I’ve already forgotten how I stumbled across this blog written by a guy who has been on death row for over 30 years. He is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday. His name is William Van Poyck. He is a career criminal, mostly armed robberies. He had a few “life sentences” in Florida and at one point he and a cell mate or prison buddy were in a van going for a medical visit and the two decided to try to free the third guy and escape. His buddy killed a guard and the three did not get very far. His was later stomped to death in the jail by other guards. They sent Poyck to Virginia for his own safety until his execution date came up. He’s been back in Florida for a few years now, and it’s time.
Poyck did not pull the trigger that killed the guard but was involved in a felony that resulted in someone’s death. (felony murder). So anyway, it looks like there is no more hope for him and he has 3 days to live. Meanwhile, his sister has been publishing all of the letters he sent her on a blog. They are really quite interesting and only marginally about his appeals or the prison living conditions. He reads a lot of books and discusses current events. I have become fascinated and am reading backwards through the chronology which I am starting to assume begins with his return back to Florida.
Anyway, I promised a HOUSEWIVES connection, and there is one. In this entry, he talks about his first arrest and how he was assigned Roy Black who at that time was a public defender in Miami and is now a hot shot criminal defense attorney married to Lea Black. If you read the post you see that his father hires an attorney for him rather than going with the public defender and this guy feels it changed the entire trajectory of his life. It doesn’t matter what criminal is in the news, it somehow always leads back to the Blacks. Weird, no? Anyway, his writing is pretty interesting. I have shared the link with a few people but now, with this Lea Black connection, I thought I would make a post. If you need a long read on a rainy Sunday AND you have already read EVERYTHING HERE, 🙂 you might find it interesting.
I do not know how any one else feels about the death penalty but I cannot for the life of me understand how Americans can use this. It is not a deterrent, it is barbaric (yes, I know the people that commit the crimes are usually also barbaric in nature). I am not advocating coddling but there has to be a different way to deal with the incarcerated such as education, counseling (maybe that lady Andrea can help out in that regards, I bet she would have a different POV if she were behind bars) and rehabilitation. Of course there are those that deserve to never walk the streets again, that is a given but there is a saying in Finland that translates into HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE. Is just my opinion~
I have been a death penalty supporter, but this blog does sort of make me question the sheer NUMBER of people we have on death row. It also has me thinking the Arias jury was correct in not giving her death. It makes no sense to kill everyone who kills someone. We do have actual life in prison. As for this guy’s case, he has WAY more mitigating factors than Jodi. Our process varies widely from state to state.
Also it is interesting to read that at least in Florida, the governor picks and chooses from a list to sign death warrants or could choose not to sign any at all during their tenure. It’s very interesting.
On Sun, Jun 9, 2013 at 1:46 PM, Tamara Tattles
I don’t believe in wasting my tax money on people that can not be incarcerated. Get real. I’m sure there are a very few that would benefit from counseling and education (hmmm, I would say less than 5%), but most should be taken out the back and shot. I know this sounds harsh and not a popular view. I don’t believe this for 1st time offender, but 3rd or more – be done. Life in prison? What a joke!
If your argument is based on economics, LWOP is way cheaper than Death Penalty.
On Sun, Jun 9, 2013 at 2:27 PM, Tamara Tattles
If the justice system worked, there would be very few repeat offenders, yes?
And what about all the people that they are able to clear through DNA or because of bias or racism? What if there is even a tiny doubt?? It is easy to act in the heat of emotions but to really sit back and go wait, why are we killing someone, I could not do this.
Isabella J,
That’s good to hear that no one in your family has ever been committed a crime and neither is mine. However, if one of your love ones got murder, I believe that you will surely change your perspective about the dead penalty. By the way, it’s funny to see you are using the term “smart” loosely.
Lady you have no idea what kind of life I have had, what I have experienced i.e. crime, my son was molested as a baby, you don’t think I wanted to f’ing kill that person????? Please, do not even pretend to know who or what I am.
Charles Manson is another example of someone charged with murder who was never even at the murder scene. And he received the death penalty (reduced to Life after DP was repealed in California).
I don’t believe in the DP, but for mostly economic reasons. I can’t believe anyone who has seen all the financial numbers would be for it, plus in many states the appeals process takes so long most DPers end up dead of natural causes. So all that money spent for nothing. There is also the fact that SO MANY cases are now being overturned based on DNA. And that most (if not all) of Europe has outlawed the DP, http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777460.html shows what countries allow it, and you might wonder how the US got themselves lumped in with that group.
That said, there are many people I wouldn’t shed a tear for and totally deserve the DP (I think Jodi Arias is one of them). But I don’t think it’s worth it in the end.
What kills me is that people of sound mind know NOT TO KILL SOMEONE ELSE. They cannot get away with it. So, why do they do it? This is their punishment. Deserved. You kill someone, you get nailed. Case closed.
This guy didn’t kill anyone.
On Sun, Jun 9, 2013 at 5:02 PM, Tamara Tattles
Also, we don’t kill everyone who kills someone. That is not the law. We pick and choose who we kill based on state law and the whim of the governors. Plenty of serial killers are not killed because they plead guilty. The surest route to the DP is by pleading not guilty. Which some people actually are.
or have a stupid celebrity atty (IMHO), who cares more about higher profile clients and ignorantly allows your trial in a law and order county where DP is virtually assured. i do believe the guy guilty but also think he would have got off in san fran.
sorryy my screen is cut in half with a banner so i can’t see my comment. talking peterson and gallegos here.
The first season of RHOM Lea was one of the only ones I actually liked. She seemed quirky and to not take her wealth or herself too seriously.
Fast forward to present day and I find her to be absolutely despicable. Who she associates with is a reflection of her and I don’t need to look any further than her friendship with Joe Francis. Not to mention exposing her 10 year old son to the trial where her husband was defending the Polo Club guy who killed someone is a DUI hit and run.
The Black’s wealth is blood money and I realize everyone “deserves” a good defense but she seems to embrace the seediest people in Southern Florida. I just don’t think she is a good person at all anymore. Anyhoo – just my two cents 🙂
Someone once posted “victims don’t get a second chance, so why should offenders?”
All I will say is that in cases such as this, it’s not the crime per se, but years of crime and repeating offending that lands them on death row. So, what’s the system to do with people such as repeat offenders? Continue to coddle them? At some point, enough does become enough. Unless one is MH, there’s no reason or excuse for them to keep doing the exact same thing.
Although his actions weren’t pure that day, he should take comfort in the fact that the family has forgiven him and that he didn’t hurt anyone that day.
In the time he has left, he should reach out to any other victims of his and make peace. Preparing his family for his possible demise if he can’t get a reprieve, also makes sense. No sense in dwelling on what he didn’t do. When people lead a life of crime, it will eventually catch up to them. No sense in obsessing over it…..besides, it’s to late now!
Another example of those who make judgments about people without knowing any of the facts. This person is not dwelling on anything. Quite the opposite, which is why it is a compelling read that spans many years and many subjects completely unrelated to being on death row. By the way, I just read a post where it said his last Thanksgiving as a free person was one year in the 1980s and prior to that it was 1969. (When he was a child).
On Sun, Jun 9, 2013 at 6:49 PM, Tamara Tattles
we have a very complicated legal system. Not every crime recieves the same punishment. But the state sets the charges and twelve people decide the fate of the charged. There is an appeal process for those convicted. Most of the countries we are lumped in with for death penalty cases dont allow appeals most implement the DP asap. If appealed multiple judges then decide if the conviction should stand. Does WVP deserve death? I dont know enough to make that call but his jury felt he did. What i disagree with most about our system happened in az with jodi. The jury can make a life or death choice but not a life with or without parole. An interesting movie about death penalty is * the life of david gale * with kevin spacey
Y’all assume so much…
On Sun, Jun 9, 2013 at 8:10 PM, Tamara Tattles
Thanks Steve. I’ll have to watch that movie. Spacey is one of my favorites.
discussions here have changed my wishy washy views on the death penalty…I am now against it, mostly because of economics, but also because so many are over turned!
I strongly believe in death penalty because when you kill someone, you have to get the consequences. I believe in “an eye for an eye” principles. If a criminal killed someone and you let him get away with his crime, he will kill again. I do not believe in life sentence in prison, I do not want to waste my money to feed the useless citizens who can’t bring nothing but troubles to the society. If the people in the US believe in the death penalty, this country will have fewer crimes and fewer murders. Look at Singapore, that country is clean and has very little crime. Why? It’s because they have rules and laws that require their citizens to follow. I recalled it was about 10 years ago; an Asian guy who was Australian citizen brought some drugs to Singapore and he got hang. Australian’s authorities tried their best to get that Asian guy out of Singapore, so he wouldn’t be hanging. Well, I was elite that criminal got hang because he deserved it. The US needs to be tougher on their punishment. That’s all I can say.
It seems that the less educated you are, the more strongly you favor the death penalty.
Read, lol. My new favorite word!
1) perhaps WAgirl prefers her men hung…er…hang…er…hanged. 2) by definition, “elite” would make one intellectually superior, would it not?
@Tamara, I am very disappointed in your previous statement. I have nothing but respect for you and I always enjoy reading your blog. However, the statement that you made about others who believe in death penalty, “It seems that the less educated you are, the more strongly you favor the death penalty”, was such a big disappointment. Truthfully, it shines some lights on your true character. FYI, I am a very well educated person, and I strongly believe in death penalty. Perhaps, I have no one in my family ever committed a crime or hurt someone, so I do not have the same sympathy that others have……….
I have never had anyone in my family commit a crime either, that was not a very “smart” thing to say. The death penalty is antiquated, unnecessary and cruel.
WAgirl, it is a fact that states with the poorest level of education are most likely to support the death penalty. In addition, your post show little to no comprehension about the legal system and more importantly in this case the penal system. It idiocy of your post is best shown by the fact you do not “believe in life in prison” and you don’t seem to understand that the US does in fact use the death penalty.
Your nonsensical message would not have been as annoying if it had not come at a time where I was reading a blog that was very enlightening about the issues with the death penalty in this country. I frankly did not see you as being even mildly educated on the subject. Your “kill them all and let God sort them out” attitude is childish and ill-informed.
You are entitled to your opinion, which seems to be “kill everyone who murders someone”; however, it is not grounded in logic or reason. I hope that makes things more clear for you.
AMEN! LIKE INFINITY!
WAgirl….. I, too, am a supporter of the death penalty, but not for EVERYONE who commits murder. There are many factors that would have to be considered before making the ultimate decision to sentence a person to death. Saying I support the DP and actually handing down that sentence are two different things. If I were ever faced with that decision, I don’t know how I would handle it…….I’m not sure anyone would.
I live in a state that does not currently have the DP- so for now, that is one gut-wrenching decision I won’t have to make!
I live in Texas. Death penalty is handed out like donuts around here.
I finally finished reading this guy’s entire blog. It opened my eyes to a lot issues about the DP overall that we don’t consider. That was sort of the point, every DP case is tried differently, decided with different state case law, and given based on a jury’s personal history. It’s a crap shoot sentence.
The bottom line is we do not kill everyone who kills someone. We do not even kill most of the people who are sentenced to death. We also don’t kill those who plead guilty. We also don’t kill the ones who ask for the DP and have waived all further pleadings first. It’s a big ole clusterfuck. There are way too many people on death row because of revenge disguised as “justice for (victim’s name goes here)” That’s horseshit. Justice is for the accused. Revenge is for the victim, despite what you hear here or on HLN.
I am not for abolishing the death penalty. I do not think insanity should be a defense to the DP. But I am for limiting it to a very few extreme cases. The Charles Mansons and Ted Bundys….etc.
The blog really is enlightening, in a lot of ways, to me at least.
Totally against the DP here! LWOP and most or all of that solitary is a much more fitting punishment. Less chance for expensive appeals and more chance for genuine rehab. Not that they would ever be given the chance to prove rehab in society but more likely to feel genuine sorrow and remorse with all that time to think.
The sun is setting now in Florida. It will most likely be the last one William Van Poyck ever sees, if he can even see it on death watch. His execution looks like it will go forward at 6 pm tomorrow.
That is so sad… oh wow. Sad, I am sorry, this DP is just wrong.
TWO HOURS LEFT TO LIVE…. (Sorry, I am sort of obsessing about this case since reading his entire blog.)
He is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6pm unless the U.S Supreme Court grants a reprieve for him to stay.
Poyck’s attorneys filed a 15 page brief with the courts on Monday, according to the Palm Beach Post.
His attorneys argued their client should not be executed for a murder he did not plan to committ and wasn’t the trigger person.
Poyck and an accomplice tried to ambush a prison van outside a doctors office to free a convicted murderer. Prison guard Fred Griffis was shot and killed during the incident.
Poyck’s attorneys outlined in the brief that three people in the last 25 years nationwide were put to death and didn’t fire the fatal shot.
They want to use Poyck’s case as an example.
Five of the nine justices must agree in order for Poyck to stay and serve a life sentence.
While attorneys work to save Poyck’s life, Governor Rick Scott has one more week to sign a bill that would speed up executions.
The Timely Justice Act would require the Governor to sign a death warrant within 30 days after a prisoners appeals are exhausted and clemency review is complete.
Opponents believe Florida leads the nation with death row prisoners who are later proved innocent and supporters feel the death penalty process brings extra motions that delay the execution.
Dozens of Florida prisoners have been on death row for at least 20 years.
Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/state/william-van-poyck-execution-scheduled-for-tonight-for-killing-of-prison-guard-fred-griffis#ixzz2W2D9qbW1
That just makes me cry
I’ve always been for the death penalty. And still I am for it in certain extreme situations. I actually am for executing insane people which is not allowed. But I read every word on this guy’s blog, and I don’t see the point in killing him rather than leaving him in jail for life. It would be cheaper, and there is nothing to gain by this. And from a selfish perspective, I would like to read more of his letters to his sisters. He has obviously used his time in prison to reflect on his life and his many poor choices. He has a better outlook on life from a prison cell where he gets out for an hour or two a week than I do with my freedom. I find his letters fascinating and they make me realize I need to stop taking my situation for granted. If he can be positive, I should be able to as well.
People change. Good people change, bad people change, we all change. Out of the heat of the moment we often look back and go what were we thinking, doing, saying, whatever. I pray that he gets another chance to see the sun rise tomorrow. Not excusing what he did but if he were rich or educated, in a different state even perhaps, most likely he would not be sitting on death row today. None of us deserve compassion but it is still such grace when it is given. Just my thoughts~
Thanks for commenting on this Isabella… I feel a little “crazy” as a death penalty supporter for feeling so badly that we are killing this man. If you have a chance, read his blog.
I have read his blog, he is an inspiration to me, hard to explain but he just is.
Yeah, I get it. I even mentioned him to my therapist yesterday. I am embarrassed for being so…”depressed” even though it is not “my fault”. His ability to find the best of his situation ON DEATH ROW ….feeding the birds a portion of his small food allowance, watching the flora and fauna out his window, reading so many great works of literature… he has a very strong spirit which I wish I could emulate.
I am hearing now that execution is at 7pm…
I can tell you have a connection with this person Tamara. I feel for you sister & I support your heart towards him. Hugs my friend. XOXO duffy1958
What a great conversation to be having on the heels of the Travis Alexander murder trial.
I have always been pro-death penalty. I don’t think I can say that anymore. I have given this issue a great deal of thought as a Christian. I don’t think it “ungodly”, the death penalty. The punishment SHOULD fit the crime.
However, after much thought I have considered & arrived at these conclusions.
If you kill someone. You kill them & it goes completely against a persons own soul. If you are part of the execution team, they live with it and get special pay because of it. In my mind this just continues the perpetuation of crimes against humanity. “They” force us to take extreme measures, our goodly minded correctional officers are carrying through the justice meted out by the judicial system. It’s a crime against their own soul and I’m sure if you ask them, they will tell you, they “feel” it.
My solution is simple. Cost efficient. Crime deterring and I truly believe if I can think of this, so could someone in congress who gave a damn & could actually DO something about it. (I need to write congressman. MY bad)
Islands. Island for murderer’s, male/female separate. The child molester, child rapist island would need to be large, but they could do it.
These islands would be self sufficient. Set up ready for them to work or not. If they fuck their island up, that’s too bad. Shouldn’t had done that. If you get ON the island, you never get off. Period.
Sufficient, not excessive, or unending appeals. Bam. Gone. No more society’s problem. No mail. No Internet. You get to live & not die.
I believe there should be a moat of sorts to ensure no escape.
It COULD be done. They are big on building islands. How could there not be a greater cause than the safety of our children?
I couldn’t imagine the boat ride over but it couldn’t be comforting. I feel VERY sure if each state complied, we would see a vast decline in crime. In the end, the criminal is a coward. Cowards CAN be overcome.
Does the country of Australia sound familiar to you?? LOL, great idea but it has already been tried.
Why does it sound like you scoff at the idea? Of course I am aware it has been done. I don’t live THAT far from Alcatraz myself, as the crow flies.
Just because it has been done, doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
It is a brilliant idea. Not saying I am. Just saying.
So my argument is weak? Help me out. Why is it NOT a completely viable solution? What is missing in this equation for you?
I dd not mean to come off sounding crass. I am sorry if I did. It is just there is no Utopian world although it would be nice. Maybe an island in the S Pacific somewhere but I think unless people decided that rehabilitation, education and services are worth the cost and time, we are stuck with the way things are now. Alcatraz worked for a while, maybe that is something people should revisit. No one wants to spend the money it takes to actually fix the problems, they just want to put people away and forget about them. Sad thing is, there is usually parole involved in less than life sentences, even life sentence sometimes gets commuted. Again, sorry if I sounded rude, that was not my intent.
No. I think this is a discussion. Not taking personal.
However….lol you know that is coming.
My history is if one who has read about crime & criminals since I was old enough to go to the Library. I am 54. I read incessantly.
I was a victim of child sexual abuse and I SERIOUSLY wanted to know WHY these people (?) acted the way they did. I very much cared “why” & am absolutely %100 for prevention.
And then I found out someone I trusted had molested MY daughter for four years from ages 8-12. Trust me my sister, when I tell you with every ounce in me, I no longer gave a damn about WHY.
I have been a child advocate my entire life. As a four year old I fought for ME. I always cared about kids. Got involved. Stuck my neck out. I had “the talk” with my children. I searched this man, whom I’d known for years, searched his house high & low for evidence of any sort of deviance. My girls and I vacationed at his home, care taking while he was out of town. I DID so many right things yet…
There were several things which saved me….and him. I can not tell you how fiercely I loved my children and how horribly I hurt to not be able to kill him in a final act of my rage towards him.
We need serious answers. He still walks around. I did what I could legally.
I have said enough about my personal vendetta, which is NOT him, although I do keep an eye on him within legal bounds. Statistically, it’s time for him to re-offend. Who’s neighbor is he now? He lives very wealthy on his retirement.
Your response is honest but I don’t get it. Help me out. They build islands and sell at a premium to those that can afford it. How do we NOT afford the opportunity to better safe guard our children?
I have ask this question and people seem to falter. “Won’t work” Why? Why not? I’m not trying to be aggressive but in light of the death penalty conversation, why not defer to an island?
Tamara, I respect your opinion. Do you have any feed back?
hey duffy, for personal reasons I had to stop reading your last post. but I find the whole idea of an island ricidulous and will not be entertaining it further. I got as far as child molesters in your last post and became ill. I would kill those people with my own hands, but please let us not go there. I just can’t continue to read comments if we do.
Your island idea is ridiculous. Despite the fact that is how Australia came to be a place… it’s a dumb idea. I’m not trying to cut off your position as the blog owner, just expressing my opinion.
I understand the anxiety surrounding the meting of the death penalty sentence, so I understand an anxiety ridden response.
I ask for your opinion and got it “Thank you” for responding. There wasn’t/isn’t the need to be so demeaning in your response.
You are wrong. My opinion AND my voice are VERY important. They are important to you and our society as a whole. We ARE in this together.
I probably wasn’t clear in my last post. I had to stop reading after the child molesting part. I shouldn’t have said the island idea was dumb. Those it seems to me to be unworkable. My strong reaction was personal and more like me putting my fingers in my ears and singing lalalalalalal not because I am not interested in your opinion but because there are certain topics I try not to let enter my brain. Sorry. Not explaining this very well. 🙁 No hard feelings?
No hard feelings at all Tamara. XOXO
Looks like they are killing him right now. 🙁
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a stay of execution for a Florida inmate who orchestrated the 1987 ambush murder of a prison guard.
William Van Poyck is set to die by lethal injection Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Florida State Prison for the murder of prison guard Fred Griffis. His case garnered international attention because Van Poyck published three books and maintained a blog while on death row.
The 58-year-old Van Poyck declined a final meal and visited Wednesday with his sister, four friends and a spiritual adviser.
Van Poyck and Frank Valdes ambushed a prison van outside a West Palm Beach doctor’s office in a failed attempt to free their friend, James O’Brien. Griffis was fatally shot.
Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/state/william-van-poyck-execution-stay-denied-by-the-us-supreme-court#ixzz2W2v1WXVI
Godspeed. This is just so sad.
I wish someone would let me know it if happened. I can’t find anything.
http://deathpenaltynews.blogspot.com/2013/06/florida-executes-william-van-poyck.html
Yes, it happened……Pronounced dead at 7:24 P.M.
I read a breaking news alert that he has been executed.
William Van Poyck was executed at 7:34. Which means he laid on the table awaiting his death for more than half an hour. RIP William.
OMG. Just saw the preview for rhom. What the Hell did Lea Black do to her face?!? Horrible.