Death Row Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers from Death Row (continued)
Melvin Troy! - Graterford

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I am glad I discovered this forum, and I'd like to voice my opinion regarding the issue of innocent people who are in jail or on death row. To begin with, I admit I know nothing about Mr.Troy's case, so I cannot say whether or not I believe he is actually guilty of murder. But I can say that people should not get the impression that prisons are filled with innocent people and that every smooth talking inmate who claims innocence actually is innocent. As someone else pointed out, The United States has by far the most fair criminal justice system in the world, which allows defendants endless options, loopholes and opportunities to defend themselves in a court of law. As a result, it is extremely difficult to convict many of the offenders who are truly guilty, and it's extremely, extremely difficult to convict those people who are actually innocent. The fact is folks that the overwhelming majority of defendants are guilty of the crime(s) they're being charged with, and the case rarely makes it to trial if the individual is actually innocent. Granted, it does and will continue to happen because the system is and always will be Imperfect, but our country does have the most fair system on earth, in which defendants enter a case with an extreme advantage over the prosecution and their innocent victims.
You have the right idea about what the United States justice system should be like according to the way that it is written on black and white. But you are sadly, very sadly mistaken in regards to thinking that it is, and I quote you, "extremely, extremely difficult to convict those who are actually innocent. Now I don't know where you got this propaganda from but the reality is far from what you think. The district attorneys office is equipped with unlimited access to investigators and resources that you or I do not have. If you have alot of money then you can afford to hire your own investigators and lawyers and they will do an extreme job of representing you because you are paying for their time and expertise. But most people that come through the door of the justice system are in fact poor. So that is the first strike that they have against them because now you are trying to build a defense on very limited funds while the district attorneys office is building their prosecution with unlimited funds. I really don't mean to be crass but I really wonder where some of you people get your information from. You must be listening to people and information that is pro prosecution because anybody that has actually been a part of the system and is real, knows that the prosecution has the upper hand...hands down...from the door. You say that "defendants enter their case with an extreme advantage over the prosecution....Dude you are so wrong. How can that possibly be? Everything that you get comes from the prosecution, statements, evidence, ballistic reports, everything. If the prosecution gets information that can prove you are innocent and you don't know it, guess what? You don't get it. You really should pay better attention to the legal circuit because you are fooling yourself in what you are saying. If the justice system in this country worked the same for the rich as well as the poor, the popular as well as the unpopular, the minorities as well as the majorities, then it would be a real justice system. If the system worked the way that it is written and was designed to work, which is, "the same for everybody", then it would be the most 'just' system in the world. The reality is that it doesn't due to politics, corruption and what have you. However, our justice system is designed with, "the best mechanism", of any justice system that I have read or heard about, the problem is that it has been compromised due to, greed, politics and corruption. Did you know to date over 75 people have been found innocent that were on death row? How can that happen? Almost each time it turned out that it was due to some sort of corruption from within the system. Evidence being withheld or evidence being manufactured, etc. This system reminds me of a comment Jesus made to his disciples when he spoke about how the tombs of a grave stone are clean and white yet inside of the grave (which is what it represents) it is full of dead mans bones and rotting corpses. That is the way the system has become. On the outside (that which is written in black and white) it sounds good, but on the inside it is really full of corruption and politics.

Melvin, I do not know whether or not you are innocent or guilty. If and only if everything they have said on this page in your defense about police corruption is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then I feel there are valid doubts about your guilt in this case. However, DO NOT go around shooting your stupid mouth about how Death Row is filled with innocent people! That is BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT!!! This is America, and we have the best and most fair justice system in the world, in which the constitution guarantees every defendant all kinds of rights and rights and rights! I have studied law, and the first thing they teach, is that it is VERY, VERY RARE for a person, who had absolutely nothing to do with a crime, to even be brought to trial, let alone being convicted or sent to Death Row. So if you're innocent, I hope like hell you are freed. But if you're guilty, I hope they fry your ass so bad your poor old mama won't recognize it! Peace, Darrell
See above.

HOW'S IT GOING IM A JR.HIGH STUDENT AND MY LANGUAGE ARTS CLASS IS LEARNING HOW TO DO DEBATES. ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS ARE TEACHER GAVE US WAS CAPITOL PUNISHMENT (IF PRISONERS SHOULD BE ON THE DEATH ROLE OR NOT.) I AM ON THE AGAINST SIDE AND I WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION WHEN I CAME ACROSS YOUR STORY IT WAS VERY HEART TOUCHING AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU MY SUPPORT I AM A VERY BIG BELIEVER IN GOD AND HEAVEN AND ALL I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE ADVICE EVEN THOUGH IM ONLY 15 I THINK YOU SHOULD PRAY AND IF THE MISSIONARIES FROM THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS COME TO VISIT TAKE A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM THEY MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF GOING TO LIVE WITH HEAVENLY FATHER ONCE AGAIN. THANKS FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO READ MY ADVICE AND I HOPE YOU WILL ACCEPT IT. GOOD LUCK !!!!
Dear Brandy, Thank you for your words of encouragement. Your advice is very good advice and very well accepted. I hope that you are doing well in school and that you continue to grow mentally, spiritually and intellectually along with the love of Jesus Christ.

At times I feel we have made great strides as a society. But I start to wonder when I see a website where a convicted murderer on death row is actually allowed to put his material on our internet. Mr.Troy, you can continue to jump up and down professing your innocence until you're blue in the face, but it will not change the fact that you have been found GUILTY of MURDER in a court of law! You know it makes me laugh how each and every single one of you will go to such great lengths and lie through your teeth to convince just one person that you are innocent. Sadly enough, there are plenty of people who, when they see an inmate who can write full sentences and articulate in a somewhat intelligent manner, automatically believe him to be as innocent and pure as he says he is. Look Troy, save your sob story for when you're in front of a parole board! You say you're
not trying to make people feel sorry for you but you ramble on and on about how "wronged" you say you've been by the fairest justice system operating in the world. Granted, mistakes happen, and the 70 or however many people found innocent on death rows proves that the system works by giving convicts years to appeal and let the truth be discovered. As far as I'm concerned, you're guilty of murder just like the rest of em until a court tells me you're not. You guys say the public is misled by prosecutors and politicians who lie and manipulate skillfully. Well tell me sir, why on earth should we believe a damn thing that comes out of the mouth of a convicted killer over the internet?
Personal note from the webmistress to this question. I was involved as a witness in a D.U.I. case this year in Feb. of 99. I had a friend of mine following me in his car and two officers pulled us over. I don't drink and the man following me only had two beers the entire night. We decided to take it to trial. The two police officers out and out lied about me saying that they pulled me over because I was weaving. They said after they pulled me over that I had alcohol on my breath but they let me go with no sobriety test of any kind. I never knew on a personal level about police officers lying on the stand until now. I have not had a drink of alcohol in 5 years and I told the jury that. I always drive my friends home when they are drinking because I don't drink at all. I have never been in trouble with the law. The police lied about me and the jury knew it and found my friend NOT GUILTY! So wake the hell up and realize that some police officers lie and get people sent to prison. Some people in our government are corrupt including police.
Oh Jim get off it already will you. This is a DEATH ROW FORUM, not a support project, not a sympathy call. It exists in the format that it does because that is the way the person who runs this website wants it to exist. The webmaster wants the cases that the person has the death penalty for to exist on the forum, and so it does. Whether you accept the facts of my case or not doesn't make any difference to me at all!!!! Looking at how you ignorantly try to justify the injustices of the system that puts innocent people on death row by appealing to the appeal process, it is perfectly clear to me that you just can't accept the facts in general anyway. The facts are that the appeal process has been cut drastically in capitol cases in order to lesson their chance of a new trial and speed up the execution process. The facts are that it took an average of seven to eight years for each person that was innocent, yet convicted and sentenced to death, to win their freedom. The law makers knew very well that this was the case when they voted to pass the law because this was the argument that was presented by those in opposition to the bill. Not that it is bad enough that innocent people are being sentenced to death row, but now by shortening the appeal process the chances are that those who are innocent will get executed before the have a chance to prove their innocence. So you can rack that appeal process crap. Over the past 2 1/2 years the PCRA and appeal process has been reduced drastically, especially in capital cases. You have the nerve to sit there and talk about somebody lying through their teeth when you actually have the gall to say.."the 70 or however many people found innocent on death row proves the system works by giving convicts years to appeal and let the truth be discovered." Not only are you lying but you are also a hypocrite. If you were convicted of murder and you didn't do it and you were sent to death row and spent 15 or so years on death row sometimes coming days or hours within being executed, not to mention the fact that you lost your job, perhaps your marriage, and the close ties that you may have had with your children and friends, as well as the toll that it had taken on you physically and psychologically, and finally some outside law professors and his pupils decided to look into your case and found out that you were innocent through their investigation, you would not get out and talk this crap that you are talking now about "how good the system worked for you, AND YOU KNOW THIS. Furthermore sir, the system had none or very little to do with over 70% of those who got out. Thirty eight were freed through DNA testing and just about half of the others were freed because outside sources got involved in their cases such as 20/20 or 60 minutes or some professor and his/her students got involved. In the majority of these cases the person could have proved their innocence at trail had the district attorney turned over the proper discoveries. Instead they withhold this information for years and years hoping that you will give up filing for it. The same way that if you ask for a DNA test and the district attorney thinks that this DNA test could prove your innocence or help you, he will fight tooth and nail in order to keep you from getting this test. JUSTICE, Jim, it isn't the D.A.'s job to try to get a conviction all the time, and keep that conviction even when the truth surfaces that they convicted an innocent person. JUSTICE, Jim, means JUST ACT and withholding evidence that could prove favorable to the defendants innocence, just to get a conviction is not JUSTICE. The reality is there are good cops and bad cops. Good district attorneys and bad ones. Good politicians and bad ones, which are all part of the system. THOSE ARE THE FACTS WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THEM OR NOT. This ain't about bashing everyone in the system as corrupt or bad because that is not a fact at all. The fact is that I was convicted and sentenced to death for as crime I did not commit, and it doesn't matter whether you accept it or not, sir. I am not here to convince anybody that I am an angel or that I need sympathy. I know that I have done wrong and I am a convicted criminal, but it doesn't change the fact that I didn't commit this crime. I don't need people's sympathy or support to fight this case, I am going to do that regardless. So if you think that I would spend a second trying to convince you of why you should believe anything I say....you are sadly mistaken.

If you say you were framed by the police, then why do you think the police would go to all this trouble to specifically frame you? If you really had nothing to do with this murder, then how were you even involved in the initial investigation? You claim you know nothing about this killing, yet the cops obviously had some information that made them come up with your name as a suspect. Either you're lying or you must be a regular criminal who they would have good reason to suspect, even if you didn't do this crime. What's the story? How did you suddenly get involved in the investigation of a murder you say you knew absolutely nothing about? Was anyone you knew a suspect and did they lead police to you? I refuse to believe that the cops simply picked up the phone book and randomly decided to pursue and accuse Melvin Troy of this crime. Even if you're innocent there must be more to this story that you're not telling us. I request you to have the courage, especially if you ARE innocent, to give me direct and straightforward answers to these questions. If you cannot do so, that will certainly tell me something about your credibility in what you are saying.
Paul, no the police did not randomly pick me out and frame me for this case. That is not my claim. According to the discoveries(statements) everybody who gave a statement said that it was a guy named "BOO" who did it. Apparently nobody knew this guy boo's real name.Seven or eight different people said that it was supposed to be this guy Boo who did it. These people who knew Boo by face said that I wasn't Boo. The way that I was supposedly picked out as the perpetrator is because a 15 year old witness was shown some photo's and out of the photo's she was shown she said that I looked more like the person who did it out of all the photo's she was shown, and so the story began. As to why the police planted evidence, what can I tell you Paul? The cops were crooked. They admitted that they planted evidence and among other things, and of course they are doing time for it. They admitted that they did alot of things to alot of people. As far as my being a criminal, I was convicted on conspiracy to commit robbery which was about nine years prior to being charged with this crime. At the time that I was charged with this crime I was currently awaiting other charges in the county prison that had nothing to do with this case. My purpose in doing this on this web site is not to try to gather up sympathy or to form some kind of support group. My purpose in doing this is because I have, and do study and research the law as well as the death penalty in this country quite a bit, and the reality is that just like me almost 80 people have been convicted of a murder they didn't commit and sentenced to death. Unlike me those 78 people have been found innocent years later and freed. Also unlike me a great number of those people didn't have prior records. So having a prior criminal record may possibly be a reason to suspect someone if some type of motive or charge may fit, but that is still not an excuse for planting evidence to get a conviction or withholding evidence that may prove a persons innocence.In well over 50% of all the 78 people that were found innocent and released from death row years later, the fact is that, that is exactly what happened. And as long as police and prosecutors think that they can do this and get away with it, they will. Of course I am not speaking in reference to all police and prosecutors because not all police and prosecutors are corrupt. But those that are will continue to do so.

I am not in the judgement-business, so I won't judge you, especially since I didn't see you commit the act that you are accused of. However, I am curious: why do so many blacks turn to Islam behind bars? Christianity isn't just for whites and Latinos.
Evan, it is true Evan, alot blacks do turn to Islam when they come to prison. The basic reason for this is unity and protection. There are different Muslim factions that exist in prison, such as 'Sunni', 'F.O.I.' and 'Ansari'. There are a few more groups that exist but the main group of these being 'Sunni'. This is the main group the guys turn to when they come to jail and accept Islam. You are right, Christianity is not just for whites and Latino's, however there does exist that stereo typical few among a great majority of guys who are in prison. Whether they felt this way before coming to prison or after coming to prison, I really don't know, however that idea does exist in a great deal of the prisoners that are in jail. black and white alike. In a sense Islam is almost accepted as a gang to most of the younger blacks when they come to jail because it serves as a protection and gives them a sense of belonging to something important that is respected as a group in jail. Also alot of guys already have hidden fears and insecurities that they have come to contend with so the idea of being a Christian and going to Church or the Kingdom Hall only would serve as a greater sign of weakness to them. I have heard some guys say that they couldn't be a Christian because Christian's aren't supposed to fight or defend themselves, where as Muslims do. So alot of guys have a misinterpreted view of Christianity from the beginning, as well as the wrong view and approach to what religion is really about.

Why did you choose a life of crime, violence and drugs? Do you realize the amount of trauma, pain and suffering you've caused for your wife Wanda and your two kids? They are just as much your innocent victims as all those other people whose lives you destroyed. Was it really worth it Melvin? Why were you so stupid that you didn't just get a job like the rest of the world and earn a living within the boundaries of the law? By now your wife is probably in the arms of another man, your kids probably have another father and you're stuck in a jail cell for the rest of your life. Was it REALLY worth it Melvin?
Why are you being so stupid? (1) I have never been married, neither formally nor common law. There exists no marriage certificate whatsoever in my name. (2) The only person that I know named Wanda is a female who lived around the corner from me when I was growing up. The closest relationship that me and her had was a 'hello' whenever we say each other. (3) My child (my daughter) is doing just fine. Don't expect anymore answers to anymore of these inaccurate "pretend" to know what you are talking about questions."

I think it's absolutely disgusting how you claim to be innocent and blame everyone but yourself for your grand misfortune. You really are the exact definition of what and who a coward is. You blame police, prosecutors and politicians for your being in prison and you talk of innocent people being released from death row when you sure as hell aren't one of them! You're guilty Melvin and you know it. You murdered four human beings with no regard for their lives or the lives of their loved ones. You're nothing more than a selfish, greedy, power- hungry, drug boss/gang leader with no conscience or remorse for your horrible actions. Tell me what the hell were you thinking as you pumped bullet after bullet into the bodies of your dying victims? Four murders within only nine days shows what a miserably unhappy and pathetic loser you are and will always be. Only an extremely sick individual in tremendous pain and agony would murder human beings one after another as if they were insects. It must really hurt like hell to have to be Melvin Troy Williams.
Forgive me Becky for not really caring about how you feel about me, but for some reason I am convinced by your words that you are not a very bright person. For one, I have never blamed anyone for my being in prison. I was already in prison when they charged me with this case. Two, since the facts via police admissions, witnesses admissions and testimony has revealed the real facts of the matter (which are not what you mentioned) it really doesn't matter to me what you or anyone else thinks. My thoughts, ideas and emotions are not governed by what you or anybody else thinks. There is nothing weak about me mentally, emotionally or psychologically. I love myself and respect myself. I know that hurts you doesn't it? And that is why it is easier for you to believe otherwise. The information that proves that I did not kill all those people is not a secret anymore.

Do prison inmates, even those on death row, have access to reading newspapers and books to keep them informed about the outside world?
Only if they have money for subscriptions.

What, if anything, would you say today to the son of Thomas Dinan, the SEPTA worker you murdered in cold blood during an attempted robbery? He is now 21yrs.old but was only an 11yr.old child when you decided to take his father away from him forever. As a result, he had to deal with the unimaginable trauma of that loss and grow up without his father. Would you even have the guts to look him in the eyes after what you did to him and his family?
Since I didn't rob or kill this young man's father I won't even consider answering this question.

What was it like to go from being a big shot drug boss who killed four people within nine days to being a mere number in the Pennsylvania prison system? For a bully with a big ego like you, it must've been emotionally crushing to be strip searched, given the new name AY-2874 and slammed into a cell all by yourself. Tell me Melvin, how did you feel on your first night in Graterford as you lay awake knowing you'd be there until the day you die? What was it like to lose all the power, control and attention that you'd longed for all your life? How did it feel to become every bit as helpless, broken down and defeated as you'd caused your victims to be? And most importantly, how foolish did you feel about having thought you were above the law?
I love myself Ericka and I respect and live with myself Ericka, so now you can go ahead and shed tears over the fact that I don't feel the way that you want me to. Oh yes, I am a criminal, but not that kind. Sorry!

Why the hell did you kill four people within just nine days in March 1989? What kind of heartless monster would go on such a bloody rampage?
When you find someone who killed four people in nine days you might be fortunate enough to get an answer to your question.

What keeps you going on an everyday basis? What motivates you to get up in the morning and endure yet another day of misery? You've had an extremely unhappy childhood, you're a coward and a cold blooded killer and you're stuck in prison for the rest of your lifetime. Considering these factors along with the fact that you don't even respect yourself, why do you choose to go on living?
What keeps me going is the fact that I am not a coward....LIKE YOU! Only a coward would even say what you just said. A man deals with whatever comes his way. A coward takes the easy way out by committing suicide. So by your own words you have made a clear admission of how much of a cold coward you are. Unlike you I am not weak mentally, emotionally or psychologically and so my mind doesn't even entertain such a cowardistic action like that. I love myself and respect myself. On the other hand YOU by your own admission cannot have any self love or self respect, and you've made it perfectly clear that your thoughts and ideas are truly one of a sadistic nature.

so Melvin if you ever get out what do you plan to do with your life?
I have met alot of really good friend during the time that I have been incarcerated and some of them are from other countries, so I would t\make it my business to visit each of them if possible because I have alot of love for these individuals. I've changed my thinking in regards to alot of things and grown in alot of ways so I do have alot of ideas concerning various things that I would like to do when I get out. The most important thing that I would want to do is to try to visit my friends in other countries that I have met since I have been incarcerated.

Yak, Yak, Yak! Enough about the 70 innocent people freed from death row. Enough about how evil the cops, prosecutors and politicians are. And enough about how wronged you were by the criminal justice system. You're a multiple murderer who pleaded guilty to three murders and was found guilty of a forth! So if you must open your mouth at least have the guts to tell us why you killed all those people instead of being a coward and begging us for mercy. If you can't do the time then you really shouldn't have done the crime(s)!!!
Pay attention to the other questions and answered in this forum.

Does anyone in your family still bother to write or visit you anymore? How are they coping with all the shame, disgrace and embarrassment your actions have caused them to endure for all these years? Has your mother come to terms yet with the cold reality that her son was a drug boss and a gang leader? What would she say to new people she meets if they ask how her grown up kids are doing? If I was your mother, I'd tell them you were dead or that I never had a son. But I'd never be able to look them in the eyes and tell them the awful truth about who you are, what you are and where you are! Never! And how about your children? Do they know that their daddy killed four people in March 1989? If not, can you imagine what they'd think of you when they eventually learn of your past? And what would they possibly say when other kids ask them what their father does for a living and how much money he brings home to the family? You know Melvin, along with being a vicious monster for killing and shooting all those people, you're also a real jerk to have put your own family in such a terrible position where they have to answer to others for your stupid, impulsive and self-centered behaviors. I will pray for them and especially hope your children won't follow in your footsteps. Being an example of what happens to violent criminals is the only positive impact you could ever have on their lives and the lives of others. I applaud this website for doing its job 100 percent! Dorothy
Thank you Dorothy for realizing what my web site is all about. - Webmaster! This comment is a similar one to one already answered.

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