Editor, Times-Union: The position of Prosecuting Attorney is a very important and powerful position. The position demanding for the person elected to have both high moral and ethical standards.
In 1996, I lost the two most important things in my life, my two children. The doctors, the police, the fire dept. all tell me that both deaths were accidents. Kolbe, over the last year, has used the media to try and convict Sherrie Cusick with a lot of half truths. I am writing this to set some things straight.
Doctors, Fire Dept., and Police rule accidents.
Kolbe forms grand jury 13 months after my son died and 3 months before his primary election. Kolbe presents false and misleading testimony to the grand jury through the experts that he hired. One of his experts Dr. Evans has since the grand jury changed his opinions and now agrees with the defense. Kolbe presents none of the doctors or fire dept. representatives to the grand jury. Because of this Kolbe gets indictment and has Sherrie arrested. Kolbe's alleges that my son was unconscious and then the fire was started intentionally. This accusation is impossible. I rode with my son to the hospital, where I observed his hands and eyes. His palms were black, indicating that he had tried to pat the smoldering (not fire) out and his eye sockets were black clearly showing that he had rubbed his eyes. David Kolbe, an unconscious child could not do this.
1-1/2 weeks before the election and after much bad publicity, "KOLBE" recommends bail to the Judge. Not only bail, but the amount. Sherrie pays $1,000 and is released.
10 months later, Kolbe hires yet more experts. A pathologist from Minnesota, and a radiologist from Alabama. Based on their testimony, he again has Sherrie arrested. His expert from Alabama can only state that based on the x-rays that Kolbe provided he can not say that my daughter had a broken neck, nothing more. Kolbe's expert from Minnesota gives her report without having talked to 1 single doctor that handled the case. The coroner that handled the case finds it next to impossible for her to make such accusations without having seen the children or having talked to the doctors. Another fact is that David Kolbe himself has never talked to the coroner that performed the autopsy. WHY? If Kolbe was actually looking for the truth, wouldn't that be the first place he would start? Or the Doctors that cared for my children at the hospital? Or the actual fire dept. that responded to the accident? Sherrie Cusick sits in jail because of the "bought and paid for" testimony that David Kolbe presented to the Judge not from the findings of the actual people that investigated the deaths.
On 12/02/98, I talked to Kolbe on the telephone. During this conversation, I asked him to exhume my daughters body. He stated to me that he had no intentions or reasons to exhume her body. He went on the say that it is the defense's move now. Exactly one week later after much bad publicity, Kolbe informs the media that he is going to have my daughter's body exhumed. Its very clear to me that the only motivation driving Kolbe is how he is perceived in the media, not the truth.
Where is the Judge while all of this is going on? Who is suppose to keep a prosecutor who is clearly out of control "in control!" Has the Judge been misled too? What Kolbe has done to our family is both immoral and unethical. I will never forget my two children, Anthony and Kaelie, but I hope someday to be able to wake up and not remember soon to be ex-prosecutor David Kolbe.
Richard Cusick, The Father, Cromwell
Claypool Tragedy
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing in response to Emmanuel Young Jrs. letter on 12-11-98. As Tyler Bartley's aunt, I feel I have some things to say.
First, I would like to know how a person couldn't be considered "legally" drunk when the state of Indiana is suppose to have a "ZERO" tolerance law for any one under the age of 21. Had you sat in on the trial (State of Indiana vs. Brandon Robinson) as I did, you would know that the decisions made were based on cold hard facts and not presumptions as you assume. The question should not be whether the DWI law is still the law or not but rather we should be asking if zero tolerance is enforced or not. Mr. Young, until you have walked a mile in my family's shoes, you can never know the heartaches we face each and every day. Tyler was only 12 years old. He had his whole life ahead of him, as did Aaron and Heather. But, their lives were cut short because of a drunk driver. Three lives were taken. The only right thing is for justice to be served. I wish no one else had to lose a loved one to alcohol. I wish no one else had to go through the pain my family has went through.
Secondly, I would like to say that as Christmas draws near, my family needs prayer. This is a very difficult holiday for any one who has lost a loved one. Please say a special prayer for Tiffany and Monica who survived the accident.
Thirdly, I would like to say something in response to Mr. Young's question "Can anything be done to prevent accidents?" Yes, there is plenty that can be done to prevent accidents. We can start by getting drunk drivers off the road. That way they can't run stop signs at 65 miles per hour.
And last, I would like to invite Mr. Young to a MADD meeting and see personally the pain a drunk driver can cause.
I would also like to say thank you to Sally Goon (12-11-98) for her prayers.
Claypool is just a small community, but we have been hit very hard the last 6 months by tragedy.
I am begging everyone to please don't drink and drive. Please don't cause unneeded pain to families. If you must drink, please, please, do it in your home.
Brenda Wadkins, Claypool
Careless Actions
Editor, Times-Union: This is in response to Emmanuel Young Jr's letter.
It would appear that you are trying to defend the careless actions of Brandon Robinson, though you never mentioned him by name. There is no other incident involving all of the components you brought up.
First of all, if you run a stop light or sign and hit someone, IT IS YOUR FAULT. Don't try to blame the other person for not driving defensively.
Second, if you are not 21 years of age, any alcohol in your body means that you are illegally drunk. As far as I'm concerned .01 applies to adults only.
Stop trying to rationalize away responsibility for one's actions, if you do it, you are guilty; step up and face the music. This is the way this country used to be. It's what got us this far this fast. Your attitude is what is destroying this great country.
Amy J. Harding, Warsaw
Where Was Weld?
Editor, Times-Union: For heavens sake! Where has former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld been for the past year or so? Dignity in the White House? That is just what Congress is trying to do right now. Bring dignity to the White House by evicting the Babael that occupied it for the past six years.
R.D. Rinesmith, Warsaw
Apology
Editor, Times-Union: To whom it may concern. My name is Charles Lynn Renschler Jr. and I was involved in a car accident on the corner of Sheridan and Cook Street in Warsaw. I was drinking and hit a pole almost killing myself. I would like to apologize to anyone who was driving in the Warsaw area and to the nice people who assisted in helping me when I was being very disorderly. I am very, very sorry. I learned my lesson and take the consequences. It will not happen again.
