Immediate Release October 2, 2004
Disturbing Information - Abuse/Neglect/ Without Accountability
Heightened Awareness Release: Virginia Larzelere
by Jan Thomas
Southern Center for Human rights :
I totally appreciate your advocacy for those confined in prison under inhuman conditions of confinement , denial of medical health care etc.
Virginia Larzelere is the lone woman on Florida's Death row, confined at Lowell Correctional. She has been denied treatment for an arm that may have been broken, she has two cysts that need to be operated on for months now with no date of surgery, she has one lung, a bad heart ,upper respiratory problems and recently had the electricity shut off in her cell which brought about the fact she was unable to receive needed treatment. She has placed many grievances, with no results. Her cell food slot is locked, which has resulted in her not being fed, and not receiving the attention she needs medically as well. She has documentation of all services that were sought and not rendered, and has asked the staff to review video and see she is telling the truth.
We
are trying a letter writing campaign, directly to her, with letter heads of
advocacy groups. Just letters of love and encouragement, so the prison will know
someone is looking in from the outside. We would appreciate you joining us in
this endeavor.
Her lawyer, from Capital Collertal Representives (David Hendry Hendry@ccmr.state.fl.us) of Tampa says he cannot help with the treatment she is receiving but has enlisted the help of Susan Cary esqary@gru.net, but every time she has tried to help, it only lasts for a short time and gets worse. Now she is literally afraid for her life. In fact she wrote me telling me if I hear of her death through suicide, accident or natural causes to investigate because it won't be true.
We first thought we would do the letter writing and go from there. There have been offers to contact the ACLU but we have not done that as yet. This situation is getting desperate. We will be grateful for any help you can suggest.
Plus she had an evidentiary hearing 2 years ago last May, placing evidence of lawyer incompetency at trial as well as the fact the grand jury indictment and the conviction do not match, with many a case law that requires a new trial. We are still waiting for Judge Watson to make a decision.
Virginia 's web site is at :
www.helpvirginia.com
Thank you in advance.