Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 20, 2006 15:15:35 GMT -5
Website lets Basham 'speak' from death row
The website lists Brandon Basham as the youngest inmate on federal death
row, someone who enjoys reading, television and music and invites
correspondence from the outside to his prison address in Indiana.
2 years ago, Basham, along with fellow escaped Kentucky prisoner and
accomplice Chadrick Fulks, was sentenced to death for the November 2004
abduction and death of Galivants Ferry, S.C., resident Alice Donovan.
The 2 admitted bringing Donovan, whose body was never found, to Brunswick
County. Last year, Basham and Fulks also received life sentences for the
killing of West Virginia student Samantha Burns, who disappeared 3 days
before Donovan. Like Donovan, Burns' body has never been located.
Now, a website, deathrowspeaks.info, contains a profile and photographs of
Basham, 25, along with other federal, state and military death row
inmates.
"I've been here for a year and it's a real lonely place," reads the entry
posted on the website within the past year under two digital photographs
of Basham wearing a white T-shirt and sporting his biceps.
"I'm originally from the state of Kentucky," continues the entry. "Was
born and raised there. I am a single white guy, never married and I've not
fathered any children. These are things which I think about a lot. I'll
likely never have an opportunity to experience a normal life on the
outside. That's a depressing and disturbing prospect."
The entry goes on to relate, "I spend my time here doing things in order
to occupy my mind, body and spirit. I love to read, including self-help,
spiritual and educational books. For pleasure I read books by Stephen
King, John Grisom [sic] and many others. I love watching movies on TV and
listening to music on my walkman.
"I stay in tip top physical shape by working out three to five times a
week. I do exercises for strength, endurance and for cardiovascular
health. We aren't allowed to lift weights, do pull-ups, etc. so I'm
required to get creative with my workout program. My physical description
is: Solid, athletic build with great muscle tone, 5' 10", 192 pounds,
brown hair and eyes.
"I have many interests including beaches, the outdoors, swimming, cycling,
nature, meeting new people and living life to the fullest when possible.
"I am the youngest of two children. My sister is several years older than
me. I'm fortunate to have her and my niece in my life. Our mother died
this past July (2005) which has left a void in my heart. I also am
thankful to have friends. I hope that someone reading this profile will
decide to write me. Receiving mail from those of you on the outside would
mean a lot. I promise to answer all letters promptly. Thanks for reading
about me."
The entry concludes with Basham's death-row address in Terre Haute, Ind.
Fulks, 29, along with other inmates, is listed on the website as well, but
with no profile or pictures.
Federal inmates aren't allowed to have access to the Internet, Mike
Truman, spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C.,
said Tuesday.
Truman said he could only guess it would be an outside person posting the
information-"a family member or friend."
Basham, like other death-row inmates, is allowed to correspond with
anyone, Truman said.
Such "pen-pal" prison websites are beyond the department's control, Truman
added.
"It's just like you starting your own website," he said. "I have no
control on what you do on your own site."
A mission statement posted on the site, launched in 2001 by 2 death row
inmates "along with friends on the outside," describes it as "an advocate
web site in opposition to the Death Penalty...and to encourage activisim
on the part of our visitors."
It also aims to display "the humanity of death row inmates" by posting
their writings and works of art.
Brunswick County Chief Jailer Kevin Holden said he objects to the website.
"I personally don't think that convicted murderers should have the ability
to post things on their own website," Holden said. "I don't think [Basham]
should have that ability, I really don't.
"It's a shame that several lives have been wasted because of him," Holden
added. "And the reason he is where he is is because he is a self-admitted
murderer or confessed murderer. He put himself in that position, and I
don't think he should have the ability to have his own website there."
Death row prisoners' listings on the site also are broken down by state.
Currently, there are no listings for North Carolina inmates.
"There is a bunch of these kind of inmate pen-pal sites," said Keith
Acree, spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Correction, adding
that state death-row inmates, like federal inmates, don't have access to
the Internet.
"If they get posted, it's because they've written and asked or had someone
post for them," Acree said. "We don't prohibit them from putting
information up here, but we don't give them access to do it themselves. My
guess is somebody probably posted it for [Basham]."
Whether information gets posted or not, "depends on the rumor mill," Acree
added. "Word spreads pretty quick among [inmates]."
The website notes sometimes people are wrongfully incarcerated and placed
on death row. Holden said he agrees innocent people may wind up there.
"But in Basham's case, he has admitted to taking other people's innocent
life, so that pretty much removes all doubt, in my opinion," Holden said.
Finding him posted on the Internet is "sad for everybody involved," Holden
said, noting that Basham's victims, along with the victims' families,
"probably at one time enjoyed the same things that he did, that he would
like to do, and they don't have any opportunity anymore."
(source: The Brunswick Beacon)
The website lists Brandon Basham as the youngest inmate on federal death
row, someone who enjoys reading, television and music and invites
correspondence from the outside to his prison address in Indiana.
2 years ago, Basham, along with fellow escaped Kentucky prisoner and
accomplice Chadrick Fulks, was sentenced to death for the November 2004
abduction and death of Galivants Ferry, S.C., resident Alice Donovan.
The 2 admitted bringing Donovan, whose body was never found, to Brunswick
County. Last year, Basham and Fulks also received life sentences for the
killing of West Virginia student Samantha Burns, who disappeared 3 days
before Donovan. Like Donovan, Burns' body has never been located.
Now, a website, deathrowspeaks.info, contains a profile and photographs of
Basham, 25, along with other federal, state and military death row
inmates.
"I've been here for a year and it's a real lonely place," reads the entry
posted on the website within the past year under two digital photographs
of Basham wearing a white T-shirt and sporting his biceps.
"I'm originally from the state of Kentucky," continues the entry. "Was
born and raised there. I am a single white guy, never married and I've not
fathered any children. These are things which I think about a lot. I'll
likely never have an opportunity to experience a normal life on the
outside. That's a depressing and disturbing prospect."
The entry goes on to relate, "I spend my time here doing things in order
to occupy my mind, body and spirit. I love to read, including self-help,
spiritual and educational books. For pleasure I read books by Stephen
King, John Grisom [sic] and many others. I love watching movies on TV and
listening to music on my walkman.
"I stay in tip top physical shape by working out three to five times a
week. I do exercises for strength, endurance and for cardiovascular
health. We aren't allowed to lift weights, do pull-ups, etc. so I'm
required to get creative with my workout program. My physical description
is: Solid, athletic build with great muscle tone, 5' 10", 192 pounds,
brown hair and eyes.
"I have many interests including beaches, the outdoors, swimming, cycling,
nature, meeting new people and living life to the fullest when possible.
"I am the youngest of two children. My sister is several years older than
me. I'm fortunate to have her and my niece in my life. Our mother died
this past July (2005) which has left a void in my heart. I also am
thankful to have friends. I hope that someone reading this profile will
decide to write me. Receiving mail from those of you on the outside would
mean a lot. I promise to answer all letters promptly. Thanks for reading
about me."
The entry concludes with Basham's death-row address in Terre Haute, Ind.
Fulks, 29, along with other inmates, is listed on the website as well, but
with no profile or pictures.
Federal inmates aren't allowed to have access to the Internet, Mike
Truman, spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C.,
said Tuesday.
Truman said he could only guess it would be an outside person posting the
information-"a family member or friend."
Basham, like other death-row inmates, is allowed to correspond with
anyone, Truman said.
Such "pen-pal" prison websites are beyond the department's control, Truman
added.
"It's just like you starting your own website," he said. "I have no
control on what you do on your own site."
A mission statement posted on the site, launched in 2001 by 2 death row
inmates "along with friends on the outside," describes it as "an advocate
web site in opposition to the Death Penalty...and to encourage activisim
on the part of our visitors."
It also aims to display "the humanity of death row inmates" by posting
their writings and works of art.
Brunswick County Chief Jailer Kevin Holden said he objects to the website.
"I personally don't think that convicted murderers should have the ability
to post things on their own website," Holden said. "I don't think [Basham]
should have that ability, I really don't.
"It's a shame that several lives have been wasted because of him," Holden
added. "And the reason he is where he is is because he is a self-admitted
murderer or confessed murderer. He put himself in that position, and I
don't think he should have the ability to have his own website there."
Death row prisoners' listings on the site also are broken down by state.
Currently, there are no listings for North Carolina inmates.
"There is a bunch of these kind of inmate pen-pal sites," said Keith
Acree, spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Correction, adding
that state death-row inmates, like federal inmates, don't have access to
the Internet.
"If they get posted, it's because they've written and asked or had someone
post for them," Acree said. "We don't prohibit them from putting
information up here, but we don't give them access to do it themselves. My
guess is somebody probably posted it for [Basham]."
Whether information gets posted or not, "depends on the rumor mill," Acree
added. "Word spreads pretty quick among [inmates]."
The website notes sometimes people are wrongfully incarcerated and placed
on death row. Holden said he agrees innocent people may wind up there.
"But in Basham's case, he has admitted to taking other people's innocent
life, so that pretty much removes all doubt, in my opinion," Holden said.
Finding him posted on the Internet is "sad for everybody involved," Holden
said, noting that Basham's victims, along with the victims' families,
"probably at one time enjoyed the same things that he did, that he would
like to do, and they don't have any opportunity anymore."
(source: The Brunswick Beacon)