DIABETES A SERIOUS, DEBILITATING DISEASE IF LEFT UNTREATED
by Sharon Rondeau
(Dec. 19, 2011) — This writer has sent Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III a Christmas card, the contents of which would normally not be made public. However, we are very concerned about his health and request that it be monitored closely by the Monroe County jail nursing and medical staff. We also ask the same for other inmates with medical problems, realizing that this is no easy task.
The blue circle pictured at right is an international symbol of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). A World Diabetes Day was held on November 14. Diabetes is considered by some to be a “pandemic.”
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), requiring hospitalization, as well as other “devastating complications.” Type 2 diabetes, which is by far the most common form, is caused by the body’s resistance to the insulin which the pancreas secretes, a shortage of insulin produced by the pancreas, or both. Particularly in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes, the patient might believe that something else is causing him to feel ill.
The symptoms of diabetes can include excessive thirst; frequent urination; sudden, rapid weight loss; constant hunger and fatigue. The complications of uncontrolled diabetes are known to be “heart disease, diabetic retinopathy (a leading cause of blindness), kidney disease, and nerve disorders, especially in the legs and feet…”
Monroe County Circuit and Criminal Court Clerk Martha M. Cook has informed us that Fitzpatrick was arraigned on December 8, 2011 on the new charge of allegedly taking documents related to the 2012 grand jury selection which took place on December 7 and that a hearing will be held pursuant to that case on January 8, 2012. She stated that there is no record of any kind of the grand jury selection. Copies of the arrest and search warrants were mailed to us on Friday, December 16, 2011 and will be published when they are received.
We were informed that no record exists for the aforementioned arraignment, nor will there be a record of the upcoming hearing.
Why would no record exist of legitimate court hearings?
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department stated in a press release that a video camera inside the courtroom recorded Fitzpatrick taking the documents and that the TBI and FBI were involved in helping to “retrieve the documents:”
Detectives got warrants and sought help from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI to retrieve the documents.
Although the linked document was published by television station WATE, it has no author. When The Post & Email brought this to the attention of WATE, the following response was received:
Ms. Rondeau, there was no reporter covering this story and I haven’t been able to follow it beyond what’s in this report.
I wrote and posted it using a press release from the sheriff’s office.
This morning Deputy Conway Mason of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department returned our call of Friday requesting a copy of the video which allegedly shows Fitzpatrick taking the grand jury documents. He stated that he could say no more than that which was published in the press release regarding the existence of a video and the involvement of the FBI and TBI. He also said that “evidence” was being gathered to be sent to the office of District Attorney General Steve Bebb, who would be the prosecutor in the case. He was not sure whether or not an arraignment had taken place.
Mr. Mason is mentioned in a lengthy communication received by The Post & Email today.
But would the FBI have jurisdiction in a local case? If both the TBI and FBI will do nothing about statewide judicial corruption involving violations of the U.S. Constitution, why would they assist in serving a search or arrest warrant?
On December 15, The Post & Email sent the following message to Martha Cook:
Hello, Ms. Cook, is it possible to obtain a copy of the arrest warrant and search warrant for the most recent arrest of Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III on Wednesday, December 7, 2011?
Also, are audio and video recordings of the grand jury selection available for purchase?
Thank you very much.
Sharon Rondeau
Editor
The Post & Email
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editor@thepostemail.com
to which we received the following response:
If you will send your fax number will send you copy of warrants. No record available. Mr. Fitzpatrick was in courtroom entire time of jury selection so you can asks him.
We then responded:
My fax number is 203-987-7948. I cannot ask Fitzpatrick since he is unable to use a phone at the present time as far as I understand. If you have different information, please let me know.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is quoted as having stated that a video camera captured Fitzpatrick taking documents out of the courtroom. One report is here: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/08/sweetwater-man-accused-of-stealing-courts/
Should I ask the Sheriff’s Department for the video from the camera?
Thank you for your assistance in faxing the warrants.
Sharon Rondeau
Editor
The Post & Email
www.thepostemail.com
Ms. Cook attempted to fax the documents several times, but unfortunately, our fax would not receive them for some reason. She did not address the question about the video recording or whether or not Fitzpatrick could be reached by telephone.
On December 19, we sent Ms. Cook the following email after speaking with Deputy Conway Mason mentioned above:
Good morning, was Mr. Fitzpatrick arraigned after his most recent arrest? Someone at the sheriff’s department wasn’t sure.
If so, is there a transcript of the proceedings, or an audio recording?
Also, did you mail the arrest and search warrants on Friday? I realize the fax problem was most likely on my end.
Thank you.
Sharon Rondeau
Editor
The Post & Email
www.thepostemail.com
editor@thepostemail.com
to which Ms. Cook responded:
Mr. Fitzpatrick was arraigned on Dec. 8, 2011 and his case is set for hearing in the Gen. Sessions Court on Tuesday Jan. 8, at 1:00 p.m.
The copies you requested were mailed on Friday. There is no recording available.
We then said:
Editor
The Post & Email
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The Post & Email then sent an email to Ms. Laura Click at the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts:
Hello, Laura, why would there be no record of arraignments, motion hearings, etc. in the Criminal Court of Monroe County?
The court clerk has informed me that there is “no record” of these things in regard to a case I have been following as well as the selection of the new grand juries. Yet, observers have told me that there was an audio recording of the latter. Are these procedures normally recorded in some way? If not, why not?
Thank you.
Sharon Rondeau
Editor
The Post & Email
www.thepostemail.com
So if Walt is to stand trial in 20 days and is in solitary confinement, i.e. not allowed to communicate with anyone on the outside, has had all his correspondence either burglarized or confiscated by the sheriff, has been denied representation in the past, no attorney within miles will take his case, and the jury is rigged by being hand picked, how does he get a fair trial?
The judiciary in Monroe County acts like something out of the 18th century in a third world country.
haven’t they heard of habeas corpus up there? Everyone (generally) is entitled to bail. unless they are an extremely dangerous person or at extreme risk of flight.
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Mrs. Rondeau replies: If you perform a search on the site of “Fitzpatrick” and “habeas corpus,” you will have the answer. They ignore it or refer it to their complicit attorney general.
And perhaps Sharon, the state’s equally complicit Governor Bill Haslam. His lack of action should serve as grounds for a recall or maybe someone in TN should volunteer (pun intended) to call on him to resign. Haslam is a “Republican” by the way.