http://www.newsnet5.com/investigations/15978431/detail.html

CLEVELAND -- Bret Vinocur, a victim's advocate based in Columbus, is deeply concerned about a Web site he found.

The site, todestrafe-usa is run by a German organization Alive Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

In a section, titled "Voices from the Inside," people are encouraged to become "Pen Friends" with inmates on death row.

"I don't see any right in the Constitution," Vinocur said, "that says if you go to death row, you can look for women on the Internet."

NewsChannel5 Chief Investigator Duane Pohlman investigated and discovered a disturbing list of inmates, including Richard Ramirez, better known as the "Night Stalker."

In the late 1980s, Ramirez terrorized southern California. In 1989, he was convicted of raping and murdering 13 women, though investigators believe he’s responsible for many more.

Ramirez was sentenced to death and now sits on death row in a California prison.

On the Ramirez Web page, he writes, "I have a good sense of humor." On the Web site, you can also find Richard Allen Davis, the infamous killer of 12-year-old Polly Klaas.

On his page, Davis asked, "Can one ever fall back in love with life again?"

And Pohlman found the notorious cop killer from Cleveland, Quisi Bryan.

In June 2000, after a minor traffic stop, Bryan shot Cleveland police Officer Wayne Leon in the face, killing him. Investigators described it as an execution-style killing.

On Bryan's page on the Web site, Bryan called himself a "big teddy bear."

"That's ridiculous. A teddy bear?" Vinocur asked. "He's a scumbag."

The Web site claims becoming a "Pen Friend" with a death-row inmate "could grow very deep."

In its guidelines, Alive Coalition advises those who want to correspond with the inmates. "Don’t ask questions about their case."

If the Web site generates a pen pal for Bryan, it won't be the first time.

Before the murder, Bryan was in prison for a separate crime. And he was corresponding from prison with a woman. After he was released, authorities said, he persuaded that woman to purchase the gun Bryan used to kill Leon.

For Leon’s widow, Grace, life changed more than seven years ago when officers appeared at her doorstep, delivering the traumatic news that her husband was shot. Today, Grace continues raising her three children alone, all while trying to erase the memory of her husband’s killer.

"I try not to think of him," Grace said, surrounded by pictures and reminders of her children and fallen husband. "I try to focus on raising my children."

Despite her commitment to keep a killer out of her life, Grace agreed to allow Pohlman to show her the Web site and page that belongs to Bryan.

Her reaction was immediate.

"Oh!" she exclaimed when opening the page. "This is just wrong."

After reading his words, Grace was clear about her opinion that Bryan should not be allowed to post on any Web site.


"I believe he did forfeit that right the minute he pulled that trigger to have any kind of luxuries like this," Leon said.

Andrea Carson, a spokeswoman for Ohio's Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, said authorities are aware of the Web site and others like it but claimed little can be done to stop the postings from death row.

She said none of Ohio's prisoners, including death-row inmates, is given access to the Internet. According to Carson, Bryan and others are using close friends or family members to post pictures and messages to this and other sites. And once posted, Carson said, there are no rules in the prison system preventing inmates from corresponding with "pen pals."

"We have a lot of inmates, whether they're on death row or general population, who formulate relationships through mail through pen-pal situations." Carson said. "We can't stop them from having those relationships."

But Vinocur believes the state prison system can and should do more to stop the postings and the pen pals, especially with inmates on death row.

"These are truly the worst of the worst," he said. "They're pure evil."

Alive Coalition released this statement about the Web site it has created.

http://www.newsnet5.com/investigations/15978431/detail.html

CLEVELAND -- Bret Vinocur, a victim's advocate based in Columbus, is deeply concerned about a Web site he found.

The site, todestrafe-usa is run by a German organization Alive Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

In a section, titled "Voices from the Inside," people are encouraged to become "Pen Friends" with inmates on death row.

"I don't see any right in the Constitution," Vinocur said, "that says if you go to death row, you can look for women on the Internet."

NewsChannel5 Chief Investigator Duane Pohlman investigated and discovered a disturbing list of inmates, including Richard Ramirez, better known as the "Night Stalker."

In the late 1980s, Ramirez terrorized southern California. In 1989, he was convicted of raping and murdering 13 women, though investigators believe he’s responsible for many more.

Ramirez was sentenced to death and now sits on death row in a California prison.

On the Ramirez Web page, he writes, "I have a good sense of humor." On the Web site, you can also find Richard Allen Davis, the infamous killer of 12-year-old Polly Klaas.

On his page, Davis asked, "Can one ever fall back in love with life again?"

And Pohlman found the notorious cop killer from Cleveland, Quisi Bryan.

In June 2000, after a minor traffic stop, Bryan shot Cleveland police Officer Wayne Leon in the face, killing him. Investigators described it as an execution-style killing.

On Bryan's page on the Web site, Bryan called himself a "big teddy bear."

"That's ridiculous. A teddy bear?" Vinocur asked. "He's a scumbag."

The Web site claims becoming a "Pen Friend" with a death-row inmate "could grow very deep."

In its guidelines, Alive Coalition advises those who want to correspond with the inmates. "Don’t ask questions about their case."

If the Web site generates a pen pal for Bryan, it won't be the first time.

Before the murder, Bryan was in prison for a separate crime. And he was corresponding from prison with a woman. After he was released, authorities said, he persuaded that woman to purchase the gun Bryan used to kill Leon.

For Leon’s widow, Grace, life changed more than seven years ago when officers appeared at her doorstep, delivering the traumatic news that her husband was shot. Today, Grace continues raising her three children alone, all while trying to erase the memory of her husband’s killer.

"I try not to think of him," Grace said, surrounded by pictures and reminders of her children and fallen husband. "I try to focus on raising my children."

Despite her commitment to keep a killer out of her life, Grace agreed to allow Pohlman to show her the Web site and page that belongs to Bryan.

Her reaction was immediate.

"Oh!" she exclaimed when opening the page. "This is just wrong."

After reading his words, Grace was clear about her opinion that Bryan should not be allowed to post on any Web site.


"I believe he did forfeit that right the minute he pulled that trigger to have any kind of luxuries like this," Leon said.

Andrea Carson, a spokeswoman for Ohio's Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, said authorities are aware of the Web site and others like it but claimed little can be done to stop the postings from death row.

She said none of Ohio's prisoners, including death-row inmates, is given access to the Internet. According to Carson, Bryan and others are using close friends or family members to post pictures and messages to this and other sites. And once posted, Carson said, there are no rules in the prison system preventing inmates from corresponding with "pen pals."

"We have a lot of inmates, whether they're on death row or general population, who formulate relationships through mail through pen-pal situations." Carson said. "We can't stop them from having those relationships."

But Vinocur believes the state prison system can and should do more to stop the postings and the pen pals, especially with inmates on death row.

"These are truly the worst of the worst," he said. "They're pure evil."

Alive Coalition released this statement about the Web site it has created.

I agree that it's odd... although, *shrug* If you're willing to be their penpal that says something about you too.. If you respond then you obviously want to talk to these sort of people... It'd be different if they weren't advertised as being on death row ETC... KWIM?

If you ever go on CL, which I am addicted to BTW, and look at some of the ads there are alot of postings with addresses to write people who are in jail, some of them are even looking for girlfriends! I say, if that's what you're looking for, have at it, everyone needs love LOL

Growing up in Chicago, there was a free paper called The Reader that catered to the artsy crowd. In their classifieds section, they always had numerous requests for pen-pals from inmates. Their only rule was that the ad had to state the person was incarcerated.

This was in the 60s and 70s.

I mean I really don't have an opinion on this. I just thought it was interesting.

I mean I really don't have an opinion on this. I just thought it was interesting.

It is definetly interesting, I'm sure there isnt a lack of people who want to converse with killers either though

I don't know why you would want to get into a relationship with a man on death row though? I mean...he'd never be getting out and you'd have to face reality that he'd die.

I don't know why you would want to get into a relationship with a man on death row though? I mean...he'd never be getting out and you'd have to face reality that he'd die.

..... some people are very deseperate? Like I said, everyone needs love. It's perfect if you have some sort of intimacy issue... I think my problem would be dealing with the fact that he has killed someone. I mean I have that issue dealing with that something with DF, and he doesn't do it by choice... if that makese sense.

..... some people are very deseperate? Like I said, everyone needs love. It's perfect if you have some sort of intimacy issue... I think my problem would be dealing with the fact that he has killed someone. I mean I have that issue dealing with that something with DF, and he doesn't do it by choice... if that makese sense.

:agree

Also... what exactly do you write to a killer about?

"Uh... hey? How's your cell? How's the food....

Well, I have to go to work so... don't shank anyone!"

Seriously.

My sister started to get letters from this guy in prison for killing his mom about a year ago. We have no idea how he got her address. She never even met the guy. It was a creepy situation. My dad put a stop to it.

I wrote back and forth with inmates a lot a few years back. Sent holiday cards, too, because though I obviously don't agree with what they did to get there, they deserve some good cheer, too.

Not sure what is so weird about that. :shrug Prisoners have had penpals since there has been a prison system.

There is a website called prisonpenpals.com. Or there used to be one.

I remember one time I pulled it up, and told my dad I was looking for a boyfriend. He was not pleased. :lol

I don't think pen pals in prison is a new thing.

No it definetly isn't. I think the uprorar is about it being such dangerous criminals, due to death row etc...

To each their own, I mean, I think if you wanna talk to them, go for it. You aren't being forced to write.