Prison pen pals VII

A few more prospective correspondents:



Frederick Baer (murder)

I've been a death row prisoner since June 2005. My precious baby girl of a cat, Lucky, it is next to me sleep, she's my heart, soul and world. We're looking for, wanting to meet some new people who'd be interested in getting to know us, on a steady, consistent basis, to keep us company, to let us know we're wanted and needed. No head/heart games please. Is this you??

Interests are-drawing, reading, poems, tattoos, nature, fishing, writing letters, getting mail, and all things naughty in nice. I'm a down to earth guy who's made mistakes in my past, and I'm paying for them all now-with my life. We all have and carry regrets and mistakes from our past we've done and that's happened,-were all human and are not perfect.

I'm just trying to enjoy what's left of my life, and the best ways I can and that's possible now, and desires/want/need to be needed, wanted and a part of- (??). To have and share some laughs, smiles and life together for a wild. Know what I mean?? So give Lucky and I chanced to share some laughs and smiles with you together. Thank you :-)

You don't end up on Death Row for an accidental killing. Sure enough, Fred's in for a double murder. He broke into a house and attempted to rape a young woman, then killed both her and her four year old daughter by slashing their necks. He almost decapitated the little girl.

Frederick's story is a depressingly familiar one. His mother was an alcoholic, a common theme among sociopaths. (Alcoholic mothers care more about their liquor than their babies.) By age 32 he was on his third marriage, abused a lot of drugs, including methamphetamine, and was constantly in and out of trouble with the law. Of course, all this is superfluous; the double murder alone more than proves his sociopathy.

But what are the clues in his ad that betray his sociopathy?

Sociopathic inmates often pose with an animal; they feel it shows what a "affectionate" person they are. They know that most pet lovers are nice people, so they pretend to be one themselves as they cuddle up with their "beloved" pet. Baer underscores this with the second sentence of his ad, referring to Lucky as his "precious baby girl." Aww, what a sweet guy. (How did he feel about the precious baby girl whose throat he slashed?)

Then Baer says the usual, "No head/heart games, please." Before his trial, he was recorded on the prison telephone telling his sister, in anticipation of preparing an insanity defense, "Oh yeah, and while we're at it to boot, here let's go ahead and say you're stupid and insane so it'd make it a little bit easier. I don't think so. . . . Matter of fact, I ain't got to worry about that cause I'm getting ready to go out here to the f***ing doctor and tell this stupid son of a b**** a bunch of stupid-a** lies."

It's usually the people who play "mind games" who say they prefer people who don't. (Straightforward types are more likely to be suckers.)

 Baer's second paragraph is classic sociopathy: "We all have and carry mistakes and regrets from our past we've done and that's happened. We're all human and are not perfect." What he's doing here is equating his "mistakes" with yours: remember that time you were unnecessarily cruel in your criticism? And the time you cheated on your girlfriend? Well, those sins are pretty much on the same level as his.

 Sociopaths always describe their monstrous deeds as "mistakes."

 Writing to Baer would certainly be one.

 ------

I couldn't reproduce the photograph for Robert Baker, since he included a (non-copyable) revolving montage of them in his ad. He also had another original idea for his ad: instead of writing anything himself, he simply attached a newspaper article about his career as a master jewel thief in Beverly Hills. But his ad is definitely worth taking a look at.

A few of the things that give Baker away as a sociopath:

Baker had tremendous nerve, a specialty of sociopaths. Most people simply wouldn't have the gall to be able to easily mingle with the hotel guests without betraying any nervousness.

Baker is described as "a likable fellow who could charm his way out of sticky situations and managed to ingratiate himself with at least one of his victims." Glib charm is another sociopathic trait, and the willingness to "befriend" and then take advantage of someone is another.

Baker represented himself in court at his trial, another sociopathic hallmark. The only people I've ever heard who've done this -- like Ted Bundy, and Colin Ferguson, the LIRR Killer -- have all been sociopaths. (How incredibly arrogant do you have to be to think you'd be better at the job than someone who has a law degree and has passed the bar and does it full time?)

Once, when spotted by a security guard, Baker slipped into a guest room, jimmied open the window, slithered along a seventh floor ledge, and leapt from there onto a fire escape. This sort of fearlessness is also characteristic of sociopaths.

Finally, when he was caught, Baker tried to shoot the man who was holding on to him. But the jury deadlocked on that charge (Baker claimed the gun went off by accident) and Baker escaped the attempted murder rap. But as a sociopath, taking another's life would in fact not have bothered him.

Baker obviously saw himself as a character out of the movies, perhaps along the lines of John Robie the "cat thief" (the Cary Grant character) in To Catch a Thief. Or maybe the George Clooney character in Oceans 12. To a certain extent, he was. But what most people don't realize is that in order for someone to be as cool as those characters, he would almost certainly have to be a sociopath.

William Blanscet (kidnap of wife)

Am 42 years old, 6'6" and 220 lbs....I am single with 2 children. I have a son 18 and a daughter 11 which I am unable to see because of our situation. I have 1 brother, and a mom and dad. My family lives in California so it is hard for them to visit....I would describe myself as a mature/friendly guy who likes to have fun...

Blanscet looks bland enough, and there's nothing about his ad -- other than his crime -- which makes him sound unredeemable. But the following excerpt from the Oregon Court of Appeals shows that he is in fact the stuff of nightmares:

Unless noted otherwise, the relevant facts are undisputed. Defendant and the victim met in the fall of 1999. About a month after they met, he assaulted her, and she had to be hospitalized. Defendant and the victim married in 2000. She became pregnant, and defendant assaulted her again, resulting in a miscarriage. The victim became pregnant again and delivered a child, but defendant had to be removed from the hospital because of his poor conduct. Defendant and the victim separated after that incident.

In 2002, defendant broke into the home where the victim was staying. She attempted to call 9-1-1, but defendant prevented her from completing the call. He was convicted of burglary, menacing, and interfering with a 9-1-1 call for that incident and sentenced to probation on condition that he have no contact with the victim. Defendant nevertheless contacted her and again acted violently toward her. She reported his conduct to the police, his probation was revoked, and he served 19 months in prison. While in prison, defendant wrote letters to the victim. At first, the tone of his letters was threatening, but later it was apologetic. He pledged that he had reformed and expressed his desire to be part of their child's life.

Defendant was released from prison in April 2004. A condition of his post-prison supervision was that he have no contact with the victim. Over the course of the next few months, he violated that condition several times. In October 2004, defendant pounded on the victim's door late at night, and she called the police. For the violation of the no-contact condition of his post-prison supervision, defendant served 45 days in jail.

Defendant was released on December 8, 2004. Late the next night, he went to the victim's apartment and pushed his way inside. Over the course of the next several days, defendant brutally assaulted the victim. Throughout the ordeal, defendant repeatedly referred to the fact that she had previously "snitched" on him. At one point, the victim attempted to call 9-1-1, but defendant thwarted the attempt, stating that she would get him thrown back in jail. On the basis of those events, defendant was charged with multiple counts of rape and sodomy, as well as assault, kidnapping, and unlawful use of mace.

This account leaves one wondering why Blanscet's initial sentences for violating the restraining orders, especially that 45 day sentence, were so light. 

If you want to look at it from a different angle, you could view Blanscet's ad as a triumph of the human spirit. Despite his violent, temperamental history, he is still able to describe himself as "a mature/friendly guy."

Always good to have a positive self-image.

Cheyenne Brown (murder)

I'm mixed raced between Lakota, Cherokee Irish, German, French, Scottish.I'm 6 foot tall, I have long brown hair, and Hazel eyes.I like to rock climb, snowboard, and ice skate, skateboard, and rollerskate, work on old cars, and trucks, and raced them after I fixed them up.I like to go camping, and fishing and swimming in and around lakes a lot. I like to do woodworking, and beadwork and I'm in here and I like to read and write poetry, music. I do some artwork for my beading. I read a lot of books, and I like to look at the stars, and try to see the shapes in them.

That is Cheyenne's entire ad. There are eleven I's in his seven sentences. (Does he remind you of egotists you've known?) Not a word about what he might be looking for in a prospective pen pal, and not a word of regret about his past misdeeds. His crime proves his sociopathy, and his ad certainly shows his narcissism (which is part of every sociopath's personality). 

Cheyenne doesn't sound like a guy who thinks a whole lot about others. He certainly couldn't have been too concerned with others the night he and a buddy killed an elderly couple with a shotgun blast in order to rob them.

Nah, that night he was probably thinking about how he likes to ice skate. Or skateboard. Or work on old cars....

....all things he won't be able to do in prison. 

Prison pen pals VI

A commenter kiddingly asked if I intended to continue this series, and I replied that I was debating whether to continue with the men. I said, "Somehow I find them less intrinsically interesting, I looked at a few and they are for the most part just obvious lowlife animals, with very little subterfuge involved. Somehow it's more surprising -- and therefore interesting -- to find out that a sweet-looking girl is a sociopath. Making that diagnosis for yet another 6', 210 pound male who looks like an out-of-shape MMA fighter and is covered with tattoos and is in jail for robbing a bank seems too obvious. It's far more interesting to figure out that a Bill Clinton or a Newt Gingrich is a sociopath, because that's unexpected."

But I just took a closer look, and there actually are some interesting -- if creepy -- ads for the men. And these ads always feature useful instruction about the ways of sociopaths. A few for your enlightenment:

Christopher Lewis Adams (Child molesting) 

180 pound 6'1" transgender bisexual white female with blue eyes and brown hair seeks a bisexual female or bisexual black male with no kids for love and support in open marriage or friendship to help me change my life to show me love for the way that I feel about myself inside to turn me out. Looks are not as important to me as personality and charm for the crime that I did.

A.K.A. Christina Lynn Adams

At first, Christopher seems quite confused. He says he's a "transgender bisexual," yet he can't decide whether he's attracted to bisexual females (presumably of any race) or bisexual black males. (Why not straight black males, if he's serious about getting an operation?) And he's in the clink for child molesting. Also, his last sentence makes no sense: he wants someone with "charm for the crime that I did"? What??

Adams has evidently brought suit against his Indiana prison, saying his rights to medical (including mental) health care have been violated. An excerpt from the United States District Court's summary judgment against that suit is enlightening:

Adams claims he suffers from Gender Identity Disorder (“GID”) and that a sex change operation and hormone therapy are necessary to quell his desires to have sex with underage girls.

Adams does not suffer from GID and therefore would not benefit from a sex change operation or hormone therapy.

Adams has an anti-social personality disorder. The appropriate therapy for this disorder is group therapy.

Adams has claimed he has trauma-related anxiety. However, he does not have trauma-related anxiety. Adams has claimed he has depression. He refused antidepressant medication and it has been determined that Adams does not have ongoing depression and does not need antidepressant medication.

In other words, he is a sociopath (anti-social personality disorder is basically another word for sociopathy) who is simply feigning various other disorders, and the penpal ad above is merely part of his scam. He has no desire to connect with bisexual (grownup) females or bisexual black males. He still only wants underage girls.

Walter Anderson (Importation/drug smuggler)

Internationally known drug smuggler featured on many TV shows.America's most wanted, Man Hunter, Final Justice the Discovery Channel did a documentary on maximum security prisons in which I was featured.

I'm 6'4", 225 lbs. in real good shape. I'm a former amateur boxer who has fought in the New York State Golden gloves tournament. I was born and raised in Harlem, New York. I lived in Miami, Atlanta, San Diego and Los Angeles. I have also lived abroad, the Philippines, Mexico, Columbia, Bahamas and all through the Caribbean.

I am in prison for importation. I was smuggling drugs into theUnited states....So if you're that special lady then holler at me your private gangster. Gold diggers don't waste my time or yours. I can call you and it won't be collect.

Not exactly consumed with remorse, is he? Well, at least Walter's not uttering that stale line about having made bad choices. 

At the end he says he can call you and it won't be collect; but he also says in his ad that he's seeking "women, donations" so that seems like a bit of a contradiction.

I don't think Walter has to worry about gold diggers; they generally don't hang out on prisoner pen pal sites.

Walter is 51, so if that's a recent photo he's not kidding about being in good shape, especially at 6' 4" and 225. Glad I'm not his cellmate.

Cody Allen (Indecent liberties)

Heyy! I am serving and 86 month sentence. I have around 54 months left. I like to work out and be active. The kind of girls I like are blondes, around 5'8". My height. I'm looking for just talking for a relationship. Either one is fine with me. I like skinnier girls. At the most, I would say around 150 pounds. Maybe more. I like it when you have a sense of humor. I like either short or long hair. Preferably long hair because it's fun to play with. I think it would be nice to actually have a relationship with someone. Maybe it will turn into something. Who knows.

Could Cody possibly have written a creepier-sounding ad? (Especially for a guy who's in for having had sex with a 14-year-old girl.) 

Cody is only 22, so hasn't yet learned how to disguise his true self. Had he eliminated all the references to what he is looking for physically, he would have sounded more normal: "I like to work out and be active....I'm looking for just a talking relationship right now....I like it when you have a sense of humor."

But Cody's inner pervert kept popping up in every other sentence, like the embarrassing second head that alien had in Men in Black II. Even his last sentence, "I think it would be nice to actually have a relationship with someone" sounds creepy, as it makes it quite apparent that he's never even considered the human aspect of a "relationship."

He would have been better off with two paragraphs, one with the normal-sounding comments and one listing his tastes. Interlacing them the way he did made him sound as if he was hiding somehow.

But Cody will undoubtedly learn. Another year or two of hanging out with the other inmates and he'll learn how to present a better false face to the world.

Jerome Angwin (crime not listed)

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my profile. It is my wish to earn the attention of that special someone that was destined to be my friend, lover and companion, the mate to my soul. The woman to complete me as I will complete her.

I am divorced with no children. My profession is System's Analyst and Administrator, though I have many skills and abilities. A few of which the ladies find most pleasurable.

I consider myself fair and reasonable with an open mind. I don't judge people for being different. I am healthy, I stay active, I shower regularly and all my teeth are real. I am very passionate and hands on. I love the taste, sound, scent and feel of a woman.

Communication, trust and great sex is the key to every relationship. I need her to be happy and fulfilled in mind, body and soul. She will be a woman that enjoys being a woman for her man. A woman to be cherished, loved, thoroughly taken and appreciated as the precious gift she is. She should be adventurous, spontaneous and open minded. Enjoying frequent passion for hours at a time.

If you feel any chemistry and want to know more, please feel free to write. I will respond to all, don't be shy. He bows to the ladies. HUGS and Peace.

Jerome certainly takes pains to emphasize how much he likes the ladies -- and how good he is in bed. But when a guy is that emphatic, you have to be suspicious. Especially when he doesn't list his crime in the ad. 

Sure enough, it turns out he's a child molester. He was arrested in an FBI sting in which an agent posed as the mother of two girls, aged 7 and 12, and offered them up for sex. Angwin was evidently very specific about his desire to have sex with the 7-year-old as well as the other two.

This advertisement for how much Jerome loves (full-grown) women is reminiscent of another pattern that runs through these ads: the more evil a person is, the more he will talk about his love for humanity.  

Note Jerome's last line: "He bows to the ladies. HUGS and Peace." What a gentleman! 

A white-haired perv like Jerome has a lot more experience hiding his true nature than does a young one like Cody.

But really, is this all that different from a 35-year-old guy -- with a normal sexuality -- being slicker with women than your average 20-year-old?

We must all live and learn.

Prison penpals IV

Still searching for a correspondent on Prisonpenpals.com. My latest findings:

Crystal Lewis (carjacking)

Single, 28 yr. old W/F is a mistress. Seeking submissive correspondents. Very outgoing, open-minded, enjoys music, movies, cooking, traveling and obedience.

Seeking good fun correspondence, also seeking that special someone.
I enjoy sense of humor and laughter as well as non-judgmental open-minded people. 

Made poor choices in the past led to my imprisonment but I yearn and desire a better future and lifestyle. Will you accept me with open arms? I am up for visits and willing to relocate upon release.

Somehow the crime of carjacking seems appropriate for a dominatrix: "Get out of the car now, you sniveling little worm! You don't even deserve to have this nice car! Get out! It's mine now, you piece of garbage! Now kiss my feet before I get in the car!"

I'm not sure exactly what sort of circumstances turn women into doms, but I suspect that they are not dissimilar to those which make a woman feel she is entitled to another's car.

Note to all prospective parents: please don't name your child Crystal (no matter how much you enjoy crystal meth). I've never seen a single Crystal who's turned out well.

Elizabeth Miller (2nd degree murder)

My name is Elizabeth. I have blue eyes, brown hair, 5'3" and weigh 155 lbs. I am a very artistic person who loves to sing, act, draw, dance, to craft work....I'm very kind, caring and have a big heart. I would like to be an international  pastry chef in hopes to own my own bakery. 

I'm open to all types of people. I always get to know someone before I form an opinion. Family is a very port (sic) part of my life...My heart is full of compassion and is very empathetic. I'm very open-minded, optimistic and determined person with lots of goals in life... 

Note that Elizabeth is kind, caring, and has a big heart. On top of that, her heart is full of compassion and she is very empathetic.

Those qualities must have been missing the day she smothered a 2-year-old boy whom she was baby-sitting. Elizabeth held Ashtyn Lynn face down on a couch while he struggled and screamed and slowly died. 

A perfect example of how the worse a person is, the more she talks about how good she is. 

Lavender Perkins

Lavender didn't write any copy for her ad, nor did she list her crime. But if you Google her, you'll find that she stabbed her boyfriend to death four years ago, at age 40. I include her ad because her picture is rather fetching, and will probably get a lot of men excited. 

But they should realize that the picture has a certain professional quality to it that often implies retouching, and the woman portrayed certainly doesn't look 44, Lavender's current age. They should also realize that she was given a 25 year sentence, which means that she won't be out until she's 65 (possibly earlier with parole).

Lavender certainly won't look like that photo when she's 65. The good news is, at that age she is less likely to be the kind of spitfire who will sink a knife into you if you displease her. 

Meghan Powell (burglary/murder)

I have been locked up since I was 16 years old. I was a kid who made terrible decisions that landed me here. I have grown up and have changed from the kid I was, to the woman I am today. I have learned the difference between right and wrong....

I'm currently in college, working on getting a degree through correspondence courses. When I get out my ultimate goal is to get into law, I will be devoted to helping young people.

If I sound like someone you would like to get to know please write and if ot just take from this that if you or someone you know are on a bad path it is very easy to end up here. Any felony, even say for example you know about a burglary, you weren't even there, but someone dies, you get murder. The justice system can be very cruel...

Meghan has such a sweet face, I just had to look her up to find out more about what landed her in jail. It turns out that she and four friends plotted the murder of her own mother. (All of this happened right off Highway 299, which was mentioned in the previous post.) 

She says that she has learned the difference between right and wrong. Did she not know at age 16 that murder is wrong?

She says she's "currently in college." Ahem, she's actually in jail, she's just taking correspondence courses to get a college degree.

Meghan says she wants to "get into law." I assume this means she wants to be a lawyer, since she doesn't really have the kind of background that law enforcement generally looks for.

Funny, the way she says "someone dies." She neither uses the word "kill" nor mentions that the "someone" happened to be her own mother. A minor oversight, I'm sure.

Also, she says that the justice system can be cruel. True enough -- but at least the justice system didn't kill its own mother.

If Meghan and I were to walk down the street together and it was announced that one of us was a murderer, 99 people out of 100 would assume it was me. I should be walking around with her face and she with mine.

Luckily, she won't be walking down any streets until 2020.

Jacquiline Reynolds (2nd degree murder)

I am a young attractive woman who is honest and open about herself. I have long brown hair and green eyes....I'm 5'6" 145 pounds and 32 years old....I love animals and children. I love to learn and explore new things. I am single and have no one special in my life. I have about 3 years left to do and look forward to starting a life beyond prison. 

Feel free to ask me anything you want. I have a void in my life that needs to be filled and I'm also seek to fill a void in someone's life. I'm a very happy, positive person. Please do not mention this ad when responding.

Jacquiline is in jail for having, at age 17, stabbed her mother to death after an argument. (She had planned to kill her father and ex-boyfriend too, but gave up on that plan when she realized how physically demanding it was to stab someone to death.) According to neighbors, both parents were nice and the mother was proud of Jacquiline.

There seems to be a little bit of a contradiction in her second paragraph: she starts out by telling potential penpals to feel free to ask anything they want. But in the last sentence she asks them to not mention the ad when responding. 

Jacquiline also says that she is a "very happy, positive person." At her trial, her lawyer, angling for an insanity defense, said that she suffered from serious depression.

But the most interesting thing about Jacquiline is that she was adopted. It seems that in an awfully high proportion of these cases where a child murders his parents, the child was adopted. (It does make more evolutionary sense that way.) 

Adopter beware.

Prison penpals III

Am continuing to make my way through the list of prison pen pals. Haven't found the perfect correspondent yet, but there are a lot of interesting ads. A few for your edification:

Cherri Frazier (conspiracy to commit murder)

Cherri didn't write an ad, merely put her picture in. But when I Googled her, I found a record of an appeal filed for her which presents a stark look at a seamier side of life (read from page 3 on). Cherri was in Hawkins Bar, California, located on Highway 299 in Trinity County, California. She was staying with a group of transients at a campground adjacent to a trailer park, and got -- or didn't get -- involved in a plan to kill a local man accused of child molesting.

I've been on Highway 299; it's an incredibly beautiful drive. In my opinion, it's far prettier than Appalachia -- but the local culture is evidently not dissimilar. Reading the link is enough to make you never want to go camping again.

Tammitha Fuentes (complicity to murder)

I'm a voluptuous 180 lb. About 5'7", big blue eyes, med length dark brown hair. No playing mind games. Must be upfront and honest....Gardening seems to be my current hobby. Open to adventurous and different ideas.....No inmates please.

Tammitha's ad is interesting in that it reflects so many common themes. A lot of the inmates say they don't want anyone who "plays games." Many insist upon openness and honesty, although it seems few of them offer the same. And many of the female inmates don't want to hear from male inmates, even though many of them say they're looking for someone who is "nonjudgmental" about her own past. Finally, I've never heard a fat woman describe herself as fat. They are either a "big beautiful woman" or "voluptuous."

I like the way Tammitha says that gardening "seems to be" her "current hobby." Translation: her current job is working in the prison garden.

Her crime is also illuminative: her mother, April Rine, killed her baby daughter Dianne, and even though Tammitha heard her daughter's cries for help, she couldn't be bothered to "get up" to help because she was too stoned on drugs.

Tammy Holycross

Tammy's ad on Prisonpenpals.com doesn't include any copy, only her picture, but Google her and you'll find a Sacramento Bee article dated June 23, 2008. An excerpt:

He died in poverty and torment, a little boy buried in a new suit donated by a department store. A dozen years later, the 3-year-old child is still remembered by many in Sacramento and beyond. His 1996 death became a rallying cry in the community and a benchmark for Sacramento County's Child Protective Services, forced to change its policies after numerous warnings to the agency failed to protect him.

So what became of his mother?

Tammy Holycross, who pleaded guilty in 1998 to second-degree murder and torture, is serving her sentence of 23 years, four months at Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla. But the 40-year-old woman said recently she has a "new witness" and "new evidence" in her case, according to a letter to The Bee.

Her attorney, Eric Escamilla of Fresno, confirmed that he has newly discovered evidence but plans to appeal her case based primarily on what he called "procedural errors." The attorney said he believes there was a rush to judgment by police, and that her case should have been moved out of Sacramento because of publicity.

Even in state prison, Holycross retains some visibility. She is featured on several prisoner pen-pal Web sites, saying she is a "lonely California woman" seeking a man. Several include provocative pictures of a partially clad blonde alongside a snapshot of a more modestly dressed woman, who more closely resembles the mother photographed after Adrian's murder.

"I am looking for a mature man that's settled, likes to laugh, cuddle & be wild behind closed doors," reads one passage under her name, photo and prisoner identification number. "I had a witness that came forward that can totally clear me ... so we have plenty of time to get to know each other."

On another site - in which she describes herself as "easy-going, open-minded, fun, loving, sincere and family-oriented" - the text states that her lawyer has found "stronger evidense (sic) of a case mess-up to get me out. He said within a year we will be done!"

Holycross' relationship with men was an undercurrent in Adrian's murder investigation. At the time, the young mother reportedly told police she "had something against men," and Adrian became the scapegoat for that hatred, The Bee reported. Holycross then was a pregnant single mother of two older daughters, ages 6 and 11, and 3-year-old Adrian, each by a different father.

Only the boy was physically abused. When Adrian was rushed to the hospital on Jan. 21, 1996, his body had been brutalized. The boy, who weighed 26 pounds, was malnourished and had skull fractures, extensive bruising, numerous cigarette burns, older scarring and marks on his neck, penis and right ankle suggesting he had been tied, the forensic pathologist found.

The police detective who entered the roach-infested home in Del Paso Heights found garbage strewn about the yard and a "terrible" smell in the house that he determined to be fecal matter throughout, including in the kitchen, according to appellate court papers. In the last week of his life, the boy had become violently ill after drinking from a bowl of water he found behind a dripping, rusty toilet, the documents show.

Tammy looks like a PTA mom; she is living proof that monsters don't necessarily look like monsters. My guess is, she couldn't possibly hate males that much unless she'd been molested by her father.

Celeste Beard Johnson (murder)

After nearly a decade of working towards my Masters degree and focusing on my braille transcribing, I have decided to seek companionship from penpals. I'm interested in corresponding with intelligent people who have compassion for the wrongly convicted....

I enjoyed collecting fine art and antiques. I love education and discussing politics (or not). I have learned to be patient when dealing with life's problems. The letter is the original form of corresponding with friends and family and now sadly, it's a lost art. 

Currently, I am working on my case to have it overturned and feel confident in this happening due to the obvious corruption in my county. My D.A. made the person who is actually responsible for the crime a TRUSTY-totally amazing that someone can commit a heinous crime and get a special privilege. Then, they gave her a sweetheart deal of only 20 years. She was paroled after only 10 years behind the fences and now she is free. There is new evidence surfacing to prove these allegations. 

I am not bitter because I know that God will turn this around for His glory! Status has made me humble, and I have learned the value of true friendship, true love, and truth in justice. I am looking for honest, stable, pen pals who do not judge and enjoy a sense of humor.

It turns out that Celeste, like Tammy Holycross above, is infamous, and even has a Wikipedia page about her. Two books have been written about her crime. She's been married five times (that alone would be enough to set off an alarm). Celeste divorced her first, second, third, and fifth husbands, and had a female lover kill her fourth. (The female lover is the one she is referring to two paragraphs above.)

Celeste isn't joking about enjoying collecting. During October and November of 1999 she spent $321,000 of her husband's money, and by December 10th had spent another $249,000. In the six weeks ending March 31, 2000, she spent another $100,000. According to the prosecution, she only married Steven Beard -- the husband she had murdered -- for the money.

There are other clues to Celeste's personality. She mentions her Braille transcribing, to let us know what a good person she is. (Sociopaths will often do something "noble" in order to be able to talk about it later.)

I've seen other inmates say about letter writing that it is, "sadly, a lost art." This is a subtle form of manipulation: yes, let's bring back this lost art!

After a third paragraph betraying great bitterness, Celeste states disingenuously at the beginning of the fourth that she is not bitter.

Then Celeste tries to appeal to religious people by saying she knows "that God will turn this around for his Glory!" -- even though there are probably better ways for Him to burnish his Glory than freeing sociopaths and seeing justice undone.

Prison pen pals II

Still on my alphabetically-ordered quest to find an appropriate correspondent at prisonpenpals.com. A few of the more interesting ads:

Alesha Carter (burglary):

Hi, my name is Alesha & I'm 28 years young. I'm a delightful, former exotic dancer whose affectionate as a kitten :) I've lived on the wild side, however, I'm disease & drug free. I have a great sense of humor & love to cook.....The man that I'm seeking should be between 40-87 years old.

When a former exotic dancer tells you she's "lived on the wild side, however, I'm disease & drug free," that translates pretty directly as, "I used to be a hooker." 

But the most striking thing about Alesha's ad is the age range she is willing to consider. Although she is 28, she doesn't seem to be interested in guys 25 - 39. She is only interested in guys age 40 to 87. (Why draw the line there? What's wrong with 88-year-olds?) You have to wonder about the motivation of a 28-year-old who is wiling to consider a paramour of 87. Might she perhaps have a little larceny -- or even burglary -- in her heart?

At least Alesha is not lying about one thing. While dogs are loyal and affectionate, cats are notorious for being the opposite. 

Amy Kristine Chambers-Fields (Manufacturing/Delivering & Possession of Meth)

Sexy Southern lady looking for someone who will love me for who I am... flaws & all...reading, swimming, and rollerblading are a few of my hobbies.....I am told that I have gorgeous blue eyes & a pretty smile. I also have a good sense of humor & love to make others laugh....Looking for someone who is open-minded, intelligent, funny, and most importantly DRUG FREE!

Isn't that last request a bit hypocritical?

Melissa Chapman (First degree murder)

Looking to make new friends & create lifelong connections with like-minded people who love life, learning new things & the value of playing it forward.

Life is too short to hold onto past hurts when we can create new beginnings. Open & honest with many interests, ideas, hopes & dreams. Let's explore them together! Until then, God bless & have a great day! :-)


I was all set to write some snippy comments about how life is too short, especially when you've been murdered, but then I Googled Melissa and found this. It actually does sound as if she was unfairly convicted. So this one was interesting, but in an unexpected way.

Deborah Decker (2nd degree murder)

Fiery redhead. Full of ideas. Full of life. Dominating. I love to have fun!!
....I like slow dancing-mostly in private :-) will try most anything once. Obedience is a requirement in relations. Seeking submissive gentlemen unafraid to step outside "the box"... is it you? :-)

Look Deborah up, and you'll find that she was found guilty of killing both her husband and stepfather by setting fire to their mobile home. (I guess they weren't obedient enough.)

Thank you, Deborah, for confirming all my suspicions about both dominatrixes and redheads.

Brenda Dixon (Murder)

42 yr. old Hazel eyes she devil seeking a dark angel to rescue her. And to captivate her mind and more. I'm naughty by nature, humorous, loving, loyal, but not afraid of life's challenges. Open-minded and adventurous, desire to soar through life's journey with someone. Don't be afraid to write. I won't bite unless you want me to.

Google Brenda and you will find this description of her from an AP article from 2004: 

"Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace described Brenda Dixon, 34, as dangerous. She is accused of killing [her boyfriend] Kevin Paffrath, who was found dead March 25 in his Lake Panasoffkee, Fla., mobile home...'She has a lengthy criminal history. She's been charged with escape by use of force with police officers, and she is currently charged with a brutal murder'."

"Naughty" doesn't quite seem a strong enough word to describe Brenda. How many women have you heard of who've actually pulled a gun on police officers? (She certainly wasn't afraid of that "life's challenge.") And "lengthy criminal history" always gives off the odor of sociopathy. Brenda's not kidding about being a she-devil. 

It tends to be the stronger-looking, more masculine women who are criminals in their own right, and the more feminine ones who get into trouble after getting caught up in their boyfriends' shenanigans. No question which category Brenda falls into. 

Tiffany Duncan (attempted aggravated robbery)

White, 23 yr. old woman is seeking Friendship/companion with possible long-term relationship. Am a mother of 2 very small boys, intelligent, honest, understanding, open-minded, fun to be around, have a great personality, sense of humor, and am out going....Made a bad choice, that's regretted. Am not perfect but try to do what's right in most cases. Don't like to be judged. Love the outdoors, poetry, sports, and to just have fun and enjoy life to its fullest....Am a very kind and caring individual who was born in California....Love attention and touchy-feely type of woman. I am approximately 153 pds., 5'3"...Like to work out sometimes also....Well if you're interested please feel free to write this amazing woman...

Note the "Don't like to be judged." That translates directly as, "I have a narcissistic personality, therefore I explode into a rage at the slightest criticism." Her narcissism is also evinced by the way she describes herself: even in an advertisement, use of the word "amazing" seems extreme. 

I'm struck by the number of inmates who claim to love the outdoors, and wonder if this particular passion is something that has developed since they were incarcerated. I sometimes think that if I were caged up, I would probably feel a yearning to hike, camp, and so on.

Correspondence course

I've been feeling the need for a correspondent recently, what with my email inbox always so empty. So I did what any sensible person would do.

I went to Prisonpenpals.com

Meandering through the various ads was, as always, fascinating. The most interesting part of course was reading between the lines and trying to spot the sociopaths.

There are several themes that run through the ads for female inmates. Many of the women claim that it was their loyalty that got them into trouble. I actually believe that is often the case (even if not as often as claimed). If you look at the crimes the women are convicted of, it's often just possession, meaning that their boyfriends just stored their stashes with them. Or it's harboring a fugitive, which means that after the boyfriend got into trouble, he hid out at her place. Or it's being an accessory of some sort.

So while these women made themselves eminently prosecutable, it's harder to condemn them morally. The vast majority of women convicted of those types of crimes are not sociopaths themselves, but simply had the misfortune to get involved with one, didn't have the sense to get away from him, then got dragged down.

There are also a fair number of women who are in for a DUI which resulted in death. As reprehensible as this is, it's still not premeditated, so the odds are that these women are merely drunks, not sociopaths.

But there are a number of women who give off the distinct odor of sociopathy. One of the clues is the way they describe their crimes. A lot of them say something to the effect of, "I made some bad choices, I'm paying for them now, but I'm looking to improve my life." The phrase "bad choices" in particular is used quite often. It seems to imply an easy mistake, like filling in the wrong oval on the SAT, something any of us could do.

But when the bad choice involves murder, which a fair number of the women were convicted of, it's not quite so simple as filling in a "B" instead of a "C."

Another common pattern is, the worse the person, the more they talk about what a good person they are.

I must confess that while perusing these ads, I tended to be drawn to the ones with more attractive pictures. But good-looking women are as easy to glean psychological insight from as the less attractive ones. A few examples:

Amanda Berry (robbery):

I have learned that my past mistakes do not define me as the woman I have grown to be today. I can say I wouldn't change and I have learned to embrace who I am....Although my mistakes have me paying my debt to society, this debt has taught me that people really can change if this is what they want....Upon my release I would....like to build a nonprofit organization that helps me reach out to children who are victims of child abuse/domestic violence. I would like to show them that there are many alternatives besides the old lifestyle I had chosen. In the meantime please take care and I hope to hear from you soon.

Note how she contradicts herself in the first few sentences. She first says that her past mistakes do not define her as the woman she has grown to be. Then she says she wouldn't change and has learned to embrace who she is. Then she says that people can change. (Make up your mind, Amanda.)

She implies that she was an abused child; this is certainly not her fault, but shows that there wasn't much of a bond between her and her parents, which also means she is much more likely to be a sociopath. 

Also note the "please take care" at the end. Maybe she was just talking in a way she considered polite, but it is also redolent of the false "caring" that sociopaths often exhibit. 

Look at those tattoos: both arms are covered, and she seems to have one at the top of her chest. One has to wonder how much of the rest of her is covered. Most tattoos, whatever they actually say, send the message: I don't care that much about myself, so you can bet I don't give a hoot about you.

And keep in mind, robbery is not burglary: the latter implies stealth, the former a gun.

All in all, pretty scary.

Tiffany Star Brigman (drugs):

"Fallen Star"... In search of redemption. 
Sensual, intelligent, and extremely seductive 36 year old female seeks friendship with endless possibilities... Raised in the south, yet residing in Sin City has given me the perfect combination of charm and bad girl antics.
Quick witted with a wickedly funny personality that is sure to please.
Measurements 36C-29-36, 5 9 tall, 130 pounds, and hazel eyes.




Tiffany is not lying about being "extremely seductive," though she might have done better by simply letting her picture speak for her. My guess is that she moved to Vegas to be a showgirl, and found that she could make even more money by working as an "escort" on the side. "Tiffany Star" certainly sounds like a stripper's name. If it's not her stage name, and her parents actually gave her that name....yikes. Note that she includes the "C" with her measurements, and note also her pose at right; she's been around enough to know what guys are interested in.

All in all, the kind of girl you hope to run into on a trip to Vegas. But maybe not the ideal correspondent.

Holli Lyn Baty (3rd degree murder):

I am 31 years old, have brown hair and brown eyes, and am 5'7" 140. I am athletic and enjoy all kinds of outdoor sports and activities. I am very outgoing, have a good sense of humor, and have a positive outlook on life and my future. I have never been married, but am very family oriented. My mom is my best friend and my nephew is my favorite person in the world.

I am a great Pen Pal and loyal friend. I enjoy cooking, camping, fishing, and hiking most of all and volleyball is my favorite sport to play. I also love watching football and NASCAR on tv. I am a girly-girl, but I don't have a problem getting dirty either. Science is my favorite academic subject and I hope to finish my degree in Environmental Science upon my release. If you are looking for a down-to-Earth, open-minded friend to correspond with, then I'm your girl.

The weird thing about Holli is that there's not much about her ad that is scary, other than the fact that she is a murderer. (I looked her up: she killed her boyfriend's 4-year-old daughter, who died of cranial trauma; Holli was also convicted of aggravated child abuse at the same time; the child had been battered over a period of months before she died. Baty's release date is 2030.) But to look at the ad, the only thing that seems trashy is the "alternative" spellings of both her first and middle names. (What is it with criminals and misspelled first names?) 

Otherwise, what with her interest in environmental science, she could be another Earth Mother hippie type. You know, all peace and love. And, I guess, child-killing.

Natalya Nicole Baker (1st degree murder):

I'm an old soul, 29 years old, looking for some friends to share my smile with. I've been incarcerated since 2006 and still have several years to go, so I get a bit lonely at times. I love to laugh, learn new things, exercise, listen to music, write, read, and love spending time in the sun (smile). I'm an eccentric, compassionate, positive/optimistic, kindhearted and loving woman who is willing to spend time in getting to know you.

I feel that my past has brought me to my knees and has made me a better woman today. Only prayer, meditation and forgiveness. Okay friend it's your turn now! I'd love to get to know you! Please send a photo or two so I know who I'm talking to!

Natalya was found guilty of killing a 19-year-old boy at the end of a long robbery spree with three men. She tried to get a retrial on the grounds that she too was a victim of the three men, but the judge said that not only was she not a victim, she was in fact the one who laid the groundwork for the murder. 

Natalya is a good illustration of the rule that the worse the person, the more they talk about how nice they are. Note that she is "compassionate, positive/optimistic, kindhearted, and loving." Sounds great. But actions speak louder than words. 


So far, no luck. But I'm still optimistic about finding a pen pal: I've only gotten through the B's in these alphabetically-ordered ads.

"Psychopaths, 'Dark' Personalities Better at Making Themselves Look Attractive, Study Suggests"

A study by two researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that sociopaths (another word for psychopaths) were more skillful than normal people at using clothing, makeup, and hairstyles to make themselves more attractive. 

This makes perfect sense: sociopaths are skillful at manipulation, and part of manipulation is influencing people with your looks. It stands to reason that they would put more effort into enhancing their appearance, something normal people might be too embarrassed to do. 

It also fits in with another thing I've noticed: that sociopaths are far more likely to have plastic surgery. (Think of it as another "mask" the sociopath wears.) And if they're male, they're far more likely to use steroids.

Most (certainly not all) non-sociopaths are too embarrassed to have plastic surgery because of what it says about their vanity. And most guys wouldn't take steroids because it would be cheating (at least in a sports context). 

Sociopaths don't feel embarrassment, and they don't feel guilt, so they do both of those things. And if they don't hesitate to get plastic surgery or take steroids, they're certainly not going to think twice about using dress, makeup, and hairstyling to achieve their goals. 

"Kim Kardashian brings out fans, Islamists, and police in Bahrain"

An article from Reuters today described the locals' reaction to a certain Westerner's arrival in Bahrain yesterday: 

MANAMA (Reuters) - Television celebrity Kim Kardashian brought out screaming fans, angry Muslim hardliners and police throwing stun grenades on Saturday when she visited Bahrain to launch a milkshake franchise, witnesses said.

About 100 Sunni Salafists demonstrated with banners outside The Walk Bahrain, an upmarket mall in the capital Manama, after some MPs tried to block the visit over what they called her "bad reputation", according to a local newspaper.

Thousands of fans, who had paid up to 500 Bahraini dinars ($1,360) a ticket, broke into hysterical screams as the 32-year-old celebrity launched the Millions of Milkshakes franchise inside the mall.

Witnesses said police dispersed the demonstrators with stun grenades as the inauguration proceeded inside. There were no reports of casualties....

Honestly, who is crazier: protesters who don't want Kim Kardashian in their country, or fans who would pay $1360 for the privilege of seeing her in the flesh?

I gotta side with the Sunnis on this one.