Chapter 7: Proverbs 28:17 - The Cell Next Door

A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; let no one help him. 

Time was going by fast, and our progression with the books was coming along quickly.  We had our God's Planned series up six books, 40 day devotional, Poetic Knowledge, Book of prayer, Epistles, Mysteries Through the Ages, Proverbial Knowledge.  The staff members were beginning to crack down on us for any and every little thing.  We wrote our entries for the books with my legal loan paper which had my DOC number stamped on them.  I had to send the manuscript out to somebody at risk of it being confiscated.  That would be seven months down the drain, and I wasn't risking it.  I had to figure out who I could trust with it.  Christa said she would try getting it published, so there was that angle to perhaps consider.  Chris and I talked more and more about our plans for when we got out.  In the back of my mind, I knew for him the possibility was slim; however, I needed to instill hope in him, or he would never try.  In my heart, I believed he was a great guy that didn't belong in prison.  He was not like the rest of the inmates that I had been around during my decade in the penitentiary.  Although a lot of people had a very low opinion of him, they were, of course, people who didn't know him personally.  I grew close to his family.  His mother sent me letters.  His girl and sister sent me lyrics.  They were very nice people, and they didn't think of me as a no good scumbag like half of society did.  We delved deeper into his case and made progress.  Chris was beginning to open up more to me about everything.  On this particular day, we were discussing his case/appeal.  I was looking for grounds for appeal. 

“So, you're saying that you took a plea before having a preliminary hearing,” I asked.  “Yes,” Chris replied.  “Are you sure you didn't wave your rights to a preliminary hearing?”  "What do you mean?” Chris asked.  “Did you sign something saying you don't want a preliminary hearing?" “I don't think so," he managed.  "Why did you sign a plea agreeing to the maximum punishment?” I questioned.  “Colorado had the death penalty, and they told me that if I didn't take the plea, that they would give me the death sentence.” He told me.  That's basically a threat, sign here or die, right?  I replied.  “It felt like it,” he said.  "I don't think they can do that bro." I told Chris.  "I leafed through the Black’s Law Dictionary and found change of venue.  "Bro, this says that if your case has a lot of publicity, you can hear your case somewhere else, and in your case, perhaps in another country.”  I laughed.  “Or another planet,” he laughed in return.  At least he could find humor in his nearly hopeless situation.  “My attorney told me to file ineffective assistance of counsel on him,” he said.  "So basically, he told you that he didn't assist you in your best possible defense as required by a law,”  I said.  “Also, if it takes these types of cases a couple of years to resolve, yours only took a few months.  That's not normal, or even heard of,”  I told him.  “If I go back to court on appeal, they will transfer me back to Colorado and the inmates and people there wanted to kill me, which is why they sent me here,” he explained.  "I am just not looking forward to reliving all of this.  It was the worst thing I have ever experienced,” he said.  "I know but do it for your parents.  They love you and it would mean the world to your mom." I said, "Yeah, it would, but I said these phone calls are recorded, and I said too much over these phone calls,” he admitted.  "You also had three different confessions.  People don't know what the hell happened, no matter how many different ways you said you did it," I exclaimed.  "Because I confessed how will I come back from that?” Chris asked.  “They threatened your life and got you, no wait, they bullied you into a guilty plea.  You were an easy target, the husband.  They needed this case under wraps for some reason,” I conveyed.  “There was an election coming up I think.” he said.  “Now, we can go over the Circuit Court trial errors all day, but it will come down to you fighting your cases again if you get your sentence overturned.  You will be back on trial,” I said.  “Then the truth will have to come out.  I don't want to cause my wife's family anymore grief,” Chris said.  "What about your family and their constant grief?”  I asked.  “All you can do from here is redeem yourself because you confessed to murdering your wife and kids in cold blood,” I said.  "We didn't.  I didn't murder them in cold blood.” Chris replied slightly defensively.  “My wife came home, and she knew I was having an affair.  We got into a fight, and she attacked me.  I was simply defending myself and then my daughter, she... “Standing count,” the sergeant announced, interrupting our conversation.  After she did her rounds, we continued our conversation.  “Afterward, I talked to Jezebel, I panicked so I confided in her, and she said she would help.”  Chris said.  "My wife medicated her heavily that night because she kept crying.”  He claims that Chris said, “after I took Shanann's life, because she had a knife, something in me just died.  It was an accident.  I loved her with all of my heart and still do.  It's such a tragic loss I just want to honor her memory and not ruin her memory.  People want the truth, but I don't owe it to anyone.  It's my family I lost and it's me that's serving life in prison.  What else do I owe?” Chris asked.  “You owe yourself a fair chance, redemption at that.  The truth shall set you free, bro.  The ball is in your court, only you can appeal your case, only you can put the truth out there, and only God can judge you.” I explained.  “Well, when they tell me to put my hand on the Bible and swear, I'm going to open it to where Jesus forbids,” Chris laughed.  “Well, I'm not sure that will fly but I'd love to see the reaction in the courtroom.”  “Anyway, I told my mistress what had happened, and she told me how to hide my wife's body.  She said bring the girls with me.  I was just on auto pilot, like in shock, so I grabbed my daughter, she was asleep.  My older daughter was awake and asking about her mom.  I told her she was in a deep sleep and daddy was going to get her some help to wake up before we left,  I had to check in with,”  “Mr.  Tallman,  you have a pass to see a PSU the sergeant.” They interrupted again in the middle of his sentence.  I was going to see my clinical psychologist. “We'll finish this conversation when I get back all right,” I suggested.  “Yeah sure,” Chris replied.  I have heard a lot about people's cases directly from them.  This case was different from the rest.  I have a discerning spirit, and I was able to tell that he wouldn't murder a fly in cold blood.  However, what I know so far is that he killed his wife, but not intentionally.  Next, I was going to find out what happened to the girls.  Until next time.