Death Row Inmates Want Friends

While reading about the US Presidential race, I read about a guy called Wayne Dumond, whose release from prison after a serious set of crimes, was assisted by a Republican governor, and who went on to rape and murder again, thus blighting said Republican candidates campaign ….. As I researched into this case I came across a Canadian site “CCADP” (Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty), which features requests for “Pen Pals” by Californian residents of death row.

Many On Death Row Will Never Make The Long Walk ...

What I found interesting was that the content of the requests was entirely unedited, and therefore indicated what the inmates thought about a number of subjects. The crime denial or contradictions in character were staggering, and I have selected (purely at random), a few examples from which I have edited only the email addresses.

 

What was especially interesting is that the way the death row inmates portrayed themselves, you would think that they were all innocents, and poets .. they all produce doggerel, and think it shows them as caring lovable human beings ….. Just five minutes research, shows you the crimes of some of the most disgusting men to have ever walked this earth. They should all be dead, but in fact most of them will never get killed.

Here are the examples I had chosen with the original CCDP page link (retrieved):

Cleophus Prince Jr – I should explain that he is an African American who was convicted of the murder of 6 women (all white), in the San Diego area.

• "Stop!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "Stop!" Now that I have your attention, you might as well continue reading and be pleasantly surprised ! My name is Cleophus Prince "Jr" and I'm an intelligent open minded, compassionate, and caring soul who is looking for someone to brighten a fella's day with a letter or whatever. Being that life here is as exciting as watching paint dry, I'm really hoping that by the time you finish reading this your interest has been piqued enough to want to respond. If you do I'm sure you'll have the time of your life ! (wanna bet?) Let me tell you a little about myself, I'm 32 years old, 5'10, 185 lbs. I enjoy working out, reading, poetry, music, watching TV, and meeting new people. What am I looking for? Someone I can share my thoughts, feelings, and experience with, in other words a friend. If this is something you're willing to give a try contact me.

 

There is a full account of his crimes on this link, but in brief, from1990 to his capture in 1991, he committed six killings, as well as numerous burglaries and a rape. Unusually for serial killers, Cleophus killed women of another race (serial killers usually prefer to operate in environments that they understand). He was linked to several of the deaths by DNA evidence, and amounts of jewellery found in his possession that belonged to his victims. He also gave his girlfriend a rare opal ring for Christmas that had belonged to his second victim. The attacks were marked for the frenzied violence involved, and some of the victims were stabbed up to fifty times.

Charles Ng – I should explain that he was convicted of multiple homicides with his friend, including two babies. He is a fantasist and lifetime criminal, starting his first crimes at about 16 despite a wealthy family background.

• My name is Charles Chi-tat Ng. I am an Asian male of average build. I was born December 24th 1960 and raised in Hong Kong in a traditional Chinese family, but have spent the majority of my adult life in North America. I graduated from high school in England. I have never been married and have no children. I have travelled to many countries and have been exposed to many cultures. My remaining immediate family members reside outside the United States and I am currently the only Chinese prisoner on California's Death Row at San Quentin Prison. My case, from inception to verdict, has been both a travesty and outrage of mistreatments and miscarriage of justice. Because of these and other reasons, I constantly feel misplaced, sad and lonely - like a dolphin caught inside a tuna net. I am writing because I am interested in seeking sincere friendship through correspondence and visiting with someone I can build an enduring and meaningful companionship with - someone with whom I can share good times, bad times, life, thoughts, feelings, experiences and passions from this dark hole of humanity. Out in the free world I enjoyed such things as reading, learning new subjects, wilderness exploring, martial arts, movies, travelling, cooking, and outdoor adventures such as mountain hiking / climbing, scuba diving and serving as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. Throughout my life I have refrained from unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking and recreational drug uses. During my incarceration I enjoy such things as origami, spirituality, self-study, exercises, writing, reading and drawing. I am a self-taught artist who loves animals and strive to express artistically with an improvisational approach in whatever medium available to me. I always feel a special kinship in my struggle for survival as those faced by the endangered animals I depict in my artwork. To me, art is a universal emotional expression of all cultures, and wildlife art a spiritual reference for all things wild and free; and a way for me to immortalize my love and intimacy to those who are dear and special to me. Personality wise, I am quiet, shy, open-minded, down to Earth, loyal, thoughtful, dependent and sentimental, but can be wayward, overly trusting and pessimistic at times. Life is fleeting and my fate is at best uncertain. Therefore I desire to hear from new friends and reconnect with people who had touched my life and heart in the past, but with whom I have lost touch due to circumstances beyond my control. I would be most grateful to be able to share the precious time I have left in this world with honest, open-minded and good-hearted people who understand and empathize with injustices, sufferings, my struggle, my visions and yearnings, and who may be able and willing to lend helping hands along the way. I am in constant contact with David Gee who lives in England and has done a lot of research on my case and may be able to answer any questions. In order to try and raise money for my day to day items and additional art materials I would be prepared to sell a small number of prints of any of my featured drawings. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you.

 

There is a full account of his crimes on numerous web sites and here is another one. In brief he was in trouble in Hong Kong, sent to the UK but he was expelled from school and returned to Hong Kong. Sent to the US, he dropped out and lied in order to join the US marines, where he ended up in Leavenworth prison for stealing automatic weapons – he escaped, and met up with Leonard Lake his confederate for future crimes. After recapture by the FBI he served 3 years in military prison but upon release was not deported, and teamed up with Lake.

The murders and tortures committed by the two totalled at least eleven men, three women and two babies. Authorities believe the number of victims murdered by the two to be much higher, with many of the dead still unidentified. Police estimated that around 21 ‘missing’ women were shown as victims being sexually assaulted, raped and sodomised on video tapes, their ages ranging from twelve to their early twenties.

Six women in the tapes were thankfully found alive, but many more remain missing today, their bodies most likely to have been incinerated. It gives you an idea of the horrors this pair were responsible for, when you hear that they were captured for shoplifting after Ng and Lake stopped at a lumber yard to get a replacement for a bench vice that they “broke”, while using it to torture their victims.

William (Bill) Proctor – Convicted murderer and rapist

• I am 36 years old, 5'10, 180 lbs, have brown hair, green eyes. I am currently residing on California's death row and have been, since 1983 at the age of 21 years old. I love being a Christian, I also enjoy artistic and intellectual pursuits, I have plenty of conversation and opinions I'd like to share about life, love, moral value, truth, happiness, peace and freedom, etc. etc.

 

There is a State appeal court document which gives the following on Mr Proctor.

Proctor murdered Bonnie Stendal, a 55-year old school teacher who lived in Burney, a small community in Shasta County, California. On a night in April 1982, Proctor entered Mrs. Stendal's home and beat her, causing numerous cuts and bruises on her face. Proctor stabbed Mrs. Stendal in the neck several times and inflicted seven stab wounds in the area of the right breast. Proctor raped Mrs. Stendal and committed further sexual assaults with a foreign object.

After beating, torturing, and raping Mrs. Stendal, Proctor strangled her to death and dumped her body on the side of the road near Lake Britton, 12 miles from Burney. The body was found late the next afternoon, clad only in a nightgown, with the hands tied behind the back.

David Allen Raley – Convicted of rape, murder and attempted murder in 1985.

• Hello! I hope that this letter will find you doing real good, and also in real good health and spirits too. As for me, I am doing the best I can under the circumstances, being on Death Row...In hopes that you might be able to help me, and I truly ! hope so too...What I would like to be able to do...is to get some pen pals. The reason my attorney told me about you all, is cause I have been having thoughts in dropping my appeals. Cause of the same routine every day, the loneliness is getting to me etc. and sure you can understand that. And my attorney figured getting some pen pals would help. With the loneliness, and help me hang on longer, and not drop my appeals. So again anything, and any help you all can give me, will be very appreciated. Take care, and God bless and watch over you all always...Smile! Again, take care, and hope to hear from you all real soon too.

 

The local newspaper gives a report on Mr Raley, and there was a moving interview with the survivor that has since gone, and I can't find on the wayback machine site. The 46-year-old Raley was sentenced to die for the 1985 kidnap and murder of a Peninsula high school student and the attempted murder of her friend at a deserted Hillsborough mansion. Raley, a security guard turned a tour of the mansion into a day of terror for the two girls, Laurie McKenna and Janine Grinsell, who died from repeated stab wounds.

Robert Rhoades - who is convicted in 1998 of kidnapping, molesting and killing an 8-year-old Yuba City boy in 1996. The 3rd-grader's body, clad only in a green sweat shirt, and a bloodstained Batman T-shirt, was found in dense brush along the banks of the Feather River the day after his disappearance. Oh and he was also convicted of the rape and murder of Julie Connell in 1984.

• Hello. My name is Robert Rhoades. I am a 47 yr. old caucasian male currently on California's death row for one year now. I was born and raised in a small farming community in northern California. So, I am a country boy thru and thru. I enjoy fishing, camping, country music, the mountains and good movies that make me cry. I was raised in a good Christian home and like many others in these trying times I fell by the wayside. I am slowly making my way back. So if you are a good hearted country girl, or just a good person looking for a good and true pen-friend, please write me right away, I will answer immediately and look forward to meeting many new friends. PS I will send photos upon request. Sincerely yours,

 

It appears that cries for mercy don’t make him cry, just movies. Robert Rhoades raped and murdered Julie Connell in 1984. She was 18. Rhoades is already on California's death row for raping and killing 8-year-old Michael Lyons in 1996. "It's a happy day for us," Connell's mother, Kathy Connell, said outside court. Henry Lee reports here for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Convicted Double Murderer William Clark, circa 1997.

William Clark – Convicted of a robbery where a woman Kathy Lee was murdered. He claims total innocence on the Canadian (and other web sites)

• The first thing you can do is pray because I'll need it! You would be shocked at how many innocent people have been executed throughout American history. Secondly, you can help by becoming an "ACTIVIST" to help lobby for my unconditional release. Third, you can help by sending donations to help me pay for a competent, caring, experienced appellate attorney. For information on the case see my webpage at http://ccadp.org/williamclark.htm Finally, you can help by being a friend, by writing me to help add a sense of enjoyment and normalcy to an otherwise demeaning, dehumanizing, frustrating situation. All letters will be answered immediately and I encourage attorneys and activists to write!

 

He has supporters on their websites, who believe he is the victim of a giant conspiracy by the police, court officials, and judiciary. Oddly it wasn’t apparently obvious to the two or three juries who have seen the evidence. He claims it was two black men not a single black man (or that he doesn’t fit descriptions etc).

Superficially it looks like he may have a case (if what he says is true), but in fact what he never mentions is that is that he was convicted of planning the robbery (hence his elaborate alibi’s), so the fact that he wasn’t seen at the crime isn’t necessarily significant.

According to court records Clark became the 1st person to be condemned in Orange County for 2 murders at which he was not present. William Clinton Clark was sentenced to die for masterminding a botched robbery that resulted in one death, then ordering the execution of a witness in the case.

Judge John J. Ryan said that even though Clark did not commit either murder, he was responsible for both. "I think the evidence in this case, while largely circumstantial, was absolutely overwhelming" Ryan said.

Before imposing the death sentence, Ryan allowed the defendant to speak for more than an hour then took the unusual step of responding directly to his remarks. Clark, 44, of Los Angeles, insisted that he had "never hurt anybody" and lashed out at the prosecutor, police and witnesses in the case, all of whom he said lied to obtain a conviction ….. more on the link.

Finally; because nearly every one of these "sob sisters" is actually a vile animal, who has done the most dreadful things when you look up the cases … there may be the odd injustice, but frankly most of them should have hung years before for the many crimes they committed up until the time they were finally judged to have crossed a very high bar.

This next entry is an excellent example of the bad artwork, poor prose, and doggerel poetry, that seems to infect all the killers on death row.

Lonely? - I Am In The San Quentin Area.

Billy Ray Riggs who describes himself on his web site as “First nation - Cherokee Indian/Black/German”. He appears to have become something of a cause célèbre to the “treat em nice” brigade. He had a number of web sites that display his writings.

• WHAT I AM SEEKING IS "CORRESPONDENCE & VISITS" FOR THE SAKE OF FRIENDSHIP. Someone who's sincere, compassionate, and able to empathize with my adverse situation, in terms of, moral support etc. Historical literature, poetry, art-work, classical music, are just some of the subjects of my interest, and my willingness to learn more. I am not afraid to share or express my sensitivity and emotions. Will write to any female. If you are not able to assist me in my request for someone to correspond with, maybe you know of someone else, an organization, agency or group, who may be acquescent towards my unfortunate circumstance. Please ! Feel free to forward this information to them on my behalf or send me their address. Sincerely, Pops.

 

He describes himself as a major street drug dealer in his prose ….. but he was just a dirty little crack dealer. He murdered a woman Jamie Michele Bowie in cold blood in 1990. Billy Ray Riggs (of Inglewood) represented himself in one of his trials, in which he was convicted and sentenced in 1994 to die for the slaying of Jamie Bowie. Jamie Bowie, 24, of Van Nuys, disappeared on Easter weekend in 1990 and her body was found a month later in an Indio citrus grove.

He was also wanted for questioning in July 31, 1972 in connection with the murder of his own brother Rickie Don Riggs aged 24. “Detectives said they were seeking Billy Ray Riggs, 26, in connection with slaying of his brother Rickie Don, 24 after an argument at their mother's House”. Billy Ray ain’t too short of company – he gets visits from the forgivers and the naive, who see a middle aged black man, who smiles and writes a bit.

'Of Course I Am A Bit Older Than My CCADP Pen-pal Picture'

There is definitely a form of Stockholm syndrome with some of the mothers of victims.

• The bastards don't get hung, and hang around for years with the endless rounds of appeals.
• The mothers don't get closure or vengeance, and eventually the stress seems to cause them to get religion ... they start writing to the murderers looking for answers (Why my daughter / son? Why are you like this? etc), and after a while they seem to 'identify' with the killer. Sometimes they describe them as "Friends".

I heard a Jewish woman on radio who forgave the Palestinian family of the man who killed her son and became a family friend, which is very similar to these Christian women prison visitors, such as those from the Catherine Blount Foundation. The problem is that these groups can apparently find any excuse (mental illness is a common one, or abuse suffered as a child), for nearly every person on death row ..... but they forget that all men have free will, they don't have to rape or kill. There is no excuse for murder except 'accidents (aka Manslaughter),' and even that is over used.

There were a lot of men listed as being on death row on the Canadian site, and virtually every one of them has described themselves as being guilty of a 'miscarriage of justice', or 'innocent', or 'totally reformed' or just plain 'misunderstood and lovable', and yet most of them were found guilty by a jury, and have been through numerous appeals and still found guilty.

The evidence is usually compelling, and juries of normal people passed the death sentences. The crimes in most cases are so vile that I have not reported the full details, and yet somehow there are mass campaigns to save their lives, and even in some cases pardon them or give them a parole.

I believe in “Whole of Life Sentences”, only because there are always the odd cases where someone is wholly innocent of murder ….. but I could happily live with hanging in most of the cases above.

As I mentioned, the cases listed above were a completely random sample, and not one of them looks remotely like a miscarriage of justice, and I suspect that every one of the others is the same when you look at it.

• Billy Ray Riggs (the 'popular' killer), is guilty of at least one, and possibly more murders, and the other men listed are equally as bad, and most are considerably worse.
• William Clark, is deluded, because in his mind the plan shouldn’t have failed, and he just can’t get over the fact that the police and courts beat his “criminal mastermind” plan to order killings.

Funny how they all want mercy and compassion from us, after committing horrendous crimes against others, but they all offered none to any of their victims, or anyone else in their whole lives.

Update: Add these two monsters to the list.

Update 2023: Because the http://www.ccadp.org links to the original letters were now dead, as were many others, I have replaced them with still viable information links and reflected on lost links in the text copy. That's the trouble with the the Internet, sites go down and pages are lost but the wayback machine page has a captured the original CCADP page.

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There is of course a counter argument against death sentences, and in favour of whole of life sentences. Because of wrongful convictions and this story gives examples .... however the whole of life campaigners often then campaign to give lower sentences despite that promise. There are some crimes for which death is the only justice ... these are all in that category.

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