Diary of a Week on Death Row

DIARY OF A WEEK ON DEATH ROW

By Kenny Richey .......written June 1998

SUNDAY 21st JUNE

Fathers Day!

Had a fitful nights sleep, tossing and turning and waking up numerous times. Finally decided that sleep just wasn't on the books, so got up out of my bunk, at about 4 am and decided to read a book instead. Unfortunately, I only have one book right now, which I have already read, but, it is better than sitting here bored out of my mind, so I read it again. A concise history of Scotland. My favourite subject. Reading books about home always makes me feel even more homesick but at the same time, a little more closer to home.

Breakfast was late this morning. It didn't arrive until 8.20am. Said a prayer at 8am as usual. It is heart warming and uplifting to know that I am joining in prayer at that exact time by Sister Ruth and Mary, so many thousands of miles away in England. I got some push ups and sit-us in, before my head was overcome with great pain. I don't know why it happens or what causes it but, it's really starting to worry me.........

After breakfast, I jumped into the shower. After which, I sat down to pick up where I left off in my book, I didn't get far in it when the guards came and asked me if I wanted recreation. I'm not supposed to have recreation on the weekends but they where relief guards, so they didn't know. I certainly wasn't about to bring it to their attention, so quickly accepted.
In my position, I'll take everything I can get at every opportunity.

Unfortunately, they were aware that I am not permitted to use the phone in the recreation cage! However, I snuck a phone call in while they where busy! I called dad to wish him Happy Fathers day, which he appreciated. I didn't get but a few minutes before I had to hang up to prevent being caught by the guards, who came by to look in the rec window. Most likely to make sure I wasn't on the phone. They cut me short by 15 minutes on rec. but since I wasn't even supposed to be at rec. I didn't voice any complaint.

Went back to my book.

Lunch arrived at 11.30am. Black ye beans, spinach and corn bread. I saved the corn bread for later, putting it with the eggs, and dumped the rest of the food down the toilet.
I can't stand black eye beans or spinach.

Finished reading my book just before dinner arrived at 4.30pm. Hot dogs and beans with coleslaw. I ate the lot! I was starving! Still had five letters to reply to from last week, so got those done. Finally caught up on all my mail at last!

At 9pm I began to pace my cell back and forth for an hour, hoping to tire myself out a little. Six steps from one end of the cell to the other, or four decent steps.
I've been sitting here for the past couple of hours just losing myself in thoughts of the past. It seems at times, that the past is all I have. I cling so desperately to it.

It is about 12.30am now. Time to see if I can get me some sleep.

MONDAY 22 JUNE 1998

Another fitful night! Tossed and turned for a while last night, until sleep finally overcame me but, awoke 5 times. Twice because of the guard shining his torch in my eyes! Got up at 5.16am when the third shift guard did his final count.
I just sat in the dark thinking about nothing in particular for about an hour.

Cut my push-ups and sit-ups down to 5 sets of 20 each from 5 sets of 40. I didn't suffer too much pain this time, but it was still there.

Breakfast arrived at 7.30am. Scrambled eggs and some kind of porridge, or a poor excuse for it! What I wouldn't do for a decent bowl of Scots Porridge Oats! I haven't had a bowl of that in 15 years! Its hard to believe that is has been that long! Where have all the years gone?!

Had my usual 8am prayer.

Miss Bethea, our case manager made some rounds this morning. I asked her about my box of property containing letters and family photo's that they lost a few weeks ago! She still hasn't found it; so she says.!
They're doing this intentionally to get to me.!
I also asked her about my current AC status, what the rules, etc are on my current level. She claims she doesn't know! I asked if there is any written format/guidelines on it. She said yes, but she couldn't give me a copy of it as it's only an unsigned draft so far! She's given me the run around as usual!

Trying to frustrate me. Get me to go off. Well, she and the rest of these prison morons can play all the games they care to. However, it still won't do them any good. I'm stronger than that and better than them! They're sorry excuses for human beings!

Lunch was dished out about 11.45am. Mashed potatoes, corn and chicken. I ate the corn along with the corn bread and eggs from yesterday . I dumped the rest of the tray.

Paced my cell for a couple of hours, until 2.15pm when the guards passed out the mail and came and got me for recreation.
Unfortunately, I didn't receive any mail today, which is very unusual. I always receive mail! Most specially on a Monday! It depressed me a bit as receiving mail is all I look forward to each day! Obviously they're screwing with my mail again in the mail room! I should have received a couple of letters from Karen today, at the very least! They are overdue by 2 or three days.

Went to rec. Thankfully all 3 guards were cool and so I was able to talk them into letting me use the phone! Which I really appreciated. Fortunately, not all guards are anal retentive!
I called my attorney, who put me through to Karen on the 3-way hook up. It was great to hear her voice. She says I definitely should have received a few letters from her along with my favourite Shuggie and Duggie cartoons and a bunch of articles from the newspapers about my case! She and the kids are doing fine, which I am happy to hear.

Called my wee brother, Steven, and found out that Scotland got beat by Brazil 3-1 and drew with Norway 1-1. I was disappointed to hear that but, he said that they still played well. I just hope the beat Morocco tomorrow or I'll be devastated! I think they will. In fact , I predict that the lads will beat Morocco 2-1. If they don't I'll cry! The wee man did give me some great news however! The USA team got beat by Germany 3-0. Which I expected.

And they got totally humiliated by Iran in a 2-1 loss! I didn't expect that at all but, sure loved hearing it! haha. GO IRAN! Good on you! The yanks must be truly embarrassed to have lost t Iran! That pleases me no end! Today has been a good day after all,! haha

Dinner was served at 4.30pm. Chicken and rice, green beans and sliced pears. I ate the lot.

Managed to borrow a book from Joe, one of my fellow inmates. A fantastic book about dragons, wizards, elves, gnomes, ogres etc. Not my kind of book but, when you don't have anything to read, you have to take what you can get! It's actually several short stories in one volume. I read four of them before I got a little sleepy and took a break to write down today's events.

Time to go get some sleep! Its about 1am.
One more thing before I go..........WAY TO GO IRAN!!! ha ha.

TUESDAY 23 JUNE 1998

Slept pretty good, I guess. Only woke up 3 times during the night. Finally woke up at 7.35am for breakfast . Waffles and cereal with coffee. Did my little workout then 8am prayers and then jumped in the shower.

I read another story and a half from the boo Joe loaned me, then went to rec at 11.15am. Had my lunch in the rec cage. A small hamburger, green beans and some pasta salad. It was alright. I've certainly tasted better!

While I was at recreation, some guy from the administration came in with a form for me to sign. On the form was the method of execution by which I would choose to die: Electric chair or lethal injection. I refused to sign the form, which by doing so means they have to electrocute me. By signing their form and choosing by what method I am to be put to death , I feel that I would be condoning their murderous actions. That it is okay for them to kill me. Which to do, would almost be like assisted suicide. I am not about to condone this injustice or their sanctioned murder of my life!!! The guy didn't seem too happy that I refused to sign .... Tough! I'm not going to make it any easier for them!

My execution date is only 7 days away now and as of yet, I still haven't received any stay of execution. I should have received one 5 days ago, when my federal appeal was filed to the Federal Court. "Well if they execute me they execute me! I couldn't care less anymore. After 12 years of this bloody nightmare, I just want it over with, one way or another! I think as a last request, I'll ask the warden to hold my hand until it's all over! haha.
Shocking, huh? haha.
Does help to have a sense of humour in this place, even a morbid one!

Mail was passed out at 2.10pm. Again, I didn't receive any! This is getting ridiculous! They are intentionally screwing with my mail. Its very frustrating, as I can't do anything about it! I'm at their mercy! I won't show them that it is getting to me. Nothing would make them happier that to see that! I know they want me to go off, but its not going to work!

Dinner was served at 4.50pm. I don't know what is was or what it was meant to be but it stank! Some "kind" of meat and noodles and apple sauce. I ate the apple sauce and dumped the rest down the toilet.

Finished the fantasy book. It was all right.

Sat in the dark for a few hours or so thinking about the past. Memories of happier times in a childhood now long ago lost. My youth in Edinburgh. My family and friends. Swimming in the Almond River and camping by its banks. Hanging around with our girlfriends from Strathalmond. Going up town. Walking through Princess Street gardens ....... Spending the weekends with my family at my grandparents or at their caravans at North Berwick .... Those were the happiest years of my life. I miss those days so much, tears my lonely soul apart......

Its 12.15am . I'm going to hit the rack.
God please, don't let me wake up again.

WEDNESDAY 24TH JUNE

Slept well last night. Only woke up once during the night and got up at 5.45am still feeling a bit depressed. I lay around lost in thought until breakfast at 7.40am. Three slices of bread, a dollop of peanut butter and cereal. I ate the cereal and put the rest up for later tonight. Then had my 8am prayer. Did my little work out, then jumped in the shower for 30 min's.

I laid down on my bunk for a while and ended up falling asleep, until I was awoken at about 11.30am by the sounds of the inmates arguing over a card game in the recreation cage. someone trying to cheat as usual! haha

Lunch was served a 11.45am. Beef and macaroni and a salad with dressing and three slices of bread. I ate everything but the bread, which I put up with this mornings bread and peanut butter for a late night snack.

Its now about 12.10pm. got bored, so I thought I'd write a little in the diary. I still get angry over the loss of my last diary records. Eleven years of writing a diary and it ends up being destroyed by the guards after the September 5th uprising of last year! All that work for nothing! The bastards!
Now they are telling the media that I was one of the ringleaders! I can't believe they would have the audacity to tell such an outright bold faced lie! They know I wasn't even involved let alone a ringleader. And they know I can prove it! This is just an attempt by them to try and undermine all the support I have. Unfortunately for them, it won't work. Surely I should be able to sue them for slander and defamation of character!? I'll have to about what my attorney says on the matter. I'm still waiting to see what he's doing in regards to the beating the guards gave me during the aftermath of the uprising.

That uprising came about because of the way we were treated like animals by the prison. The prison and the department of corrections fails to realise, that if you treat people like animals, they are going to act like animals! Have the riots of '93 and '97 taught them anything about that? No! In fact they actually treat prisoners more like animals than they ever did before!

I have recreation at 2.10pm today. I'll try and sneak a call to Steven to find out the score of yesterdays game between Scotland and Morocco. Will my prediction come true? Will the lads win 2-1? I truly hope so.
Will kick back for a while until rec.
Aaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhh!!!! What happened!? Are you kidding!? 2-0 ! I don't believe it! What were the lads doing? Playing with leg irons on?!! That's almost as bad as the Yanks being beat by Iran! So much for predictions! Ach well , better luck next time.

No mail today. Yet again! This is really beginning to et ma wick up! Dinner was served at 5.30pm. Stuffed cabbage, potatoes and peas. I ate the peas and dumped the rest.

Today has been a bit of a depressing day.

THURSDAY 25th June

Didn't sleep much at all last night. Tossed and turned. Went to bed at around 1am but was back up an hour later. Paced my cell for a little while then just sat there in the dark. Not that it's actually dark in my cell. A large floodlight in the compound outside shines its light through my wee window. I went back to bed at around 3am and eventually fell asleep. woke up a few times.

got up at 7am. Took a shower after a little workout, then breakfast arrived at 7.30am. Scrambled eggs, cereal and coffee, with three slices of wheat bread. I'm sick of eggs! Especially "green" eggs! How they manage to turn eggs green is beyond me! I dumped the eggs ate the cereal and put the bred up for later.

Went to recreation at 11.30am. I did nothing all morning except sit on my bunk after 8am prayer. don't even recall what I was thinking about. Had my lunch in the rec cage: Roast pork, potato's, mixed vegetables and 3 slices of bread. AND ice cream! Just a small 4oz cup full, but I enjoyed it all the same. I love ice cream!

Snuck a couple of calls on the phone. Spoke to Robert Snell, a reporter from the Lima News. He seems all right, but I'm still very leery of any Ohio newspaper reporters. I don't trust them much at all. Also spoke to David Sapsted of the London Daily Telegraph. He seems like a great guy and we had a few laughs over the phone. I told him his secretary has a very sexy English accent. He said I ought to see her. She has quite a body. I told him to see if he could get me some pictures of her. In jest of course. He laughed.

Only five days now until my execution and as of yet, I still haven't received any stay of execution.

Well, well, well!! At last I finally received some mail today! Received four letters from Karen. She's doing fine but, is very worried over lack of funds for the campaign. If she can't get to raise some soon the campaign will collapse! I can't understand it. Louise Woodward never had to worry about funds for her campaign. Was it because she is a female that people and certain company's and organisations felt more inclined to donate money and/or services? Obviously a woman/female is treated with more sympathy than a man. It doesn't seem right. With over 15,000 supporters you would think that they could at least afford to donate £1 per month each to the campaign. That would be enough to keep the campaign going. The Yanks and the courts would like nothing better than to see my campaign die.

Karen said that the British Government have now changed their stand on my case and have said that they will intervene at the appropriate time! When do they think the appropriate time to do something will be? When I'm ready to be strapped into the electric chair?! If they are willing to intervene then they should intervene now! Now is the appropriate time to do something! They also said that if I am ever released from prison, i will be permitted to return home again to Scotland to live. That's very nice of them, but I was planning on doing so anyway, whether they gave me permission or not! Scotland is my home, and nothing short of killing me will ever stop me from returning,

Karen sent me a pile of Shuggie and Duggie cartoons. My favourite cartoons. these lads are a riot! Karen also sent me 3 Scots magazines and a book which I really appreciate. Now I have something to read! I love the Scots Magazine.

Got a letter from my mum today too, She's anxious to come over to visit me next month. i miss her so very much. I haven't seen her in over a year now.
It'll be great to see her again.
I really worry about her. My biggest fear, is that she will die while I am still in prison. That would truly destroy me.

Karen is going to be coming over to visit me sometime in August hopefully. I am very much looking forward to meeting her. We've become very close over the past three years and she is now regarded as a member of my family. We all just love her to bits. She's really something special.
Received a total of 14 letters in the mail, so I'll be busy for the next couple of days writing replies.

Received a copy of my Federal appeal Brief. Ken, Paul and the rest of my attorneys really did an outstanding job on it.It's a powerful brief and I have high hopes on its success. Usually, i never allow my hopes to be built up but this brief is very strong!
If the Federal Court gives the brief and my case a fair review and abides by the laws, then I don't doubt i will win this appeal! I truly hope so.

Spoke to Sergeant smith this afternoon about my missing box of property that they lost. He said that they still can't find it! All I get is excuses from them!

Dinner was served at 6pm. Vegetarian Lasagna, potato's, corn and three slices of bread. I ate everything except the potato's.
Sat down and replied to 6 of my letters.

Got into an argument with one of the guards as he wouldn't brig me some cash slips so i could send my mail out! He wanted to play the arsehole. Just once, I'd love to be able to get my hands on one of them for five minutes! They act so cocky and smart behind a steel door but when the door opens it's a different story. Fortunately not all of them are like that. Most of them are all right ......but they're still guards.

Time to hit the rack as I'm a bit tired. Its about 1.15 am.

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

Slept pretty good last night. Except for waking up once when the 3rd shift guard shone his torch in my face, I slept right though until breakfast at 7.30am. Three pancakes, porridge, apple sauce and a cup of coffee. I ate the
lot.

Did my wee work out , said prayer then took a long shower, Spent thirty minutes cleaning up the water from my cell floor with toilet paper, as the guards wouldn't give me a mop to mop it with.

Spoke to Keith about my appeal brief, which I sent down to him to read to get his opinion last night. He was out working as range porter today as Chief didn't feel like coming out. Keith agreed with my opinion about the brief. In fact, he was so impressed with it and how it was put together he asked me if he could keep it for a few days so he could make a copy for himself. He does his legal work himself. I let him hold onto it. Keith's a good pal. His family are from Ireland, so we get along well. He asked me if I could hook him up with a couple of pen-pals from Ireland. I said I would see what I can do.

Sat on the floor of my cell writing replies to the letters I received yesterday until lunch, which came at 11.45am. A slice of turkey, salad with dressing and apple sauce, I say salad but, in here they really aren't "salads" as all it is, is just lettuce! Sometimes its plain lettuce and sometimes it has some kind of dressing on it. I put my "salad" on my turkey between two slices of bread and had me a sandwich.

Went back to answering my letters until 2.10pm, when I went to recreation. Got more mail today, as I was at rec. another letter from Karen, one from Sarah along with a book on Ireland and three other letters. One of which was from Sister Ruth. She's such a wonderful caring person.

I also got a "hate mail" letter today! The letter was from a guy here in USA but, he didn't use a return address. He just signed his name. He said that the American Judicial system is the greatest in the world and if it found me guilty, then I must be guilty and deserve to be on death row. He said I am nothing but another piece of foreign shit who should never have come to his country and that he hopes I fry in the electric chair as a lesson to all foreigners to stay the hell out of America! He closed with "Roast in hell you British piece of dog shit! And your goddamn family too!" Wasn't that sweet of him!? It was postmarked here in Ohio from Lima. another ignorant moron who knows nothing about my case. And obviously yet another American who hates foreigners! I've had quite a few of those kind!

Received a stay of execution from the Federal Court finally!!

Dinner was served at 5.45pm. A chicken pate, potato's and mixed vegetables, with the usual three slices of bread. I ate everything but the potatoes. Got back to answering my mail but, gave it a rest at 10pm to do some reading.

It's now 3am and I'm going to hit the rack!

SATURDAY 27TH JUNE

Slept until breakfast at 7.15am, Did my workout and prayer, then took a shower. Breakfast was 2 small blueberry muffins, cereal and a cup of coffee. Had a migraine all morning, so just lay down on my bunk for most of it. Lunch came at 11.50am. I don't know what it was as I refused my tray.

No recreation today. I hate the weekends in this place: no recreation and no mail! Receiving mail is the only thing I have to look forward to each day. Apart from when i can sneak a couple of phone calls, mail is my only contact with the outside world. Receiving letters is a big part of what keeps me going in here and are so very important. The more mail I get the better I am able to cope with this nightmare. I doubt anyone who hasn't experienced life in prison could really understand just how important receiving letters from people is.

In one of my letters yesterday, I was asked how i pass my time from day to do? I pass my time by reading and writing. That's all I have to pass the time with. That and fantasising about getting out of prison, clearing my name and going back to Scotland. I daydream a lot about that and what my future will or may be like after all I have been through.
I'd like to open my own large pub or night club.
I'd like to get back into photography again.
I'd like to get involved in helping kids against drugs and do something to help the homeless.
I'd like to get married and have a couple of kids.
I'd like to do a lot of things and try to make the best of whatever life I have.
Hopefully I will have the chance to to do that.
Unfortunately, I may neer get that chance, as my chances of getting out of prison are slim.

My chances of being executed are a good 75% as it stands right now. I'd say that in two years time, I will either have been executed or will have gotten lucky and won my freedom. time is running out quickly with the odds not in my favour.

Got back to answering yesterdays mail until dinner, at 6.15pm. A bit late tonight! A cheese sandwich , a cup of tomato soup, crackers and carrots. I ate everything but the carrots.

Did some reading for a few hours. Its now 12.30am and I'm going to hit the rack.