This is a timeline of facts that focuses only on Terri’s alleged verbal death wish, which according to Michael Schiavo, Scott Schiavo and Joan Schiavo, were made when Terri was in her early twenties.
1990 February 25 – Terri collapses for still unknown reasons. Terri has no written directive. Michael makes no mention that Terri had any type of verbal living will.
1992 November – During medical malpractice trial Michael recites his wedding vows in front of a jury asking for $20 million dollars so that he can provide Terri with the proper rehabilitation and therapy that she is going to need for the rest of her life. He also testifies that he intends to bring Terri home. Michael makes no mention that Terri had any type of verbal living will. Jury subsequently awards Michael $600,000 and awards Terri $1.5 million dollars for future rehabilitation and therapy (Note: Michael is the inheritor of Terri’s Medical Trust).
1993 January – Michael places DNR in Terri's medical records.
1993 Spring – Michael admits that he told doctors to withhold treating Terri for an infection that would have ultimately lead to her death.
1993 November – Michael testifies that he withheld antibiotics in the hopes that Terri would die stating that, “It’s what ‘I’ think Terri would want.”
1995 – Michael begins cohabitating with Jodi A. Centzone.
1997 July – Michael publicly announces, in his mother’s obituary, his intentions to marry Jodi Centzone while still being legally married to Terri.
1998 August – Michael petitions the court to remove Terri’s feeding tube now stating, "It was 'Terri's' wish that she wouldn’t want to live in this condition.”
1998 Fall – Court appointed Guardian ad Litem (GAL) investigating the merits of Michael’s petition to remove Terri’s feeding tube asks Michael during his investigation if Michael is aware of anyone else that knows about Terri’s alleged living verbal will that Terri wants to die. Michael tells the GAL, "No."
1998 Winter – GAL submits his investigation to the court recommending that Schiavo's petition to remove Terri’s feeding tube be denied based on what he felt was Michael’s lack of credibility regarding Terri’s alleged wishes along with the fact that Michael was going to inherit Terri’s Medical Trust worth close to $800,000 at that time.
1999 September – During Michael’s deposition in preparation for upcoming trial to remove Terri’s feeding tube, his attorney asks Michael if there is anyone else that he knows who is aware of Terri making any comments regarding an alleged verbal death wish. Michael now tells his attorney – Yes, his brother Scott Schiavo and sister-in-law Joan Schiavo.
2000 February 11 – Subsequent to a week long trial, Judge George W. Greer finds the testimony of Michael, Scott and Joan Schiavo credible, meeting the Florida clear and convincing standard to permit the removal of Terri’s feeding tube. Judge Greer finds Terri’s mother, father, brother, sister, Terri’s twenty-year childhood friend and Terri’s best friend in Florida all not credible; they all testified that Terri never said anything about wanting to die by starvation and dehydration if she ever became disabled.
2001 April – Cindy Shook tells Bob and Bobby Schindler in a phone conversation that Michael is lying about Terri’s wishes and that Michael told her (Cindy) back in 1991 when he and Cindy were dating that, “He had no idea what Terri’s wishes were.”
2001 May – Trudy Capone submits affidavit essentially repeating what Cindy Shook said that Michael told her (Trudy) that he did not know what Terri wanted (Trudy Capone and Michael dated just prior to his relationship with Jodi Centzone).
2005 March – During an interview, Michael Schiavo tells Larry King, “And I've also said that in court. We didn't know what Terri wanted, but this is what we want . . .”
2005 March 31 – Terri passes away after almost 14 days of dehydration on the ruling by Judge George W. Greer that it was Terri’s wish.
It's so much more obvious when you see the timeline. Most people only know the snippets the old media wants them to know. I'm so glad algore invented the Internet. Now we can get the truth out there so much easier.
Lurkers and newbees, please see Post 1309.
Thank you, amdgmary. It's a good review for we "old timers," too.
Very concise timeline. I don't understand why people aren't at least questioning the obvious turn of events once the malpractice award was granted. I've been trying to point that out as a strong motive for murdering Terri(imo, another good one was to keep her from regaining her speech capabilities), until I'm blue in the fingers!