Caitlin, suffering from an untreatable, terminal illness, ALS, has been there
for her friend Rodney until her last breath.
Rodney is supported by
his childhood friend Julie -
currently desperately trying to
locate defence witnesses who the
jury never heard,
as well as new ones.
Julie says:
Rodney is one of the kindest,
most caring genuine people
I've ever met. I know he is innocent.
Anyone out there to help?
It is a race against time:
Rodney is facing execution.
Caitlin, USA
My world was turned on it's head in October 2009 when I learned that I have an untreatable, terminal illness; ALS. Something inside me felt connected somehow to this man's story - a death sentence sucks, sorry, but that is just plain true. I kept praying, and one day got this answer, "If you are out riding one day and someone is outside talk to them."
The next day I went out riding and as always I was riding without really thinking about where I was going - before I got sick used to do that on 100 mile bike rides! I ended up on MLK and as I was riding by Rodney's home, Sandra, his mom and Rodrick, his brother were outside. I hopped off my bike and introduced myself. Sandra, Rodrick and I talked for almost 3 hours that day. They spoke about Rodney, a son, brother, father, and innocent man on death row. They spoke of the case and encouraged me to watch a documentary film, State vs Reed. I saw a family devastated by tragedy, yet firm in their love and commitment to their loved one. I asked what I might be able to do to help.
Over the next few months I got to know Rodney's family, and they got to know me. Rodney and I began writing and getting to know each other. I began to really study his case: I read everything I could find, watched the documentary, State vs Reed, talked to David Fisher (an independent investigator), and read court documents. I believe without a doubt that Rodney is an innocent man, unjustly and wrongfully convicted.
In September of this year I began visiting Rodney weekly with his mom, other friends, or alone. We've become good friends over these past 9 months and I am very grateful for his and his family's friendship and for this opportunity to bring attention to Rodney, his story and this egregious miscarriage of justice. I hope you, the reader, will join us in the fight for Rodney's life.
Caitlin's blogs can be read at CEDP