Austin
Aggravated Assault and Destruction of Property (2 incidents)
In May 1993, Abortionist Peter Kropf carried a 12-gauge shotgun and an automatic handgun to a pro-life prayer vigil. He pointed the shotgun at the pro-lifers and police and refused to put it down when police ordered him to. During the same prayer vigil, a pro-abortion woman destroyed two pro-life signs.
References: "Gun-Toting Abortionist Arrested," Life Advocate" May 1993, page 19; "Pro-Abortion Violence: A Growing National Phenomenon." Life Advocate, July 1993, pages 10 to 15.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW)
A pro-abortionist attacked sidewalk counselor George Wooley with a weed eater, holding it to his neck. A weed eater is capable of cutting down young trees having trunks of perhaps one-half inch in diameter.
Reference: Operation Rescue National, Violence and Disruption Report, December 10, 1994.
Brazoria
Murder, Burglary, Tampering with Evidence and Child Neglect
DeShone Boler was married, but was committing adultery with 22-year-old Emily Garrison, who was pregnant with his child. Boler's wife, Crystal Michele, was understandably unhappy with this cheating, so she decided to take action.
So she went to Garrison's home, beat her up with a gun, bit her severely on the shoulder, stabbed her in the neck with a knife, and finally shot her five times.
Emily Garrison's body was found March 17, 2003, after her 3-year-old daughter, locked out of the apartment, knocked on a neighbor's door. Police later learned the child spent the night in her mother's car.
Both husband and wife were arrested shortly thereafter and both were charged with murder, burglary and tampering with evidence. They were held in lieu of $725,000 bond each.
Later, Justice of the Peace Sharon Fox signed the order dropping charges of murder, burglary of a habitation and tampering with evidence against DeShone, after Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne said that there was not enough evidence against him to proceed. "At this point in time it's clear that Crystal is the primary actor," Yenne said. "The evidence that we collected goes directly to Crystal Boler."
Crystal Michele Boler could face up to life in prison if convicted of killing Emily Garrison.
References: Michael Wright. "Charges Dropped." The Facts, June 25, 2003; "Couple Charged in Slaying." San Antonio Express-News, March 29, 2003.
Brownsville
Kidnapping, Rape (12 incidents), Assault (6 incidents) and Forced Abortion (2 incidents)
We hear lots of lovely prattle from the pro-abortionists about how "reproductive rights" are the first rights for women; about how women simply cannot live their lives without abortion; and about how prenatal child lynching adds greatly to the dignity of women.
This database includes many examples of how individual men use abortion to cover up their rapes and their patterns of incest with girls as young as ten years old.
As bad as these cases are, they pale against the horrors of institutional and systematized forced abortion used against women right here in the United States — by the "institution" of sexual slavery.
To the best of our knowledge, no 'pro-choice' individual or organization has ever spoken out against forced abortion used in the context of sexual slavery. However, we sometimes hear about forced abortion from activists who battle sexual slavery all around the world.
For example, a speaker described one pitiful case at a Honolulu conference on trafficking in women and children in November 2002. Deputy Secretary Claude A. Allen of the Department of Health and Human Services told an audience of 300 activists the tale of a 13-year-old Mexican girl tricked into prostitution in the United States.
This girl, waiting tables in a small Mexican town, was persuaded that she could make 10 times more in Texas. Two men told her that they would arrange immigration papers and transportation, promised to find her another job if she didn't like the first one, and would bring her back if she got homesick.
She and several other girls walked for four days and nights through the desert and across the Rio Grande to Brownsville, Texas, and then men drove them to a trailer in a deserted area of Florida.
Allen continued: "Only then was the little 13-year old girl told that she had been sold to a brothel and would have to work off her debt by sexually servicing men. She was a virgin, and she didn't know what they were talking about, but she knew it was bad, so she refused. She was then brutally gang-raped to induct her into the business."
Allen said that, for the next six months, she was forced to service 10 to 15 men a day. "Twice she was impregnated, twice forced to have an abortion, and twice she was back in the brothel the next day," Allen told the hushed audience in the convention center. The traffickers circulated her through trailer brothels and private parties, where she was passed around. She was pistol-whipped and raped if she resisted.
The girl was finally rescued when two girls ran to neighbors who called police.
Allen said that "She had multiple sexually transmitted diseases, scar tissue from the forced abortions, and was addicted to drugs and alcohol. She had posttraumatic stress syndrome, including severe depression and suicidal thoughts. She was physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually broken. ... This is a modern-day form of slavery."
Sexual slavery is a huge business, generating an estimated $7 billion for the traffickers. It would not be anywhere as near as lucrative without the very useful tool of abortion.
Kevin Bales, a researcher and author, says that "There are more slaves today than at any time in history," with 27 million people in one form of slavery or another.
Throughout Asia, women and children are forced not only into prostitution but marriage, domestic service and factory work. Because policy in China generally limits families to one child, and girls are often aborted or killed, there are about 115 men to every 100 women.
Indian brothels use an estimated 200,000 women from Nepal. Guesses about prostitutes in Thailand range from 200,000 to 800,000, many imported from Burma, China, Laos and Cambodia.
A South Korean activist, Young Sook Cho, alleged that the 37,000 U.S. troops there were the root of her country's prostitution. In response, Maj. Gen. Ronald Lowe, chief of staff of the Pacific Command here, said troops were being advised that soliciting a prostitute violated South Korean law and U.S. military regulations, and they can go to jail for it.
You can imagine for yourself how effective this threat was. Soldiers from any nation on foreign soil traditionally use prostitutes, and could not care less whether they are in the 'trade' voluntarily or not.
The sexual traffickers range from organized-crime syndicates like the Mafia, Japan's yakuza and Chinese triads to "mom-and-pop" operations. Most prostitutes are tricked rather than forced into leaving home with promises of good jobs. Traffickers forge documents, arrange sea or air transport, have safe houses to hide the women, and sell them to bars, brothels and massage parlors.
"It's the reverse of the underground railroad the Abolitionists used to free slaves in the American South," an anti-slavery activist explained. Once at their destinations, women are isolated because they don't know the language or customs, and are threatened with arrest if they leave brothels. Corrupt immigration officials, police and travel agents abet the trafficking.
The misery of the 13-year-old girl described above is enough to make the knees of any decent person weak.
But have we heard a single word of opposition to forced abortion in the context of sexual slavery from any 'pro-choice' group?
From the National Organization for Women, which has? delete
From the National Abortion Federation, whose clinics presumably abort these slaves on a regular basis?
Or from NARAL?
No, we have not.
And we are likely never to hear such condemnation.
After all, there's a lot of money to be made aborting sex slaves.
Reference: Richard Halloran. "The Rising East: Millions Victimized by Modern-Day Slavery." The Honolulu Advertiser, November 19, 2002.
Corpus Christi
Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Retaliation and Violation of a Protective Order
On September 1, 2005, Bruce Wayne Gerard picked up a butcher knife and repeatedly stabbed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, 17-year-old Stephanie Reyes, seventeen times in the stomach, neck, head, side and arms. She testified in court that she was thinking about her baby as Gerard attacked her. She said "I'm screaming at him, at him, saying 'Stop, what are you doing,' I was saying 'Wayne, think about the baby, stop' ... I was screaming. ... I didn't want to sit down ... I kept worrying more about the baby and worrying if I was going to make it or not . ... I told them [hospital staff] 'you all do what you have to do but you save my baby,' and that's all I was worried about when I was laying on that bed."
Stephanie slipped into a coma for 17 days, and lost her preborn child during this time.
Gerard was charged with capital murder, burglary of a habitation with intent to commit aggravated assault, violation of a protective order, and retaliation.
On March 29, 2006, prosecutors dropped the capital murder charge against Gerard because doctors could not testify that her preborn child was viable since she had only been six weeks pregnant at the time of Gerard's attack.
On April 4, 2006, Gerard was found guilty of aggravated assault, and was sentenced to prison for twenty years.
References: Reporter Jozannah Quintanilla. "Stephanie Reyes Testifies About Being Stabbed." KRIS Television 6 News [NBC, Corpus Christi, Texas], March 28, 2006; "Bruce Gerard's Murder Charges Dropped In Fetus Death: Doctors Could Not Testify That Baby Was 'Viable'." Corpus Christi Caller-Times, March 30, 2006; Nancy Martinez. "Prosecutors Need Specific Proof to Convict in Murder of Unborn." Corpus Christi Caller-Times, April 9, 2006.
Dallas
Capital Murder (6 counts)
On December 19, 2003, Emmanual Rogers, Sheldon Roberts and Brandon Shaw, members of a Dallas street gang, decided to retaliate for a shooting that had taken place during a robbery the previous day. So they traveled to an apartment where Virginia Ramirez, who was nine weeks pregnant, was living. She had two visitors at the time, Heath Laury and Jessica Thompson. The three gang members then shot all three people in the apartment, and, of course, Virginia's preborn baby was killed as well.
On February 4, 2005, a jury convicted Rogers of two counts of capital murder. A medical examiner said that Virginia's preborn child had been alive when she was murdered. Rogers was sentenced to two life terms in prison. On May 19, 2005, a jury convicted Roberts and Shaw of two counts of capital murder, and they also were sentenced to two life terms in prison.
Jurors agreed that the preborn child should be considered alive and a victim in the shooting, the Dallas Morning News reported. Prosecutor Eric Mountain said that "They weren't looking for proof that the baby was alive at the time of the mother's death."
Stacey Emick, Texas Right to Life's legislative director, said that "Complete recompense for such a heinous crime is unattainable; however, the ruling in this case sets a new standard, marking the first time that the penalties of The Prenatal Protection Act will be applied. Perpetrators who kill pregnant women in Texas will be charged with the murder of both the mother and the unborn child. The message is now clear: Harming pregnant women in Texas is a serious crime with steep repercussions." Joe Pojman of Texas Alliance for Life said that he hopes "by publicizing the prosecutions of these brutal acts, mothers and their unborn children will be better protected because would-be criminals will understand the consequences of their gruesome acts. Prosecutors are currently using the law in other areas of Texas, including Lufkin, Houston, El Paso, and Round Rock."
References: "In Brief: Man First Convicted Under State's Fetal Protection Law." Texarkana Gazette, February 6, 2005. Steven Ertelt. "Texas Man Convicted Under Unborn Victims Law for Killing Pregnant Woman." LifeNews.com, February 7, 2005; "Two More Men Convicted in Gang Slayings, Get Life in Prison." WOAI Television 4 News [NBC, San Antonio, Texas], May 5, 2005.
Murder and Statutory Rape
Teshibra Bell, who was only 15 years old, met a man at a convenience store in Southern Dallas. The man, pro-abortionist Shannon Meshack, was 25 years old and had a reputation as a "ladies man." Bell became infatuated with Meshack and eventually began skipping school and sneaking out of her house to meet him. She eventually began to have sex with him. Her family tried to discourage the relationship and contacted authorities about her truancy, but refrained from filing statutory rape charges with the police.
In June 2003, Teshibra was five months pregnant with Meshack's baby. She was looking forward to having the child, but Meshack did not want a child. So he strangled Teshibra. He then dragged her body into his back yard, piled up some debris, and tried to burn her. He told firefighters who responded to an unconscious person call that he was burning material in his back yard to repel mosquitoes, said Sgt. Larry Lewis of the Police Department's homicide unit.
"One of the firemen saw a body in a back room covered up" with a sheet, Sgt. Lewis said. "He apparently had taken her outside and, with some sort of accelerant, tried to set her on fire. We think that he was trying to burn her ... and maybe seeing the fire trucks or hearing them, he brought the body back inside the house. He was telling the firemen there was nothing in there."
On June 23, police arrested Meshack and charged him with Bell's murder. The next day, the Dallas medical examiner's office ruled that Bell died from homicidal violence, including strangulation. Although Meshack can be charged in the death of Bell, prosecutors won't be able to charge him with the death of Bell's preborn child.
Octavia Fields had raised Teshibra from the time she was in elementary school. Once Bell found herself pregnant, she hid the pregnancy. Fields said she continued to try to persuade Bell to leave Meshack, but she wouldn't. "He didn't want her to have the baby," Fields said.
Mike Hannesschlager, director of the Texas Christian Coalition, told LifeNews.com that "The murderer of Teshibra Lysha Bell is in fact guilty of the murder of two people — Ms. Bell and her unborn baby. Bell's life was taken in her youth, and her baby's life was taken before birth. Both lives are precious in God's sight, and are beyond price."
References: Jason Trahan. "Man Suspected of Killing Girlfriend, Burning Body: Girl, 15, was Halfway Through Pregnancy, Authorities Say." The Dallas Morning News, June 24, 2003; Steven Ertelt. "Texas Man Kills 15-Year-Old Girlfriend After Getting Her Pregnant." LifeNews.com, June 25, 2003.
Fatal Botched Abortion
Abortionist Frederick S. Shields botched an abortion on Junette Barnes on July 8, 1988, who hemorrhaged, was transported to a local hospital, and subsequently died. He voluntarily surrendered his Texas license on allegations of drug and alcohol abuse. He failed to stop drinking alcohol as he agreed to subsequent to the death of Barnes.
Reference: Victoria County District Court Case #90-5-40, 939-C.
First-Degree Assault (2 incidents) and Forced Abortion
Pro-abortionist Sandra Kenney was convicted of two counts of first-degree assault for hiring two men to beat up Naomi Baum, who was pregnant by Kenney's husband, and injecting her with cocaine and antifreeze to make her miscarry. She received 30 years in prison.
Reference: "Practicing Abortion Without a License." Life Activist News [Life Dynamics, Inc.], Fall 1997, page 13.
Assault, Reckless Conduct and Theft
On August 7, 2004, a group of sidewalk counselors from Operation Save America - Dallas, including children and a baby, was picketing outside the Fairmount abortion mill in Dallas, Texas.
Suddenly, a woman walking into the abortion mill doused them with a can of pepper spray. Rev. John D. Reyes, Director of Operation Save America - Dallas, said that "The woman obviously had no value for any life whatsoever, born or unborn from the largest to the smallest that she would use this weapon upon gentle Christians, including a baby!"
The woman was later arrested by police and charged with reckless conduct.
But the pro-lifer's trials at the hands of violent pro-abortionists were not yet over that morning.
A man walking into the abortion mill attacked Dan Russell, who was carrying a camcorder. He pushed and pulled Dan, grabbed the video camera, and took it into the abortion mill. He only returned it (minus the tape) when police were called. He was charged with assault and theft.
References: "Gentle Christian Young People Assaulted then Pepper Sprayed Outside Dallas Abortuary!" Operation Save America news release, August 7, 2004; "Pro-Lifers Counseling outside Dallas Abortion Center Assaulted." LifeSite Daily News, August 10, 2004.
Assault
In the Spring of 1992, pro-lifers were picketing the house of abortionist Norman Tompkins. Police were on the scene, and at one point the abortionist was talking with them while the abortionist's wife was sitting in her car at the location of the discussion with the police. Pro-lifer Rick Blinn walked up to the discussion to learn what was being said, and the abortionist's wife sprayed him with mace from inside her car. The police took Rick to a fire station for emergency eye irrigation. Rick pressed charges for assault.
Reference: Rick Blinn, telephone conversation with Lynn K. Murphy, December 8, 1994.
El Paso
Murder, Manslaughter, Assault, Death Threats (3 incidents), Grossly Botched Abortions (6 incidents), Felony Medical Record Altering, Insurance Fraud (2 counts) and Drug Abuse
During an abortion at the Southside Medical Center in El Paso on April 11, 1984, Raymond Showery tore Mickey Apodaca's uterus and severed her uterine artery. She hemorrhaged for two hours before Showery would allow her transfer to a nearby hospital. She bled to death during emergency surgery to remove her uterus. The prosecution charged that Showery used inadequately trained staff, failed to properly treat the tear, delayed treatment, and delayed Apodaca's transfer to a hospital. The abortionist refused to provide records to the grand jury on the grounds that they might incriminate him. He was indicted for manslaughter.
Amazingly, while Showery was in jail, six pro-abortion women protested in Showery's defense outside the courthouse, asserting that Showery "is a good man who helps the poor."
He performed this abortion while still on bail pending appeal of his conviction for murder in the case of a late-term aborted baby (weighing five pounds) who survived his 1979 abortion attempt. Showery deliberately drowned the viable baby.
The abortionist was found guilty in 1983 of the 1979 murder of a 7-month preborn child he aborted by hysterotomy. Employees testified that the infant girl had light brown hair, was about a foot long, and curled up in Showery's hand. An employee saw the infant apparently attempting to breathe as Showery held the placenta over her face. Showery then dropped her into a bucket of water. Employees testified that bubbles rose to the surface. Showery then put her in a plastic bag which was tied and put at the end of the operating room. The bag moved as though someone were breathing in it, then the bag stopped moving. One witness said he was holding the bag Showery put the infant in, and that he later put the bag in the freezer where fetuses were stored. Showery was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, even though the body of the infant was never found and employees could not identify the patient upon whom the abortion was performed. Five former employees testified that they had seen Showery kill the infant. The jury chose to convict for murder even though they had the option of convicting for manslaughter. Despite all the witnesses, Showery denied all the allegations. He said "I never killed a baby, and if I'm not telling you the truth, may I die right now."
Showery's license was revoked in the wake of the murder conviction, as well as a 1981 conviction for insurance fraud (keeping the patient's insurance refund for two abortions). He had been on a 10-year probation since 1981 for inadequate records of prescribed drugs.
Showery had also been convicted of a felony charge of altering his hospital's records, which hindered state's attempts to locate the woman whose baby he had drowned. Former employees alleged that Showery falsified records on all patients over 20 weeks pregnant, saying they were all 20 weeks pregnant, and that such abortions were routine. One former employee, Gloria, said she assisted in abortions in which Showery would sedate the patient, dilate the cervix, and pull the fetus out with forceps. "He wanted them in pieces, but a lot of times they would come out whole," and that she saw signs of life in at least two fetuses aborted this way. Another former employee, Belinda, said she looked away as Showery removed a fetus through a hysterotomy incision, and that when she turned back Showery had placed the fetus in a plastic bag in a bucket "and just waited until it stopped moving." She said the fetus squirmed and wiggled for about 10 seconds. Former employee Anita alleged that for late abortions, "He walks in, closes the door, and locks it." She also said Showery instructed them "If you see any movement or anything, you don't see anything, you don't know anything," and that he asked employees to look away when the preborn child was extracted. A former employee said the fetuses would be put in plastic bags and frozen, that employees did not know what became them but that someone removed them from the freezer. An autopsy on a male fetus identified as Baby John Doe #81-01, found among other fetuses in the freezer at Showery's hospital, was inconclusive as to whether he was born live due to decomposition during thawing. The fetus was just over 2 pounds, just over 13 inches long, with sparse dark hair. The autopsy also found meconium, usually found in the intestine of full-term fetuses. Showery denied ever performing abortions after 20 weeks, and is quoted as saying, "If that baby takes a breath, that's life. Now the department of vital statistics comes into it and you fill out death certificates. It cried once. It took life. It took breath. It becomes a person. You cannot dispose of it with hospital wastage. It must go to the mortician and et cetera." The abortion mill where he worked never filed a single fetal death certificate.
Showery claimed indigence and asked the State to pay for his defense in his manslaughter trial in Mickey Apodaca's death. The prosecution showed that Showery was adept at transferring assets to hide them. His Defense claimed that legal fees had so depleted Showery's assets he had given one attorney his car and another his boat to pay legal fees. He was said to have traded his shares on Family Hospital for stock in a bogus Mexican mining operation. His sons circulated a letter among doctors and lawyers soliciting contributions to a defense fund. A police report was filed alleging burglars broke into Showery's house and safe, taking five handguns worth $200-$400 each, two rings worth about $500 each, a charge card, and some keys; police investigating the alleged burglary were hindered by Showery's attorney's private investigator who would not allow them to move freely about the home; officers could not find the point of entry into the house, and the safe did not appear to have been forced open. Showery was ordered to pay for his own defense. Showery had also filed for bankruptcy in 1976, claiming debts of about $2 million
In January 1978, Showery aborted patient "Ida." Soon after, she was told by her physician she was 19 weeks pregnant, so she returned to Showery to complain. He refused to complete the abortion for free as follow-up, telling Ida "he wasn't Sears. He didn't have to guarantee his work." The examination was so painful "Ida" described it as "like he just put his whole fist up there, just jammed it." Showery told "Ida" "You whores just get in trouble all the time." Showery performed the second abortion, and "Ida" awoke in a hospital bed in a pool of blood. One week later, she expelled 6 inches of umbilical cord and "a small, bloody four-fingered hand."
Showery also aborted "Cora," who woke up several hours after the abortion and was sent home. After complications set in, another gynecologist rushed her to an emergency room, where it was found she had fragments of the placenta in her bladder. Surgery revealed air and over two pints of fluids in her abdominal cavity, a 3/4-inch puncture of her bladder, and a 4-inch laceration of uterus and cervix. The gynecologist described her injuries as "very, very bad. If she had not come to the hospital ... she may have suffered severe shock, or worse, irreversible shock, from which you don't return. Death or a vegetative state."
The abortionist's patients were urged to abort immediately because the price of abortion increased $50 each week. Showery's staff report that he told them during "slow weeks" not to run pregnancy tests but to make them all positive. Patients who needed time to get the money were told to ignore any vaginal bleeding, "that the onset of a seemingly normal five-day menstrual period means nothing." The staff even fudged ultrasound tests to convince patients they were pregnant. One undercover agent reported alleged that, when her pregnancy test was negative, the ultrasound technician told her she was failing to menstruate due to a "mucous sac" which Showery could remove with a D&C.; Another reporter alleged that she was told she had mucous plugging her cervix and Showery must do a $265 D&C; to remove it. Another reporter was told the ultrasound showed a 10-12 week fetus, although an OB/GYN examined her and determined her later not to be pregnant. One reporter was menstruating at the time of her test and visit, and reported that Showery told her she was likely pregnant and to return in two weeks. Showery denied having anything to do with pregnancy testing, and when asked if he told employees to lie, said, "Well, that's absolutely naive even to ask such a question; to ask just like I've told you all up there, have I quit beating by wife. Did I put an ax to my mother's skull. If you intend to ask such an asinine question is to leave the situation with someone accused."
Showery "criticized the extensive counseling given in other abortion programs, saying it is frightening and unnecessary, and that counseling at Family Hospital is minimal." He said that "I'd do it just like that. If you sit down with a woman and counsel her all day long about abortion, she will probably say, "I've had enough," and leave." A reporter posing as a patient alleged: "I was not told of any risks. I was advised only of the cost of the procedure and the necessity for an appointment." When she returned with an editor posing as her husband and requested counselling from Showery, he told them, "We just put that sucker [abortion suction machine] in there and bam."
In an April 1981 news report, Showery said that "To my knowledge we have never had a serious problem or complication."
The local Rape Crisis lines eventually stopped referring to Showery's abortion mill due to the many complaints against him.
Reporters working on an investigation of Family Hospital alleged that, on March 3, 1981, "Showery followed them in his car and repeatedly veered toward their automobile, forcing them to the curb." They pressed charges and he was arrested. The District Attorney's office protested Showery's release on bond during trial for Mickey Apodaca's death because he'd threatened the prosecutor, a police detective, and a reporter covering Mickey's death. The detective said that "If I can make just one positive statement, it's that witnesses at the time showed that Dr. Showery was abusing drugs. And drugs can and will cause major changes in anybody."
On March 10, 1981, the abortionist was charged with operating a child placement agency without a license. The charge stemmed from a woman's adoption of a baby born at Family Hospital in December. She paid Showery $3,000 according to receipts, and he claimed the money went toward the maternity fees of the biological mother."
On March 6, 1979, Showery agreed to a permanent injunction, in essence admitting to such infractions as increasing his abortion prices after quoting a lesser total, refusing refunds, telling patients they required services actually not required, offering inferior maternity care as compared to the care he promised, and employing incompetent, unqualified and unlicensed persons to perform services which by law are required to be performed by licensed doctors and nurses. In May 1980, the Attorney General's office filed an amended petition alleging Showery had violated the final injunction.
The state filed suit claiming Showery owed $167.42 in personal property taxes, and a jewelry store filed suit in 1976 for failure to pay a balance of $5,405 on two Rolex watches and some jewelry. The owners of a building where Showery had an office filed suit against him, claiming that "Showery owed $2,000 in rent ... and that the doctor had taken doors, cabinets, draperies and office fixtures that he did not own. The report noted that all doors had been removed from their hinges. One of the building owners said Showery even removed light switches. They said that Showery left the premises "in a shambles," but dropped the suit because Showery was "judgement-proof."
A news story found that "His money is funneled into a growing art passion. He particularly loves the huge, sexually explicit surrealistic works of Raymond Douillet." Showery owned a number of works valued at from $40,000 to $50,000. "One of the Douillet paintings, which Showery said capture women "as they essentially are," depicts several nude women leaning forward with paint-brushes protruding from their rumps."
According to another news story, Showery is "an Adolph Hitler aficionado" who owns "quite an arsenal" of guns and read voraciously about Hitler. Showery said that "Hitler was one of the most misunderstood men in history. He was really a great man."
Showery said that the average employee of a local intensive care unit was "some filthy, degenerate, bearded weirdo smoking cigarettes ... hustling with the colored girl down the hall ... and reading a dirty book." He also said that "Sixty percent of the doctors in this town are foreign-educated, fresh off the banana boats," and said that the Ford Edsel failed because "it looks like a huge vagina rolling down the road" [El Paso Times, April 7, 1981].
A prominent El Paso physician told reporters he recommended Showery for medical school. When contacted by reporters, the physician asked that he not be named. Showery didn't finish his residency at Latter Day Saints Hospital because he reportedly "was dismissed from the hospital for showing a disregard for nursing staff."
To support his family, Showery became a professional wrestler called the "Chinese Bandit." He tried promoting professional wrestling, but both this venture and his karate school ended in financial insolvency. He was expelled from Southwestern General Hospital because he was unable to become board-eligible as a surgeon. He served as a part-time physician at the Planned Parenthood Center of El Paso during the mid- 1970s.
References: Associated Press, July 20, 1989; El Paso County Offense Report #00-380101; New York Times, April 29, 1984; Des Moines Register, May 5, 1984; El Paso Times, April 5, 6, 7, and 8, 1981, September 22 and 23, 1983, and April 7, 24 and 26, May 7 and June 5, 1984; Dallas Morning News, April 18 and 20 and May 3, 1984; Longview Morning Journal, May 6, 1984; Dallas Times-Herald, April 14, 1984 and September 29, 1983; Houston Chronicle, June 9, 1985; "Doctor Gets 15 Years in Infanticide Case." ALL About Issues, November 1983, page 35; At Deadline. "Convicted Abortionist Now Charged With Manslaughter in New Tragedy." ALL About Issues, June 1984, page 47; Debra Braun. "Abortionist Sentenced to 15 Years for Murdering Baby After Abortion." National Right to Life News, October 13, 1983, pages 1 and 13.
Fort Worth
Capital Murder (3 counts), Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed Robbery, Sexual Assault (7 counts) and Drug Dealing
Pro-abortionist Edward Lewis LaGrone had repeatedly molested ten-year-old Shakeisha Lloyd since she was only eight years old, and she learned that she was 17 weeks pregnant. He offered to pay $1,500 for her to get an abortion, because he wanted to cover up his sexual abuse.
Shakeisha's mother, Pamela Lloyd, noticed that her daughter's abdomen had expanded. The little girl said "Mommy, there's something moving around inside of me." A May 26, 2003 hospital examination confirmed that the girl was pregnant. Lloyd notified police that LaGrone had assaulted her daughter, and she demanded that LaGrone pay for an abortion.
LaGrone had been dating Shakeisha's mother while he was on parole from 1977 murder and drug dealing convictions. During that time, he had been molesting and assaulting Shakeisha.
Before dawn on May 30, 1991, the day after Shakeisha completed the fourth grade, LaGrone and three companions went to her house in East Fort Worth. Their intent was to kill everyone in the house to stop the filing of sexual assault charges against LaGrone. One of Lagrone's other girlfriends had bought the murder weapon for him. Shakeisha's uncle, Dempsey Lloyd, greeted them at the door, and LaGrone fired at him with a shotgun, hitting him in the arm.
LaGrone then opened fire on two elderly women, Zenobia Anderson, 83, and Caola Lloyd, 76, who was blind and bedridden with terminal cancer, killing them both.
Shakeisha paused to pick up her 19-month-old sister and shield her behind some boxes. She was shouting to her mother to hide when LaGrone walked up to her and shot her in the head, killing her instantly.
Steve Conder, a Tarrant County assistant district attorney, said the murders are among the most chilling in Fort Worth history. He said "If I hadn't worked on the case, it would be hard to imagine anything like this ever happening."
During the punishment phase, two of Lagrone's sisters testified that he had terrorized and sexually assaulted them at gunpoint in 1986.
LaGrone was executed on February 11, 2004, in Huntsville, Texas.
"He's a poster child to justify the death penalty," said David Montague, the Tarrant County assistant district attorney who prosecuted Lagrone. "Just a cold-blooded murderer. DNA evidence immediately linked him to the fetus of the girl who was killed."
In June 1993, Pamela Lloyd, whom Lagrone had supplied with crack cocaine, married Gene Anthony Tutt and murdered him in July 1999. She was convicted of murder and served a five-year prison sentence. She had previously served time for armed robbery. She said "Executing him won't bring back my baby and it won't bring back my aunts. But I don't even want to think about what I wanted to do to that man if I ever had the chance."
References: John Moritz. "Man Who Killed the 10-Year-Old He Impregnated Scheduled to Die." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 11, 2003; Edward Lewis LaGrone v. Douglas Dretke, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, No. 02-10976, filed September 2, 2003; John Moritz. "Mother Recalls Murder of Girl." Star-Telegram, February 9, 2004; Michael Graczyka. "Killer of Pregnant 10-Year-Old Set to Die Tonight." Houston Chronicle, February 10, 2004; Michael Graczyk. "Killer of 10-Year-Old He Impregnated Executed." Houston Chronicle, February 11, 2004.
Capital Murder (2 counts) and Assault (4 incidents)
During the early hours of February 19, 2005, Stephen Barbee traveled to the Fort Worth home of his girlfriend Lisa Underwood. He believed that she was pregnant with his child and, since Barbee was married, he wanted to cover up his adultery. He smothered Lisa by pressing her face into the living room carpet. But he wasn't done with his rampage yet. He grabbed Lisa's seven-year-old son Jayden, punched him hard in the face, and then smothered him the same way. He then took their bodies and dumped them in a wooded area of rural Denton County.
Prosecutor Kevin Rousseau said "Jayden couldn't run. You think of (Barbee) approaching that little boy and slapping him upside the head hard enough to leave a bruise, and then holding him down until he's dead, and I dare you to say there is a reason to save his life."
Lisa's mother, Sheila Underwood, addressed Barbee in a victim impact statement and said that "I want you to know I'm 53 years old and I don't have anything left. ... I want you to suffer like I suffer. You put me in hell."
On February 20, 2006, Barbee was found guilty of two counts of capital murder. On February 27, a Fort Worth jury of seven women and five men sentenced the murderer to death.
Lab tests showed that Lisa was not carrying Barbee's unborn baby after all. Lisa, however, believed that Barbee was the father of her baby, and only wanted Barbee, owner of two businesses, to have the baby covered on his health insurance.
During Barbee's trial, his first wife Theresa testified that he had physically assaulted her four times during their marriage, in one case giving her a concussion.
References: Associated Press. "Body Found in Case of Slain Pregnant Woman." February 22, 2005; Traci Shurley. "Barbee Sentenced to Die." Star-Telegram, February 27, 2006.
Attempted Capital Murder
College student Dana Wilson was pregnant by a man she met on an Internet dating service, but did not want her baby. Her doctor knew this, and recommended that she put the baby up for adoption. But she did not want anyone else to have her baby. She did not bother to get an abortion, but instead attempted to perform a "fourth-trimester" abortion on her baby.
On November 14, 2003, she gave birth to a baby boy at her Hurst home. Then she wrapped her little newborn boy in a plastic shopping bag and tied it shut. Then she placed the smaller bag inside a black yard trash bag and tied that bag shut. Then she drove to a trash dumpster behind an animal clinic and dumped her son in it. A veterinarian found the little boy a few minutes later, soon enough to save his life, but not soon enough to spare him permanent neurological damage in the form of mental retardation and cerebral palsy brought on by blood loss and oxygen deprivation. After dumping her baby like trash, Wilson drove to Texas Wesleyan College for a class.
Phelesa Guy, a Tarrant County assistant district attorney, said "She felt it was her right to throw her baby away. She didn't want him; she hated him. What did he do to deserve all that? Nothing."
On June 23, 2005, a Tarrant County jury of seven women and five men found Wilson guilty of attempted capital murder, and the next day sentenced her to 20 years in prison. She will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years.
Reference: "Texas Dumpster Mom Gets 20 Years In Prison." Star-Telegram [Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas], June 25, 2005.
Assault
Pro-lifer Chris Karamitros attempted to talk to Trey McMinn on the public sidewalk outside a Fort Worth abortion mill. Without warning, McMinn deliberately pushed Karamitros into traffic, where he fell onto his back in front of passing cars. McMinn pleaded "no contest" to the charges.
Reference: Anti-Life Report. "Anti-Life Judge Raises Furor in Fort Worth." ALL About Issues, September-October 1987, pages 13 and 14.
Houston
Capital Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Solicitation for Capital Murder, Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest and Driving Under the Influence
20-year-old Geremy Segrest got drunk one night in January 2005, and decided to take out his simmering frustrations on his wife Ashley Renee Korhoren, who was six months pregnant. First he punched her in the face and struck her with a lamp. She fled into a bathroom, and he kicked down the door and stabbed her in the stomach and chest. She delivered a baby in emergency surgery, but the baby, who she named Graham, died just three hours later. A medical examiner found that the baby had died from a stab wound in the back and premature delivery.
In April 2005, a Wharton County grand jury indicted Segrest for capital murder, felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Since that time, Segrest was also supposedly involved in a plot to kill another inmate, and, in April 2006, for soliciting the murder of his ex-wife from his jail cell.
On March 10, 2006, a special session of the Wharton County grand jury indicted Segrest for solicitation for capital murder.
In November 2004, Segrest had been charged with aggravated assault for threatening his family with a baseball bat, driving under the influence, and resisting arrest.
References: "Authorities Catch Suspect Plotting Plan to Kill Ex-Wife: Man Charged with Murdering Unborn Baby." KPRC Channel 2 Television News [NBC, Houston], March 14, 2006; Benjamin C. Sharp. "Change of Venue Sought in Segrest Murder Case." Wharton Journal-Spectator, April 12, 2006.
Capital Murder
Gregory Manning II and his girlfriend, Amanda Helms, who was six months pregnant, both worked at a Houston IHOP restaurant. Co-workers said that they were both happy about Amanda's baby, but, in this case, appearances were definitely deceiving.
Manning went to Amanda's Southwest Houston apartment and strangled her to death. Police found her body there, and, on April 6, 2006, Manning confessed to Abilene police that he had murdered Amanda. He was subsequently charged with capital murder.
Reference: "Man Charged with Pregnant Girlfriend's Murder Due Back in Houston." KTRK Television 13 News [ABC, Houston], April 8, 2006.
Murder [Richmond]
On January 18, 2004, Dan Leach murdered his 19-year-old girlfriend, Ashley Nicole Wilson, who was pregnant with his child. He strangled her and hung her body in her apartment. Her mother discovered her body, and the medical examiner ruled her death a suicide. Leach left a letter written by Ashley near her body, which said that she was despondent because she was pregnant and the father did not want to help raise the child. This was intended to make people think she had killed herself.
After seeing Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" on March 7, 2004, Leach felt severe remorse for his murder, and confessed to it. He said that he killed Ashley because she was pregnant with his child and he did not want to be involved with her anymore or care for their child. Leach said "And so, after watching that movie, I was very emotional, and so I thought about the things I had done."
Leach was released after his confession while police investigated and was arrested after a grand jury indicted him.
Leach told police he learned how to disguise the killing from the television crime show CSI.
On August 13, 2004, after a five-day trial, Dan Leach II was sentenced to 75 years in prison for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, at least half of which he must serve. The victim's mother, Renee Coulter, said to Leach "May you rot in jail or Hell, whichever is worse."
References: "Christ Movie Moves Man to Confess Murder." Yahoo! News, March 26, 2004; "Viewing "The Passion of the Christ" Motivates Man to Confess to Murder of Mother and Unborn Child." LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, March 26, 2004; Ron Nissimov and Eric Hanson. "`Passion' Case May Test New Law: Murder Suspect Could be State's 1st Prosecution in Death of Fetus." Houston Chronicle, March 27, 2004; Eric Hanson. "Passion Killer Gets 75-Year Sentence: Prosecutors Had Pushed for Life Term in Death of Young Woman." The Houston Chronicle, August 14, 2004.
Aggravated Assault and Death Threat
On February 21, 1994, a uniformed security guard at the Planned Parenthood abortion mill pulled a pistol on a sidewalk counselor and threatened his life. The guard also acted as an escort at the mill. Police arrested him.
Reference: Report to Rescue America-National, February 28, 1994.
Assault and Torture
On December 12, 1994, William Burban was brutally assaulted by a police officer. The following is Burban's account of what happened: "I went to the death camp of Planned Parenthood at approximately 7 AM to protest the killing of innocent human lives by abortion and RU-486. I set up my signs as usual and began to pray, counsel mothers, and picket. At approximately 8 AM I noticed that the baby shoes were missing from a cross that I usually drape on to symbolize the killing of unborn children ... I was asking residents to sign a petition against the FACE law and against abortion] an off duty COH [City of Houston] Police Officer driving a Southampton Subdivision Security vehicle got out of his vehicle and approached me again and asked the question if I had permission to go door to door. I stated that my permission comes from the First Amendment, and held up the petition for the officer to observe. ... he stated his name was John E. Zitzman. I thanked the off duty officer for his time and turned to go to the home to have them sign the petition when officer Zitzman tackled me from behind and started hitting me with his baton. I went limp and said "What are you doing?" The off-duty officer continued to beat me with his baton. I begged him to stop the beating! It was at this point that he mentioned that he was arresting me. It is important to note that he never mention[ed] anything about me being arrested [earlier]. I received 30 baton blows before I was notified that I was being arrested. It is important to note that not a single hint that I was going to be arrested up to this exact point. The officer called in for back up at this point and I was in handcuffs when the other officers arrived. They started cussing at me and using the Lord's name in vain ... I told them that I wanted a report to be made of the Police Brutality that I have received and they did not answer me and dragged me out and were prodding me with cattle iron rods that burned my flesh. They slammed me against the wall and pulled my hair ... The handcuffs were squeezed so tightly that it burned ... During the pretrial they stated that I attacked Officer Zitzman." A medical report and pictures in the possession of Life Research Institute verifies many injuries. The victim was charged with resisting arrest.
Reference: William Burban, "Violence and Disruption Report," December 9, 1994.
Malpractice (145 incidents) and Unlawful Practice of Medicine (8 incidents)
The State of Texas was so lax at enforcing its own laws pertaining to the governing of abortion clinics that the abortion mills injured hundreds — perhaps thousands — of women in their wild rush to rake in as much money as possible.
Finally, 145 women who had been injured by Texas abortion mills filed suit against the State, demanding that it make abortion mills safer.
In April 2003, District Court Judge John Coselli, Jr. heard testimony from four women alleging a variety of physical and emotional injuries, including a ruptured uterus, a ruptured colon and sterility, as well as guilt and depression, from abortion procedures at private abortuaries regulated by the state.
He ordered mediation to resolve the class-action lawsuit. During mediation, the parties will attempt to reach an agreement before an unbiased third party designated by the court — usually a former district court judge.
Allen Parker, Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Legal Foundation, which is representing the plaintiffs, said that "We're alleging that they do not adequately give women enough information about the nature and consequences of abortion for them to make fully informed and voluntary decisions."
The suit also alleges that the state failed to adequately investigate unlicensed abortion mills; failed to adequately inspect and examine licensed abortuaries; failed to cooperate with other state agencies attempting to prosecute illegal activity in abortion mills; failed to prevent the unauthorized practice of medicine by unlicensed individuals in abortion mills; and failed to require abortion clinics to report child abuse that resulted in pregnancy.
Of course, pro-abortionists, as they always do, ignored the injured women as if they did not exist. Peter Durkin, CEO of Texas Planned Parenthood, called the case "disingenuous," saying the Texas Department of Health "does a good job with available resources of inspecting on a regular scheduled basis, as well as unannounced inspections of abortion providers of Texas. I think if you look at the motives of these suits, they are intended to increase the barriers to women accessing this service, and their other goal is to increase the cost."
Attorneys for the State of Texas are asserting that individuals cannot sue a state to make the state enforce its own laws and regulations. In attempting to refute that argument, Parker pointed to a 1989 Texas case in which farmers successfully sued the state Department of Health for failing to enforce regulations designed to protect farm workers. Parker said "Instead of protecting women, the state wants to protect itself by having this lawsuit dismissed. The state's attitude has been 'We don't care' or 'It's not my job.' ... If a person was speeding in your neighborhood every day, going 90 miles per hour in front of your house, and you called the police and they didn't do anything, eventually, a judge would order them to enforce the law. We're also asking that the state inform women of the emotional and physical consequences of abortion. It is the taking of the life of a human organism under Texas law, and it has long-term emotional consequences."
Parker added that the suit seeks enforcement of the Texas parental notification statute. Two of the plaintiffs, a minor and her mother, say the state never informed the parents that the girl, who was 16 years old at the time, was getting an abortion.
According to Parker, the minor said she would never have gone through with the abortion had her parents been notified and is suffering "severe emotional trauma as a result."
"I was very upset about what happened to my daughter," said the mother, who wished only to be identified by her initials, L.S. "I found out afterwards, and I was very angry that I wasn't notified."
L.S. said the state stonewalled her when she sought specific information on its abortion laws and regulations, particularly parental notification. A private guidance counselor referred her to the Texas Legal Foundation.
Her daughter made the decision to have an abortion based on information given to her at the abortion clinic, L.S. said. "They told her that the child could be born with some kind of disorder or retardation and that she would have to take care of it for the rest of her life. She was frightened about what they told her could happen." L.S. said her daughter was "very distraught," complaining that she had "rushed" into the decision and that the clinic had failed to inform her of alternatives to abortion such as child placement or adoption. Her daughter became more withdrawn, L.S. said, until the girl had to be hospitalized for emotional distress. The mother said that "She was crying all the time. I'm very upset that it happened at all. I wish I would have been notified, and I wish they would have given her different options when she went in to get her pregnancy test."
Several of the women were injured by abortions performed in abortion clinics by non-licensed personnel, including non-doctors.
References: "Texas Women's Botched Abortion Lawsuit Begins Friday." Steven Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org, April 11, 2003; "Class Action Lawsuit Launched Against Texas for not Enforcing Abortuary Regulations." LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, April 11, 2003; Steve Brown. "Texas Abortion Lawsuit Headed for Mediation." CNSNews.com, April 14, 2003; "Texas Lawsuit Over Abortion Damage Goes to Mediation." Steve Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet, April 14, 2003; "Judge Orders Mediation in Texas Abortion Suit." LifeSite Daily News, April 14, 2003.
Death Threats (2 incidents) and Vandalism (2 incidents)
On October 12, 1994, at the American Women's Center abortion mill, a father ran his pickup truck over 15 wooden crosses and threatened to kill the pro-lifers there. The next day, a different man did exactly the same thing. Charges were filed against the men in both cases.
Reference: National Pro-Life Newsline, October 1994, #17.
Assault
Pro-lifer rescuers conducted a "lock-and-block" at the Houston Women's Clinic abortion mill on October 29, 1988. Rescuers at the clinic were locked at their necks or ankles to 55-gallon drums filled with steel and concrete, which weighed over 800 pounds each. A security guard at the abortion mill turned over one barrel and rolled it over Scott Amerson's foot, crushing his ankle. Amerson, who is blind, won a $41,000 judgment from the abortion mill.
References: National Pro-Life Newsline, June 1994; June 2, 1994 report to Rescue America.
Stalking
On October 10, 1994, pro-lifer Mary Daley was stalked and nearly sideswiped by a woman who had her license plate covered. This person then parked in Mildred Hanson's abortion clinic parking lot, which was off-limits to pro-lifers.
Reference: Mary Daley, letter to Lynn K. Murphy, December 20, 1994.
Death Threats (2 incidents) and Destruction of Property (2 incidents)
On February 21, 1994, at the city's Planned Parenthood abortuary, a uniformed security guard threatened a sidewalk counselor with a gun. The counselor was on the public sidewalk at the time. The security guard was not licensed to carry a gun, and police subsequently arrested him.
Reference: National Pro-Life Newsline, February and March 1994.
Lubbock
Assault
On April 30, 1998, Leisa Hall, manager of the Planned Family Clinic abortion mill, physically attacked sidewalk counselor Dorothy Boyett.
Reference: E-mail communications of April 30, 1998.
Violation of Civil Rights and Assault
On August 15, 1997, pro-lifer Judy Kreller was demonstrating at a Lubbock Planned Parenthood clinic. A pro-abortionist called police and claimed that she was suicidal. Without investigating the call in any way, police immediately handcuffed her and took her to a hospital for psychiatric exam. Her subsequent lawsuit stated that "At all times Kreller was obviously in her right mind; displayed no suicidal or homicidal tendencies; was appropriately clothed; and spoke and acted in an appropriate manner." Planned Parenthood denied involvement, and of course, the police had conveniently "forgotten" who made the original claim.
In an earlier incident, on April 30, 1998, sidewalk counselor Dorothy Boyett was assaulted by Lisa Hall, manager of the Planned Family Clinic abortion mill in Lubbock. Dorothy had to place a 911 call for police assistance when officer Glen Stallings, who moonlights as a security guard at the abortuary, and an on-duty police sergeant who was visiting with officer Stallings, refused to write up a report.
Earlier Dorothy and Judy Kreller had counseled several members of a family who had gathered in hopes of convincing a young family member to change her mind about having an abortion. Judy offered help to the abortion-bound woman. As the family stood across the street from the clinic in conversation with the young woman, Clinic Manager Lisa Hall and officer Stallings crossed the street. Hall grabbed the expectant mom by the arm and said "You don't have to listen to them, come with us." Judy followed the group pleading with the mom to change her mind.
Dorothy was kneeling in prayer on the sidewalk in front of the clinic. As the group approached, she walked toward them and said "Jesus loves you." Lisa Hall responded, "If you don't shut up I'm going to slap you on the head." She then reached out, struck Dorothy on the shoulder, and pushed her off the sidewalk.
Rather than file an incident report as Dorothy immediately requested, Officer Stallings told her she was blocking the sidewalk. He and the sergeant stood laughing as she walked to a corner bank to place a 911 call. Officer Lopez and Sgt. Gregg arrived a few minutes later. They did not interview Lisa Hall. Most of their time was spent in conversation with Officer Stallings.
Several witnesses verified Dorothy Boyett and Judy Kreller's account of what happened. One couple who had brought their daughter for an abortion told police, "That woman in the white coat had no right to hit that lady wearing the glasses." Had the situation been reversed, had Dorothy Boyett struck Lisa Hall, Dorothy would be sitting in a jail cell at this very moment with FACE charges being drawn up against her.
Amazingly, on Tuesday, May 12th, Dorothy was read her rights and informed that criminal charges had been filed against her, despite the fact that she was the person who was assaulted.
References: "Peaceful Pro-Lifer Assaulted by Clinic Manager." Downloaded from the Web site of Eagle's Nest Homeschool at http://eaglesnesthome.com/assault.htm on May 16, 2002; Leigh Bellinger. "Anti-Abortion Protester Sues City, Officers." Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, May 27, 1998; "Abortion Protestor Sues in Exam: Acting on Tip, Police Took Her to Hospital for Mental Check." The Dallas Morning News, May 29, 1998, page 28A; "Pro-Lifer Files Suit Against Police, Clinic." Lifesite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, May 29, 1998.
Lufkin
Capital Murder (2 counts)
This case vividly demonstrates how truly idiotic and inconsistent the abortion laws are in the United States.
A teenager helped his girlfriend abort her preborn twins — at her request — and he goes to prison for life while she is not even charged, because she has a "right" to abortion.
On May 6, 2004, Erica Basoria explicitly asked her boyfriend, Gerardo "Jerry" Flores, to help her end her pregnancy because it would interfere with her plans for going to college. While she lay on the floor and punched herself hard in the abdomen, he stepped on her stomach. Her five-month preborn twins died as a result.
Basoria said that "When I was four months pregnant, I began to show, and at that time I decided that I should have gotten an abortion." She also told investigators that she had been trying for weeks to kill her babies before she and Flores finally succeeded in doing so. She said "My mom, my sister and my sister-in-law all said that I should get an abortion. They said that I was too young to have children. ... About two weeks before the miscarriage, I started hitting myself. I would do this every other day and I would use both of my fists when I did this. I would hit myself 10 or more times."
The defense logically argued that it was impossible to tell which of the two caused the miscarriage, but a jury took four hours to convict Flores of two counts of capital murder. Flores received an automatic life sentence because prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
So, we have arrived at a situation where the same act of murder committed against the same victims can be a heinous act that society must severely punish for one perpetrator, and a legally protected human right for the other. Flores could have been executed for his crime, while Basoria was not in the slightest danger of being charged with even a misdemeanor.
Another contradiction in this case is that, if Flores had been a licensed abortionist and had ended the pregnancy another way, he would have been rewarded with a hefty fee.
Flores' defense attorney, Ryan Deaton asked reporters "How can two people conspire to do something like this and only one of them be punished? How can that be fair?"
Good question.
Even Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington agreed, telling media "It doesn't seem entirely fair. It is somewhat startling to me that they completely leave the female out of the criminal penalty — I would suspect that in a case of this nature, if the jury or the judge figures that out, then it could have an impact on the punishment. They might go light on him."
The co-author of Texas' Unborn Victims of Violence Act said lawmakers never envisioned a case in which the mother of unborn children would ask the children's father to kill them. Representative Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie, told the media "We didn't consider a case as ridiculous as this. ... I feel sad for these immature, stupid people. But the law is what the law is. You can't legally ask your boyfriend to do a triple bypass on you, even if he's stupid enough to try it. You can't give another person permission to commit an illegal act."
References: Maria Gallagher. "Texas Man Charged When Girlfriend Asks Him to Kill Her Unborn Twins." LifeNews.com, March 2, 2005; "Texas Man Convicted for Attack on Pregnant Woman, Killing Twin Babies." LifeNews.com, June 7, 2005; "Texas Man Found Guilty of Murder for Illegally Aborting His Twin Children: Mother Who Requested Killing Cannot be Charged as Accomplice." LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesitenews.com, June 7, 2005.
Odessa
Grossly Botched Abortion, Drug Abuse, Medicare Fraud and Tax Fraud
Abortionist John Alderman botched an abortion on Lena A. Renfro. The abortionist told her that she was only 2 weeks pregnant, so she agreed to a D&C; abortion. During the procedure, she experienced severe pain, so she went to a nearby hospital and was diagnosed as being 5 months (22 weeks) pregnant. Her preborn baby was born later, and subsequently died due to injuries sustained during the botched abortion attempt.
A Texas Medical Board document found that Alderman "self-administered pain medications including Talwin, nitrous oxide, and Buprenex, taken on a regular basis until November 1985 ... Alderman acknowledged his dependency on Talwin and admitted himself for substance abuse treatment at Clearview Hospital," and was discharged December 22, 1985, diagnosed with "Drug abuse, in remission;" Alderman "self-administered, without a prescription, the medication Valium" around the end of November 1986; "Alderman has engaged in intemperate use of drugs, that in the opinion of the Board, could endanger the lives of patients ... Alderman has engaged in unprofessional or dishonorable conduct that is likely to deceive or defraud the public or injure the public by writing prescriptions or dispensing to himself, as a known habitual user, narcotic drugs, controlled substances or dangerous drugs ... Alderman has shown an inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients ..." The abortionist's medical license was suspended for five years on July 1, 1987.
Alderman was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for tax evasion and filing false Medicare claims for abortions, for which women had already paid. U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson also sentenced him to two years of supervised release time and a $200 fine. Alderman paid $125,999 in restitution before his sentencing. As lead abortionist for the Petroplex Gynecological Clinic, Alderman charged clients $300 in cash and then sent false claims to Medicaid for reimbursement. In all, he filed $25,169 in false claims from 1994 through 1997 and underreported about $119,003 in 1995 and $115,160 in 1996 in income reported to the IRS.
References: "Abortion Practitioner Sentenced for Tax Evasion, Medicare Fraud." Steven Ertelt's Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org/infonet.html, February 13, 1999; "Abortuary Scandal File ..." Lifesite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, February 15, 1999; Texas Medical Board document # E-3639; "Abortionist Sentenced for Tax Evasion, Fraud." Downloaded from the Web site of The Post-Abortion Review at http://www.afterabortion.org/PAR/V&/ns/newsbriefs.htm on March 3, 2003.
Pampa
Capital Murder (3 counts), First-Degree Murder (2 counts), Attempted Murder, Second-Degree Arson, Grand Theft Auto, Burglary and Theft
On September 29, 2005, Levi King murdered 70-year-old Orlie McCool and his 47-year-old daughter-in-law, Dawn McCool, in Pineville, Missouri, using guns he had stolen from his father. The next day, he murdered Brian Conrad, his wife, Michell, and her 14-year-old son, Zach Doan, in their home. Michell was six months pregnant with Brian's first child. King also shot Michell's ten-year-old daughter, who survived and called police. King had stolen Orlie McCool's 2005 pickup truck and used it to drive to the Texas Panhandle. King then tried to escape to Mexico, but was arrested by Border Patrol agents the same day he had killed most of the members of the Conrad family. There were two rifles and two handguns in the truck. Ballistics tests on the 9 millimeter weapon matched some of the bullets found in the murder victims' bodies.
On March 23, 2006, a Gray County, Texas grand jury indicted King on three counts of capital murder. This was shortly after he pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Orlie McCool and Dawn McCool.
Lynn Switzer, Gary County's district attorney, told The Pampa News that she will seek the death penalty against King.
In July 2005, King had been released from prison to a halfway house in St. Louis, having served only 17 months of a 14-year sentence for second-degree arson and burglary. On September 23, 2005, King left the halfway house, saying he was going to work, and never returned.
References: KFDA News Channel 10 [Amarillo, Texas]. "New Information in Pampa Quadruple Homicide: Extended Web Coverage." January 24, 2006; Associated Press. "Suspect in Missouri Slayings Indicted in Texas Case." March 25, 2006.
San Antonio
Capital Murder
On December 12, 2005, former youth minister Adrian Estrada of the El Sendero Assembly of God argued with his three-months-pregnant girlfriend Stephanie Sanchez at her parent's home, and then stabbed her multiple times, killing her. He then fled from the house. Stephanie's father found her lying in a pool of blood when he arrived home. She had suffered severe stab wounds to her neck, back and head, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The next day, Estrada was arrested and charged with capital murder after going to the town's police headquarters and confessing to the crime.
Stephanie's mother, Mary Vargas, said "We just don't know why. We had no signs this was coming." But Adrian Natero of the El Sendero Assembly said that Estrada used his position as a youth minister to molest other young girls. She said of an emergency church meeting "Basically it was real defensive. They're real scared right now. All they asked for — let's pray for Adrian and his family and the 'other girl' and for our church. They didn't mention Stephanie Sanchez at all, or her family." Natera said the church was aware of the relationship. She said "If they would've done something about this the first time somebody brought it to them, I really don't think that the situation would be happening right now."
Natera also said that Estrada had a sexual relationship with other girls 15 and 16 years old.
References: "Former Minister Accused of Killing His Pregnant Teenage Girlfriend." KTRK Television 13 News [ABC, Houston, Texas], December 15, 2005. "Murder Victim's Friend: Church was Informed of Relationship." KSAT Television 12 News [San Antonio, Texas], December 15, 2005.
Murder
28-year-old Trishawn Fifer was a deaf stay-at-home mother of two small daughters, aged two and four. She was also six months pregnant.
On December 26, 2002, Duane Cortez Wilson, her stepfather, decided to carry out revenge against his estranged wife Marilyn for filing for divorce. So he strangled Trishawn to death right in front of her two small daughters. He left her in her home and departed the scene.
A passerby, Lisa Rodriguez, was driving by and noticed Trishawn's two-year-old daughter crying on the sidewalk in front of her home. She entered the home and both girls greeted her with open arms and led her to the murder scene. Trishawn's husband Nathaniel arrived home in the evening to find authorities already at the murder scene. When the oldest girl was carried out of the house, she saw Wilson and started shouting "Scary, scary! Bad man! Mommy's crying!"
On January 17, 2003, police arrested Wilson at Randolph Air Force Base, where he worked.
On June 30, 2004, a San Antonio jury found Wilson guilty of murder, and the next day, it sentenced him to 30 years in prison for murdering Trishawn.
References: Manny Gonzales. "Stepfather Held in Deaf Woman's December Slaying." San Antonio Express, January 17, 2003; "Jury Sequestered in Murder Trial." WOAI Television 4 News [NBC, San Antonio, Texas], June 30, 2004; Tom Bower. "Guilty Verdict Returned in Deaf Woman's Strangulation." San Antonio Express, June 30, 2004; Tim Bower. "Stepfather Gets 30-Year Sentence." San Antonio Express, July 2, 2004.
Practicing Medicine Without a License (7 incidents) and Botched Abortions (7 incidents)
A news article in the San Antonio Express revealed that the Alamo Women's Clinic abortion mill was investigated by the State of Texas after an employee said at least seven women had their abortions performed by "a marketing specialist and an associate" posing as doctors. Seven women suffered injuries, including a lacerated colon and a perforated uterus.
Reference: San Antonio Express, June 14, 1991.
Stephenville
Malpractice (4 incidents)
Abortionist Jasbir Ahluwalia has a long history of botching various surgical procedures;
- He was sued by a husband and wife who alleged that he caused severe and permanent brain damage to their child during delivery. At six years of age, the boy was determined to have the mental functioning of a 4-week-old. Ahluwalia settled the suit in 1989 for more than $1.3 million. In the course of the suit, lawyers for the couple raised questions about the quality of Dr. Ahluwalia's medical training, much of which he received in Uganda.
- In March 1991, a Dallas woman sued him, accusing him of perforating her uterus during an abortion. As a result, surgeons had to remove her uterus. Also in 1991, another Dallas woman sued him. She, too, said he perforated her uterus during an abortion. Ahluwalia settled both suits in 1993.
- In 1995, he was sued by an Erath County woman on whom he had performed a hysterectomy. She alleged that he mistakenly blocked a ureter with stitches. So severe were the complications that, four months later, another surgeon had to remove her kidney. Had she known of Dr. Ahluwalia's prior problems, patient Linda Runnels said recently, "I wouldn't have used him for sure." Her suit was settled.
Finally, in 1996, the Medical Board of Texas took action. It acted because Ahluwalia had lost his privileges at Harris Methodist Erath County Hospital. His privileges had been pulled because he "failed to adequately manage various high-risk pregnancies." No mention was made of his previous lawsuits, and the discipline was minimal. Board members voted to require him to take 50 hours of continuing medical education and keep adequate patient records. And he was ordered to subscribe to the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Also, the board said, he must actually read it.
Ahluwalia still practices gynecology in Stephenville.
References: Doug J. Swanson. "Patients' Deaths Haven't Moved State Board to Act: Panel That Can Strip Doctors' Licenses Pledges More Inquiries." The Dallas Morning News, July 28, 2002.
Waco
Theft
On May 6, 2006, Baylor University's pro-life student organization, Bears for Life, spent all day setting up a display of 3,500 pink and blue flags with signs reading, "In loving memory of 3,500 children aborted daily in the United States."
Pro-abortionists at the university couldn't stand having any viewpoint other than their own represented, so, the next evening, they stole all the flags and replaced them with a hand-written sign claiming that "Abortion saves 7,000 adult lives every day." This statement is an even greater exaggeration than the old pro-abortion lie that 5,000 to 10,000 women died of complications due to illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade. In his book Aborting America, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a founder of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) and the operator of one of the largest abortion mills in the world, wrote "In N.A.R.A.L., we generally emphasized the drama of the individual case, not the mass statistics, but when we spoke of the latter it was always "5,000 to 10,000 deaths a year." I confess that I knew the figures were totally false, and I suppose the others did too if they stopped to think of it. But in the "morality" of our revolution, it was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics?"
Associate Professor of Economics John Pisciotta, a faculty sponsor of Bears for Life, said "The flags were pink and blue to say they were a little boy and little girl — it was very powerful yet respectful. ... We've had over 40 million abortions, and this has influenced the lives of a lot of people. I just think for a university supposedly committed to free speech that this is pretty poor behavior on the part of some of our students."
Reference: Terry Vanderheyden. "Christian University Pro-Life Display Stolen: Replaced with Sign Reading 'Abortion Saves 7,000 Adult Lives Every Day.'" LifeSite Daily News at http://www.LifeSiteNews.com, March 13, 2006.
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