Reports and interviews
The reports come from lifespark members or our pen pals. The interviews are made with people inside or outside the prison walls.
Table of contents
1. Pen pal-ships:
Being a young pen pal: English, Elisabeth Deutscher, September 2012
Interviews with members who started a pen pal-ship at a very young age
Life is like a box of chocolates: English, Sabine Townshend, August 2012
Lifespark - lifeshare: "You came into my life out of the blue": English, October 2011
lifespark members and their pen pals on death row write about their pen pal-ships
Une autre facette: Français, Monique Amstutz, novembre 2008
Même condamnés à mort, ce sont des humains derrière les barreaux: Français, Delphine Rey, novembre, 2006
Meine Brieffreundschaft mit Leroy Bockover im Potosi Gefängnis in Missouri: Deutsch, Ines Aubert, Mai 2006
1. Teil: August 2003: Der erste Besuch
2. Teil: Mai 2006: Die Fortsetzung
3. Teil: Mai 2006: Ein Interview mit Leroy
My penpalship with Leroy Bockover in Potosi, Missouri: English, Ines Aubert, May 2006
Part 1: August 2003: The first visit
Part 2: May 2006: The story goes on
Part 3: May 2006: Interview with Leroy
I would like to share my thoughts...: English, Sam Bustamante, Polunsky Unit, Texas, October 2005
Correspondre avec un condamné à mort: Français, Danièle Dagand, novembre 2003
Correspondre avec un condamné à mort est à la fois la plus belle et la plus douloureuse expérience que puisse vivre celui ou celle qui, armé (e) d'une simple plume, décide un jour de pénétrer cet endroit aussi impénétrable que sordide qu'est le Couloir de la Mort.
2. Life on the row:
I will not candy coat this to you...: English, Sam Bustamante, #999380, Texas death row, February 2007
Doing Time: English, Marcus A. Wellons, #314289, Jackson, GA, February 2007, submitted by Ursula Rossel
Introduction to Death Row: English, Gary Simmons, Parchman, Mississippi, submitted by Eva Müller
Lifestory: English, Lenard Philmore, Florida Death Row - December 2007 - submitted by Angelika Fuchs
The new fish and the strong man: English, Victor Stephens, death row Atmore, AL, July 2007
A few questions...: English, Son Tran, Texas Death Row, October 2003
I could be there too: English, Marlise Jörg, May 2010, life with a life sentence
3. Visiting:
A Great Day: English, Marcus A. Wellons, #314289, Jackson, GA, February 2007, submitted by Ursula Rossel
Besuchssituation im U.C.I. in Raiford, Florida: Deutsch, Katrin Heitzer, Juni 2007
Visitation Situation in the U.C.I. in Raiford, Florida: English, Katrin Heitzer, June 2007
My visit to Lonnie: English, Anne-Lise Wood, 2007
Une visite dans le couloir de la mort: Gisèle Francey, 2005
An extraordinary experience: English, Delphine Rey, October 2004
Une expérience extraordinaire: Français, Delphine Rey, octobre 2004
Ma première visite à 'Polunsky Unit': Français, Christiane Bitz, mai 2003
Ci-dessus, vous pouvez lire des extraits d'un journal tenu par Chrisitiane Bitz, membre de lifespark, lors de son tout premier voyage aux USA, voyage qui l'a amené à visiter son ami de plume, Roberto, condamné à mort et incarcéré à Polunsky Unit, Livingston, Texas
My first visit ever at Polunsky Unit: English, Christiane Bitz, May 2003
The text presents extracts of lifespark member Christiane Bitz's diary, when she travelled for the first time ever to the USA. The trip took her to Polunksy Unit, Livingston, Texas to visit her pen-pal Roberto, prisoner on the Texas death row.
4. Execution:
Interview with Gabi Uhl, anti-death penalty activist: Interview with Gabi Uhl who watched the executions of two of her pen pals: English, June 2009
Interview with José Moreno, on death row in Texas: Interview with José Moreno who received a stay three hours before his execution: English, June 2009
Lettre à mon ami Roberto: Français, Janine Cerri, mars 2006
J’ai entre les mains la dernière lettre que je recevrai de toi.
A Journey to Solace: English, José Angel Moreno, Texas Death Row – September 2007, submitted by Hari Ammeter
José A. Moreno wrote this article after coming as close as three hours to his execution. This horrifying experience has changed him completely: "The person that went to the Walls Unit is not the same person that came back..."
The Ride: English, Kevin Zimmerman, December 2003
Kevin Zimmerman, Texas death row prisoner no. 000977, wrote the following text after having received a stay of execution 15 minutes before execution time. The stay was cancelled a few days later and Kevin got executed on January 21, 2004, abruptly stopping a long time pen pal-ship with a lifespark member.
5. Victims and forgiveness:
Interview with Debbie: English, Ines Aubert, February 2011
An interview with Robert Power's rape victim who has forgiven him
The big challenge: English, Ines Aubert, October 2010
A talk with Robert Power on death row in Florida who wants to apologize to his victims
Lifespark - Lifeshare: Victims and Forgiveness: English, October 2010
Lifespark - Lifeshare: Victims and Forgiveness: English, June 2010
"It was a healing process for both of us": (PDF document, 80 KB), English, Ines Aubert, June 2007
An interview with Rodney Bowser, who forgave his sister’s murderer
Language: English
An interview with Bill Pelke, founder of the Journey of Hope: (PDF document, 28KB), English, Ines Aubert, February 2007
6. Miscellaneous:
Capture: Larry Rush, Pennsylvania Death Row – May 2009 – submitted by Sister Anne-Marie, poem
Lifespark 15th Anniversary Quilt Project: English, Isabelle Delèze, November 2008
It is never enough: English, Patricia N. Wernert, women’s prison Ohio, December 2007, submitted by Susanne Moses
Love is not blind: Ulysses Sneed, Alabama Death Row – December 2007 – submitted by Anne-Lise Wood, poem
My name is Patricia - hello!: English, Patricia N. Wernert, women’s prison Marysville OH, Spring 2007, submitted by Susanne Moses
2008 Texas Death Row Calendar: English, José Angel Moreno, Texas Death Row, November 2007, submitted by Harald Ammeter
José has put together a special calendar as a present for everyone that you can download free-of-charge. This calendar will enable you to find the birthday of every man and woman on Texas Death Row, so you can write anyone to wish them a happy birthday.
How an embarrassing case becomes a godsend for justice in Texas: English, Jacqueline Mellana, April 2006
Comment un cas embarrassant devient une aubaine pour la justice texane: Français, Jacqueline Mellana, 2006
Une vie en jeu: Français, Vidéo de Jacques Secretan, 2005
"Une vie en jeu" montre comment un innocent risque d'être bientôt exécuté, au Texas.
(Vidéo, 26 min, 50 MB streaming at 274 kbps)
Esta luz que mata: Espagnol, Janine Cerri, Octubre 2005
La luz no se apaga nunca, los proyectores alumbran día y noche los pasillos y las celdas. Para poder dormir tengo que taparme la cabeza con mi camiseta.
One Life on the Edge: English, Video by Jacques Secretan, 2005
"One life on the Edge" shows how an innocent man could be executed, very soon, in Texas.
Technical details: Video, 26 min, 50 MB streaming at 274 kbps
Fuir dans le bon sens: Français, Eliane Marigo, mai, 2003
De façon récurrente, il rêve qu'il s'évade... Le texte qui suit a été récompensé par un prix au concours d'écriture de l'Alliance Française.
To flee in the right direction: English, Eliane Marigo, May 2003
In a recurring way he dreams that he is escaping... This text was awarded the Special Prize of the Jury at the Alliance Française Writing Contest.
A Chosen Path: English, Son Tran, Texas Death Row, 2004