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MESSAGE FROM GARY'S WIFE CLAUDIA
Dear friends of Gary, dear opponents of the death penalty,
today I again ask you
for some help. As you know, they already scheduled
Gary to die again. The
new execution date is August 20th, 2002 and before
that date the Board of
Pardons and Parole will think about if they commute
his penalty into a lesser
penalty. Chances are very small as you know but we
need to try to do everything
to at least try to save Gary's life and to
convince them that Gary
does not deserve the death penalty.
Please send letters to the Parole Board with the following contents:
To those who are friends
with Gary please write your personal opinion about
him. What he means to
you. What would it mean to you if Texas will kill him.
Please remind them that
he did not kill Christie Chauviere and it only need
a DNA testing to prove
this. Please tell them that the jury did not hear
anything about Gary's
horrible upbringing. The jury did not hear any
mitigating circumstances.
The court appointed defense attorneys did nothing
at all to make the jury
consider about life. Please mention that Gary plays
a big role to his little
daughters, that it will hurt them forever when they
kill their daddy and
if you like please mentione me, his wife and that it
will break my heart forever.
Please ask for justice. Please remind them that
one of the reasons a
convict can get the death penalty is that the jury
think he is a future
danger and threat to society. To kill Gary is vengence
because for 12 years
while on death row he did not hurt anyone, no other
inmate and no guard.
This is proof enough that he is no future dangerousness
or threat.
To those who ain't in
touch with Gary please write your opinion about the
death penalty. That it
does not prevent further crime, that it is no
deterrent at all and
that it does not bring closure to the victims family,
as a letter of a murder
victims mother recently proves. She wrote a letter
to the Parole Board,
asking for the life of her sons killer. Unfortunately
on May 22nd the state
of Texas executed Mr. Johnny Martinez. The death
penalty only creates
a new violent act. The death penalty is barbaric,
old-fashioned and a cruel
and unusual punishment etc. etc. etc.
Please include that we
do not plea or beg for Gary's life because he did not
kill anyone. We plea
for true justice which truth will save Gary's life.
Please keep the letter
short (just one page) and don't send it anonymus.
Include your home address,
phone number and e-mail address. If you have a
legible handwriting it
would be best to write by hand or type the letter but
don't forget a hand signed
signature. Please send your letters to the Parole
Board chair man Gerald
Garrett as well as to each board member and to the
governor Rick Perry.
We have to have everyones letter or statement in Gary's
favor right in time before
his execution date on August 20th, 2002. So
please send it right
in time. You know that letters from overseas need round
about a week, sometimes
even longer. So please send out your letters
quickly.
URGENT: Please don't forget
to express your feelings for the victim and the
victims family.
I know that lots of you
already sent letters on Gary's behalf in June and we
truly appreciate your
support and your kindness. I know it takes your time
and money for stamps
to write all these letters and I can't thank you enough
to be there for Gary
and all these poor guys on death row.
Thank you and God bless,
Clauda Etheridge
(Addresses follow the
German text below)
wir benötigen erneute
Eure Hilfe. Wie Ihr wißt, hat Gary bereits einen neuen
Hinrichtungstermin für
20. August 2002 und kurz vor diesem Termin wird der
Begnadigungsausschuß
entscheiden, ob seine Strafe in lebenslänglich
umgewandelt werden kann.
Dies ist zwar sehr unwahrscheinlich, aber wir
sollten unsere Bestes
tun, um wenigstens zu versuchen, Garys Leben zu
retten, und um den Begnadigunsausschuß
davon zu überzeugen, daß Gary die
Todesstrafe nicht verdient.
Bitte schickt Briefe mit folgendem Inhalt an den Begnadigungsausschuß :
Diejenigen, die Gary kennen
und mit ihm befreundet sind schreiben bitte über
ihre persönlichen
Gefühle. Was er ihnen bedeutet, welche Rolle er in ihrem
Leben spielt und was
es für euch bedeuten würde, wenn Texas ihn ermorden
wird. Bitte erinnert
die Leute, daß er Christie Chauviere nicht getötet hat
und es nur einen simplen
DNA Test benötigt, um seine Unschuld zu beweisen.
Bitte weist darauf hin,
daß die Pflichtverteidiger nicht ein Wort über Garys
furchtbare Kindheit erwähnten.
Es wurden keine Gründe für mildernde Umstände
gegeben, die die Jury
evtl. dazu gebracht hätten, über eine lebenslängliche
Freiheitsstrafe nachzudenken.
Bitte erwähnt, daß er eine große Rolle im
Leben seiner Töchter
spielt, und daß es sie für den Rest ihres Lebens
verletzen würde,
wenn ihr Daddy ermordet werden würde. Und falls ihr wollt,
könnt Ihr auch mich
erwähnen, seine Ehefrau, und daß es mein Herz für immer
brechen wird. Bitte fragt
nach Gerechtigkeit. Bitte erinnert daran, daß ein
Grund, warum man einen
Angeklagten zum Tode verurteilen kann, der ist, daß
die Jury der Meinung
ist, daß er eine weitere Gefahr für die Gesellschaft
ist. Gary zu ermorden
wäre pure Rache, da er in mittlerweile 12 Jahren in
der Todeszelle, in denen
er niemals jemanden verletzt hat, weder einen
Mithäftling, noch
einen Wärter, bewiesen hat, daß er keine Gefahr für die
Menscheit ist .
Diejenigen unter Euch,
die Gary nicht persönlich kennen, bitte schreibt Eure
Meinung zur Todesstrafe.
Daß sie keine weiteren Verbrechen verhindert, sie
ist keine Abschreckung
und es bringt der Familie des Mordopfers keine
Erleichterung, wie man
gerade kürzlich sehen konnte, als die Mutter eines
Mordopfers ein Bittgesuch
an den Begnadigungsauschuß geschrieben und um das
Leben des Mörders
ihres Sohnes gebeten hat. Leider wurde Mr. Johnny Martines
am 22. Mai 2002 vom Staate
Texas hingerichtet. Die Todesstrafe ist nur ein
weiterer Gewaltakt, sie
ist barbarisch, altmodisch und eine grausame
Bestrafung etc. etc.
etc.
Bitte erwähnt auch,
daß wir nicht um Gary's Leben bitten müssen, weil er
niemanden ermordet hat.
Wir bitten um Gerechtigkeit und dadurch würde Gary's
Leben gerettet werden.
Bitte schreibt keine allzu
langen Briefe (nur ca. 1 Seite) und schickt sie
nicht anonym. Die Briefe
sollten mit Adresse, Telefonnummer und E-Mail
Adresse versehen sein.
Am besten handschriftlich (falls leserlich),
ansonsten mit Computer
geschrieben aber mit handschriftlicher Unterschrift
und selbstverständlich
in englisch. Bitte sendet Briefe sowohl an den
Vorsitzen Gerald Garrett
als auch an jedes einzelne Board Mitglied und an
den Gouverneur Rick Perry.
Bitte bedenkt, daß
die Briefe rechtzeitig vor Gary's Hinrichtungstermin am
20. August 2002
beim Begnadigungsausschuß vorliegen. Bitte schickt sie
deshalb rechtzeitig ab.
Wie ihr wißt, dauern Briefe aus Europa ca. 1 Woche,
manchmal sogar länger,
also bitte schickt sie so bald wie möglich ab .
WICHTING: Bitte vergeßt
auf keinen Fall, Eure Gefühle für das Opfer, bzw.
Euer Mitgefühl für
die Opferfamilie auszudrücken.
Ich weiß, daß
viele von Euch bereits im Juni Briefe geschrieben haben und
Gary und ich wissen das
wirklich sehr zu schätzen. Wir wissen, wieviel Zeit
und auch Geld für
Briefmarken es kostet und ich danke Euch so sehr, daß ihr
für Gary und all
die anderen Männer in der Todeszelle da seid.
Thank you and God bless,
Claudia Etheridge
www.GaryEtheridge.com
Gatesville Board Office
Lynn F. Brown (Carrollton)
(2-1-03) *
Juanita Gonzalez (Round
Rock) (2-1-03) *
Filiberto (Bert) Reyna
(Waco) (2-1-05) *
3408 S. State Hwy. 36
Gatesville, TX
76528
254-865-8870
254-865-2629 Fax
*********************************
BURWELL, PADDY
* BORN:
1932
* RESIDENCE: Westhoff
* ASSIGNMENT: San
Antonio
* APPOINTED: 1999
* TERM EXPIRES:
2005
* EDUCATION: Attended
Laredo Junior College and University of Houston
* BACKGROUND: Rancher;
Retiree of Exxon Exploration Company after 40
years; Marine Sergeant
who fought in Korea with 1st Division; President
of Westhoff ISD
Board of Trustees; actively involved in several
professional and community
associations
San Antonio Board Office
Paddy Lann Burwell (Westhoff)
(2-1-05) *
Gerald Garrett (Austin)
(2-1-07) *
Alvin Shaw (Austin) (2-1-03)
*
420 S. Main
San Antonio, TX
78204
210-226-6862
210-226-1114 Fax
*********************************
BUSH, JAMES E. (Jim)
* BORN:
1941
* RESIDENCE: Huntsville
* ASSIGNMENT: Angleton
* APPOINTED: 2001
* TERM EXPIRES:
2003
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Arts, Texas A&I, Kingsville
* BACKGROUND: Former
Director of Human Resources for TDCJ; has served in
numerous TDCJ managerial
positions since 1984; 9 years experience with
U.S. Department of the
Army, Civilian Personnel; 5 years experience as a
Texas public school teacher
Angleton Board Office
James E. (Jim) Bush (Huntsville)
(2-1-03) *
Linda Garcia (La Porte)
(2-1-05) *
Lynn Phelan (Houston)
(2-1-07) *
1212 North Velasco, Suite
201
Angleton, TX 77515
979-849-3031
979-849-8741 Fax
*********************************
COLLINS, LAFAYETTE
* BORN:
1948
* RESIDENCE: Huntsville
* ASSIGNMENT: Huntsville
* APPOINTED: 1999
* TERM EXPIRES:
2005
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Arts, Prairie View A&M
* BACKGROUND: Retired
Secret Service Agent (21 yrs.), Army Counter
Intelligence Officer
(7 yrs.), Decorated Vietnam Veteran, Vietnam Platoon
Leader
Huntsville Board Office
Rissie Owens (Huntsville)(2-1-03)*
LaFayette Collins (Huntsville)
(2-1-05)*
(Vacant)
1300 11th St. , Suite
505
P.O. Box 599
Huntsville, TX
77342-0599
936-291-2161
936-291-8367 Fax
*********************************
GARCIA, LINDA
* BORN:
1961
* RESIDENCE: La
Porte
* ASSIGNMENT: Angleton
* APPOINTED: 1999
* TERM EXPIRES:
2005
* EDUCATION: Doctor
of Jurisprudence, University of Houston Law Center;
B.B.A., University of
Houston
* BACKGROUND: 6 yrs.
as Assistant District Attorney, Harris County; 7
yrs. as Executive Secretary
and Employee Relations Coordinator, Mitchell
Energy and Development
Corp.
Angleton Board Office
James E. (Jim) Bush (Huntsville)
(2-1-03) *
Linda Garcia (La Porte)
(2-1-05) *
Lynn Phelan (Houston)
(2-1-07) *
1212 North Velasco, Suite
201
Angleton, TX 77515
979-849-3031
979-849-8741 Fax
*******************************
GARCIA, ROY A. (TONY)
* BORN:
1956
* RESIDENCE: Tennessee
Colony
* ASSIGNMENT: Palestine
* APPOINTED: 2001
* TERM EXPIRES:
2007
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Science in Criminal Justice/Criminology and
Corrections from Sam
Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas
* BACKGROUND: Former
senior warden at the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice's Coffield Unit;
over 20 years service with TDCJ Institutional
Division as a correctional
officer, sociologist, staff services officer,
and senior warden; has
served on the Palestine Regional Medical Center's
Board of Directors and
the Cayuga Independent School District Wide
Committee.
Palestine Board Office
Roy A. (Tony) Garcia
(Palestine) (2-1-07) *
James Paul Kiel, Jr.
(Tyler) (2-1-05) *
Brendolyn Rogers-Johnson
(Duncanville) (2-1-07)*
1111 West Lacy St.
Palestine, TX 75801
903-723-1068
903-723-1441 Fax
****************************************
GARRETT, GERALD-----Chairman
* BORN:
1950
* RESIDENCE: Austin
* ASSIGNMENT: Austin
* APPOINTED: 2001
* TERM EXPIRES:
2007
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Science in Sociology, Stephen F. Austin State
University, Nacogdoches,
Texas; Master of Science, Criminal Justice
Management, Sam Houston
State University, Huntsville, Texas
* BACKGROUND: Over 20
years experience in the Texas parole system.
Started as an Institutional
Parole Officer and has held increasingly
responsible positions
over the years. Appointed Chairman in July, 1999;
reappointed in 2001.
San Antonio Board Office
Paddy Lann Burwell (Westhoff)
(2-1-05) *
Gerald Garrett (Austin)
(2-1-07) *
Alvin Shaw (Austin) (2-1-03)
*
420 S. Main
San Antonio, TX
78204
210-226-6862
210-226-1114 Fax
******************************
GONZALEZ, JUANITA M.
* BORN: 1954
* RESIDENCE: Round
Rock
* ASSIGNMENT: Gatesville
* APPOINTED: 1997
* TERM EXPIRES:
2003
* EDUCATION: Master
and Bachelor of Social Work, Our Lady of the Lake
University, San Antonio,
Texas
* BACKGROUND: Over
13 yrs. experience with TDCJ-Parole Division;
approximately 5 yrs.
experience with Bexar County Juvenile Probation
Department; 3 yrs. experience
as Social Worker in San Antonio, Texas
Gatesville Board Office
Lynn F. Brown (Carrollton)
(2-1-03) *
Juanita Gonzalez (Round
Rock) (2-1-03) *
Filiberto (Bert) Reyna
(Waco) (2-1-05) *
3408 S. State Hwy. 36
Gatesville, TX
76528
254-865-8870
254-865-2629 Fax
*********************************
GUERRA, DANIEL R. (DAN)
* BORN:
1952
* RESIDENCE: Austin
* ASSIGNMENT: Amarillo
* APPOINTED: 2001
* TERM EXPIRES:
2007
* EDUCATION: Graduate
of Pan American University, Edinburg, Texas
* BACKGROUND: Former
Assistant Director of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice's Victim
Services Division. 24-year veteran of TDCJ;
currently serves as an
appointee of Attorney General John Cornyn on the
Crime Victims' Institute
Advisory Council; member of the American
Probation and Parole
Association-Victim Issues Committee; past member of
the Texas Corrections
Association-Victim Issues Committee and the State
Agency Task Force for
Victim Services.
Amarillo Board Office
Daniel R. (Dan) Guerra
(Austin) (2-1-07) *
Lucinda (Cindy) Simons
(Hereford) (2-1-05) *
5809 S. Western, Suite
140
Amarillo, TX 79110
806-359-7656
806-358-6455 Fax
************************************
KIEL, JAMES PAUL JR.
* BORN:
1954
* RESIDENCE: Tyler
* ASSIGNMENT: Palestine
* APPOINTED: 1999
* TERM EXPIRES:
2005
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Science in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State
University, Huntsville,
Texas
* BACKGROUND: Over
20 yrs. experience with TDCJ-Parole Division, serving
as a Parole Officer,
Unit Supervisor, and Assistant Regional Director;
over 3 yrs. experience
with the Texas Dept. of Corrections as a
Correctional Officer
and Sociologist
Palestine Board Office
Roy A. (Tony) Garcia
(Palestine) (2-1-07) *
James Paul Kiel, Jr.
(Tyler) (2-1-05) *
Brendolyn Rogers-Johnson
(Duncanville) (2-1-07)*
1111 West Lacy St.
Palestine, TX 75801
903-723-1068
903-723-1441 Fax
***************************************
OWENS, RISSIE L.
* BORN:
1959
* RESIDENCE: Huntsville
* ASSIGNMENT: Huntsville
* APPOINTED: 1997
* TERM EXPIRES:
2003
* EDUCATION: Master's
degree in Psychology, University of Houston (Clear
Lake); Bachelor of Science
in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State
University, Huntsville,
Texas
* BACKGROUND: Five
years experience in education as an Associate School
Psychologist with Huntsville
ISD and a Drug Prevention Specialist with
Amarillo ISD; approximately
15 years experience in criminal
justice/social service
as a Probation Officer with Galveston County Adult
Probation, Social Worker
with UTMB, Grievance Coordinator and Field
Coordinator with Texas
Dept. of Corrections, Case Manager with Brazos
Valley MHMR, and Court
Coordinator with Brazos County 272nd District
Court
Huntsville Board Office
Rissie Owens (Huntsville)(2-1-03)*
LaFayette Collins (Huntsville)
(2-1-05)*
(Vacant)
1300 11th St. , Suite
505
P.O. Box 599
Huntsville, TX
77342-0599
936-291-2161
936-291-8367 Fax
************************************
PHELAN, LYNN
* BORN:
1956
* RESIDENCE: Houston
* ASSIGNMENT: Angleton
* APPOINTED: 2001
* TERM EXPIRES:
2007
* EDUCATION: Bachelor's
and Master's degrees in Criminal Justice, Sam
Houston State University,
Huntsville, Texas; has completed coursework and
comprehensive exams for
a doctorate in criminal justice
* BACKGROUND: Former
professor in criminal justice at the University of
Houston-Downtown and
contract instructor with the Houston Police
Department Training Academy.
Member of the Academy of Criminal Justice
Science,
Southwestern Association
of Criminal Justice Educators and the American
Correctional Association
Angleton Board Office
James E. (Jim) Bush (Huntsville)
(2-1-03) *
Linda Garcia (La Porte)
(2-1-05) *
Lynn Phelan (Houston)
(2-1-07) *
1212 North Velasco, Suite
201
Angleton, TX 77515
979-849-3031
979-849-8741 Fax
*************************************
REYNA, FILIBERTO
* BORN:
1949
* RESIDENCE: Waco
* ASSIGNMENT: Gatesville
* APPOINTED: 1999
* TERM EXPIRES:
2005
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Arts, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
* BACKGROUND: 27 years
experience in probation and parole: 1972 --
McLennan County Adult
Probation Officer; 1975 -- United States Probation
and Parole Officer; 1989
-- Supervising U.S. Probation Officer; 1995 --
Assistant Deputy Chief
U.S. Probation Officer managing Waco and Austin
Divisions, Western District
of Texas
Gatesville Board Office
Lynn F. Brown (Carrollton)
(2-1-03) *
Juanita Gonzalez (Round
Rock) (2-1-03) *
Filiberto (Bert) Reyna
(Waco) (2-1-05) *
3408 S. State Hwy. 36
Gatesville, TX
76528
254-865-8870
254-865-2629 Fax
************************************
ROGERS-JOHNSON, BRENDOLYN
* BORN:
1949
* RESIDENCE: Duncanville
* ASSIGNMENT: Palestine
* APPOINTED: 2001
* TERM EXPIRES:
2007
* EDUCATION: Master
of Education, Texas A&M University, Commerce;
Bachelor of Arts, Huston-Tillotson
College, Austin, Texas
* BACKGROUND: Originally
appointed to the Board of Pardons and Paroles in
1995; Classroom Teacher,
Dallas, Waco, and Wilmer-Hutchins ISD's
Palestine Board Office
Roy A. (Tony) Garcia
(Palestine) (2-1-07) *
James Paul Kiel, Jr.
(Tyler) (2-1-05) *
Brendolyn Rogers-Johnson
(Duncanville) (2-1-07)*
1111 West Lacy St.
Palestine, TX 75801
903-723-1068
903-723-1441 Fax
********************************
SHAW, ALVIN A.
* BORN:
1950
* RESIDENCE: Austin
* ASSIGNMENT: San
Antonio
* APPOINTED: 1997
* TERM EXPIRES:
2003
* EDUCATION: Attended
Austin Community College and Huston-Tillotson
College
BACKGROUND: Over 5 yrs.
experience with Travis County Sheriff's Office,
most recently as Chief
Deputy; over 18 yrs. experience with Austin Police
Department
San Antonio Board Office
Paddy Lann Burwell (Westhoff)
(2-1-05) *
Gerald Garrett (Austin)
(2-1-07) *
Alvin Shaw (Austin) (2-1-03)
*
420 S. Main
San Antonio, TX
78204
210-226-6862
210-226-1114 Fax
***********************************
SHIPMAN, CHARLES
* BORN:
1953
* RESIDENCE: Wichita
Falls
* ASSIGNMENT: Abilene
* APPOINTED: 1997
* TERM EXPIRES:
2003
* EDUCATION: Bachelor
of Science in Criminal Justice and Business
Administration, Wayland
Baptist University
* BACKGROUND: 1
yr. experience as parole officer with TDCJ-Parole
Division; 2 yrs. with
Wichita County Sheriff's department, most recently
as sergeant; over 21
yrs. with U.S. Air Force as First Sergeant, Criminal
Investigator, and Police
Officer
Abilene Board Office
Charles A. Shipman (Wichita
Falls) (2-1-03) *
100 Chestnut, Suite 105
Abilene, TX 79602
915-676-4204
915-676-4921 Fax
*********************************************
SIMONS, Lucinda "Cindy"
* ASSIGNMENT: Abilene
* APPOINTED: 1999
* TERM EXPIRES:
2005
* EDUCATION: Master
of Education in Professional Counseling, West Texas
A&M; Bachelor of
Science in Criminal Justice, West Texas A&M
* BACKGROUND: 9
yrs. experience with Hereford ISD as SAFE and Drug Free
Schools and Communities
Coordinator; 6 yrs. as Adult Probation Officer,
Hereford; 2 yrs. as Caseworker
for Texas Department of Human Services
(Child Protective Services),
Amari
Amarillo Board Office
Daniel R. (Dan) Guerra
(Austin) (2-1-07) *
Lucinda (Cindy) Simons
(Hereford) (2-1-05) *
5809 S. Western, Suite
140
Amarillo, TX 79110
806-359-7656
806-358-6455 Fax
*****************************
Texas Governor Rick Perry
State Capitol
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711 Fax:(512)463-1849
Tel:(512)463-1762 11/98
Tel:(800)252-9600 (Texas
callers only)
web: http://www.governor.state.tx.us
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