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From German pen pal page at: http://www.todesstrafe-usa.de/death_penalty/voices_az_murray.htm
Roger W. Murray
Hello, my name is Roger Wayne Murray II, I am currently on death row
in the United
State. I have been fighting the American Justice for the last ten years.
I am desperately
looking for some pen friends to help me pass the clock. I am a 30-year-old
single white
male. I am 6'2'' tall and I weigh 200 lbs. My hair is brown and my
eyes are blue.
I enjoy I variety of hobbies, but my present living conditions restricts
me to writing,
drawing, reading adventures and romance novels. I enjoy writing
poetry. I am a nature person and love everything out doors. Before
I was looked up, I
enjoyed camping, hiking, boating, sailing and scuba diving. I
enjoy riding and motorbikes and picnics. I spend all of my time on
the row locked in a cell. I
am only out for a total of 5 hours each week! That's for showers and
recreation. I am
looking for some friends to take away this boredom. I have no family
or friends within 4000
Miles, so I receive no visit. I would enjoy spending time writing to
my new friend. I hope
this will be you...
Male and female are welcome to write, I will answer all mail I receive.
Prison policy says I can't write to persons under 18 years of age.
Sorry!!!
Thank you for taking the time to read this. You will not be disappointed
when
corresponding with me...
Roger W. Murray II
# 94262
Arizona State Prison
P.O. Box 3400
Florence, AZ 85232-3400
USA
I hope that all is well in your
life. My name is Roger W. Murray II.
I am a 30 year old (7/28/70) single,
white male who is currently on
Death Row fighting for my life.
I'm 6'2” (187cm), and I weigh
about 200lbs (90.7Kg). My hair
is brown and starting to thin from
all the stress I live under. I
keep it short. I have Blue-Green eyes –
I've received a lot of complements
over them.
I enjoy a variety of hobbies and
likes, but I'm limited as to what I
can do here. Writing, reading
adventure, romance and fantasy
novels. I like poetry and often
write on commission for the guys I
live around for their family,
friends and lovers. I try to draw with
pen and pencil but my real passion
is painting with acrylics (click
here to look at some of my paintings).
I was allowed to do that for
a long time but a few years ago
it was banned at my prison
complex. I fancy myself as an
amateur writer. I've written and
submitted several articles about
life on Death Row to magazines.
For the last 10 years, I have been
butting heads with the American
Justice system to prove my innocence.
It has been a long up-hill
battle. Every step of the way
we've had to fight the best they have
to offer on a budget of pennies!
But our fight is starting to pay off.
We now have peoples attention.
But it's not over yet. We have a
long way to go…
Until then, I desperately need
some friends to help me pass time.
Death Row here is kept in constant
lock down in a small cell. I'm
allowed out of my cell for a total
of 5 hours each week… I have no
contact with any other inmate,
time here is going slowly!
I have no family within 4,000 miles
so I never receive visits. I
would very much like to spend
this time writing you. Letters are my
only window to the outside world.
Please take a few moments of your
time to write me a letter. I
promise you will not be disappointed.
I am college educated and
have opinions on everything. I'm
open minded. So please write me.
Thank you
Roger W. Murray II #94262
Arizona State Prison
PO Box 3400
Florence
AZ 85232-3400
USA
"CAPITAL ACCOUNTABILITY"
08/05/01
Dear Traci,
I received your information from a friend of mine. I would like to contribute
to
your cause. I enjoy writing essays. This one, “Capital Accountability”
has been
published in Canada and Italy. I hope it helps you in some way.
I am also enclosing a request for pen pals. My friend wouldn’t let
me use your
form so I made my own. I hope you can help me. I’m locked down
all the time
and I don’t have any family out here. I’m from Alabama. So, I would
greatly
appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks, Traci.
Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Roger W. Murray II
CAPITAL ACCOUNTABILITY
By: Roger W. Murray II
Executions have essentially become a moot subject. They happen with such
frequency that most American’s never give them a second thought. Its almost
like the public no longer perceives executions as putting a human being
to
death, but a process which they aren’t involved.
Death is a fact of life we all eventually face. Knowing the exact moment
and
method when I will die has given me an opportunity to contemplate life
and
death. I am after all an inmate on Arizona’s death row. Its said I am to
be killed
off as punishment for crimes which I was convicted.
There isn’t anything wrong with society holding people accountable for
their
actions. Without this objective the world would certainly be a chaotic
environment. However, there are occasions when society gets it wrong. It
will
not matter, if I don’t have my wrongful convictions overturned- I will
die.
In 1992 the State of Arizona passed a law that gave all inmates sentenced
before November of that year a choice between lethal injection or the gas
chamber. Myself and brother “Robert” were some of the last inmates who
still
have this choice. (we were sentenced on October 27th,1992)
Like most other inmates I will likely choose lethal injection. But, the
method of
execution really doesn’t matter, it’s over in a few minutes and I’m just
as dead.
What really matters is the 36 days leading up to the execution. Most of
the
public doesn’t consider these days as part of the process. But, in reality-
it is a
major part that no one ever seems to talk about.
Most inmates already know what the outcome of their case will be long before
the courts make their decisions. But, it’s still a shock when the process
actually begins. There is little, if any, amount of preparations; physical
or
mental that can prepare one for this day.
Most are not informed they will be receiving a death warrant until its
officially
issued, sometimes an inmate will be warned by his attorney first, but this
is a
rare occasion.
Most are caught unsuspecting when it happens.
It varies from inmate to inmate, but usually there will be three or four
officers
come to the cell under false pretenses. Their usual spiel is something
like, “we
were just told to come get you.” Or “You’re wanted up at disciplinary.”
After the
routine strip search you’re handcuffed behind the back and off you go to
one of
the front offices.
Once inside the office you are politely guided to a chair sitting across
a desk.
The desk surface is littered with papers, files, and a little cassette
recorder. The
room as business-like as the local insurance dealer’s, has been crowded
with
department officers, staff and others there to observe a man receive his
death
warrant. It’s got to be a curiosity to witness how a man will react being
informed
he only has 36 days left to live. For some it’s
a once in a lifetime opportunity... to other’s, a mournful assignment.
Sitting behind the desk per regulation is the inmate’s counselor. He’ll
turn on
the tape recorder to have proof the inmate received his death warrant.
This
stems from an incident where an inmate was within days of his execution
and
hadn’t been told.
The counselor will read the entire death warrant. It contains the date
and time
for said execution to be carried out. The counselor will ask if you have
any
questions. By this point your brain is pretty much distracted, so, you
have few
questions. The prominent thought going through one’s mind to, “How will
I get a
stay?” Or, “What will my mother feel?” or, “This is not real”’
You are given a montage of forms to fill out over the next few weeks. Such
as:
method of execution, last meal, who you want to witness the execution,
religious advisors, disposition of property left behind, disposition of
remains and
a few other non-descript forms. Then you are escorted back to the cell
to
contemplate your impending death.
As you pass by other cells inmates can sense what has happened. Just as
I’ve
done with other inmates, its their expression, a certain pallor of mortality
realized. Finally someone will knowingly ask, “so, what did they want”
Or,
“You’ll get a stay.” But, deep in the back of your mind the question looms.
Even
if a stay is there for the asking, knowing you have a stay coming, the
question
hangs thickly within the recesses of the mind. “Am I going to die?”
An inmate will remain in his regular cell until two weeks prior to his
execution,
at this appointed time he’s moved into a specially designed “Death watch”
cell.
Once there he’ll be monitored around the clock by two officers stationed
outside
the cell. Also staring into the cell 24/7 is a closed circuit T.V. camera
allowing a
third officer to watch from a control room and record cell activity.
Once an inmate is on “death watch” you are not allowed to talk or associate
with other inmates. You are completely deprived of conversation. Most of
the
officers stationed on death watch try and avoid talking with the inmate.
I have
been told by different officers its a measure taken to remain detached
from the
situation. Wouldn’t want to begin to regard the condemned as anything beyond
a mere number.
Inside the cell you are only allowed the basic amenities; toothbrush, toothpaste,
small bar of soap, wash cloth, towel. No TV’s or radio for those who may
have
had a disruptive or suicidal past. There really is no reason foe ADC to
isolate an
inmate in this manner for two very long weeks. Except, maybe to force him
to
withdraw inside himself, from isolation, from lack of communication, no
privacy.
It serves this purpose.
Being constantly observed 24-hours a day by three officers and your every
move
recorded is quite intimidating. Everything around you is choreographed
by ADC
officials, right down to when you get out of bed. Eat, shower, use the
telephone,
legal visits, read mail, go to bed. Any feelings you may have harbored
about
controlling your life are systematically reduced to zero. You have absolutely
no
control.
Humiliation and reducing an inmate’s self-esteem and will to live is the
name of
the game at this point. Every piece of mail received from family and friends
will
be opened by officers. Some say they read it, other’s claim only to scan
the
contents. One is no longer trusted
to shave himself, instead you are handcuffed behind your back and the officers
do it with an electric shaver. (I’m a grown man, I don’t need someone else
to
shave me.)
You are not allowed a brush or comb, but they will give you a plastic palm
brush
without a handle- just a loop for your finger. Same type used to rub down
dogs
and cats.
Thirty-two hours prior to the execution the inmate is transported to the
“Death
House” located a couple miles away with another high security cell waiting
his
arrival. The Death House is a block building housing both the gas chamber
and
lethal injection room. This building is meticulously maintained and sanitized,
it
is cold and bland, some say it reeks with the smell and feel of death.
Very few
have been to this cell and returned to talk about it. Mr. Paris Carringer
is one of
the lucky few, he was within hours of execution. Today, he’s at home with
this
family and friends…
Sitting in a cell only feet from the execution chamber must be quite an
experience. No one really wants to die, even people who commit suicide
don’t
want to die, they just
don’t want to go on living their life. Can’t face up to what’s in the future
so they
check out. Even on death row, suicide by executioner has happened a few
times. The public mostly perceives lethal injection as simply, “falling
asleep”. I
strongly disagree, though it may seem a fast and painless “humane” death,
this
is not always the case.
Consider the cases of John Brewer and J.D Clark, both executed in 1993
by
lethal injection in Arizona. Their deaths appeared to be nothing beyond
the
typical injection. They were given a dose of Sodium Pentothal first to
render
them unconscious and paralyze the body. This to eliminate the suffocating
sensation of the Pavulon which is secondly injected to shut down the
respiratory system. The third and final injection is Potassium Chloride,
which
induces cardiac arrest. Without the full effects of the Sodium Pentothal
this
drug is extremely painful. The body would be flailing around like a fish
out of
water under the effect of the second two drugs—without the first to subdue
the
body and mind.
During an autopsy by the county medical examiner it was determined that
both
Clark and Brewer had received a dosage of Sodium Pentothal below therapeutic
levels.
It is the opinion of many professionals- because the levels of Sodium Pentothal
was inadequate; both inmates lay upon the execution table paralyzed, yet,
conscious of their surroundings.
Under this chilling supposition both would have died a slow painful death,
unable
to move or scream out their agony. Paralyzed, asphyxiation, cardiac arrest.
Nobody knows how these men felt as they lay there, unable to move until
death
finally overcame them. I do wonder if this is the kind of accountability
society
has in mind?
When I think of lethal injection I don’t see it as “falling asleep”. I
see it as a
process that is going to take my life. Most of the public doesn’t considers
the
feelings and emotions an inmate has prior to execution. Maybe that’s because
they can’t relate to the inmate as anything beyond a number getting what
he
has coming?
Consider this: To myself, there is no difference between lethal injection
and
being tossed head first into a wood chipping machine. Both are fast and
seemingly painless. Only this chipper leaves behind a big mess, not unlike
the
mess left behind in the hearts of those whom cared for the inmate. Just
the
thought of dying this way is enough to send chills down the spine of the
most
harden individual. It appears a horrible, terrible way to die. Facing the
injection
chamber is very such like facing that wood chipper. My emotions are no
different. Quick, easy, painless, hassle-free death, the wood chipper is
actually
a quicker death than injection.
What happens? Approximately thirty minutes prior to the execution the inmate
is ready, the IV’s are in place and he’s left alone on the table. What
words are
there to describe what’s going through his mind as he lays there? Horror?
Terror? Hope for a stay? Panic? Fright? Relief that it’s over? All of these
words
seem to come up wholly short as an explanation.
This has got to be the most intense feeling imaginable, knowing that he
is going
to die in minutes and there’s nothing he can do to stop it … Laying on
this
injection table the
inmate may as well be on a conveyor belt inching along toward a wood chipping
machine. He knows at the end of the line absolute death will occur. He
knows it
should be relatively painless and rather quick, but the thought of dying
is
suddenly a terrifying reality.
As the curtains are drawn back the witnesses get their first and only look
at the
condemned. He’s laying on this table draped with a sheet pulled up to his
chin,
a pillow under his head. For the most part he looks like its time for bed.
This is
the only picture the American public ever sees of the Execution Protocol.
What they don’t see is a human being that’s tied down by thirteen leather
straps, needles in both arms. An incision into the body might have been
preformed to connect with a vein, or dissection into the leg or neck. The
sanitary smell of the room, they can’t feel his fear of death, his desire
to live,
can’t see his bloodshot eyes, sense his high blood pressure. They don’t
see if
an angelic spirit carries an innocent soul to Heaven, but rather assume
its the
deserving being cast into Hell. They only see a small part of the Execution
Protocol that has been carefully scripted by the government so as to avoid
offending anyone’s sensibilities.
Most people don’t relate lethal injection to death in a wood chipper. We
see the
chipper as a horrible death, and it is. But its little different from injection.
Both
have a stark reality to them. Dead is dead, no matter how you get there.
An
inmate would die just as fast either way. But, knowing how and when you’ll
die
gives ample time to think, time to feel the full range of emotions, time
for the
reality of the situation to set in. You are going to die. All that’s left
is to hope
the Sodium Pentothal will be sufficient enough to do the job…
Roger Murray II
94262
Eyman- SMU ii
PO Box 3400
Florence Arizona 85232 – 3400
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