Death Row - Questions and Answers From Death Row

Questions and Answers to Death Row Inmate Raleigh Porter Continued

I *need* to know...what really happens to young men you have murdered children, when they are put in prison. As you can probably see from this I have a personal interest in this. No...I am not the mother of the young man...I am the mother of Jennifer Lynn DeShone age 12-murdered on April 29, 1997. The murderers defense came to us and wanted to plea-bargain...life with no parole ever...instead of going to trial. I told them to keep the plea bargain...I would fight tooth and nail for my daughter if she were her...so why would they think I wouldn't fight for justice for her just because she is gone. I would appreciate an answer to my question..either via message board
or email.
Cherie
Cherie, I send my deepest sympathy to you for your loss. I have 2 kids and know all to well the anger and thirst for revenge against someone that has hurt one of my kids. Were you right in wanting the death penalty? Jennifer was your daughter, your baby, and nobody can tell you how to react. If I could have gotten to the person who hurt my daughter, I would have made him wish that he have never been born and spend the rest of his wishing to die. Even though I couldn't get to him, I tried to have it done. So yeah, Cherie, I know how you feel. You didn't say whether the murderer is facing the death penalty or not, so I assume that he is or why the possible plea bargain. You want revenge and that is a natural feeling, unlike the cheering crowd when Karla was executed in Texas. What happens? It really depends on what sentence he has, what prison he goes to, how he handles himself in prison. Even in prison some people are looked down on, and especially someone that has hurt children>Yes I believe the Death Penalty is wrong, and so is killing. I'm sure you've heard, "two wrongs don't make a right". I am indeed in here for murder and nothing, not a thing I or anyone can do to change that or correct it. No I don't want to die, but if I do, then I do and I accept that. I know that it is not easy to comb through all the bull, and the Bible, and reach a conclusion that you can live with, so I admire you for your effort. True repentance doesn't matter anywhere except in a person's heart and between him and God.

Do you believe in life after death? Have you always felt this way?
Don't most of us hope, in one way or another that there is life after death? I can't say that I thought about it at all very much, but being in this cell, facing my own death, does make a person think and gives a person time to think. Yes I believe in life after death that our spirit, soul, energy, does go on to another plain of existence.

How many years have you been in jail?
I've been here for twenty years.

Are you a Christian? And if you are have you asked to be forgiven for your sins? And do you think you will make it to Heaven? If you are not a Christian I will pray for you everyday that you will find the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because in the conditions you are in, you need to have Him in your heart.
Thank you for your prayers. They are needed and much appreciated. I also believe in God, but I don't claim any faith or religion. It is east to ask God for forgiveness, but not so easy to forgive ourselves. I would hope that we'll all go to Heaven. I think that we all and the world would be better off if we had Jesus in our hearts. In 95 I had the Death warrant signed, and as far as my lawyers were concerned that was it. There was no issue to argue so I would die in 30 days. At that time I was lead to the death cell, I said, "Thy will be done". I gave it to God. There was nothing I could do, nothing that my lawyers could do to stop my execution, but I was at peace. One day before I was to be executed, a court clerk who supports the death penalty came forward about a conversation he had with the trial judge. He basically confirmed that the judge was bias and predisposed to sentencing me to death before the trial was over and before the jury voted on whether I should be sentenced to life or death. This clerk, did the right thing and lost his job for it. That is why I am alive to talk to you today. I truly believe that it was God's doing and I thank him daily. May He bless you and keep you.

Dear Dark Sorrow. I am from New Zealand where the death penalty is not practiced. I am from a Christian family and church and we are often locked in debate as to the merits of the death penalty. The state of the world and all that goes on is always on our minds. I don't know who you are and didn't read all that you have written on the subject but I thought Id take the opportunity to ask you about yourself. Feel free to email me if you want to. I cruised in to your site when I did a search using the word hell, and do not know what you believe about the subject. My question is are you ever really expecting to be executed or is there such a long series of options of appeal in your country that you feel that you might die in prison? And are you afraid that you will have to stand before God. I mean this respectfully and do not place myself above you in my thinking. I am fearful of the judgement of God and I was wondering if you have those same fears. I haven't killed anyone but have done plenty of things that God says are worthy of death. I rely on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for my right standing before God and would recommend it to you and your friends. Would like to correspond with you if that would be acceptable to you. Kindest regards John Mills New Zealand
I know that New Zealand does not have the Death Penalty. The United States on the other hand is proud to keep company with the likes of Iran, Iraq, China and a few other great countries that execute their own. Seriously, the death penalty only has one merit...revenge, period. What else is there? There's nothing else that can be used to justify the use of the death penalty. Politicians like to say that it's only for the worst of the worst, but look at the figures...how many murders are there, how many of those end up with the death penalty compared to how many cases result in anything from probation to life without parole...or being sent to a mental hospital. Believe me in '95' when my warrant was signed and my execution date was within 30 days....as I got to within less than 24 hours of my execution in Florida and 4 scheduled to be executed this month...with all the other executions around the country...with the politicians wanting to limit appeals to speed up executions...with the courts the way they are...I know all too well that executions are a reality in my life, and possibly my death. As for being afraid to face God...I can only be who I am. I can't change the past, all I can do is the best I can today and accept whatever judgement is put on me by God. I don't have a problem corresponding with anyone, but you should know that I am in prison, on death row and any correspondence would be snail mail because I don't have a computer here in my cell.

(these two questions were answered with one answer)
I have many friends and relatives that have been, and are currently in correctional facilities here in California. If you have ever heard anything about the California correctional facilities, you will know the correctional officers are as, if not more, corrupt than the inmates themselves. What I would like to know is, how are the death row inmates there in Florida treated?

My boyfriend is currently doing time in a maximum security S.H.U. program at Pelican Bay Correctional Facility. The stories I hear about the correctional officers, intentionally popping the doors of two rival inmates and placing bets on who the winner will be, are sick. These are our loved ones that are being used to fulfill their sick thoughts of entertainment and these assholes gambling addictions. I gets me so angry when I see all this bullshit in the media about how these prison inmates cause all these problems within the prison, but what people need to realize is a lot of the shit going on behind those walls is caused by those people that are suppose to be keeping order. In California at least. Regardless of where inmates are serving their time in the prison system, these inmates have loved ones somewhere too, just as does everyone else. I not only worry about my friends and relatives, I worry for everyone having to spend their lives behind the concrete walls and those iron bars........... my prayers are with you.
Careful now, if you're not careful you'll have people realizing that there are actual human beings in these cages being treated worse than animals. Seriously though, I do know about the Shue unit. I've seen video of how the guards release two inmates onto the enclosed yard, place bets on who will win, and how some of the inmates were basically executed by the guards. The public doesn't know that such things happen, because the public is dependent on the media to find out about such things, and so...after all...we're talking about the animals of society, not real people with family and loved ones. I'm sorry, I really shouldn't be this way. After all, can't blame the public for what they don't know. Ah but we can blame the politicians that spread the propaganda that has the public building new prisons like they are going out of style, even though the crime rate is down. We can blame the media for not reporting such things as gladiator battles at the Shue, other than quick blurbs. We can blame the public for allowing it all to continue when it is reported and they know. Here in Florida, as in any state, in any prison, there is going to be guards who do their job, and then there's the ones that will do all they can to make an inmates life a living hell anytime they can. The real problem is that even when it is known, the guards and the system stand behind them instead of getting rid of the abusive guards. I sincerely hope that your loved ones and friends are safe and that your boyfriend can survive the Shue. It's not that way here, though we've had a few people killed on the yard, our time is spent in this cell. Four hours a week on the yard. Oh, we had a guard or two come around taunting some black inmates by wearing white sheets, but of course...this is prison not a country club, or so the politicians want to stress over and over again to rally votes. What I wonder is why they call all these prisons "Correctional Institutions". What I think is needed is a voting block of friends and relatives of people in prison. That would get the politicians attention and then they would do something about the abuses that go on in prisons. How many people are in prison in California? Something like 150,000 isn't it? Okay then, now there's also how many people in California that have been in prison? I'd bet its over a million people. They can't vote, but if they each got two friends or family that can vote, then what politician is going to disregard over 2 million voters and stay in office? If politicians know that they have to satisfy these 2 million voters, then and only then will they start to care about how people are treated in prison. They'll be more concerned about rehabilitation instead of the brutal reality of prison today. The politicians know that an inmate can't vote, so its easy to make inmates the target of propaganda. Good luck to you and yours.

Could you tell me how you feel about Miss Tucker being put to death in Texas? Do feel exceptions should be made for women? Do you think if a prisoner keeps a perfect behavior record and shows remorse for their crime and even becomes a Christian, deserves to have their death sentence reviewed and even changed? Thank you, Don C. Smith...
When Karla was killed by Texas it showed everything that is wrong with the death penalty. Everything from someone like Pat Robertson who supports the death penalty coming forward on her behalf, to Gov. Bush who wasn't about to think of harming his political ambitions by granting Karla clemency, to the crowd of people who knew nothing of Karla, actually cheering, and then there was the woman's husband talking about how his wife would be waiting for Karla and it wouldn't be pretty. So just where was the wife waiting? Heaven or hell? Hell they want to execute kids, so what would it matter about Karla being a woman? The death penalty is wrong. The Karla that was killed was not the same Karla that committed murder. That is an accepted fact, but that didn't matter either. People do change. Who is the same person that they were 5 or 10 years ago? The law actually says that each case is supposed to be reviewed for possible clemency, but reality is another matter. Any governor knows that to even consider granting clemency to a death row inmate would be committing political suicide, so nobody is getting clemency, no matter what their record in prison is. As for being a Christian...well that got the likes of Pat Robertson in her corner. Christianity is not the only religion there is though. Or is it that only professed Christians that should be spared the death penalty? Some people would like to think so.

Look...you lazyass no job having piece of shit...At least you had an attorney!! Where the fuck do you get off saying you were not represented properly because you had a "public attorney"?? Blotched abortions LIKE YOU are the reason our justice system has Public Attorneys. Some one has to represent the Rat Bastards of the world (That would be you). If you had enough cash (and a JOB) - maybe you could get an attorney to convince the world that you're not a Child Molester....But...I think, in your case, you'd have a hard time finding one. Most of these assholes don't want to lose...And in the off chance that you DID have five cents to your white trash baby fucking name, they would not take your case because they knew you were guilty as the day is Long!! A little bit of advice...serve your time...take it up the ass (Cuz We KNOW you LIKE IT) and get out of prison. When you get out, go back to fucking your mother...and leave the innocents alone.
It is idiots like you that is what is wrong with everything. You know nothing about me, but you talk shit. The funny part is that I am not the one you really have to worry about. No matter what, I won't get out of prison, but there are plenty that will. Here is a poem written by one of these people that will be getting out and walking among you. You can look forward to seeing not only him, but all his brothers, others that idiots like you are creating.
See When I get out
It's oh so easy to talk about how glad you'll be when I'm killed, because I know the death penalty is such a high profile issue, but the next time you hear about "privileges" being taken away from inmates, about another "high security" prison being built, I want you to think about the human beings that will be affected and put in there, and the type of person that will eventually be released into the public from that prison. No I am not your problem. It is you and people like you that are creating your own worst nightmare by your narrow mindedness attitude. Won't you be glad when they get out?

Do you think that it is unfair when a judge lowers a woman's death row conviction just because she is a woman? Do you believe that a woman should be treated the same as a man on death row?
I think it is unfair when anyone is sentenced to death. It is the prosecutors that determine if anyone is threatened with a sentence of death. It's not fair any way you look at it, and now Texas wants to start executing 12 year olds. They can't vote, drink, smoke, drive because they aren't old enough, but apparently that won't keep them from being executed. Fairness has nothing to do with it.

I would like to pose a few questions to a death row inmate:
1. are you scared?
2. what does death mean to you?
3. how did you get to where you are now?
thanks! sincerely,
Jessica
No, I am not afraid of death anymore. I passed that stage when I accepted whatever happens. That was in 95 when I was on death watch with just 30 days to live and I knew that my lawyers couldn't do anything else. Death to me is just passing from this existence to another. It happens to everyone sooner or later, so why fear what can't be stopped? I got here on death row because 2 people are dead.

Hey Raleigh, I find it funny how you think that you death row scumbags should be treated better than animals, say dogs for example. Hmmm, lets examine the facts here. Dogs are some of the most loyal, brave, kind and loving people(although not human) in this world, and would happily give their lives in order to save others from harm. Death row inmates, on the other hand, are the most cruel, heartless, remorseless, malicious and cowardly scumbags to ever crawl the face of this earth, and would happily take away a person's life just for the fun of it! When necessary, dogs should be put to sleep in the most humane manner possible, while you death row dick lickers should be tied up, lit on fire, and burned to bits and pieces in public!!! I want you to know Raleigh, that I'm thrilled to hear you've spent the last 20 years of your miserably pathetic excuse for a life locked up in a small steel cage, like the disgusting monster you know you are! I'm glad they continue to take away whatever little pleasures or comforts you have left, and it would sure be nice if death row cells could house two men, so they could get someone to screw you up the ass like the fucking punk you are! It just gives me a warm and peaceful feeling when I go to sleep at night, knowing that you're still in that small, small steel cell, without any women, and listening to the shouts of your fellow scumbags as you cry yourself to sleep. I bet you have nightmares all the time about the wonderful day they'll haul your little punk ass to the death chamber, and do what should have been done from the moment you were born! So keep waiting, waiting, waiting for that day they'll fry you up for your cowardly crimes, just as they killed Karla Faye Tucker and electrocuted Judy Buenoano!!! P.S. Break your neck trying to suck your own dick, that is if you haven't already! You fucking cum drinking scumbags are a disgrace to the rest of us law abiding citizens in America, and I can't wait till I here about your painful execution in the news!!! Fuck you, ya little bitch!!!!!!!!!!
Decided not to answer an idiot who has to use this kind of language.

Raleigh, I am the father of two beautiful young women, ages 15 and 17, and I hear you have a daughter as well. So here's my question how would you feel if someone were to repeatedly rape, sodomize and torture your daughter for hours, especially if he was an arrogant and shameless coward like yourself? Hmmmm Raleigh, how would you feel then, buddy???

Raleigh, how would you feel if someone were to kidnap your daughter, rape and torture her for several hours, and then strangle her the way you strangled your victims??? Now Raleigh, wouldn't you want him to get the death penalty, especially if he was just as cowardly and remorseless as you are, eh???
You know what I don't understand? How it is that so many seem to think they know how I feel. As for my daughter...I'd want to get my hands on the bastard myself. That's revenge, at that person. That doesn't have anything to do with justice, or the cheering crowds of people at an execution of someone they never knew or had any connection with at all.

Why should I believe a word you have to say?
Well, I am not going to tell you to duck and cover to survive a nuclear bomb. I am not going to tell you that desert storm was not about oil. You can believe what you want, that's your choice. Check the facts before taking anyone on blind faith, me or anyone else, then decide what to believe, based on facts.

Questions, questions, I have so many. I'll now waste time with pleasantries. I want to know who's currently in (and alive) for serial murder, murder and any particularly violent crimes, whether sexually related or not. I'm questioning the motives behind these crimes and whether the prisoners themselves feel that there is, for them, and in general,any links with or between, sex, death and crime! Many thanks in advance.
Juliette
I really don't know if there are any so called serial murderers alive, at least here. There's no way of really knowing if there's any connection between sex, death and crime in an overall view. Each case has to be looked at individually and on its own merits. Sex, for instance, I wouldn't think that it would even be a part of the death and crime, unless it was a sex crime to begin with that ended in death. You could probably contact the FBI and get the statistics. They keep track of that sort of thing.

Hi: Some classes are having a debate, and one topic is the death penalty. One student is trying to find out the average cost to keep a prisoner on death row for one year. Do you have that information?Thanks!!
The cost actually varies because there's other factors that come into play. The actual cost of keeping the person on death row can be anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 a year. Other costs are the legal costs. The cost of the lawyers working on the appeal for the inmate, the lawyers that work for the state to fight the appeal. Over all it costs about 3 million to execute one person. To keep that same person in prison for the rest of his life would cost about a third of that. Complicated cases on appeal would cost even more. I think the state spent about 10 million to kill Ted Bundy.

What sort of activities are you permitted to do in prison? Also, how do you keep your spirits up? I would think that time would pass slowly and keep you depressed all the time. Thank you for your time and Good Luck.
It is different for each person. In general it's watch TV, listening to the radio, going outside for 2 or 4 hours a week. For myself I read alot, pretty much anything I can get my hands on, do some calligraphy and art work, a bit of studying. Depression and madness really are problems. I've known a few people that have lost their minds while they have been here. Everyone has to fight that the best that they can, however they can.

Dear sir.....
I am writing this to ask your opinion about donating your organs when you die...Is this a possibility or an alternative with a Death Row inmate.....Would you consider donating to someone as an alternative to execution.....???? I have no opinion of you and make no judgements of you....I only wish to ask you what, if anything you would consider the system change in the course of the Death Penalty and it's procession......I wish you only good things and hope you have found a purpose with life in the world you live....I am doing a research paper and appreciate all you could tell me about what I have asked....If you also have anything else you would like to say I would love to hear it.....
Thank you for your time and good luck to you....
Chelsie.....
SubLuvie@aol.com
Because of the methods of execution, I don't believe that organ donation is possible. Electricity is not kind to the organs or the body. With lethal injection, its the drugs that are injected into the body that I believe would make organ donations impossible. I wouldn't have any problem with donating my organs, whether at my death, or to get off death row. The problem though, say I was to give up a kidney....there are plenty of people that would rather se me dead than to help someone like that...and there are others that have the misconception that my kidney would pollute them and they would somehow get my personality from my kidney which is ludicrous. Now in China, organs of executed prisoners are sold by the state and the family of the prisoner is sent a bill for the bullet that killed the prisoner. So you see there are all sorts of problems. I couldn't even donate my kidney to my son if he needed it or anyone else because the state won't allow it. It should be explored though. Plus I think that if people thought one person was going to get off death row by donating a kidney, the phone lines would catch fire with people lining up to donate their own kidney to stop that one inmate so maybe that would be the good to come out of such talk.

I have to write a paper on what kind of culture is involved in prison. Specifically, I need to know what kinds of food, religion, beliefs, ethics, languages and groups that inmates involve themselves in on a day to day routine. Thanks again. George
Damm George, I don't have that much space:-). Food its the cheapest that the state can provide. Lately though since the public wants prisons to be even harder, there has been alot of lunch meat sandwiches and peanut butter. Never mind that it can cost more than other prepared meals because it sounds so good that convicts are eating baloney sandwiches. There is alot of rice and noodles. Religion is varied and mostly Christianity, Catholicism and Islam. Belief and ethics...some people would say that there aren't any. But I know of inmates that help other inmates learn how to read and write, do what they can to protect the smaller and weaker guys. Your word becomes your bond and you have to be prepared to stand and fight to protect yourself, your property and your friends. Languages are mostly English with some Spanish depending on the population of the specific prison. Some prisons have so called gangs that form for mutual help and protection. I personally don't believe the gang problems are as bad as the prisons like to make them out to be because most inmates will mind their own business as long as they are left alone and the administration doesn't provoke even more problems. There used to be educational programs even college classes but the government deemed it more politically advantageous to keep convicts uneducated.

I was reading the messages on Why people do these things? The message from Bubba and the responses to Bubba. I will not try to cover the fact that I despise the things that any (Convict) has done. Living in this world today is a frightening thing. The horrors that people endure by another humans hand, shakes my heart to the core.I do not believe that any one can say that any one in prison is not human... The things they may do are not humane. I do understand the frustration of asking a question and feeling that question is being side stepped. In many minds today questions about murder are a big fascination. The need to protect your family in this world today is on my mind constantly. I have a little girl that I would protect with my life. I think that when people ask Why? How did you do it? What was going through your mind? It is not because they are sick and demented. It is because they want to understand. They (I) want to give you the benefit of the doubt. To understand. That is what you want isn't it? To me, as a single mother. I would like to know what to watch for. I don't know you, and never will. To tell in detail a little of Why? is only going to help people under-stand. I am not out to judge you personally. Every one has a road in life that they will be responsible for in the end. But to ask for Why? should not bring out so much hate in these discussions. If people didn't wonder Why? Then I would wonder why no one cares, Why? (Understand) It is beyond me why either (death row convicts) sorry, I don't know what else to call you, would justify "Bubba" with a response. He seems incapable of holding a conversation. Yet I can not say I don't agree with him to some extent. Until someone is capable of telling Why!!! (honestly and openly) you can not except understanding. Even though I'm sure you don't. But to be totally honest, I could pull the switch and not even bat an eye. Especially to men and women that take the lives of children or hurt them in any way. To me it is a nightmare for any child to endure any amount of fear. I can not wish you luck. I can not give you sympathy. I can only say that the world and the people in it are in my prayer's. I guess the question should not only be Why? to you, but to God as well. Oh and please don't make fun of my grammar. I don't claim to be a writer. Thanks for reading.....
First I don't believe that I've made fun of anyone or their grammar unless I felt they didn't deserve anything else. Of course when anything happens the question that everyone has is why? Why would a kid shoot up a school and kill classmates? Why would a mother sell her baby for a piece of dope? Why would a man abuse a child? Why would God let any of this happen? There are really no easy answers that will satisfy every circumstance. All I can do is answer for myself and to be honest, nothing not a thing that I could say could in any way justify the death of two people. It's really that simple. In my own case, the answer is simple. At a time when I felt that I didn't have anything to care about, I didn't care. That was the first step. Then there is the fear of getting caught and sent back to prison, that is why the two people died. There was no plan to kill anyone, but when they became witnesses who could send me to prison. If someone broke into your home while you are not home, believing that nobody was home, and you surprised them, they have a quick decision to make...let you live and describe them to the cops and send them to prison or kill you. I know. Sounds cold hearted but it is the facts of crime, especially today with longer prison sentences and third-strike laws. The fact is that most murders are done at the spur of the moment. Not all are planned and plotted out. I did not and do not do this question and answer section to justify myself or my actions in the past. That is not the purpose of this. It's mostly was intended to let people find out how the courts, appeals process and prisons work. That was my goal and still is. Then when people know the facts they can make informed decisions about the system itself. You can say that you would pull the switch without batting an eye. I can understand that if it involved someone that you believed hurt your daughter. But what if it was someone else sitting in that chair? What if there was some question of whether he was actually guilty or not? What if someone else that had even confessed? Then how would you feel about pulling the switch? A man and his wife here in Florida were convicted of killing a state trooper. The man was executed with flames spouting from his head. The wife was also sentenced to death but her sentence was reduced to life. Still later it was discovered that the person that testified against them had plea bargained with the prosecutor is the one and only person that killed the cop. The woman through appeals finally was forced to plead guilty to a lesser charge and given time served and released. By making her plead guilty, she couldn't sue the state. She is not the only person to be put to in that position. Two brothers came within hours of execution only to finally plead guilty to a lesser charge and be released on time served. Over the past couple of years there have been more than 60 people released from death row because DNA evidence proved that they couldn't have done the crime. So please don't be quick to pull the switch. Of course you want to do anything you can to protect your daughter. There are so many dangers to children and even schools are not completely safe. As to what to look for? EVERYTHING! Always be willing to talk to her and listen. That way she will know that she can come to you if she has a problem or questions. Educate her so that she is not naive, but she doesn't have to be afraid of the dark. Make sure that your home is safe and can't be broken into easily. It doesn't have to be built into your own private prison...make it hard for anyone to get in, not impossible for you to get out. Keep track and involved in what she is doing. The thing is you can do everything that you can think of, do everything right and something could still happen. All you can do is what you can, love and cherish her, they grow up fast. As far as "Bubba" and others like him...the problem is that to many people are just like him, or damn close. For that reason he got a response in hopes of reaching those that would be able to comprehend and re think their own stance. When it comes to God and why God would let all these things happen..who knows? Personally I think that everything is a learning experience. Also that God gave us the freedom to make decisions and every decision has results somewhere, somehow. It's not just today that terrible things happen in this world. Look back through history. This hasn't been a kind world since Adam and Eve got kicked out of the garden of Eden. There have been wars, atrocities, plagues and has it really changed?

comments: You kill, You die...It's that simple. You say "People change"... You think you're not the same person you were 20 years ago? Yes... You are the same person, otherwise you'd be a free man. Do you really think you deserve to live? How about the couple you murdered? Did they deserve to die? No... You're a killer sentenced to die. Let the execution commence.
Are you the same as you were 20 years ago? If nobody changes then why not throw any kid that steals a candy bar into prison for the rest of his life? After all once a thief always a thief, according to you! Why bother with them anymore? Why not just go ahead and kill the kids instead of bothering with them...they will never change.

comments: Dear Raleigh, it is clear to see that you must have been severely beaten and abused as a child, because you have absolutely no remorse or compassion for the people you brutally murdered. I hear you constantly talking about how the rest of us in society are responsible for all the bad things that have happened to you, but you NEVER take a minute to talk about the two innocent human lives you took away forever. Why is this, Raleigh? WHY??? They were an old and helpless couple, and you violently and needlessly took their lives in the most horrific and unspeakable manner possible! How can you look in the mirror and call yourself a man after
having done that, and how can you criticizes society for the Death Penalty when you're out there killing people yourself? And where do you get off begging for your own life, when you showed NO MERCY towards that helpless couple as they begged for their lives????? I'm sorry to say it, but it is clear that you are a hypocrite, and do not practice what you preach. I am honestly thankful to God that you were caught, convicted and put where you belong, far away from the rest of civilized society, in your little cell on Florida's Death Row. It was nothing less than a tragedy when in 1995 that moron of a court clerk saved your life from FINAL JUSTICE in the electric chair, and I want to remind you that your day will still come yet. You're had a miserable childhood, nearly 20 years locked up in a cell and have suffered generally throughout your life. Well partner, whether it's revenge or justice, what goes around DOES come around, and soon you'll be out of your misery Raleigh, SOON!
Well Mr. Baker, its obvious that nothing that I could say would matter to you. But for you to call an officer of the court a moron for doing what was right...I just hope that you never end up in a courtroom and have need of an unbiased judge, a level playing field and a fair hearing. That is what the court system is supposed to insure for everyone, even you. Contrary to what you may believe, I told the jury they could kill me or let me live....they voted for life, but the judge had already sentenced me to death before the jury even voted, by signing the sentencing order. I don't hold society responsible for me being here or for anything that I have been through, but remember one thing, if so called society created me, why should society be shocked for the way I've turned out? I don't criticize society for the death penalty, I criticize people who blindly follow propaganda of politicians and support the death penalty without knowing any facts at all. What goes around does come around, so where does that leave society for the acts it does?

comments: Raleigh, I have given you my old email address, which is no longer valid, because I am entitled to my privacy and I only allow my colleagues to know my address. I am a 35yr.old owner of a manufacturing company, and I make about $350,000.00 per year. I have a beautiful wife, two handsome young sons, and we live in an elegant, upper-class neighborhood. When I happened to come across this web page, I started to laugh, realizing
that I have found someone who is exactly the opposite of me, as far as being happy and successful in their life! I can't believe that some "people" live in the disgusting and miserable conditions that you do. You are such a sorry
and pathetic guy, it's just unbelievable! I have always been in favor of having the state kill violent monsters like you, and I don't want ANY of my tax dollars being spent to support your butt and give you a roof over your head, and your green peas in a tin plate. It's a disgrace to Americans like me everywhere that you losers are allowed to breathe the same air as we do and can even use the internet when you're incarcerated and waiting to die! Unbelievable, JUST UNBELIEVABLE!!! Believe me Raleigh, if my tax dollars could go towards speeding up your execution, I would pay whatever it takes to do so in a minute. You're lower than the lowest class of people outside of prison, and you deserve to die a slow and extremely painful death, as you someday will. Do us all a favor Raleigh, and get rid of this useless web page. You guys are nothing, and you don't need to come online to remind us of that!
I can understand you not wanting any of your cronies knowing your address. But why is it that people like you think I'm sitting here in air conditioning typing away on my computer? And you want to restrict access to the Web? After me then who is next? You class conscious idiot. You want to see someone completely opposite of you and your conceited attitude? Just get in your car and take a trip to the poor side of town, look around at how some people are forced to live. Look at all the homeless people that don't even have a roof over their head unless it is a bridge overpass. You want to do something wit your money, then help these people! You want to spend money to speed up my execution? Okay let me have 25 million dollars a year for the next three years, that is what the Spangenburg Group reported to the Florida Supreme Court, was needed to get rid of the backlog of cases here in Florida. Sooooo when do I get the check?

comments: Dear Raleigh, is it true that you have been on Death Row for nearly 20 years? What is it REALLY like on Death Row? I am very interested in the criminal justice system, and have always wondered if what I hear about conditions in prisons are really the way it is. For example, how have you spent each day of your life on the row for the past 20 years, and how can you not go completely insane from spending 23 hours a day(so I've heard) in a one person cell for all that time??? When I think how I would feel doing literally nothing and being stuck in a cell everyday away from my family and friends for 20 years(which is my whole life) I feel like I'd rather die than live like that. So I guess my question is, HOW DO YOU GET BY???????? P.S. Are death row inmates allowed conjugal visits as other prisoners are?
Yes I have been on death row for twenty years. 1978 is when I came to death row. It is boring, boring, boring!:-) Seriously if you want to find out, get a 12 inch black and white TV (no cable) a radio (no tapes) and move into your bathroom. Turn off the AC, close the door and window, and anything that you do has to be done in that room. Don't think you can have everything you may also want because it doesn't work like that. You can't go to the library or bookstore for any books you may want. You can only have an order from the store (cigarettes, coffee, soda's etc) once a week. You can't have just anything at all that you want to eat, meals average at about .65 cents a meal. No conjugal visits either. As far as I know only a couple of states still have conjugal visits for any inmate anymore, never have been allowed in Florida and most other states. No if I had died when I first got here, I couldn't be talking to you now. I couldn't have seen my kids grow up. I couldn't have seen my grandson. You never want to give up on life, because as long as you are alive you have the ability to learn, to try and help someone else. So no matter how bad things may get always remember that you can make a difference. Alot of prisons do allow tours from time to time. You might want to check it out. There are also a number of publications that can educate you about the criminal justice system, and what is going on in prisons. Prison Legal News is a good source. As the webmaster of this Dark Sorrow site and she will give you their address. As for missing family and friends, I am afraid your friends would disappear very quickly, probably while you are still in jail and the longer you are in prison the less contact you will have with most of your family. I know guys that never get a visit or letter from any of their family. Some families do stick with their members in prison but most don't. I don't have any contact with my own family other than my kids now and then, a sister in law and a cousin. I haven't heard from my mother or sister for about three years. Prison is not kind to relationships with family and friends. You get by the best you can...or you bug out.

Reading through questions from other people I noticed you commented on the use of Death Row inmates being used for the testing of experimental chemicals. You said prisoners have no one to protect them, even animals have the animal rights people. Do you honestly think you deserve protection? Who protected your victims? Who is there for their family etc? I'm sorry you have to wait so long to be executed. Wouldn't you rather it be over and done with? Thank you for your time. This site is very interesting, thanks again.
Why is it that people think it should be perfectly alright to do anything at all to convicts? What, convicts don't have family or friends that care about them the same way you care about your own family? When are people going to understand that all this rage and anger to cause pain and suffering on another person only creates more victims. It is one thing if a prisoner volunteers to have experiments done on him. But ask the men and their families who died of syphilis because the American government doctors kept them from seeing other doctors and being treated, how they feel. Ask solders that were LSD without knowing about it. Ask other solders and also civilians about how they feel being exposed to nuclear fallout. And you wonder why there should be protections? Well think on this, if anyone, a drug company or the U.S. government could do any kind of experimental tests on prisoners, then why not you too?

Mr. Porter,
Did you actually commit these crimes? If so where and why? I would be willing to bet that you were either a victim of abuse as a child or on drugs, if indeed you did commit these crimes. It takes Satan to make someone kill. Have you turned your life over to Jesus? I hope you find peace in your life. Write back.
Henry
A 22 year old kid did these crimes. The where and why comes down to stupidity, anyway you look at it. Whether a kid is abused or not doesn't matter, nobody cares. Just look around. Nobody cares what a kid goes through till he gets screwed up, then society just wants to kill him. I've been on death row for 20 years for what that stupid 22 year old did.

comments: Hello Mr.Porter! My name is Tony and I am a 21yr.old man living in San Diego, California. I would like your opinion on a situation which I could not help but get involved in. This all started back in June 1995, when one of good friends(or so I thought) was arrested for raping a 24yr.old woman. At this time(June 1995) he and I were both 18yrs.old. His family didn't have bail money, so he sat in jail until July 1996, when his trial finally began. In Aug.1996 he was convicted of first-degree rape, and was given a sentence of 5 to 17 years. So now at age 19, he was taken to a maximum-security adult facility to serve his time. I had mixed feelings at this point, but didn't really know what to think. But in December 1996, I heard from his family that he had hung himself in his cell! I later found out this was because he had been constantly getting raped and sodomized in general population, and just couldn't take it anymore. My question to you Mr.Porter, is one I've been struggling with for a while now. Was it JUST for him to have gotten what he got for raping that innocent woman, or was it unfair and wrong for a rapist to get a taste of his own medicine??? I'd appreciate your insight on this matter, since you know more about the prison system than I do. Thank you very much, Tony!
Well Tony, my first question is why he spent a year in jail before going to trial. I don't know what kind of evidence they had against him, so I don't know if he was guilty. He was your friend, so, was he in your opinion, sexually violent towards woman? But besides all that, he was convicted and his sentence was 5 to 17 years, probably because he took it to trial with a public defender who lose 93% of their cases. He was sentenced to 5 to 17 years in prison. He was not sentenced to torture, multiple rapes and death. No I don't think it was just, but I know that it is typical of what happens in prison when a young kid is thrown into the pits of hell. Oh sure plenty of people will think he got what he had coming to him. If everyone got what we had coming, because of what other people think, the world would be in trouble. The bottom line, your friend was sentenced to torture and death, he's dead, his family mourns (and probably feels a little guilty) the woman will hopefully survive, you lost a friend twice, or three times. Who is better off?

comments: Mr.Porter, I was doing research on your case, and I am curious as to exactly how long you've been on Death Row for. Is it true that you have constantly been on Death Row since December 14 1978, and is it also true that you have been in custody since 1976? I am just curious as to how long human beings can actually be incarcerated without going totally crazy, so I'd like to know exactly when you were first arrested (what month, year) and exactly how long you have now been in custody since your arrest. Thanks, Sam Jamison.
In 1976 I got 3 years for possession of stolen property. I was released in 1978 and was out for a couple months when I was arrested for murder. It is not how long a person can be locked up before they go crazy, it is how quick some people go crazy, especially in the new High Max prisons that are the rage of the politicians.

I will be writing a 15,000 + word thesis for my final degree project on the American Justice system. I will need to collect a variety of information for this and wondered if you would agree to an interview with me sometime in the future. I am not sure if this is allowed or even if you would want some nosey student poking about in your life. I have to say that my interest is purely in the system and I have no right to be and refuse to be judgmental of your actions. Do you think a killer should deserve to die, or live in poor conditions and why?
You can request my address through this website and we'll see if these people will let you in for an interview, but I think it would most likely have to be through the mail. Can't hurt to check. No I don't believe in the death penalty. What do poor conditions accomplish?

comments: Sadly enough, it is not rare for one to come across a page like this one, written by someone who is condemned to die, and shouldn't be breathing, let alone using the internet. Raleigh, I want you to know that while you maybe fooling some people, there are those of us who have you all figured out. You remind me alot of Dean Carter, an inmate on Death Row in San Quentin Prison in California. This gentleman had a website called "Dead Man Talking" in which he, much like you, wrote columns and columns sharing his views with the public and enlightening us on his experiences. I must admit he is an intelligent person, and did a brilliant job of writing and expressing his views. Many people were moved by him, and wrote him letters filled with love and support, many believing him to be telling the truth and to be innocent. However, after seeing an episode of "America's Most Wanted" in 1996, I learned the truth about this wonderful man. I found out that he had brutally murdered five young women over a four day period, and had also sexually assaulted two others. The episode focused on the father of one of his murder victims, and how he was bravely fighting back and trying to get Carter's right to use the internet taken away. And thankfully, because of the show, Carter has LOST his privilege to spread his venom on the internet! Much like you, Carter showed no remorse for any of his victims, but took time to describe in detail how his food was not perfect, how his feet stick out from his small bed, how his cell isn't ideal and comfortable and the like, while FIVE HUMAN BEINGS ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF HIM!!! Keeping that in mind, one might ask, why is he using the internet to communicate to others? And the answer is simple: much like you, he finds power in getting people, even one person, from the public to have compassion and feel sorry for him, and to believe his story. By getting people to believe he is this nice person by speaking intelligently and using good English, he is thus creating more victims from on Death Row, and finds power in being able to fool people as he used to outside of prison. And Raleigh, you are just the same as him. Just as much of a murderer, a coward and a hypocrite, who preaches peace and kindness while in reality is a sick and violent person, who has had an extremely abusive childhood and has never experienced any love in their life. You really reminded me of him when you spoke of all the "silly rules" they have in prison, like not allowing you to keep more than a certain number of pictures of your kids and so forth. Earth to Raleigh, YOU KILLED TWO PEOPLE!!! TWO INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS ARE DEAD BECAUSE YOU DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE AWAY FROM THEM FOREVER! SORRY IF YOUR FOOD, CELL AND LIVING CONDITIONS AREN'T THAT OF A LUXURY HOTEL, BUT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD AND BURIED BY NOW!!!!!!! Look, I am happy as hell that you've lost your family, your friends and 20 years of your life to Death Row, and am looking forward to the day they'll silence you once and for all, first from using the internet, then from ever breathing again! So remember smart ass, that not everyone is simply believing your nice guy act. There are some of us who, unfortunately for you, know the truth!!! Happy dying to you Raleigh, burn in the chair and in HELL!!! Peter.
Hello Mr. Scott,
I would like to specify that no inmate profiled in my site has any access to the Internet. Not one. All things go through regular mail. Everyone seems to overlook what this site is actually all about. I created this site to show kids what happens when you commit crimes and end up in prison. It is to educate kids about guns. It is to show crime from the victims point of view as to maybe stop one person from committing a crime. I would like to show all aspects of crime death row included. Everyone seems to overlook this. You question has been posted. I can't notify you as many others like you who put fake addresses in for their email. No inmate has access to any email addresses for obvious reasons.
Liz
webmaster
Dark Sorrow
Frog, maybe there should be a law that says idiots should not be able to access the Internet. If you frogs manage to close it off to prisoners, who is your next target? Who do you want to shut up next Frog?

Questions Continued

Email Dark Sorrow