Death Row - Questions and Answers

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

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
Of course my family comes to see me and all of them communicate with me regularly. Unlike you and people like you, who would probably forsake their child or even kill them to please society, my family loves me for real. People like you live for what other people think. That comes before your family, your children and anything else. That's why you find it so easy to ask such a stupid ass question. I am a grown man so how would my family have to answer to others about my behavior??? You sound stupid. Since my family knows exactly what happened (unlike you who simply read a newspaper article or the like, they don't have to be worried about what is truth and what is not, just because of something the newspaper says. 'Drug Gang Boss', Ha! Let me tell you something Dorothy, I have never been arrested for any drugs and I wasn't arrested with no gang. That's just some crap the District Attorney told the papers to sell the story. They also said that I ran 50 or 60 guys, Ha! Yet they only arrested six people for the crimes, two of which were acquitted immediately even before the truth about the fact that the police and the witness were lying even came out. So unless you have been keeping up with the latest developments, Dorothy, I suggest that you stay on the yellow brick road....because you are defiantly off to see the wizard.

I read where some guy asked you whether you have remorse and feel sad for your victims and their families and I found your answer to be most interesting. While you portrayed yourself as being the victim and denied having killed James McKnight, there were several significant things that you conveniently forgot to mention. For example, why didn't you tell this guy about how you gunned down 42yr.old Thomas Dina during an attempted robbery and caused his then 11yr.old son to grow up without his father? Or why didn't you tell him about how six days later you kidnapped Michael Richards and shot him in the head because he had tried to take over your drug house? Or how about three days after that when you shot your old buddy Melvin "Daddyo" Williams 26 times as he sat in a car in west Philadelphia? Ok Melvin, I guess I can see why you wouldn't want to tell this guy about all the people you killed. But what about other people you victimized? Like for example the innocent guy you shot in the back and left paralyzed in a wheelchair for the rest of his life? Or how about how you shot his friend in that same house and wounded his leg? And what about the two men you robbed and terrorized just an hour before you killed Thomas Dinan in cold blood? I guess it doesn't really surprise me that you don't give a damn about any of these people or what they went through, because you're obviously a severely disturbed and chronically unhappy person incapable of feeling anything genuine for anyone. You're so filled with self hatred and cowardice that I shudder to think how you must have grown up and how you can possibly live with yourself today. It must be a tremendous burden to carry all those feelings of personal inadequacy and failure which you've held inside you for so long now. But I know that deep down inside you are aware of what a cowardly thug you are and it must eat away at you each and everyday. Perhaps your knowing the awful truth about who you are is more of a punishment for you than even life in prison could ever be.
This comment was already answered in this forum. Check the other questions and comments.

Hello Mr. Troy! My name is Ron and I'm a college student going to school in Colorado. One of my friends who's working towards her sociology degree came across this page while doing research and happened to tell me about it. And wow, I never thought I'd actually be able to chat online with a death row inmate! Although I've got soooooooooo many questions there's one that truly stands out in my mind. How in the world can you survive for all those years without having women????? Being a 20 year old guy away from home for the first time and living on campus, most of my days and nights) are spent partying, getting drunk and meeting girls. I always felt that if I were imprisoned even for a short period of time, I would go crazy having to live without women! By your picture it says you've been locked up since Oct of 1990. Dude, how the hell can you survive for more than eight years in there?!?!?!?! What do you do all day sitting in your cell? Are you allowed conjugal visits? What's it like to not have a future? How do you deal with all the boredom, isolation and lack of female companionship? Is it really true that you guys get so desperate you actually turn to each other for sex? How the f--- can a dude go after a dude? YUCK!!! I'm not directing these questions at you personally, but I just cannot comprehend how any normal guy can live in a world without women and not go nuts out of misery. Perhaps I'm just an immature kid who can't imagine a week going by without parties and women. But please do try to answer these questions for me and I'll check back for your response. Thanks a bunch and for whatever it's worth good luck in there. I've got more than a few buddies who would straighten out their act if they read what happened to you! Peace bro, Ron
Hey Ron, I guess the easiest and most efficient answer to your question is the answer that you already gave yourself....perhaps I'm just an immature kid that can't imagine a week without parties and women. That is cool for now because you are young and are supposed to be enjoying yourself. In regards to the issue of not being able to have a woman, well you are right about alot of guys turning to homosexuality. Some guys can't deal with not being with a woman and so they sike themselves into believing that having sex with a man would take the place of not having sex with a woman. Some guys just want to have sex so bad that their desire to have sex overrides their better judgment. And I think some guys end up into homosexuality out of curiosity. But as for me personally, I LOVE WOMEN ALOT. So the homosexual thing is never an option and never will be. You get alot of guys who's basic dealing with women was mostly of a sexual nature and so to them woman for the most part always have something to do with their sexual fulfillment. Probably pretty much like you yourself think. But see there is a distinct difference between loving women and lusting after woman. I grew up in a household of five sisters and so I was always used to being in the presence of women. So outside of having women that I was intimate with, I also had alot of female friends. So where alot of guys allow themselves to become overridden with their desire for female intimacy, I don't because it's not a reality and the one thing that you've got to do in order to handle this situation is keep it real. In my opinion and experiences, women have always proven to be more trustworthy than men and therefore I have always had no problem having women that I really love and care about as really good friends. Personally I treasure female friendship alot. In regards to how we do the time? Well Ron a person can do the time or the time can do the person. It depends on what a person gets into while in here. Time is forever and you can't get it back. So it is important to use the time that one has (no matter how long) to educate themselves mentally, culturally, intellectually spiritually and so forth. This way perhaps one can have something positive that they can pass on to someone else who comes through jail or who is in the outside world. People like to use the term, rotting in jail, but the only people rotting in jail are those who allow themselves to. Man can only lock you up physically. That's one aspect of four to say the least.

Did it make you feel like a big man when you'd stick a gun in a frightened person's face and tell them to "give it up?" Do you realize now just how cowardly it was to do that? How did you feel when in the end you had to "give it up" to Assistant District Attorney Roger King, your victims and the Pennsylvania justice system?
It's getting old Curtis. I didn't stick no gun in nobody's face and say "give it up." It's the justice system along with the City of Philadelphia who are giving it up thanks to the corruption of the 39th districts role in planting evidence and so forth in these cases. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

Melvin, My name is Todd and I've been a big city cop here in the U.S. for the past ten years. After reading the questions/answers here I think you're the biggest and most pathetic coward to ever squirm on the face of this earth! You pleaded guilty to three first-degree murders and an unrelated shooting where you paralyzed the kid) yet you now claim you are innocent of those crimes? Bullshit! If you were actually innocent of those charges, you would have bravely fought the system, would have never pleaded guilty to something you didn't do and would have eventually proved your innocence. Now wait a second before you come charging at me with your big guns pal, cause I know exactly what you're going to say. You're going to give me that bit about how you did this to protect your mother. Yeah right! Tell me what kind of selfish mother would want her child to give up his freedom at age 26 and plead guilty to several murders he didn't do just so she won't have to do a year or two on a trumped up drug charge? How completely ridiculous! I guess with your third grade education you probably thought your story was brilliant and convincing. Well the only thing I'm convinced about is that you're nothing more than A COWARD AND A COLD-BLOODED KILLER, just like the thugs I enjoy putting away in my city. Well, since you're probably feeling like a fish out of water right now, I'll let you jump back into your ocean of denial. But the truth sure does hurt though, eh buddy? How sad for you. Have a nice life! Todd
Any person who would let their mother go to jail for any length of time instead of going to prison themselves would really be a coward. I would never let my mom do any time if I could do it for her. This statement is ridiculous. Does this police officer know what prison would do to any older woman who is innocent?
The webmaster
Yeah hi there. I wrote a question for death row inmate Melvin Troy but saw you had a thing or two to say to me, so I'd like the opportunity to respond to your comments. I've been a cop for a long time now, and I know that a truly innocent person would never, ever, ever plead guilty to a crime that he or she did not commit! All I was saying is that if your friend Melvin was really innocent, he would have fought the system bravely along with his mother and together they would have eventually proven their innocence. And if she had had to do a little time in the process, she would have done EZ time, no question about it! Women's facilities are a cakewalk compared to men's institutions, and instead of engaging in fierce competition as males do), most female prisoners look out for one another and only despise those women who have hurt or killed children. Tell me why would they hurt an old religious lady doing a few years on a drug charge? The only real concern for Melvin's mother would be the risk of being sexually abused by male guards, which I think is not as common an occurrence as it used to be. These days women's facilities have an increasing number of female correctional officers because of highly publicized cases of sexual slavery. And even if the male guards at her institution were sexual predators, why would they go after an old lady like Melvin's mother when their joint is filled with so many younger and much more attractive female prisoners? So sorry lady but your logic is a bit screwed up, to say the least. And I have to say as a police officer, a husband and a father that it concerns me deeply to know there are people like you out there who actually befriend and support these beasts like Melvin who hurt and destroy the lives of so many innocent people. Maybe you'll learn your lesson about befriending the scum of our society if, God forbid, someone like Melvin rapes or kills someone you love and care for deeply and could never live without. Just as you yourself said ma'am, it CAN happen to anyone, and I've personally seen what all too often happens to those who associate with folks like your pal Melvin. So maybe you should think a little bit about that the next time you try, in any way, to support or give a voice to the violent thugs who muddy our society. Think it can't happen to you? Think again!!! Take care now, Todd
Ok Todd here goes! You say that a truly innocent person would never plead guilty to a crime they didn't commit? How about all those innocent people who are beaten and held for hours upon hours by the police just to get a confession? And guess what, they confess and they do time. As for me befriending someone who has committed murder, I'm sure all your fellow officers you know have never done any crime right? Corrupt cops all over the place but you know what the really screwed up thing is? That all you cops have the famous "Code of Silence " when it comes to police breaking the law so no one gets in trouble because no cop tells on another cop and when they do they are marked for dead. So if by some chance "God forbid" your partner commits murder, your saying that you would never talk to or be friends with him again? Crap! You also say that an innocent person would have fought the system bravely? Right if your rich! Poor people get public defenders who for the most part are way overloaded because they don't get paid enough. Be serious here! The point about the older woman going to prison is that she is innocent and should not even be going to prison but because of the corrupt cops she is. You also say because she is an older woman she won't get raped by guards, just the cute ones will. Another example of corrupt and ruthless guards in our prison system getting away with it. Ask any woman if their prison time was cakewalk! I don't think so. Not all correctional officers and cops are bad but funny how when they are, they almost never get a whole lot of time if any. The law is for everyone but them. Thanks so much for not leaving your email address to I could reply to your email in person. Why is that? It concerns you that there are people out here like me who have befriended these beasts? Where did you get that from? This is a web site which is dedicated to keeping kids out of prison by presenting all the horrors of prison to young kids on the outside by the true experts, those who are in prison doing hard time. These beasts are participating for the same cause as me to keep kids out of prison and tell their experiences about our criminal justice system to protect others. That what this web site is about and only that, keeping kids out of prison. Last of all about someone murdering someone in my family, thanks for even suggesting it, like my family isn't suffering enough. Some drunk driver killed my younger sister. She was sixteen. He did less time than a murderer should but that is our great criminal justice system. Child molesters do even less time that a DUI. Only if you have money do you have a fighting chance in the courts...unless of course you are a cop. then the Code of Silence by the other police officers will protect you.
The Webmaster
Dear webmaster, I am sorry to hear what happened to your sister. I really am. I see the pain and destruction caused by people who drive drunk all the time. Yes, the punk who did that to your sister should be doing LWOP or be on death row! I did not mean to say that I hope something were to happen to you or yours. I was just expressing my concern about your need to give a voice to people like Melvin Troy, who from what I've read was a drug and gang leader at the very least who put drugs on our streets and promoted gang related violence. Believe me, anyone who promotes gang violence is a pathetic coward and deserves nothing. Gangs hurt so many people in so many different ways. And by the way, I am NOT one of the bad cops. We've had our share of bad cops in my city, but I've never associated with or kept quiet to save anyone's ass! Back in 89 during my first year on the beat, my trainer got drunk at a party and tried to force himself onto his own cousin's fianc�e, right in front of me! He told me, "this is how to be a real man" and she was too drunk to resist or fight back. Now that guy was not simply my partner, he was my trainer, my direct supervisor and my boss for God's sake! But not only did I pull him off the woman, but I hit him so hard in the jaw that I broke the knuckles on my right hand. On Monday, after consulting friends about what to do, I bravely went to the captain and began to report the incident. But he stopped me and calmly said, "we already heard about what happened and he's not working here no more." I later found out that he'd done other things like beat up on prostitutes and other shit like that during his shifts. But the captain said he was happy that I had come to report the incident, even though it had happened when we were off duty. So please understand that not all of us believe in the blue wall of silence, although I admit many officers do! And about Melvin's mother, all I really meant is that I find it VERY God damn hard to believe that this drug boss/gang leader is ABSOLUTELY 100 PERCENT NOT-GUILTY of all the shit he's been convicted of, like the four separate murders, the shooting where he paralyzed some kid, and whatever else. Bottom line is, he is lying like the average punk when he says he pleaded guilty to the murders to save his mother from doing hard time. Oh please! Like I haven't heard it all before! His mother would have been out by now if she'd done any time at all, and she would have had a cakewalk at some minimum security facility. Anyway, we have some differing opinions and can agree to disagree. Sorry again about your sister and I wish you and yours the best for the future. Take care, Todd
Thanks Todd for being a good cop, I was beginning to lose all hope in them. So many I meet are on this power trip that makes me sick. I have never been in trouble with the law and I was involved as a witness to a DUI. case. I have been without a drink for over five years and these cops lied on the stand and said that I was weaving and I had alcohol on my breath but they let me drive home. I had nothing to drink. The person who was charged with the DUI. of course was found Not Guilty, but for them to do that to me and I am sure lots of others is wrong. But they could have cared less. This site is to keep kids out of prison only. I can understand your point of view. We don't truly know what we would do until we walk in other people's shoes. Please continue to be a good cop and protect us from the bad guys. There are so many. Thanks again.
The Webmaster

In this world there are strong people and weak people. And you, Melvin Troy, are most definitely one of the weakest! Only an individual who lacks the very basic self- esteem, motivation and confidence necessary to function in society would be cowardly enough to become a drug boss and gang leader. Why weren't you bright enough to get an education, go to college, or at least get a job flipping burgers? My boyfriend Brandon, unlike you, is a REAL MAN and has made something of himself. He was born on the streets to a 15-year old drug addict/ prostitute mother and never knew his dad. He saw his mama die of a drug overdose at age 5 and was raised by different relatives and family friends who treated him poorly and gave him nothing. But instead of getting into the drug and gang scene like you did, Brandon CHOSE to study hard as hell for all those years and got himself a scholarship to a four year college. Now he's got his own small business and is making about $50,000 per year, at age 27!!! We share an apartment in New York City and he's sooooo good to me all the time! My point is that here was a kid who grew up in the ghetto surrounded by the same pressures you probably had. But unlike you, he believed in himself and CHOSE to become successful instead of becoming a death row prisoner! So I hope you and others who read this understand that anyone can become somebody special if they are brave and believe in themselves and don't foolishly turn to drugs and committing crime. Think about it Melvin, and remember as you sit in your cell that YOU DID HAVE A CHOICE!!! See ya, Tammy.
You've obviously gotten lost on the Internet. This is a death row forum not the Montel Williams show. It's soooo good that your boyfriend is sooo good to you. And I am soooo glad that your boyfriend made something of himself, perhaps you should write a book. I'm sure that it would be sooo interesting and you two would make sooo much money from it. Sooooo long.

You say that you continue to go on living because you're not a coward and you're not guilty. Could it be that you don't kill yourself simply because you're a selfish sociopath without any remorse for all the people you've harmed in your lifetime? Do you deny robbing people, stabbing a fellow inmate between 1982-1988, shooting and paralyzing a kid for life or being a drug boss and gang leader? It definitely sounds like the behavior of a cold blooded coward, doesn't it?
You and anybody like you who would seriously consider killing themselves because they did wrong or have been accused of doing wrong are the most cowardistic people on the planet. You've got pilots right now dropping cluster bombs and the sort on innocent people in Yugoslavia. Why don't you ask them if they are considering killing themselves when they show the charred bodies and remains of the innocent people, women and children who got killed by their bombs. Or perhaps the 55% of the people in this country who support the continued bombing and have no remorse whatsoever about those innocent civilians who are getting killed should consider killing yourself. Oh I forgot when you kill hundreds of people your not a murderer, your a hero.

You seem to lack insight into your own situation and have a difficult time in facing who and what you have become. Tell me who physically/sexually abused you during your childhood and what role did that play in the poor choices you've made in your life? Edwin
WARNING CHILDREN!!!!!
Theses are the kinds of perverts and child molesters that lurk on the Internet seeking to hear perverted stories. Take careful note as to how he tries to cleverly disguise his real agenda which clearly is hearing some type of sexually perverted story of which is usually sexual abuse, molestation or rape. These people are cunning sick and twisted, so beware. If you receive a message from the name EDWIN and you are not familiar with this person, please call your parents immediately.

I'm curious to know who raised or attempted to raise you. Did they ever bother to teach you the difference between right and wrong? Where the hell were they when you were on the streets getting into drugs and gangs? Didn't they tell you that it was antisocial to be involved in such immoral activities? Or how about your stealing? Did they ever tell you it was wrong to rob others of their belongings? I think that parents of people who turn out like you did should be punished along with their children by the criminal justice system. Because maybe if they hadn't failed as parents, you wouldn't have failed as a person.
Try not to let your curiosity get the best of you.

hi Melvin, I would like to know how men who rape other men while in prison are viewed by other prisoners. how can they look down on sex offenders when the truth is they rape young men themselves? isn't that viewed as a double standard?
Jail is a society within itself. It has it's own set of rules that exist within the inmate population. Over the years most of the rules have either softened or been compromised by a great majority. For example, at one time guys who raped or molested women or children were always looked down on and would end up taking lock-up for fear of being seriously hurt or killed. But there is also those guys in jail that fell the best thing for a rapist or child molester is to be raped himself. Although there is probably a significant number of guys who feel that the guy being raped himself is what he deserves, there is not a significant number of guys who would be willing to do the raping. The guys who have no problem raping another man or having sex with another man is obviously a homosexual anyway. So the other guy being a rapist or child molester only gives the homosexual a reason within himself to rape the rapist. But anyway things are not as intense and dangerous for rapists and child molesters as they were years ago. Homosexuality is much more prevalent now then it was before in prison, and it is a more willing thing with alot of guys. It seems that guys are less hesitant to engage in homosexuality in prison these days. Where as alot of guys were forced into homosexuality years ago, now alot of guys get into it because they want to. So jailhouse rapes have been cut down significantly over the past 25 years. So the answer to your question is 'yes' it is a double standard. But the point to remember is this; these guys who rape these young men who are rapists or child molesters aren't really raping them because of what they are in jail for, they are really raping them because they are in jail period. The molestation or rape charges is just an excuse for them to force their homosexuality on them.

I am a recovering alcoholic. As such, and as part of my recovery. I go to AA meetings in prisons in this state(Minnesota)as an outside guest. Also, please understand, before I ask my question, That I am unalterably opposed to the death penalty. My question to you is; Do you know, or have you ever heard of someone given the death penalty for a crime committed during an alcohol or drug induced blackout? My statement to you sir, is that I respect you, and salute you for your willingness to answer questions in site of the demeaning flack you seem to get. Unfortunately, some of the statements I have read only confirms that bigotry is alive and well in this country. Please continue your efforts. Respectfully, Bill Steele
Bill, I hope that you are doing well in your recovering from your former alcoholic abuse. In answer to your question, 'yes'. I have read a few cases where the defendant was given the Death Penalty and it is known that the person was heavily intoxicated or on drugs or both. In most cases that I read about, the district attorney withheld such information from the jury so that the jury would not know that the person was legally drunk/or on drugs at the time. I cannot off the top of my head recall anyone who is here with me that this happened to. But it has happened. As a matter of fact there is a guy who is on the same block that I am on named Dan, who was convicted of killing his grandmother and aunt after getting drunk. Although the district attorney knew that this man was an alcoholic and was dead drunk at the time of the murders, he somehow convinced the jury that although Dan was intoxicated at the commission of the offense, he was in control of his actions. When it comes to the Death Penalty bill there is no such thing as 'right or wrong'. There is no such thing as 'just or unjust'. There is only politics. Anytime the state or country has no problem executing people who were mentally retarded not only at the time of their offense, but also when they executed them, you know they have no problem whatsoever executing somebody who was drunk and/or intoxicated at the time of their crime. I hope that you are doing well in your battle with alcoholism and I hope that your quest to help the guys that are in prison to understand the bad effects of alcoholism produces positive results. Take care.

Alright Melvin, if the police scandal and illegal behavior of the cops has been discovered and is now public knowledge, then why aren't you a free man? If those two brothers and their mother who did 3yrs.in Muncy) have been cleared and freed, why are you still behind bars? Do you have any chance of ever being freed from prison and if so, what would have to occur in order for you to be set free? Is there any way you can withdraw your guilty pleas to those three Philadelphia murders or are you stuck in the slammer forever?
In regards to the two brothers and their mother that have been freed that were also involved in the 39th district scandal...Only the mother has been cleared of all charges and compensated to the tune of about $900,000. And that is because she settled out of court. The sons are free, but they did the bulk of the time that they were sentenced to. I believe their sentences were 10 or 12 years, maybe less. Never the less they have not been cleared of the charges yet. Also where as their charges were all combined into one charge which was the R.I.C.O. ACT. Mine were all separate and therefore much more complex to deal with. Sentences have numbers, and Life sentences are two entirely different matters altogether. The courts can cut a sentence with numbers down to anything they want to. However a life sentence cannot be cut down at all. Before a life sentence can be taken away the degree of murder has to be reduced or eliminated altogether. This means that the First or Second Degree of the murder has to be removed and put at a lesser degree like Third Degree or Manslaughter. Or one has to be given a new trail altogether. In which case one would have the chance of being acquitted altogether of all the charges. I am presently working on my P.C.R.A. appeal in regards to the life sentences. Should it prove successful, then I would be able to begin the process of being acquitted of the charges altogether. For me, it's a long process and it's a difficult process because of the number of cases that are involved. However I have some good people working on my cases with me, so hopefully things will turn out better then they are at present. There is no telling what will happen. The one thing that you cannot count on the courts for is consistency when it comes to the law, and the dispensing of it evenly to everybody. But one can't let that stop them from doing what they can.

Hi Melvin, I am curious, what happens to convicted police officers who are now behind bars? How are they treated by other inmates? Are they doomed? How do they survive? Thanks and regards.
Most convicted police officers do not go to regular prisons. They have certain prisons that they send convicted police officers to which are not the general state prisons. However some times police officers are sent to state prisons if they committed murder on a state level. For the most part, police officers that do end up in a jail that is not one of the specified jails that convicted police officers are sent to, do have a very hard time in jail. Usually they just take lock-up. So for the most part, police officers that come to jail are doomed.

MR. TROY I JUST READ YOUR STORY, I REMEMBER IT I ALSO THINK GOD WILL HELP YOU MELVIN IF YOU HELP OTHERS IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU TEN FOLD. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I CANT EXPLAIN IT BUT IT HAPPENS. MY QUESTION TO YOU MELVIN TROY IS WILL YOU HELP ME HELP OTHERS?? YOU SAID THAT YOU HATE TO SEE YOUNG MEN COME INTO YOUR PRISON I ALSO HATE IT MELVIN AND AS YOU WELL KNOW THEY ARE YOUNGER AND YOUNGER. MY NAME IS JOE IM 44 AN A X DRUG USER AND ALL THAT GOES WITH THAT. MELVIN THE YOUNG NEED HELP ITS VERY BAD OUT HERE WITH THE DRUGS AND ALL THAT GOES WITH THAT.IM ASKING YOU HAVE YOU SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AT RAHWAY PRISON IN NEW JERSEY? ITS CALLED SCARED STRAIGHT SOME HOW IT WORKS I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT IT DOES MELVIN WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP ME IN THIS JOURNEY? I LIVE BY GRATERFORD I WILL LET YOU THINK ABOUT THIS. I WILL WRITE SOON GOD BLESS YOU MELVIN TROY JOE
I greet you in hope that all is well with you and yours. I am very much interested in what you have in mind. I am familiar with the Scared Straight Program from 20 years ago. I saw a brief portion of the new program a few weeks ago but I didn't watch the whole program. However if you have some sort of idea that may help educate our youth about the seriousness of prison and the importance of staying in school and getting an education then I am all for it. Yes Joe, you are correct, "when you give to others God will bless you in return." I do what I can to help the guys here whether it be spiritually, intellectually, mentally, education wise or other. So please get in touch with me and let me know what you have in mind.

Dear Melvin Troy, from reading your comments it is clear to see that you do not think very highly of homosexuals. One example of this is how you responded to an insulting message by calling the person who wrote it a "frustrated and disgruntled homosexual." Another example is when you stated to someone else that "The guys in prison who have no problem raping another man or having sex with another man are obviously homosexuals." That is not true! In reality Melvin, research shows that 98 percent of men who rape other men, whether in or out of prison, are heterosexuals! You must understand that rape is primarily about power, control and humiliation-not sex! The vast majority of guys who rape others in prison are not homosexuals, but are simply power hungry bullies who no longer have access to girls and women. That is why they choose to rape and/or have sex with other men. With this understanding, it certainly appears that the anger and blame you direct towards gays may in fact be anger and blame you feel towards yourself Melvin, for being gay! You sound alot like a typical homosexual in denial, who's trying desperately to conceal his true gay identity from himself and the people around him. Hopefully someday you will find the courage to at least admit to yourself exactly who and what you really are.
Doug, first up you are right I don't think highly of homosexuals. Exactly for what reason should I think highly of homosexuals? Because you are one, and are offended by the fact that I speak and spoke 'a matter of factly' about homosexuals? Well tough. Let me enlighten you about the paradox of your theory screwball. There is no such thing as a heterosexual - homosexual. It doesn't make a difference whether a person is having sex with the same sex because they are in jail away from woman, or because they are on the street where women are, a homosexual is a homosexual. There aren't any rules of jurisdiction. The only person who isn't a homosexual in the rape situation is the person that is getting raped because the homosexual relations that he is having is forced upon him. Therefore although he is engaging in homosexual relations, he is not really a homosexual because that is not his choice. But it doesn't matter what the reason is that the other guy is forcing himself on the unwilling participant is, because he is knowingly and wantonly engaging in homosexual activity which makes him a homosexual. The fact that it is rape or consensual has nothing to do with the fact that he is desirous of and engaging in homosexuality. So in your ignorance, the only thing that you said that has any validity (yet still no bearing on the situation) is the fact that 'rape is a crime of violence and force'. This I already know. If you have homosexual desires, and you go on fulfilling them whether it be through raping or consensual sex, you are in fact homosexual. As far as my calling that guy a 'disgruntled and frustrated homosexual', if you read what he said in his comments, then you would have realized that his comments were of a homosexual and perverted nature. And that is why I called him as I did. I didn't chose the word homosexual as an insult, I choose it because that was the nature of some of his comments. So stop being an offended ignorant little supporter of homosexuality with me because there is no need to be offended. You being a homosexual is your choice and your business. As I said earlier, I do not think highly of homosexuals, but I do not hate homosexuals. I hate the act. Homosexuals are people just like everybody else, but I do find homosexuality wrong and unnatural. So try to understand the difference between 'hating the act' and 'hating the person' without passing out from exhaustion. In closing Doug, you have fully demonstrated yourself to be the typical frustrated homosexual. Because if someone mentions anything about homosexuality that doesn't in some way or another justify or support homosexuality, then you become offended and start calling that person a closet homosexual etc. etc. If you are so secure and sure about the rightness of your homosexuality, then why are you so quick to get offended at nothing? And why do you, and so many like you use the term 'gay', which originally means 'happy' when in fact you are angry and frustrated? What you choose to be, you choose to be. I don't judge, nor do I condemn, that's not my job. If you want to know the true source of your anger and frustrations, look straight in the mirror and stop looking for stones of offense where there are none.

Mr. Troy, when touring a prison in my hometown, the warden told us that inmates who have hurt children in any way are among the most hated individuals in the prison system. He also said that inmates who have raped adult females, although looked down upon, are not nearly as despised as those who messed with children. I would like to know at what age inmates consider someone to be a "child" and at what age they begin to see the person as being an "adult." In other words, I'd like to know where the cut off line is, whether it be at age 13, 14, 15 or 16. And also, I'm curious to know if you would beat up a child molester yourself if you encountered one in your institution? Thanks alot Mr. Troy!
Thanks for your question. It is true that inmates that have raped and/or molested women and children are very much disliked and looked down upon, especially guys who have raped or molested children. Generally if a guy raped a teenager then he is usually referred to as a rapist. Even if the child was in her early teens such as 13 or 14 years of age. He may be referred to as, "raping little girls". Where as under that age the guy becomes a "child molester" or even a "baby raper" depending on how old the child is. That is the general way that such guys are looked at have committed such acts. However it is true that a rapist who may have raped women and/or young women such as a teenager doesn't face the same measure of despise and hatred as the child molester or baby raper. Alot of guys that are in jail have little children or their own and therefore they realize that it could have been their little boy or girl that this guy could have done this to. The bottom line is that children are innocent and can't protect themselves from such predators. As for me beating up a child molester? Well to be perfectly honest with you, I really hate it when I hear about women and children getting raped or molested. It angers me and it bothers me alot. But I tell myself that an average of 1 out of every 7 people on death row have been falsely convicted and eventually had their sentence overturned and freed, therefore I know that there are other people who have been falsely convicted of crimes that they did not do, and I hope that this guy really didn't do what they said he did (rape/molest a child). I really don't want to be judging anybody so I try to keep a neutral view (where there is room for it) because you never know when or how you may end up interacting with that person. Say for example I may end up having a disagreement with this guy over some small issue that would generally be able to be ironed out and dismissed, if one dwells on the issue that this guy is a rapist or molester, one's attitude may become overly aggressive very quickly and instead of forgetting the situation one might find himself actually looking to push the situation to one that would result in a physical confrontation. This would have little to do with the actual difference that initiated the problem, and more to do with the issue of the guy being a child molester and that could end up being very, very ugly. So personally I know I hate to get into some kind of altercation with a guy and end up letting the idea that he is a baby raper or child molester take over my mind. So I try to keep the benefit of the doubt before me when it comes to such guys. As I said earlier, where there is room for being neutral, I do make room for it. It is hard but I feel that it is necessary to do this. So the answer is actually no, I wouldn't just break a guy up because he was a child molester or rapist. I have been able to control the urge to do that. Although some cases have really been vicious and have troubled me very much.

Hello Melvin! I hope your keeping strong [chin up!]. I was browsing through all questions & answers you have received. Wow! This site is supposed to be about helping kids, meanwhile I noticed that one had written you saying "little devils" and that person is in accordance with executing 7 yr old children!!?? That is sad, real sad. "Whatever you do unto these children, you do unto me" is what Jesus said. That "person" has no heart regarding children [my opinion]. And I'd like to give a comment regarding Dave's sayings toward you, I noticed he kept saying (thanks to God) <-- "you should not use God's name in vain Dave". And he doesn't matter whether your guilty or not??? [that makes no sense?], just because of beating guys for money, drugs to kids, burglarizing homes, forcing some girls into sex??? [Welcome to the new Millennium Dave]. People of low class often rob, sell drugs, commit robbery etc, to make a living, accept it or not, but that's the way it is! Children commit crimes [not only adults], would you put children on the row for that? Boy oh boy, you were polite with this guy Melvin, patient as well! I also noticed a saying that was said to you," a job like the rest of the world", THAT was bad money! Here in Canada, [everywhere for that matter] jobs are hard to find for some. However I won't go through all that, that person should well know about job factors. "Poor choices you've made in life" said by Edwin. Well, that all depends on the person, some have no choices. I was brought up in a violent environment [family/neighborhood], and believe me I had to take the road and live on the streets at 14, I had NO choice, I couldn't get a decent job [how could I?], I had no help from "society", all they could do was place me from one foster home to another! Which led to nothing but feeling unwanted. I know the life of the streets, been there. High-class people don't give a 'hoot' about us [even though, I did not choose to be brought up as I did], but I can say one thing [I ain't going to make a persona as for my myself, my name is Jane <- my TRUE name! I am a 33 years white female, Canadian, I am fighting cancer now, and thanks to men on death row that I have written to! they have encouraged me to say strong! As for the rest of "society" they couldn't care less about me if I died or not [because I'm from low-class of course]. I truly hope you get off Melvin, I wish you all the best! And yes, a lot were freed from death row from DNA testing [regarding that YAK YAK YAK letter you received], it ain't no YAK YAK YAK to me when so many people were proven innocent by DNA! What more accuracy do they need to be persuaded that they were innocent. Wow, some have really tried to slammer you down huh? -- my opinion is -- they had nothing else to do with their free time but punch their fingers on the keyboard and let out nonsense, they must be very lonely, bored people, in terrible need of companion! As everyone knows, here in Canada the death penalty is out! It didn't bring about more crime! Crime will always be among us! [always was, always will] and punishment is enough, it ain't for us to judge [nor the politicians in this case] a person to Death! "Judgment shall come to all of you who judge" is what the Bible says, "visit the prisoners" it also says. But from what I see, only low-class people look to God, high-class have no time for that! Heck no! They are to busy spending money on materialistic things that have no meaning, when in fact they could help children and families. But no! that would scare them! They wouldn't want to become poor! I admire Schindler who freed as many Jews as he could, he spend all his money to his last dime to save as many children and families as he could, now THAT was a man, surely [without a doubt] he IS in Heaven. He comprehended the words of the Bible concerning the rich. To all the high-class people with fancy houses, when you go unto the Internet, why come here just to judge? It ain't for us to judge.
Please forgive me for taking so long to get back to you. I had some very pressing legal things going on in court that I had to attend to. Thank you very much for your words of encouragement. I am very sorry to hear about your battle with cancer. I hope that you do have success overcoming this tragedy. If it is not any trouble please drop me a line every now and then to let me know that you are doing well. In regards to the character who called himself "Dave", or the other child hater who said he wouldn't have a problem executing 7 year olds. Well I'll tell you Jane, there is an old saying, "better keep your mouth shut and let people assume that you are dumb, then to actually open it up and prove it to be so". The whole issue with that clown "Dave" ensued because he faked it like he actually knew me, when in fact he didn't. Sometimes people read and hear things about a person and so in their ignorant attempts to prove whatever it is they are trying to prove, they repeat what they heard in a feeble attempt to pretend that they actually really know you and or met you. That clown had given himself away when he went on about 'forcing myself on women'. Anybody that really knew me would have never said anything like that. I have five sisters and was raised by my mother alone. She left my father when I was five years old for putting his hands on her. I witnessed this action because I stooped at the top of the steps and therefore I always carried that vision with me as a reminder to never hit or abuse women in any way. I have always been friends with females and I always enjoyed female friendship because I was brought up in a house full of women. I would never even consider forcing myself on women sexually, never! So I got a little heated that this lying fraud would mention such a vicious lie so casually as if this were really so. Men who rape, beat, torture and abuse females (and children) are not easy for me to digest. Not easy at all. But anyway I want to thank you for your support and I do hope that you are doing well and progressing in your bout for cancer.

Dear Melvin, I read where you said that your faith in God is what enables you to survive through your difficult and oh so tragic ordeal, and I think it's just great that you found something positive to believe in. But before you carry on with your Karla Faye Tucker act, there's just one little thing I thought I should mention. Remember that little, insignificant statement in the bible that says, um, what was it? Oh yeah, that unimportant little statement that says "Thou shall not kill?" Remember that buddy? Yeah, I thought you would! Although it may come as a shock to you, many people including myself see that statement as being the very essence of everything God believes in, represents and stands for. You know, the way God wants us to treat one another and to live our lives. Now here's the kicker: YOU'RE A MURDERER MELVIN! You yourself admitted and pleaded guilty to INTENTIONALLY taking the lives of three fellow human beings! Did you ever stop to think what judgment your beloved God would place upon you for your awful sins? Only God Himself and you Melvin, know exactly how cruel, selfish and cowardly you are and have been throughout your life, as well as knowing every terrible thing you've ever done including all the stuff you've gotten away with. So the next time you pray to your God Melvin, just keep in mind that you're speaking to the one person whom you CANNOT lie to or mislead from the truth. If you think the justice system here on earth gave you a harsh punishment, just wait till you go on to the afterlife! Be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen buddy. I hear it gets pretty damn hot where you're going!!!

MR. TROY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON DEATH ROW UNJUSTLY? I PERSONALLY AM AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY BUT I DO BELIEVE IN IT FOR CHILD KILLERS IN PRISON TALK-SHORT EYES I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE EXECUTED THEY ARE ANIMALS AND COWARDS AND THEY DESERVE THE SAME MERCY THEY GIVE THERE CHILD VICTIMS. ALSO I LIKE THE DRAWINGS ON DARK SORROWS THEY ARE GOOD YOU SEE I AM AN ARTIST MY SELF. AS FOR THE DEATH PENALTY THE ONLY THING I DID NOT AGREE WITH WAS THAT KARLA FAYE TUCKER WAS EXECUTED BUT CHARLES MANSON WAS NOT.

I would like this message to reach everybody that is why I am placing it here, MELVIN TROY has become a good friend of mine and I love him dearly. I am studying Law and I have seen and researched his case. He is very Innocent of this crime and some of the letters I am reading that are calling him a mean evil person, are down right horrible. How can all of you people live with yourselves asking such nasty questions. How about a bit of support for a fellow man A man who happens to have alot of Love to give, He spends his time answering questions to teach people about Death row and yes to hopefully deter others young and old from committing crimes. He should be praised for his courage to go public and admit his wrongs. I ask all of you how many of you are willing to go online and have your dirty laundry aired??? I ask as his friend ( yes I am female) to be tactful and respectful when asking questions, Melvin has feelings just like we all do. He is going through something that could happen to anyone of us if you all read the papers you can see how people are wrongfully committed every single day! Melvin is trying to open peoples eyes and get them to realize just how injustice our system really is. So I will end here. I hope people like "Dave" will do some homework before talking way out of line. For everyone information Everyone's criminal records are public knowledge, all you need to do is go down to your local law library which should be located in or near your town or county courthouse. {Melvin, sorry I could not read some of these downright rude nasty letters and stay quiet, I am your friend and Love you dearly and I can not sit silently while people are saying things to you that I know are hurting you. I will write you via the post in a few days lots of gossip to tell ya} I Love You Samantha
answered personally

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