Governor to close Schiavo inquiry [State attorney to Jeb: Michael S did not cause wife's collapse.]

St Petersburg Times ^ | July 8, 2005 | DAVID KARP and CHRIS TISCHDAVID KARP and CHRIS TISCH

[summer]

LARGO - In what could be a final chapter in the legal saga of Terri Schiavo, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe says he could find no evidence that Michael Schiavo caused his wife's collapse 15 years ago.

In a June 30 letter to Gov. Jeb Bush, McCabe suggested ending the state's inquiry into the case.

Bush responded Thursday in a two-sentence letter to McCabe: "Based on your conclusions, I will follow your recommendation that the inquiry by the state be closed."

Bush asked McCabe last month to investigate Schiavo's collapse on the morning of Feb. 25, 1990. He cited questions left unanswered by an autopsy and inconsistent statements from Michael Schiavo about the time he found his wife on the floor of their apartment.

McCabe appointed two of his most seasoned prosecutors to review the evidence. They found nothing to indicate Michael Schiavo hurt his wife....

[ARCADIA]

Re your post #14 - ???

The investigation was a joke. Whatever evidence there may have been had been destroyed at cremation, and the whole issue is moot. The only reason Jeb launched the effort was to divert the negative feelings engendered by the release of the autopsy results. The time to have investigated Michael Shivo was years ago; Jeb as usual is a dollar short and a day late.

[Awestruck]

since Michael S fathered children with another woman, I'd call that adultery, wouldn't you?

[Joe 6-pack]

"The time to have investigated Michael Shivo was years ago..."

As Mark Fuhrman emphasizes in Silent Witness, there is no statute of limitations for murder. You are of course, correct in that the time to collect any physical evidence is long since past.

[patriciaruth]

Yes, but I would forgive my husband if I were in a coma and he started another family.

For better or for worse is part of the deal, and forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Of course, if he committed adultery while I was still able to pull a trigger, he'd be in trouble.

[Mad Mammoth]

Who is Governor Jeb Bush? Isn't he the former governor of Florida? Wasn't he succeeded by the new Governor, George W. Greer?

Yeah, that's the one.

Nice job Jeb. Now GTFO.

[ARCADIA]

You are of course, correct in that the time to collect any physical evidence is long since past.

Not to mention, it is way too late to save Terry.

[summer]

The thread's added eadline in brackets is a lie. The officals only found that they would be unable to determine whether Micheal did or did not act to cause his wife's injuries. They did NOT determine that he did not cause them. I have reported the headline as abuse.

LOL...uh, I don't know if you realize this but - I DID try to FIT that VERY LONG headline in as it was written, but there is a LIMIT on how many words can be posted in a headline. So, I had to shorten it, to make it FIT the LIMIT. Otherwise I could not post the article.

[summer]

It's till death do we part, even if my husband kills me.

Well, I would just say to that: your parents, if alive, would probably prefer to take care of you than see your husband kill you! (However, I respect your religious beliefs -- yet, I find it very hard to believe any religion would advocate what you are advocating here.)

[summer]

The whole thing was wrong and corrupt from the start. I think this is the point Jeb is trying to make. Of course, since the entire liberal press corps combined with the loony libertarians on the talk radio circuit are against him, I don't think he has much chance of getting the message out.

I think you are right. But, I also think there is still hope in considering the idea I proposed in my post # 1. I hope he, too, might read this thread and consider it. I don't know if he will. But, I hope he does. I do believe he did everything -- and more -- that he could possibly do, under current laws.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Not to mention, it is way too late to save Terry."

Not sure if you've read Fuhrman's book yet, or if you even have the inclination to do so, but he makes the point that hade Terri succumbed in the days following her collapse the case would have been treated as a homocide until and unless it was determined to be otherwise.

[summer]

It is not solvable when one spouse is sick absent fault.

I think it should be solvable when one spouse is sick -- and there is no written directive from that spouse on what to do, in terms of maintaining or ending life, and the remaining spouse and parents, if there are any, disagree. That is an enormous conflict, as we have all seen with Terri S.

[patriciaruth]

I would not want my mother (my only remaining parent) interfering in my husband's decisions, even if he chose the worse (not the better) and decided to let me die.

For this reason shall a man leave his parents and cleave only to his wife.

What God hath put together let no man put asunder.

I would not want the bond between my husband and myself broken by a parent, even if I believed my husband was making a bad, even a sinful, decision.

Divorce, never. Turning over custody might be an option, but only with my husband's consent.

Just my view from the peanut gallery.

[summer]

The time to have investigated Michael Shivo was years ago; Jeb as usual is a dollar short and a day late.

Well, since this matter took "years" to wind through the court system, maybe you are being somewhat harsh in your assessment of Gov Bush here. I really thought it possible a court would have found reason to declare this marriage null and void, but without any such law allowing a court to make that finding, I see now why it did not happen.

[summer]

Turning over custody might be an option, but only with my husband's consent.

OK; you have made clear in writing your wishes; however, Terri S never did.

[annalex]

No. Divorce without false is not a possibility. Divorce because of sickness? You're kidding? It's in the marital vows, for Christ's sake.

[summer]

since Michael S fathered children with another woman, I'd call that adultery, wouldn't you?

Yes, in technical legal terms, I would. And, I thought the court would. Also, the media was very silent on this point about Michael S' "other" life.

[ARCADIA]

I really thought it possible a court would have found reason to declare this marriage null and void

Since when does a criminal investigation pend on the resolution of a civil dispute?

[summer]

Divorce because of sickness? You're kidding? It's in the marital vows, for Christ's sake.

Not because of "sickness" -- because of end of life issues. Not every "sickness" qualifies as an end of life issue. If you get a cold, no, your parents should not be able to file for divorce for you. But, if you are incapacitated, and the outcome may be death, and your parents and spouse disagree, well, then I think - yes, the parents should be allowed to file for divorce in order to become the legal guardian, if no written directive exists from that spouse.

[summer]

Re your post #37 - I was referring to the civil court lawsuits iinvolved in this matter.

[summer]

Re your post #37 - I was referring to the civil court lawsuits involved in this matter.