Interview with Chris, Who Supports a Death Row Inmate

My name is Chris Schmitz and I am 30 years old. I'm a teacher at a vocational college in Germany, where I teach English and German to students aged 16 to 25.

My main interest is to teach my students not only the relatively dry subject matter of the curriculum, but also tolerance and empathy, so that they will be able to take responsibility for their own actions as well as develop an awareness for the problems and concerns of others.

I understand you're a friend and supporter to Michael Perry, who is on death row. How and when did you meet him?

Yes, I am a friend and supporter of Michael Perry's. I saw his pen pal request on a German anti-death penalty website in September 2005 and decided to write him, as I felt deeply moved by his words. I was shocked to read that a young man of 19 was sentenced to death for a crime he didn't even commit. I couldn't possibly imagine what it must feel like to Michael to know he was wrongfully convicted and most likely to pay for this with his life. So I basically got in touch with him in order to brighten up his days a little in that dark place the TDCJ keeps him locked up in. What started out as an ordinary pen pal relationship turned into a true and deep friendship over the months of our correspondence.

Please tell us a little about Michael.

Michael recently turned 25, this means he has spent the past 6 years of his life locked up in jail. Before he ended up on death row, his life was -- as he himself puts it -- "one hell of a rollercoaster", meaning that his life was not exactly that of an average teenager.

Due to numerous wrong diagnoses his Bipolar Disorder was not correctly identified which resulted in him being given the wrong medication and being treated as a "lab rat", as he puts it. This led to complications at school and with his parents who were at some point at their wit's end and decided that it would be best for their son to participate in rehabilitation programs at several private detention camps. Michael spent a total of 5 years, from age 13 to age 18, in those camps. His parents, who I had the pleasure to meet in person in April, assured me that Michael has never once in his entire life been violent or physically aggressive, neither against them nor against anyone else. They admire his extraordinary talent for drawing and writing poetry.

Before his imprisonment Michael was an enthusiastic swimmer and soccer player. Due to the fact that he spent practically his entire teenage life in detention camps, he has not acquired any job training, but earned his living as a casual laborer. Those who know him describe him as a very social and friendly, fun-loving and out-going person. He loves music, especially Hip Hop and R&B and writes poems as well as songs.

How do you support him?

I mainly try to keep up his spirits by writing him. Also I occasionally help out the webmaster of his official website www.savemichaelperry.info. I recently tried to gain the attention of some major German magazines and newspapers, but so far my efforts unfortunately haven't amounted to much. Apparently, many editors hesitate to run the risk of providing their readers with critical views on topics such as the death penalty for fear they could appear to be promoting Anti-American propaganda. That, of course, is a risk major German print media don't want to run.

In October 2006 I published an online petition for Michael, which by now has been signed by over 1,100 people. Apart from that I have been maintaining his MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/mp999444) for almost a year now and try to spread the word about him whenever and wherever I can.

I am extremely happy, as well as proud that Michael has met a few true friends through MySpace, the most important of them being Emily Powers. Emily is a law school student from Georgia, who started exchanging letters with Michael when she first saw his profile on MySpace ten months ago. She by now has become a member of his defense team as well as a very close friend to Michael. She kindly answered those interview questions dealing with legal concerns.

Do you get to visit him often, and if so what is the visiting room like?

Since I live in Germany, which is over 5,000 miles away from Texas, I as a matter of fact don't get to visit him often. In April I went to visit him for the first time. We had three visits together, which were really good and important to both of us. I wish I could see him more often, but unfortunately, that is impossible due to the high costs (plane tickets, motel, rental car etc.).

The visiting room at the Polunsky Unit is held in pastel colors, mainly greens and yellows. Obviously, whoever decorated it tried to give the room some sort of friendly atmosphere. This however, had not much of an effect with me. I found the atmosphere rather cold and depressing. There were about 40 or maybe 50 visitors booths, all equipped with two phones from the outside and one phone for the inmate on the inside. All visits on Texas death row are strictly no contact, which means I got to talk to Michael over the phone while we were separated by one inch of solid glass. He was led into the booth wearing handcuffs and had to bend his hands back through a slot for the C.O. to uncuff him. I could tell that the whole procedure was extremely embarrassing to him. I too felt immensely uncomfortable watching it.

Is Michael's family in his life?

Yes, Michael's family is in his life. His mother and father love him dearly and care deeply about him. They go to visit him on a regular basis.

Could you tell us about his case?

Michael was convicted of the 2001 murder of Sandra Stotler. Although there was no physical evidence that could have linked him to the crime scene, he was sentenced to death solely on the basis of a false confession, which was extorted from him by police while he was intoxicated, suffering from a head injury, and denied his requests for an attorney.

During trial, the State's own witnesses alibi Michael at the time the State claims the murder occurred, and the Medical Examiner placed the victim's time of death on a date when Michael was in jail on a separate charge, rendering it impossible for him to be the perpetrator. Michael's ineffective trial attorneys failed to bring these inconsistencies to the jury's attention.

The State's star witness against Michael, Kristin Willis, was given complete criminal immunity in exchange for her testimony. Kristin Willis's step-father is a veteran police officer in the county where this crime occurred. A shirt belonging to Kristin Willis was covered in blood back spatter (the technical name for the pattern of blood projected from the victim back toward the shooter); however this information did not come to light during Michael's trial. Conveniently, the State now claims this potentially exculpatory evidence has been lost or destroyed. Kristin Willis's bias is further demonstrated by her engagement to Michael's co-defendant, Jason Burkett. Kristin admitted on the stand during Michael's trial that she was afraid of Burkett and that she had repeatedly lied to police regarding her knowledge of the murder.

Is he innocent? Does he have proof?

Yes. Michael steadfastly maintains his innocence, and always has. He has evidence to support his claims, and his arguments are currently being evaluated in federal court. A case summary outlining some of the facts of his case can be found on his website. Additional evidence more recently discovered cannot be disclosed due to the ongoing nature of his appeals.

What is the average time an inmate spends on death row before he is executed?

In Texas the average time of an inmate on death row prior to his execution is approximately 10 years. My source for this info is the TDCJ website, for those who care to have a look.

At what point in appeals is Michael's case?

Michael filed his federal habeas corpus petition on March 29th. The process is slow, and we will not know the court's decision for many months. As far as immediate goals, we hope to be granted an evidentiary hearing in the near future. The ultimate goal is of course a new trial. We are very optimistic.

Does he presently have a lawyer, and do you feel the lawyer is doing all that he can?

Michael is currently represented by Vinson & Elkins in Austin Texas. He has a team of very competent attorneys; however, given the stakes-life and death-one cannot help but understand how nothing is ever "good enough." There is always something more that could be done; another angle to explore, a witness to interview, an expert to consult. Michael is very grateful to have V&E, but he is the first to admit he is a very difficult client to satisfy. Only one thing will satisfy Michael-freedom.

Do you have any links to websites, or other sites with information about Michael?

For more specific background information, please go to www.savemichaelperry.info

On this site you will find a case summary, as well as lots of other useful information and links.

What is it like for him in prison?

If he were guilty of the crime he has been sentenced to die for, he would perhaps feel that he got what he deserved.

But since he has been wrongfully convicted, dealing with being kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours each day is extremely difficult for Michael.

Just try to imagine yourself in his position! How would you feel if you had been deprived of your freedom, even worse, stripped off your basic rights as a human being?

Over the past months, I have repeatedly tried to imagine what it must feel like to Michael to spent so many years locked into a 6 x 9 cage, all alone with no physical contact at visits, not even to my his own family. I have come to the conclusion that - being an extremely communicative and social person -- I would have fallen into deep stupor and frustration after less than a year.

I therefore truly admire Michael's strength in facing his bleak and depressing situation anew every day. In my opinion he does an incredibly great job to keep the faith and not let his darkened surroundings take the better off him.

Does Michael have any medical or mental problems?

Michael struggles with Bipolar Disorder. His moods change rapidly, and it is hard for him to deal with under the circumstances he is forced to live in. Despite the wholly inadequate treatment provided by TDCJ, Michael still manages to keep his Bipolar under control.

What are your feelings and opinions about Capital Punishment?

I take it you are referring to my feelings and opinions on the death penalty in particular?

Of course I am of the opinion that a person who committed a capital crime such as murder should be punished, but only if that person's guilt is proven beyond any doubt. Every human being has a right to live. Now, if someone violates this right by murdering someone, he or she should of course be punished. Yet I think that executing the culprit is morally wrong, because by killing the killer those who kill him become guilty of the very same crime they are punishing him for.

In my opinion, the ancient Mosaic law of "an eye for an eye" is outdated and should be abolished. Executing a murderer does not bring back to life his victim, nor can it possibly be a consolation or compensation for the victim's family and loved ones. Those who have suffered the loss of a loved one won't suffer any less just because the person who took their loved one's life is killed. As far as I see it, there is nothing that can possibly ease their pain ever.

Every year dozens of people are sentenced to death in various states all across the US. Many of these men and women are innocent of the crimes they were convicted of, but they will be executed anyway because they failed to prove their innocence due to lack of competent legal assistance and because the state authorities want to be see to be doing something against ever increasing crime rates.

In 2007 the State of Texas alone has executed 18 people with another 13 scheduled to die within the next months. To me it is absolutely incomprehensible how a "civilized nation" can kill people by injecting them a cocktail of drugs I wouldn't even want my dog to be euthanized with if he were incurably sick.

I am aware that the death penalty is supposed to be a deterrent measure to prevent people from murdering. However, statistics prove that the murder rate in those states that have the death penalty is by no means lower than in those states that don't - in fact the opposite is true. In my opinion murders cannot be prevented by the prospect of capital punishment. Those who plan on murdering will do so, no matter what the punishment.

I truly believe that no one is born evil. Our personalities are to a great extend coined by our social environment. Those of us who were lucky enough to be born into wealthy, caring and stable families stand much better chances to become "good and righteous members of society" than those who were not as lucky. This is not to say that a poor and troubled social background and growing up in a bad neighborhood automatically serves as an excuse for an individual to become a murderer, but it might definitely be a possible motivation.

Maybe the US government should consider coming up with concepts to improve life for its people - ALL its people -- rather than granting its federal states liberal application of capital punishment such as the death penalty and life without parole even for minors...

At this point if there is anything else you would like to add please do so.

Yes, there is something I would like to add.

I am really happy I met Michael and I am truly blessed to have him in my life. He has shown me that even if things seems hopeless, I am not to give up hope and always keep the faith. Michael's will to live is strong and he will not allow his spirit to be broken. He is innocent of the crime he has been convicted of and this knowledge provides him with the necessary strength to keep up the daily fight for his life.

On behalf of Michael I would like encourage everyone who reads this interview and is willing to support him to get in touch with him. You can do so by sending him a letter to the following address:

Michael Perry #999444

12 CD- 50 Polunsky Unit

3872 fm 350 South

Livingston, TX 77351

Please make sure you don't forget his inmate identification number or else he won't receive your letter.

Also, I would like to add that Michael has a defense fund to help him raise money to pay for his legal assistance for the new trial he'll hopefully be granted soon. If you would like to make a donation to Michael's fund you can do so via PayPal to emilyepowers@bellsouth.net

Thank you very much for reading this interview!