Woman Who Posted Terri Schiavo Death Threat on Internet Convicted

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Dec 8, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Woman Who Posted Terri Schiavo Death Threat on Internet Convicted Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 8, 2005

San Francisco, CA (LifeNews.com) — Tempers flared during the intensity at the height of the legal battle over safeguarding Terri Schiavo’s right to live.

Terri’s family, pro-life groups and lawmakers worked within the law to prevent her estranged husband from killing her, but one woman took the law into her own hands when she posted a death threat on the Internet against the judge who allowed Terri’s euthanasia death.

The threat was also made against Michael Schiavo, Terri’s estranged husband who won the right to kill her.

Now, 32 year-old Dera Marie Jones, of San Francisco has been convicted b a federal jury of sending a death threat across state lines.

U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan told the Associated Press that the jury found Jones intended to threaten Michael when she posted the threat on an America Online message board.

"If she dies, I will kill Michael Schiavo and the judge," Jones wrote. "This is real!"

Terri was euthanized nine days later in a painful starvation and dehydration death.

U.S. District Court Judge James Whittemore refused to take a new look at the lawsuit filed by Terri’s parents and family to keep that from happening. He also ignored a Congressional mandate for a new case.

After reading the threat, Whittemore said he became concerned about his safety.

According to an AP report, FBI officials determined that Jones posted the threat, even though she wrote the message on someone else’s Internet account.

Jones is free on bond, but she could receive a five year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced in March.