Saturday
3/23/24
8:45am
I’m a wheelchair pusher today, so I took Ms. Grumpy Crabass to the Library. I was able to get a book, so there was an upside to walking in the rain. I have to return it on April 6th. Another one of Ethan’s death anniversaries in prison.
10am
I called the boys. We didn’t have much to say to each other. I wonder if I’m losing them like I lost Lilly.
That didn’t take long.
Ten must be the magical age where they begin to hate.
12:15pm
We got searched. No problems, thank the Lord. Now they’re taking somebody’s stinger, which is a contraption people cook with.
Did I mention that I feel like shit today and I’m having a lupus flare? I just want to sleep all day. This book, about people serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentences, is very depressing. Although I feel like I should bear witness to their suffering, instead of giving up on the book like a coward.
I cannot get comfortable.
I’m sad, depressed, and I feel like shit. And it’s raining to boot. Why is it always raining?
***********************************************************************
INTERVIEW
“Daisy”
Age: 41 years
Female
White
7 children from 7-22 years old
From Somerset County
History of trauma and abuse?
Yes, watched a lady get stabbed 17 times when daisy was 14
Father drowned when she was 8
Had had five abusive relationships–last one—> Met ex in 2019, extremely abusive, stalked Daisy to get to know her, then tried to kill her several times during the course of the relationship. They met after Daisy’s first incarceration–started incarceration cycle
History of addiction?
Yes, started using at 14–weed, cocaine, then coke/crack until 27, alcoholoc from 27-35, then from 35-present-meth
Had periods of sobriety, went to rehab twice to stay out of jail
Never has gone to rehab voluntarily
History of mental illness?
Yes–attempted suicide at 15, diagnosed with Battered Woman Syndrome, ADD, PTSD, depression with mania, night terrors
How much time have you spent incarcerated?
Off and on since 2019
How were you treated by the court?
“They just assumed I was an alcoholic…I was fleeing my husband because he had tried to kill me…I had the kids in the car. The cops didn’t care that my husband was abusive, they just wanted to know where he was. They said if I was going to leave him, I already would have. Now he’s taking his case to trial and they’re bringing up the abuse. He raped our daughter. There was a no-contact order and they put us in the same jail.”
Charges?
2015–DUI third tier, Child Endangerment
2024–Simple possession, Possession with Intent to Distribute, Hindering Apprehension
Paid private attorney or public defender?
Public Defender
Plans for the future?
“I don’t want to get high. There’s no support for women in my county. I want to work in a field that creates healthy support systems for women. I’ve missed a lot of time with my kids. I want to go home and be a better mother to my kids. I have to get out of Pennsylvania. I’m going to have a grandchild while I’m in prison. I’ve missed two graduations.”
What do you do for fun?
“I paint furniture and pictures. I make wreaths and garden. I like to grow things.”
Leave a comment