Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SCHIAVO INVESTIGATION FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF CRIME (BY HER PARENTS)
Clearwater Police Department ^ | 05-14-04 | Clearwater Police Department

Posted on 05/14/2004 2:36:09 PM PDT by phenn

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release May 14, 2004

INVESTIGATION FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF CRIME

Clearwater Police Criminal Investigations Detectives concluded today an expansive and detailed investigation into suspicions that physical harm done with criminal intent had been visited upon a 40-year-old woman under the care of Hospice in Clearwater.

The investigation found no evidence of harm, injury or violation as the result of a criminal act, said Police Chief Sid Klein.

The Hospice patient, Mrs. Theresa M. Schiavo, was the subject of investigative, forensic and medical scrutiny after concern was expressed for her well-being on March 29, 2004.

At about 3:30 that Monday afternoon - as Mrs. Schiavo's feeding regimen commenced - a Hospice employee noticed some marks on Mrs. Schiavo's arms, and shared her observations with a Hospice supervisor at the Park Place assisted living facility, 2750 Drew Street. Concerns were heightened by the position of a plastic hospital bracelet on Mrs. Schiavo's forearm; the positioning of a plastic feeding tube wrapped around the chair in which she was sitting; and the discovery of a small, purple medical apparatus, initially described as a "needle cap."

(The lavender object, manufactured by a New York medical supply company called Qosina, is not a hypodermic needle cap, but rather a hollow, open-ended polypropylene "catheter syringe tip adapter" - called a Luer, part # 41501 - and is used as a plastic tubing connector in medical feeding and irrigation setups; it has no application for injection).

The Hospice supervisor notified Mrs. Schiavo's husband, Michael, who called his attorney and his wife's physician, Dr. Stanton Tripodis. The physician examined Mrs. Schiavo at Park Place, and authorized her transfer to Mease Hospital in Dunedin for an examination. Various procedures, including toxicology tests for the presence of unauthorized drugs, proved negative, and Mrs. Schiavo was returned to Hospice care.

Clearwater Police Detectives conducted numerous interviews with family members, physicians, Hospice employees and others. The Mease Hospital attending physician found nothing untoward about the marks on Mrs. Schiavo's arm, nor did her personal physician. Neither physician quantified the marks on her upper arm as evidence of an injection; the origin of these specific marks is undetermined.

Although Detectives cannot say conclusively what caused the other marks, it's believed they could have been the result of a apparatus called a "Hoyer Lift," used to move a patient from a reclining position on a bed to a sitting position in a chair.

The plastic hospital bracelet, a rigid band of plastic, may have worked itself up her forearm toward her elbow since Mrs. Schiavo's arms are often contracted upward.

The feeding tube and its position was examined by Hospice employees when concerns were initially expressed, and subsequently by investigators: there was no indication of leakage; detectives found no indication of intentional manipulation; the monitor warning alarm was never activated, nor was the feeding ever interrupted.

Detectives identified the lavender piece of plastic found in Mrs. Schiavo's clothes as a tubing connector, and had an independent company (National Medical Services of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) conduct chemical and gas examinations of swabs taken from the Luer adapter. The test results were negative for foreign substances.

The Clearwater Police Department found no evidence of criminal activity, no indication of attempted criminal activity, and no harm done to Mrs. Schiavo. The investigation has concluded.

All inquiries regarding this investigation should be directed to Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at (727) 562-4333.

/s/ SID KLEIN Chief of Police

(Excerpt) Read more at clearwaterpolice.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: terrischiavo; terrisfight
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last
This woman has been isolated for 46 days as of this writing and for...... what?
1 posted on 05/14/2004 2:36:17 PM PDT by phenn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: FL_engineer; cyn; FR_addict; windchime; Budge; Deo volente; nicmarlo; Ohioan from Florida; ...

~~~IMPORTANT PING~~~


2 posted on 05/14/2004 2:36:47 PM PDT by phenn (http://www.terrisfight.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: phenn

BUMP


4 posted on 05/14/2004 2:47:15 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

And the parents have been denied the right to see their daugher while the man who lives with another woman and has two kids by this other woman still has control. This just makes no sense, no sense at all.


5 posted on 05/14/2004 2:52:06 PM PDT by tessalu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: tessalu

And the man who wants his wife to die, is trying to accuse her parents of trying to help him out?

Just how much more rediculous can this get?


6 posted on 05/14/2004 2:53:46 PM PDT by tessalu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: floriduh voter; phenn; cyn; FreepinforTerri; kimmie7; Pegita; windchime; tutstar; Deo volente; ...

Pinging to update about the crime investigation!

Phenn, will they (Michael, Felos, the nursing home/hospice facility) now be charged with filing a false police report?

Will Terri's family finally be readmitted to seeing Terri again? Or do they still have to pay to see their daughter/sister?


7 posted on 05/14/2004 3:03:53 PM PDT by Ohioan from Florida (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.- Edmund Burke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: phenn

Wonderful! Since these are the days of apologies, I demand Michael apologize to the Schindlers! I further demand that they be allowed to see her unchaperoned and without time limits since he brought a false charge and she has been isolated due to his negligence.


8 posted on 05/14/2004 3:04:44 PM PDT by trustandobey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Everything else aside, I thank God that Terri was not, in fact, harmed--by anyone. That's the best news of all.

And since the CPD investigation has concluded then I would assume (I know, that's dangerous) that the prohibition on visitors will be lifted immediately. And that's also very good news!

And I hope that this issue will still be heard at the May 26 scheduled court hearing and that the outcome of that hearing will be the prevention of this arbitrary and cruel blocking of visitation ever again in the future.


9 posted on 05/14/2004 3:05:26 PM PDT by tbritton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Motherbear
"Why is this "vegetable" being lifted up to sit in a chair? geesh Is this the usual treatment for comotose patients?"

I can't think of one reason a Hoyer lift would be used on her. She's not obese. She probably weighs no more than 120 lb. Two nurses could transfer her just as quickly and safely by hand from bed to gurney or from floor to chair. It might make sense to use a Hoyer to lower her into a tub, but that would only be necessary if a medicated soak of some kind were ordered. Otherwise, she'd get bed baths.

10 posted on 05/14/2004 3:15:23 PM PDT by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: trustandobey

And I demand that he be brought up on filing false charges since the CPD had to expend time, money, and resources investigating these phony allegations!

I definitely am going to contact Wayne Shelor at the CPD again to recommend that charges be filed against Michael, Felos, and the hospice.


11 posted on 05/14/2004 3:18:15 PM PDT by Ohioan from Florida (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.- Edmund Burke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Bonaparte

Perhaps they were soaking her in antibiotic for that decubitus ulcer they found on her back side a while back! That sore is further proof of the neglect Terri has been given at this facility. Terri deserves much better care than she's been given!


12 posted on 05/14/2004 3:22:38 PM PDT by Ohioan from Florida (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.- Edmund Burke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: phenn

LIFE AND DEATH TUG OF WAR
Parents must pay to visit disabled
daughter
Attorney demands visitation rights for Terri
Schiavo's family

Posted: May 14, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Sarah Foster
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

An attorney representing Terri Schindler-Schiavo's
parents filed a petition Monday seeking an
emergency hearing to restore visitation rights to the
family of the 40-year-old, brain-disabled woman,
who has been kept in virtual seclusion for 46 days by
order of her estranged husband, Michael Schiavo.

Robert and Mary Schindler have not seen their
daughter since March 29, when their son-in-law –
who as Terri's legal guardian has absolute control
over her – barred all visitors pending completion of a
police investigation into suspicious marks, said to
resemble "puncture wounds," that were allegedly
found on her arms "immediately after" a 45-minute
visit by the Schindlers.

The implication was that Terri's parents had been
trying to inject something into her, or perhaps
withdraw blood.

SPONSORED LINKS

Get Younger, Firmer Skin
Our clinically proven anti-aging skin care with
copper-peptides and retinol visibly reduces
wrinkles and age spots, firms the jawline and
eye area, and restores your youthful
radiance. Free shipping.
www.oo-la-lah.com

PuppyToz Pet Toys - Online and Direct
to You!
Fabulous pet toys and supplies with free
shipping on all orders over $35.00.
www.puppytoz.com


In fact, the "wounds" were discovered several hours
after the Schindlers visited her. A toxicology exam
conducted at Morton Plant Hospital concluded there
were no unauthorized substances in her system, and
the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
reported that investigators sent to Terri on April 1
could not confirm the presence of needle marks, and
the skin on her arms appeared "intact."

Nonetheless, Schiavo refused to lift his ban on
visitation even at Easter, and the police investigation
has not been completed.

In her petition, Anderson slammed Schiavo's attorney,
George Felos, for sending out a press release "to
several dozen print and electronic media outlets," as
soon as he heard about the marks, "in essence
accusing the parents of criminally assaulting their
beloved daughter."

She also took issue that the media were notified of
Terri's physical condition before her parents had been,
as mandated by a 1996 court order, and that the
Schindlers only learned of the incident when a local
television channel phoned them for a comment.

"This family is enduring a nightmare, all because of a
staged incident," said Anderson. "Terri's mother cannot
even see her own daughter, comfort her, touch her or
interact with her.

"It's amazing to me that anyone would think Terri
Schiavo deserves this form of punishment," Anderson
continued. "For her to be confined and isolated in this
fashion is something I find cruel and completely
contrary to Florida Statutes. Death-row inmates get
better treatment."

No fee, no see

In the past month and a half, Anderson tried
repeatedly to get the Schindlers' visitation rights
restored.

Her decision to file a formal request with the courts
was prompted by a proposal Schiavo made just before
Mothers Day, that he might allow the Schindlers to visit
their daughter, but only if they agree to hire, at
unknown cost, an off-duty police officer to accompany
them each time they visit her. Should they refuse to
pay, they would continue to be denied access to their
daughter.

The offer was made in a letter faxed May 6 to
Anderson by Deborah Bushnell, another of Schiavo's
lawyers.

Posting a guard on Terri is nothing new in itself. In
compliance with Schiavo's wishes, at least one armed,
off-duty police officer has been stationed outside the
door of her room, around the clock, since October, at
$25 an hour. The cost is being borne by the non-profit
Hospice of the Florida Sun Coast in Pinellas Park, where
she's been a patient since 2000.

But the requirement that to visit their daughter the
Schindlers must pay for an additional guard who would
stay in the room with them to watch their every move
is new.

In her letter, Bushnell said she had asked the hospice
if it would be willing to allow its security officers to be
in the room with Terri's parents during their visits, but
had not received a reply.

Bushnell wrote "it does not seem likely that such an
arrangement can be made with them in the near future"
and suggested the Schindlers pay for the additional
security, whatever the cost might be.

Anderson blasted the suggestion Terri's parents be
forced to pay to visit their daughter – especially for
this past Sunday.

"No mother should have
to pay an admission fee
to see her child on
Mother’s Day," she
declared. "By
recommending that the
financially-strapped
Schindlers may only visit
Terri if they pay yet
another off-duty police
person to accompany
them, is an effort to inhibit them from freely seeing
their own daughter."

Anderson likened the suggestion to another Schiavo
made earlier in the case, which at first glance
appeared benevolent.

"A couple of years ago, Michael Schiavo contacted
Terri's parents and offered to give the balance of
Terri's money over to charity," Anderson recalled. "He
and his attorneys used this as a talking point for the
media –claiming that Michael had no financial interest in
Terri's death. What they neglected to mention was
that that particular offer was predicated upon the
Schindler's agreeing to Terri's dehydration and
starvation death.

"This latest tactic from Ms. Bushnell is really no
different. I will not be surprised if Ms. Bushnell uses
this as another talking point with the media in an
attempt to make herself and her client appear less
cruel," she said.

By "financial interest" Anderson was referring to Terri's
once-sizable trust fund a jury awarded her in a
malpractice suit in November 1992 to pay for
rehabilitation.

Where's the money?

As WorldNetDaily reported, Terri collapsed under
unexplained circumstances in February 1990 at the
age of 26. Oxygen to her brain was cut off for several
minutes, leaving her severely brain-disabled,
incapacitated, and dependent upon a feeding tube for
sustenance.

A jury awarded her nearly a million dollars to pay for
custodial care and her rehabilitation, and Schiavo
received $300,000 for "loss of spouse." None of her
money went for the intended rehabilitation, and the
family has been kept in the dark about the costs of
her care. In the past few years her fund has been
drained of its assets to pay the legal costs of Felos,
Bushnell and other lawyers hired by Schiavo to ensure
his wife's death. According to one source, there's only
about $50,000 left.

Schiavo – who for nine years has lived with another
woman with whom he has had two children – insists his
wife told him she would not want to be kept alive "by
artificial means," and four years ago he convinced
Pinellas County Probate Judge George Greer to allow
him to remove her feeding tube so she would die, as is
permitted in Florida.

Terri's parents and siblings don't believe she made the
statements attributed to her and through a series of
legal maneuvers have managed to keep the case and
their daughter alive. Their options appeared to have
run out last year when the 2nd District Court of Appeal
made a final ruling in Schiavo's favor, and the Florida
Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

In October, the disabled woman endured six days
without nourishment and hydration before Florida
lawmakers passed "Terri's Law" allowing Gov. Jeb Bush
to intervene and order her feeding tube reinserted, an
action immediately challenged by Felos and the
American Civil Liberties Union, which jumped in on
Schiavo's side.

Last week, Pinellas County Circuit Court Judge W.
Douglas Baird handed a victory to Schiavo by
summarily ruling the law was unconstitutional. The
decision could clear the way for removal of Terri's
feeding tube and her court-sanctioned death.

Ken Connor, representing Gov. Bush in the action,
immediately notified the court there's an automatic
stay on implementing the ruling and filed an appeal with
the 2nd District Court of Appeal.

But the stay could be set aside by Judge Baird and
the appeal court could rule in Schiavo's favor as it has
in the past.

"The effect of all of this of course is that Michael
Schiavo effectively gets to kill his wife through
starvation and dehydration, if in fact this order [by
Baird] is upheld," said Connor. "And yet that decision is
initiated by a man who has an admitted conflict of
interests."

No emergency

Judge George Greer, who has presided over the case
since 1999 and is responsible for the rulings, all of
which have favored Michael Schiavo, refused to hear
Anderson's motion on an expedited basis, stating he
does not consider it an emergency.

It will be heard May 26, at an already scheduled
hearing dealing with a request by Bushnell for
additional restrictions on visitation.

Information, including court filings, are posted on the
Schindler family website.


13 posted on 05/14/2004 3:31:20 PM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tessalu

It sure does not make sense. Is Michael afraid Terri won't die a horrible death through starvation?


14 posted on 05/14/2004 3:45:12 PM PDT by Dante3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: phenn
It was a crime that damaged Terri's brain in the first place, but they never investigated that. It was a crime that let Michael Schiavo embezzle his wife's award and deny her the treatment and therapy the money was given for. It's a crime that she has been systematically deprived of the simplest amenities and therapies -- sitting up, learning to eat, getting to go outside and sit in the sunshine.
15 posted on 05/14/2004 3:55:53 PM PDT by T'wit ("To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society" - Theodore Roosevelt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

This discussion has occurred here before, but before making that charge as a declarative statement you ought to read up on Florida defamation law.


16 posted on 05/14/2004 3:59:44 PM PDT by lugsoul (Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin on the mountainside.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Ohioan from Florida
"...Perhaps they were soaking her in antibiotic..."

Those AB instillations are done locally in bed. The amount of AB you would have to put in a tub to reach therapeutic concentration would cost a fortune. Also, the rest of the body would be soaked as well, possibly inducing further problems.

17 posted on 05/14/2004 4:03:57 PM PDT by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Ohioan from Florida

Do you have his contact info? Thanks!


18 posted on 05/14/2004 4:04:14 PM PDT by trustandobey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: lugsoul
>> read up on Florida defamation law.

Are you accusing me of defamation?

19 posted on 05/14/2004 4:10:30 PM PDT by T'wit ("To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society" - Theodore Roosevelt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: trustandobey
This is from the article:

All inquiries regarding this investigation should be directed to Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at (727) 562-4333.

This is from the website:

Contact Information

Clearwater Police Department

645 Pierce St.

Clearwater, FL 33756

Clearwater Police Hotline: (727) 562-4080

24 hour recorded voice messaging system for providing tips on current investigations, requesting non-urgent information, commenting on departmental operations, requesting increased traffic enforcement in your neighborhood, or filing a complaint. Messages left on this automated system are checked every business day. The hotline is not intended for emergencies or urgent requests for police service.

Email: contact@clearwaterpolice.org

(Do not use email to report crimes or incidents in progress. This email address is monitored during weekday business hours only)

http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/contact.asp

20 posted on 05/14/2004 4:47:14 PM PDT by Ohioan from Florida (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.- Edmund Burke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson