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No one did the right thing in hit-run case

Wed, 2009-06-03 14:59 — Letters to the ...

Maybe someone can help me sleep tonight. Melissa Sjostrom, Melissa Sjostrom, Melissa Sjostrom. I just can't get her out of my thoughts. Whose life is more worthy: a woman who is homeless, who loved others and whom others loved, or the person who killed her, drove off and left her to die?

So many people in need have a story, a life not much different from our own in many cases. Illness, job loss, or death and so many other factors can trigger a downward spiral. The number of our neighbors who need food and shelter is growing, many of whom are our children and our veterans.

The dignity of so many of our citizens who brave each day facing that their children won't have enough food to eat, that they themselves will go hungry, and who live on the streets or in tents even though they work two jobs has me wondering. Are their lives not worthy? Do they not warrant kindness and just plain decent help? Do they deserve protection under the law?

How do we walk past our fellow humans, not look them in the eye, and pretend they don't exist? How can we maim someone and leave them to die?

I think this is a perfect opportunity to discuss what happened with our families, friends and colleagues. We all make mistakes. Maybe some day we too might be in an accident, but the tragedy of this is not the accident itself, but the coverup, and no one did the right thing.

There are multiple tragedies: the failure of the driver of the car to come forward, of the people who knew what had happened who shirked their responsibilities, and the saddest of all: the overworked and short-staffed police not following through. They all acted like Melissa didn't exist.

Please: I'm asking everyone to get involved and do what is right and just, for Melissa Sjostrom and for our community as a whole.

Linda Karson, Tampa

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Sat, 2009-06-06 11:49 — the family of m...

Thank You

The family of Melissa Sjostrom "Missy"

  Thank you! Everyone....

We  do believe that discrimination is all over this case!

 Jordan made choice's, she choose to drive the way she did, she choose to do whatever it was besides paying attention to the road,she choose to operate her car in a dangerous manner. she choose not to stop and render aid to the human she hit.she choose to leave the scene, she choose not to call police, she choose not to tell her parents at all as police told them 12 hours later, she choose to act as if nothing was wrong,she choose to remain silent for 2 1/2 months, she choose to lie, she choose not to take responsibility, she choose to have her own as well as her parents lives continue to be ruined, Jordan's parents choose after talking to an attorney to hire 3 attorney's. the parents choose to lie , hide, and act as if nothing has happened. her parent choose to not put themselves in the victims familys shoes,they choose to go to court for a careless driving ticket while striking a pedestrian, $200.00 ticket (lie)they choose to ask for it to be dismissed due to lack of evidence,(lie) they choose not to supeona or notify the witness to a homicide, to come to court as it was a lie to be in traffic court,( would you invite witness's to a homicide to traffic court like it was a parking ticket?) they choose to supeona Detective Powell to come to court knowing he could not testify, as he did not witness a careless driving incident striking a pedestrian.(the ticket was a lie but the only thing the Detective could do as the attorney used the Accident Report Privilige Doctrine.(which is not an option in a homicide) Jordan then choose to take the 5th amendment.) Det. Powell was in fact investigating a homicide...they choose to enter a plea of not quilty, they choose not to notify the family of the victim of any such hearing or appearance in any court as to allow them to attend what might have been their only day in court.They choose to ask for a dismissal due to lack of evidence, which they failed to provide, as well as the truth to the judge or the court,( if you killed someone wouldn't you pay thar $200.00 ticket and run from the court full of joy to be walking Free ?)they choose to bribe the family with more money for silence,(which the family declined) they choose to go to the state's attorney to find out what the family wanted, they choose to up the bribe money again in an attempt to buy Jordan out of adult court and a felony charge, and once again ask for the family's silence.( family still declined) they have choosen to continue to lie, hide, and disrespect the dead and the greiving.they have chosen to take the family's healing process and trash every moment of it with these lies and actions! They have chosen the path they are on . and they have chosen the lowest moral ground!They have chosen to show no decency! They have chosen the war that is now just begun!!!

Melissa did not choose to die!
Melissa did not choose to be a victim!
Melissa was 2/3 the way across the road almost done when Jordan hit her. she did not jump out in front of jordan, step off a curb in front of Jordan. the witness's saw Missy way before they ever saw jordan coming.
melissa did not choose to be laying in the road alone and dying, she did not choose cocaine as the autopsy showed no cocaine. the autopsy which she did not choose showed benzoylecgonine which can be found in over the counter medicine.Melissa did not choose an operation of $59k to save her life. melissa did not choose an autopsy, which naked and exposed.was not her choice. as they took her fluids from her organs! Melissa did not choose to share her life, her secrets, her shortcomings, Melissa has no choice or rights they were taken by Jordans choices! The family of melissa did not choose any of this! we were not given a choice!  we choose to the let the police do the job they are paid to do. we thought that everyone would do the right thing!The family of Melissa NOW has chosen to fight!Fight to protect every human being, and to scream loud and clear that.. who you are and what you do is not anymore or anyless important than anyother human being on this earth!That everyone can not be bought! The law is what it is!Good people do bad things! Bad people do good things! No one choose's who is more or less deserving of the law. we choose to fight for Melissa!we choose to fight the State,the police,the courts, the law! we choose to change them all!We are now making  choices.....

Help us help you!

 To protect We the people of the united states who both walk and drive in this country from not only this Jordan Valdez,but the next Jordan Valdez coming down the road! we want the hit and run laws to be enforced! For people who do not come forward within hours to give full disclosure,testing for substances, and attempt to hide the truth. we want to offer the truly innocent a lighter sentence for coming forward early if it was truly an accident and fear motivated. we think that with all of the new drivers as well as toys they have to distract them, they do need some level of protection. just as everyone needs protection under the law.Every crime has a level of punishment attached to it! we want punishment attached to the Accident Report Privilige Doctrine!We want to change some laws... We need your help! Contact your state representatives, your governor,and us as we are going to get a petition started so that we can go after every state that has this Accident Report Privilige Doctrine and have it amended....We need your contact information so you can sign a petition to help protect your future generations. contact us @yahoo.com tampahitnrun,(tampahitnrun@yahoo.com).We are creating a website to help further this cause. we will send everyone the information if they request it.

Thank you Again! The Family of Melissa Sjostrom "MISSY"

Posted by: the family of melissa sjostrom | June 05, 2009 at 11:48

PM

Fri, 2009-06-05 08:54 — smplyred

I agree that if Missy

I agree that if Missy hadn't been homeless, more would have been done. It is always so much easier for some people to say everything that happens in a person's life is of their own choosing.  Some people cannot look outside of themselves even for a moment to realize, we are not all the same.

Mental illness, addiction, abuse...so many factors can change a person's life.  How people who claim to be "intelligent"; those who will flaunt million dollar words or billion dollar paragraphs can "ASSume" that all homeless people are either addicts, drunks or lazy bums is beyond me.

Maybe those are the sorts of people who are fortunate to have never faced any sort of life changing obstacle in their life; regardless of if by choice or not. I'd say you are lucky to have escaped the realities of life.

There are far too many people a paycheck away from homelessness. These are people with a paycheck who WORK. Holier than thou types will say, they should have gotten a better job.  Well if we all had the top jobs who would serve your coffee, keep your businesses or houses clean, fix your dinner when you don't feel like cooking?

It's sad to see people so into self. The "it's all about me" mentality. Quick to down people who want to help those who want to help themselves, because you assume if they are in that postition they can't possibly want to get out. If the "ME, ME, Me's" of the world looked outside of "self" every once in a while, maybe the world wouldn't be in the state it's in now. 

I cannot blame Jordan's parents for wanting to protect her but I cannot support their teaching her she doesn't have to face the consequences of her actions. Accidents happen yes, but driving away is not an accident.  I felt no different with Jennifer Porter. Hitting those children may well have been just an accident but driving away from the scene, never calling 911 anywhere between there and home or even the following day was wrong on many levels.  Missy may have been homeless but she was a human being; someone's daughter, someone's friend. She deserved better than what she got from Jordan, her parents, the attorney, the police and the judge.

 

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter -Martin Luther King Jr.

Thu, 2009-06-11 07:35 — captainal

My parents, Simplyred, were born in Italy. When An Itaiian ----

My parents, Simplyred, were born in Italy, When
an Italian gangster shoots and kills another
Italian gangster, the police do not put much time
in trying to solve the murder, AND I DO NOT BLAME
THEM. There is a problem here in this hit and
run case. It would seem to me that when the
police found out that Melissa was HOMELESS,
they lost all interest in solving the vehicle homicide.
Now that the public is clamoring for justice, they have
put quite a few detectives on the case in a late
attempt to solve it. The police were wrong not
to try to solve the vehicle homicide immediately.
Melissa Sjostion was HOMELESS but she sure in
hell was no GANGSTER!!! God bless.

Wed, 2009-06-03 22:37 — LKBrown

Because Missy's life did and continues to matter:

I learned on March 29, 2009, following a visit from a St. Pete Times reporter that my daughter’s father, Stanley Morse, was the homeless man who drowned off of Bayshore Blvd. three weeks earlier.

Just as I’d explained to my seven year old why her father didn’t reside with us, I had to explain his death and the underlying factors of addiction, physical and mental illness, homelessness, and personal choices made for reasons never to be known to us. Neither task was easy or something I would wish upon others.

I’ve no doubt that Missy’s family understands this.

Some people are exceptionally cruel when it comes to the homeless; I learned this while reading anonymous vilifications of Stanley in local and national media. One pseudo-quick wit said, “Good, one down, how many more to go?” Another retorted, “How ironic! Just before he finally took this bath he reeked like the dead.“

Again, and unfortunately, I’ve no doubt that Missy’s family can relate.

Then I read this: “Lets not make all the rude comments, he was just a person that was not as fortunate as some of us. Remember just look at your own children, he was once someone’s little boy. Watch the comments it could be you someday, or someone you love when you are no longer around to help them out. Enough said!”

And that is where we all intersect.

I ask Mr. and Mrs. Valdez: Have you truly considered the long term ramifications of this parentally-imposed silence upon your daughter? Could mental illness, the inability to cope, and perhaps addictions eventually consume her? What if the end result in shirking responsibility is a lesser life for her than you had planned?

None dispute your care and concern for Jordan, rather the method in which you’ve shown it is questionable.

I hope that when my daughter is old enough to fully grasp her father’s story, she will do so with compassion and without shame. I wish that for not only the family of Ms. Sjostrom but for Jordan as well.

Missy's life still matters to friends, family, and the community and it should.  She deserves justice which-if the adage "it's never too late to do the right thing" is remembered and adhered to-will be forthcoming. 

 

Thu, 2009-06-11 07:48 — captainal

LKBrown, Welcome to Our Forum. Where There is Life There is----

LKBrown, welcome to our forum. Where there is life, there is hope. A person can be homeless at 30 and FIND A CURE FOR CANCER AT 50. I believe as the famous John Donne believed 450 years ago, "I am so involved in mankind that anyone"s death diminishes me. Therefore never send to know for whom the bells toll. They toll for thee." God bless.

Thu, 2009-06-04 12:53 — Majical

Best wishes

I'm so sorry for your loss and my deepest sympathy goes out to your little one. 

I, and there are many other people, have compassion for the homeless.  Regardless of their reason for being on the street.  It causes me great sadness when people are rude or just don't understand or care.

Ignore mayor.  His heart was cut out at a young age and they just don't grow back.

And, I am sorry for the hurtful comments that are left on the articles.  It can be pretty aweful but I'm sure there are more of us who actually send warmth and comfort your way.

Kay

Thu, 2009-06-04 05:42 — Mayor of Moronia

THE HOMELESS MATTER TO DO-GOODERS AND UPLIFTERS

THIS POST WAS PREPARED AT A 3RD WORLD SWEATSHOP BY NON-UNION CHILD LABOR. 

The homeless help do-gooders and uplifters feel better about themselves, and they provide flop-houses and soup kitchens with a plausible excuse to get tax money. Otherwise theyre a nuisance. 

Thu, 2009-06-11 08:20 — captainal

Mayor, I Have Been Fortunate in My Life To Have----

Mayor, I have been fortunate in my life to have met and spoken to Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Ted Williams, Jimmy Foxx, Lucille Ball, Vic Damone, etc. I have also gone out of my way to speak and help the homeless. Yes, some of them are beyond hope but many of them, especially today, were hardworking people who lost their jobs. I met one couple in Morristown, N. J. that were living in a car with a small baby. At one time both of them WERE WORKING TWO JOBS to keep a roof over their heads.I AM GOING TO BE BRUTALLY BRUNT, MAYOR, WITH YOU. I am an OLD BASTARD. YOU ARE THE MOST MISERABLE BASTARD I HAVE EVER KNOW IN MY 88 YEARS. Yes, the homeless reek and need a bath, just a simple bath. Mayor, you REEK WITH HATRED. YOU HATE EVERYONE, EVERYTHING, EXCEPT YOURSELF. A bath will not rid you OF ALL THAT HATRED. Hell, YOU HAVE SO MUCH HATRED YOU NEED AN OCEAN TO CLEAN THE MOST HATE-FILLED BODY I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

Thu, 2009-06-11 08:41 — captainal

Oh,Mayor, I forgot to say "I love you and God bless."

Oh, Mayor, I forgot to say, "I love you and God bless." Sorry, we Italians can get too emotional at times. Since you hate everyone, it is only natural that everyone will hate you. If you love everyone as I do, everyone will love you even though they may not agree with me and millions of NRA members, repugnant Republicans, religious fanatics, etc. DON'T AGREE WITH ME. Disagree and hate are not synonymous. You and I may not agree on the statement that I made when I wrote that YOU ARE THE MOST MISERABLE BASTARD I HAVE EVER KNOWN. but that is no reason whe we should hate one another. It certainly is possilbe that you know someone who is EVEN MORE OF A MISERABLE BASTARD THAN YOU ARE. I, personally, doubt it, but it is possible. God bless.

Thu, 2009-06-11 08:55 — captainal

Mayor, I hope You Had A Laugh Or Two With my Posts Above.

Mayor, I hope you had a laugh or two with my posts above. You should have take yourself seriously and I certainly never take myself seriously. Hitler hated people much more than you did. He killed 22 million people, including six million GERMANS. I am not sure you even hate ONE PERSON, EVEN ALLAN. I do believe you try to come across in your posts as a person who hates but I am not sure you hate anyone. The hell with have a good day. That is trite. Trust in Allah, Mayor, but tie up your camel. If you don't have a camel, buy one. It will help us get out of the recession. God bless.

Wed, 2009-06-03 21:37 — Jerkygirl

Aiding and abetting a guilty child is a crime

Pretty, rich white (yes upper class Hispanics are considered white) people get away with murder-literally!  This would never happen to a black person.  These parents are guilty, too.   The daughter had an accident & made it a crime by not stopping.  That was her decision & fault and now she has to live with the consequences.  One bad decision can and should ruin her whole life!   She has no conscience!

Her parents are evil for hiding the truth & not having her deal with the responsiblity of the accident.   Was she drinking or high on drugs?  Was that the reason they did not turn her in immediately?  We will never know now.

Law enforcement should have been more persistent in pursuing justice for Melissa.  They were ready to give up too quickly because of her non-status as a person. 

Wed, 2009-06-03 15:51 — captainal

The Great Writer Alexander Pope Wrote, "And hungry judges soon--

The great writer Alexander Pope wrote, "And hungry
judges soon the sentence sign, And wretches hang that
jurymen may dine." I think it is time to "hang" the
young daughter. How do I know it is the daughter?
Because I have two daughters and the police are
positive she is the guilty one but
they can not prove it----Yet. It was a comedy of
errors on the part of the Keystone Police but the public
uproar has now caused the police to work on this
case until they solve. The evidence is circumstantial but
all the evidence is starting to pile up to prove the
daughter is guilty. I believe if she confesses now, the
judge will still send her to prison but for a lot less time.
The longer she holds out, the stiffer the sentence. Also,
something no one has mentioned it yet. The car was
driven by someone. It was not reported stolen. The
insurance company will not pay a penny until the driver
comes forward. I am not an attorney but as a father, I
believe the young girl should plead guilty immediately.
God bless.

Thu, 2009-06-11 17:10 — captainal

I Do Not Blame The Parents For Trying To Help The Daughter But--

I don't blame the parents for trying to help the daughter but I feel their situation will get more precarious every day. THE CAR DID HIT THE VICTIM. CARS DO NOT DRIVE WITHOUT A DRIVER. The insurance company will insist on knowing who was driving the car when it killed the young woman OR THEY WILL NOT PAY A PENNY IN INSURANCE. The car was not reported stolen and the police have evidence that the car did kill the woman. Yes, we parents do love and try to protect our children but it can not be done in this tragic case. I think the great writer Rabindranath Tagore said it best l00 years ago, "I do not love him because he is good, but because he is my little child." God bless.

Wed, 2009-06-03 15:22 — Wise Merlin

MONEY TALKS, Bullsh*t Walks

MONEY TALKS AND bullsh*t walks is the most appropriate phrase for this and many, many other incidents in this state. It is the poor and invisable who get a raw deal in this state. There is NO JUSTICE anywhere. How many times must this happen? It is a weekly occurance somewhere in the state, whether it be a homeless woman being killed, or a black teen getting 30 years for an accident, or a baby being ignored by DCF and dying, or teens being run off the road and killed by a psychopathic cop, or a black youth killed at a "boot camp." The worst part is how easily the perpetrators get away with their crimes, usually with the help of those charged with upholding the law.

You can wring your hands, you can cry yourself to sleep, BUT IF YOU DO NOT STAND UP A DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT RECEIVE IT, YOU ARE DOING NOTHING.

Wise Merlin