Monday, October 13, 2014

#justiceforwilliam UPDATE: Photos found amid Ignorance, Bullshit and Deflection

Update: The death scene photos have been found!



My frustration hasn't gone away with the news that the death scene photos of my brother have been found. After 14 years of waiting for them, I am unable to allow myself to get my hopes up that they really could still exist and be sent to me. These photos are key evidence in my brother William's death. They may hold the strongest clues, of any evidence, as to how he really died. To date, I have only the word of the people who have held them from me for 14 years to go on. People who have no compassion, and absolutely no apparent instinct or understanding of the procedures they were bound by state law and guidelines to have performed. The news that the photos have now been located by the Salem Police department came from Coroner Rondale Brishaber, who was elected in 2009. In his e mail responses to me Brishaber clearly states:





1) The Coroner’s Office at that time did not take pictures at death scenes, the police did.

Indeed, the police did take the death scene photos, specifically, former detective Doug Hoskins. And while state guidelines, in 2000 and currently in 2014, clearly state that the coroner can hire a photographer or even have the police take the photos, they are the property of the Coroners office, and should be retained on file permanently. Furthermore, every coroner, police officer or investigator who touches any item of evidence has to log it on the chain of custody log.

2) They have found the pictures and they are looking for the audio recording.

My most recent request to his office, and the police, took place on September 17, 2014. 17 days and two videos about it later, I get word from him that, not only have the pictures been located, but the recording is missing and they are looking for it. Clearly this verifies the fact that the evidence has been compromised. And where is the chain of custody for any of this evidence I've been asking for since 2000? And how ironic could it be that all this evidence and answers all surfaced within two hours of their response to a reporter for South Florida Gay News who is covering the story? 

3) The Coroner’s Office didn’t take the pictures, so that evidence stays with the city police. There were no pictures in his case file.

I haven't begun to investigate the record keeping protocol of the police. I've been too consumed with the fact that they've ignored my report of strong evidence that my brother could have been murdered for too long. The fact remains that this is either a lie or a clear display of ignorance of the guidelines that regulate the county coroner's office. They clearly state the photos are key evidence the coroner should retain permanently! And while it may be convenient for Brishaber to deflect the blame from his office to the police department, I've known the Indiana coroner's guidelines for record keeping since 2000. In fact, I'm quite sure I could perform his job with a lot more proficiency than he has.

4)  I believe it is a smear campaign.

If this is the case, then who is smearing whom? The only victims in this scenario are my brother and myself. We have had injustice smeared all over us. If the truth hurts, it's because someone is harboring a lie. It just so happens that nearly all, if not every person who is involved in the conspiracy to withhold the truth about my brother's death from me has run for political office in Washington County, at one time or another. As candidates for public office, they are subject to the same type of scrutiny that any other public figure is. This includes Memes, Parodies, reviews of their personal and public lives for public consumption. I learned all this the hard way when my first gig as a radio DJ plummeted me into fifteen seconds of local fame. I couldn't take a smoke break outside my job without fans driving by screaming "Chazonator" at one point, and it was very unnerving. I've had radio show hosts on the Internet rip me apart for being so outrageous, graphic and sexy! I've been bashed in print all over the Internet by complete strangers. That doesn't get under my skin anymore. It doesn't distract from my true purpose, which is to expose hypocrisy and injustice wherever I encounter it, starting with my own personal life.

5) The laws have changed some since 2000. We take pictures at every scene and keep the pictures with the file

While this may sound reasonable, it's false. I actually printed out the guidelines in 2000 and have kept them in my file, and compared to the guidelines of today, the file retention requirements are the same.

6) I admit that the pictures were not in the file. I know that there was a audio recorder on scene. I would like to listen to the audio if possible. The Salem Police are looking for this audio

He's basically admitting to two things. One, the photos are not in his coroner's case file, and two, neither is the audio recording.


7) All calls at the Salem Police Department are recorded. I will again ask you to request the pictures from the Salem Police Department.

It's like beating my head against a brick wall here. I've got fax receipts from multiple requests sent to the Salem Police Department for this evidence. I've had a liaison trying to get copies of this stuff since September 17, 2014. Clearly they wouldn't be looking for the photos or the recording if they weren't aware of my request. So all this, deflection to the Salem Police department is getting old. The coroner's role is to work with ALL relevant local officials to resolve issues related to a death case.The coroner, the police and the prosecutor see each other nearly every day. Many of them are friends on facebook. I'm sure they have a grand old time at the Moose Lodge on weekends. Exactly when were any of them planning to work together to fulfill my simple request for evidence? You'd think they were on different planets!

For the record, I am not angry at Mr. Brishaber, nor do I hold him responsible for the actions or inaction of his predecessor Marlon Robertson. And while it's apparent that I have yet to receive full cooperation from any parties involved, at this time, Mr. Brishaber is at least attempting to work in conjunction with others to locate the evidence and documentation I need. I have called for no actions on my behalf from anyone in my online audience besides contacting his office with public inquiries. The address I had posted for Mr. Brishaber's office in my video was inaccurate, and an erroneous post made public on an official Indiana government website. I've taken measures to edit that portion of my documentary out, using youtube video editor for post cutting of segments. This is not something I would ordinarily do, as public record was current at the time of production, and the information was legally obtained and shared. However, in light of the fact that the office address is indeed incorrect, I did what I felt was necessary.

In Part 2 of my documentary series entitled "Naked Truth: Was My Brother Murdered", I bring to the attention of my audience, the new Washington County prosecutor Dustin Houchin. I explain how he has the power to crack this case wide open by having the case reopened and investigated by a more competent and trust worthy law agency. I explained how, working in close conjunction with the police and the coroner, Mr. Houchin has the power to insist that they adhere to the law and get me those records. I also explained that his lack of response was triggering me to request my viewers to contact his office for an answer. I am able to report to you now that Mr. Houchin has replied to my e mails to him, finally. Below is his response, followed by my observations of it:





Mr. Szulczynski,

Please allow me to apologize for not receiving your two emails earlier.  I have had some problems receiving email through the website this week.  I reported the problem to the County IT employee, and he worked on and resolved the issue today.  As such, I have just now had the opportunity to view several emails that had not come through to me, including the ones you sent.  Again, I apologize for the delay.

Regarding your email requesting documents, I will handle it as a formal public records request.  Although I had not received your emails, I, as I'm sure you are aware, have seen the film you produced.  In response to the film, my staff conducted a thorough and diligent search for any records pertaining to your brother's death that may be held by this office.  We found no records.  Thus, my official response to your records request is that my office has no documents or other items of evidence related to your request. 

While I certainly cannot speak for the previous prosecutors, it is my typical practice to not retain evidence of investigations that do not result in the filing of criminal charges.  Even where charges are filed, evidence is most commonly held by the investigating police agencies.  My office, as an entity, does not conduct investigations.  As such, I suggest that you contact the relevant police agencies with formal records requests. 

Dustin Houchin
Washington County Prosecutor   

First of all, let me state, for the record, that I don't believe for a second that Mr. Houchin's e mail was down that long without anyone updating the state's official website with his contact information. Good excuse, but I don't buy it, and here's why. Mr. Houchin's wife Erin Houchin is running for state senate. Unable to contact him via e mail for a written response, I posted my videos on his wife's campaign page, two days before his e mail. Not only did his wife block me from further posting on her campaign page, but she did it to several of my friends who followed suit. Either their marriage isn't as strong as mine is, or someone's bullshitting. If someone posted a video with my husband on its cover, on my fan page, I'd be making sure to watch it and be sure he did too ASAP. 

And while I can appreciate the diversion of his office, diligently searching, for the records there, it's not what I asked for. I've never said I believed his office was holding records. I've accused him of withholding records, and he still is, as far as I am concerned. When someone has the power to enforce the law and have records sent to someone legally entitled to them, it is withholding. It certainly isn't cooperation. This was not a Records Request. It's a request to reopen the investigation into my brother's death. This response is not only inadequate or indicative of sheer ignorance, but it's an outright insult to my integrity. Either he has the power to correct this matter or he doesn't. If he doesn't, then he should tell all of his constituents just how powerless he really is. He goes on to insult my integrity by pretending I don't understand his role. No, Mr. Houchin, you're no investigator. If you were, you would do your research on me and discover that your ignorance will not fly and I will get justice, with or without your cooperation. However, know this, your lack of cooperation is considered absolute obstruction of justice, by me, and will be a part of any formal complaints I make to any government agency or human rights group going forward. So thanks for your response, as utterly ignorant of the fact that I reported a possible murder to you as it is.

As of today, October 13, 2014 I still do not have a shred of evidence from any Washington County or Salem official which proves my brother killed himself.  A third part of the video series is currently in production. Political corruption, nepotism, cronyism, and favoritism will be put on full display. Names will be mentioned. Public photos will be displayed. Public addresses, listed on government websites will be shared. Make no mistake about my motivation. I'm no longer making requests. I am demanding justice, and anyone who comes between me and justice will be exposed to the entire world! Somebody better prove the truth to me before that entire fucking county falls apart!









2 comments:

  1. Really good and thorough update. I hope you get something in the coming weeks and months. These things can take time. Been down this road myself many years ago. Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've always said "WASHINGTON COUNTY OFFICIALS" are dirty!

    ReplyDelete