Michael Schiavo in hiding after death threats

Daily Telegraph ^ | 4/3/05 | Jacqui Goddard

[Cableguy]

Terri Schiavo's widower has gone into hiding because of the furore over his wife's death and has sought police protection.

Michael Schiavo, 41, is under guard three days after his disabled wife died from dehydration at a Florida hospice.

She had spent 13 days without food or water after a United States judge upheld Mr Schiavo's claim that she would not have wished to continue life in a persistently vegetative state.

"His goal is to find safe housing because of these death threats," said a friend, Alan Shoopak. "It's not over. Unfortunately, it's just beginning."

Mrs Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who went to the US Supreme Court to block the removal of their daughter's feeding tube, admit that they care little for their son-in-law, but have urged against revenge attacks.

"Our family abhors any violence, or any threats of violence. We ask that all those who support our family be completely kind in their words and deeds towards others," said Mrs Schiavo's sister, Suzanne Vitadamo.

Anger at Mr Schiavo's actions has been fuelled by the revelation that a court order from a county judge, George Greer, who repeatedly refused the Schindlers' pleas to let their daughter live, will allow him to have her cremated and her ashes interred in Pennsylvania. The Schindlers' request for a share of the ashes or even a lock of their daughter's hair has also been refused.

The family see it as the final act in a 12-year campaign of spite by their son-in-law. Other alleged snubs include having his wife's wedding ring melted down to make a ring for himself.

Last week, while his wife's life ebbed away at the Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, Mr Schiavo moved into quarters on site, to avoid protesters outside. Some had banners expressing vitriol for Mr Schiavo and Judge Greer. "You are going to hell, murderers," one read. The hospice also received hoax bomb threats last week.

For several days, Mr Schiavo has not returned to the home in Clearwater he shares with his fiancée, Jodi Centonze, and their two children. Friends speculate that they may leave Florida altogether.

The results of a post-mortem examination, which it is believed may shed more light on years-old bone fractures Mrs Schiavo suffered, and the extent of her brain damage, will be published within weeks.

Mr Schiavo's friends and family speak of a man who honoured his wife's wishes and released her from what he perceived to be a life without hope. After cradling her in his arms as she died on Thursday morning, he placed a rose in her hand and kissed her goodbye.

A Mass to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday.

[Pajamajan]

"His goal is to find safe housing because of these death threats.....Unfortunately, it's just beginning."

May he be treated with the same mercy that he showed Terri and her family.

[BobS]

"That does not make any sense.What did you say.

I said that a mortal crime was committed.

[beaversmom]

He'll start abusing his girlfriend or he'll lose his temper with a coworker one of these days.

That's what I'm thinking. The guy's got a nasty disposition. Even if you didn't know a thing about him, you can look at some people and see it in their eyes. The kind of pressure he will be receiving would have to take it's toll even on a mild-mannered person. I see him cracking under the strain. Getting a butt load of blood money is not going to help him. He may think now that Terri has been offed and the money starts flowing from book deals or movie deals, life is going to be easy. I hope no one harms him, but I hope he becomes a paranoid nut. I'm picturing the way Judas was portrayed in the Passion of the Christ.

[fatima]

BobS,I understand mortal sin.I do not understand mortal crime.

[I still care]

"Having now 'disposed of' Teri, what will be the new focus for Michael Schiavo? He is obviously consumed with hate."

Well, he's a nurse, right? Scary thought.

[California Patriot]

All responsible people must echo the words of the Schindlers: No violence.

Michael's soul is already dead. This monstrous man may walk the earth for the rest of his natural life. Without a spiritual awakening of great pain and depth, he will remain a deeply miserable man as long as he lives, whether he knows it or not.

The punishment does not depend on whether Michael suffers or is outwardly happy. It is a reality, determined by the ineradicable fact that he is a bad, bad man. This in itself is a profound punishment. Whether he knows it or not, Michael is in a living Hell as we speak. God is not mocked.

[PistolPaknMama]

Michael Schiavo in hiding after death threats

Too bad Terri couldn't hide after her death threats. I hope he's afraid the rest of his life. Just like Terri was afraid the rest of hers.

[I still care]

"he placed a rose in her hand and kissed her goodbye."

Sounds nice. But weren't her hands totally contracted through his insistance of her recieving no therapy at all?

When a nurse tried to put a cloth in to ease her contractures he yelled at her. and made her take it out - he insisted this simple comfort measure was therapy, and he didn't want her to have any.

[processing please hold]

That does not make any sense.What did you say.

Do you do that as a sport. Do you intentionally try your hand at flamebaiting? Do you just recycle the same phrase only switch the words around a bit?

Never mind, consider it a rhetorical question. I won't post to you again for the last last time.

[Cinnamon Girl]

While I completely object to any violence or threats against Mr. Schiavo because it is contrary to the reason people are angry with him in the first place, I do believe his life should be disrupted by social scorn and public shunning. He and Judge Greer have become notorious names in America, and will remain so until they publicly repent for something they sadly cannot undo.

[rdcorso]

I wouldn't be surprised if this was all a charade to make his book or movie seem more interesting.There's nothing this low life wouldn't do for money.

[California Patriot]

Exactly right. No one should speak to either man.

[CHARLITE]

Agency Had 89 Abuse Reports on Schiavo

Florida's Department of Children and Families had received nearly 90 allegations that Michael Schiavo had abused his wife in recent years - but a Florida judge ruled yesterday that DCF summaries of those allegations must remain secret.

The St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune had filed suit for the release of the abuse summaries, which covered 89 reports - the Times said Friday.

But state Judge George Greer ruled Friday the records belong to DCF, and although Terri Schiavo's husband can have access to the abuse files, the records cannot be made public, The Associated Press reported. During a hearing Thursday, just hours after Terri Schiavo died, DCF attorney Jennifer Lima-Smith asked Greer to keep its records sealed, saying, "It's time to end this case."

Just a few weeks ago, however, the agency was pressing for a full-blown abuse probe.

In the petition filed with Greer's court in early March, the DCF asked him not to remove Schiavo's feeding tube until the agency could investigate 34 pages of materials documenting allegations of abuse, the Orlando Sentinel reported at the time.

The DCF petition said the materials were sent to its abuse hotline on Feb. 18 and Feb. 21, and by law, the agency had to conduct an investigation.

"The allegations in the abuse reports go to the heart of whether abuse, neglect and/or exploitation has been perpetrated by the guardian [Michael Schiavo]," the DCF's 10-page petition said, according to the Sentinel.

The allegations were based partly on bone scans showing Terri Schiavo suffered fractures, as well as statements she made to family and friends that she was unhappy in her marriage, the AP reported Friday.

Responding to allegations of abuse in 1992, Michael Schiavo told the Tampa Tribune: "I've never, ever struck a woman, especially my wife. I was raised better than that."

He called the abuse allegations "utterly ridiculous," suggesting instead that Terri's injuries may have been caused during physical therapy sessions.

[joyce11111]

Yeah, and the new bride is at home fending off the thundering crowds, whilst mikey is hiding in the hospice.

[BobS]

"BobS,I understand mortal sin.I do not understand mortal crime."

You must be getting sleepy. I hope I won't disturb your dreams. Starving people so they are light enough to throw them into furnaces while alive is a mortal crime. Do you want me to go on? 150 million people were killed in the last century. How do you think they died? 30 million starved to death in Russia for a start. In camps or the gulag. Your body does not starve to death. It rots to death if left to the State.

[processing please hold]

He called the abuse allegations "utterly ridiculous," suggesting instead that Terri's injuries may have been caused during physical therapy sessions.

Can't an exam be done on the fractures to determine at what time the breaks occurred, according to the calcium build up on the bone. They can tell how old a fracture is on a child, I heard enough child abuse cases on here to know that.

Never mind...there are no bones, he cremated them.

On second thought, don't they have already have film of her breaks?

[fatima]

Grow up emotion post.

[MSCASEY]

I believe he is receiving death threats. The cruel and vicious way he executed his wife while everyone stood by helpless has made many people very angry. I don't know that he would be to save up here in Idaho. To many people with guns.

MCD

[TAdams8591]

Well, we'll see. But the one threat his brother claimed to have gotten was played on TV and wasn't.

Idaho is not Florida. Still you may be right.

[BobS]

"Grow up emotion post."

Why? My family was effected by what happened in various countries. I reserve the right to talk to you and------