call he made to request assistance. According to Mr. Schiavo's testimony in the medical malpractice trial in 1992, he discovered Mrs. Schiavo had collapsed at about 5:00 a.m. According to his comments in a 2003 television interview, he found her at about 4:30 a.m. According to the Chief Medical Examiner's report, Mr. Schiavo placed the 911 call at approximately 5:40 a.m. Between 40 and 70 minutes elapsed before the call was made, and I am aware of no explanation for the delay.
In light of this new information, I urge you to take a fresh look at this case without any preconceptions as to the outcome. I understand that these events took place many years ago, and that you may not be able to collect all the relevant records and physical evidence. However, Mrs. Schiavo's family deserves to know anything that can be done to determine the cause and circumstances of her collapse 15 years ago has been done. The unanswered questions may be unanswerable, but the attempt should be made. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely, Jeb Bush "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Seems to me that the investigation should have been done BEFORE she died.
Must be at least partly because of what is in Mark Fuhrman's book, Silent Witness, about to hit the bookstores.
Bump. Looks like everyone was too easily buying into the "eating disorder" story.
Too little and too late, Jeb. . .
Agree.
But glad to see it is getting done now. Should have been done at the time of the incident.
I am glad they are investigating it.
Just wish it had been done sooner.
I wish this story would die. This was why Congress is getting such a bad rep. This story has been going on too long and I thought it would end with the unfortunate demise of Terri.
There is much bigger fish to fry atm.
The parents are maligned and ignored. It would go nowhere and it could be a criminal offense that should be handled by the Attorney General's office. The Schlinder's are not in the law enforcement.
BREAKING! Bush closes barn door after horse leaves!
I understand your intentions are good, but taxpayers pay for possible murder investigations routinely. It's the duty of the state to do this.
If it is a possible criminal investigation then it has to come from the state and not the parents. The way it sounds if any information is found then it will be a criminal investigation.
Of course there are much bigger fish to fry - but that does not mean we ignore crime, injustice and killing of citizens by the state.
They should also ask for a civil injunction, (damages), against Michael Schiavo, who caused Terri Schiavo's parents, siblings and loved ones an unconscionable amount of emotional pain and suffering for so many years.
It was done with O.J. after he beat the murder rap, and just might be worth a try. If nothing else it will drag that sub-human worm of a 'husband' through a living hell and perhaps balance the scales a bit.
Why? Yes, lots of private investigators are hired to investigate murders; but, don't we expect the state to do it? Should the state investigate any cases were murder is suspected?
Can't wait for that one.
Me either. But don't want to expect too much.
Uhhh, here's a flash for you, 'Gordon' Felos - she is dead.
Ok not that I'm saying that the investigation shouldn't happen, but where is the effort to change the Florida statute. Michael Schiavo wasn't really functioning as Terri's husband by the fact that was shacked up with this other woman and had two children with her. He was her husband on paper...that's it. The law governing these matters needs to be changed, tweaked, or something.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.