Twenty-five years ago, when I was just 19 years old, I had a pen-pal relationship with a death-row inmate. I will post more details of who, the why’s and what’s of his crime, and more, later on. For now, I am simply posting copies of his letters below.
There are 30 letters total, written to me between February and July of 1984. I ceased communication with him in July, 1984.
The letters are complete with one exception: I have edited out the names of any third-parties he mentions (such as names of family members). On rare occasion, I have added footnotes for clarification purposes. I have not corrected any spelling or grammar errors that were in the original letters.
The inmate was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in Florida in 1980. We wrote during 1984. The inmate was never executed, he died on Death Row of cancer in 1999.
It will take me a while to get all the letters online, as I convert the letters I will link them below. Only active links are loaded at the moment.
Letter, February 10, 1984
Letter, February 15, 1984
Letter, February 29, 1984
Letter, March 12, 1984
Letter, March 16, 1984
Letter, March 28, 1984
1st Letter, April 8, 1984
2nd Letter, April 8, 1984
Letter, April 13, 1984
Letter, April 18, 1984
Letter, April 20, 1984
Letter, April 24, 1984
Letter, April 25, 1984
Letter, May 4, 1984
1st Letter, May 15, 1984
2nd Letter, May 15, 1984
Letter, May 16, 1984
Letter, May 22, 1984
Letter, May 28, 1984
Letter, May 30, 1984
Letter, May 31, 1984
Letter, June 4, 1984
Letter, June 13, 1984
Letter, June 16, 1984
Letter, June 17, 1984
1st Letter, June 25, 1984
2nd Letter, June 25, 1984
Letter, July 9, 1984
Letter from Corrections Department, June 25, 1985
Newspaper Clippings:
Ocala Star Banner, June 15, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, June 18, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, July 15, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, July 17, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 7, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 11, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 14, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 21, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 22, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 22, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, September 2, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, September 11, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, August 19, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, September 23, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, November 18, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, November 24, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, November 25, 1980
Ocala Star-Banner, January 23, 1981
Ocala Star-Banner, January 26, 1981
Ocala Star-Banner, July 28, 1981
Ocala Star-Banner, September 15, 1981
Ocala Star-Banner, July 6, 1984
Ocala Star-Banner, December 17, 1985
Ocala Star-Banner, February 13, 1987
The Ledger, February 13, 1987
Gainesville Sun, February 13, 1987
Ocala Star-Banner, March 8, 1987
Ocala Star-Banner, August 8, 1987
Ocala Star-Banner, April 22, 1988
Ocala Star-Banner, June 7, 1988
Ocala Star-Banner, August 10, 1988
Ocala Star-Banner, August 16, 1988
Ocala Star-Banner, August 22, 1988
Ocala Star-Banner, March 19, 1989
Ocala Star-Banner, June 7, 1998
Ocala Star-Banner, June 29, 1998
Ocala Star-Banner, July 29, 1998
Ocala Star-Banner, February 19, 1999
The Ledger, November 23, 1999
