I don't know what happened to William C. Rogers or if he did kill himself, (I have no reason to believe he didn't) however, I also don't know what kind of extreme psychological or physical duress he had been under since his arrest.
What I DO know is what is happening to a co-defendant, Kevin Tubbs.
PLEASE, AFTER READING THIS YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF VERY ANGRY AND COMPELLED TO WRITE OR CALL THE JAIL ON HIS BEHALF. PLEASE DO NOT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS KIND OF ATTENTION WILL ONLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE FOR KEVIN AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THIS INHUMANE TREATMENT. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE ADDRESS THEM TO HIS SUPPORT NETWORK AT: supportkevintubbs@gmail.com
Kevin is a uniquely gentle, compassionate, non-violent individual, who according to the law should be treated as innocent until proven guilty. He has been on maximum security lockdown in a 5 X 8 foot cell with only one hour out per 24 to choose from showering, trying to keep up on his case in the newspaper, shaving or using the phone to contact his girlfriend he dearly misses and loves.
All four of his requests for vegetarian meals have been denied despite a letter from his doctor saying that after 15 years of a strict vegetarian diet, his health could be seriously compromised. He is not getting enough nutrition and I know for the first week at least, he only ate fruit and water.
In his prisoner's handbook it states you can request an additional blanket if you are cold. At home, Kevin could only sleep if he wore a hat, warm socks and extra blankets, he just gets very cold easily. To try and sleep he has been wrapping his sheet around his head, he only has one blanket. All his requests for an additional blanket at night were denied.
For the past two days he has been on suicide watch despite the fact he has shown no signs of wanting to harm himself. This suicide watch means he was put in an even smaller, colder cell. His sheet, t shirt, and socks have been taken away so all he has to wear is is prisoner scrubs (short sleeved) and one blanket. He is so cold he can't sleep. He has a vent with cold air blowing on him constantly. His pictures of loved ones and letters of love and support have been taken away. The only book he is allowed is the bible and one other book. He has no clock or any way to track time passing. He can't even have a piece of paper to write down his thoughts to prepare for his case.
His attorney went round and round communicating with the Marshall's Office to try to get him off suicide watch. These requests were refused and now he will spend the Christmas weekend under these conditions.
Instead of being released until trial so he could spend Christmas with his family, Kevin had his Christmas presents opened by the FBI when they raided his home. I don't doubt that the arrests were specifically planned to coincide with the holiday just to create more psychological pressure.
Now is this any way to prevent someone from wanting to kill themselves? This seems more like torture to me than suicide prevention. Is this the kind of behavior your FBI friend is proud to be associated with?
For those of us who love Kevin, our hearts are breaking for him. We are very concerned that he is being worn down. Even the strongest of individuals will have their judgement skewed when nutritionally and sleep deprived.
He is still able to receive new letters so please don't stop writing.
Kevin Tubbs #1213751
Lane County Jail
101 W 5th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401
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Same thing for anyone (on suicide watch or not) placed in 72-hour examination before being placed in a specific cell block: a tiny cell, out 4 to 6 hours every day, but there's nothing to do: no TV, no newspapers, no weights, no room to walk around, etc. Happens all the time in prison state Amerikkka. Bad, but not torture.
What *is* psychological torture is having to wear the suicide dress: it's a dress and both men and women must wear them. They are rarely washed and are very dirty. You can't wear anything underneath or over them. Sometimes the inmate in a suicide dress will also be shackled: the visibility and embarassment are severe.
The key is to get a psychistrist to certify that you are not a risk to yourself but prisons make access to shrinks, social workers et al very difficult, especially during the holiday season.
Something to think about: detainees or inmates on psych medication will be deprived of it until a prison shrink signs off on it. Makes suicide all the more likely, as does the humiliation of the (anti)suicide dress!