Terri Schiavo’s Family Wants Investigation of Possible Physical Abuse

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Dec 15, 2003   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Terri Schiavo’s Family Wants Investigation of Possible Physical Abuse

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 15, 2003

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) — The family of Terri Schiavo is again asking Florida state attorney Bernie McCabe to investigate allegations that Terri Schiavo may have collapsed as a result of physical abuse from her estranged husband Michael rather than a potassium imbalance, as previously thought.

A bone scan conducted on Terri in March 1991 showed she had several fractures and was the victim of "abnormal activity" that caused "previous traumas," indicating she may have been beaten or abused.

Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri’s parents, want McCabe to call a grand jury to investigate the bone scan as well as other abuses during Michael’s guardianship.

McCabe has twice previously refused the request saying that too much time had passed between the collapse and the scan.

"McCabe has refused to investigate well-founded allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation [against Terri] even though such offenses are felony crimes under Florida law," said a statement on the web site run by Terri’s family.

"These are serious crimes against a vulnerable person and call for immediate and thorough investigation. However, Mr. McCabe has shut down Florida Law Enforcement from doing so," the statement added.

Terri’s family is asking for concerned citizens to contact McCabe’s office and encourage him to investigate.

Doctors selected by the Schindlers have reviewed Terri’s medical records.

They found that a heart attack did not cause Terri’s collapse, Pamela Hennesyy, a representative of Terri’s family, said. Rather, according to one physician, Terri may have been a strangulation victim.

Attorneys for Terri’s family had recently planned to depose Dr. Campbell Walker, the radiologist who conducted the bone scan, to obtain new information in their fight to replace Michael as Terri’s guardian with her brother Bob Schindler, Jr.

However, Michael filed a motion asking the court to block the deposition saying that the court has already dealt with the bone scan in previous hearings.

Michael wants Terri’s body cremated if she dies, which would deny any chance the family has to validate the long-held suspicion.

"Michael has instructed the judge to cremate her body upon her death, which adds even more suspicion to what really happened to Terri," Bob Schindler said.

McCabe is a graduate of Stetson University, where Dr. Jay Wolfson, who released a guardian ad litem report earlier this month, is a professor of law.

ACTION: Contact attorney Bernie McCabe at [email protected] or call (727) 464-6221.

Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo’s family – https://www.terrisfight.org