Check-in to Death Row9 Aug. 2006
It’s hard to believe that the 19 year old beauty, who is posing for a mugshot in the reception room at Green Valley Women’s Correctional Facility, is a hardened criminal. The look of utter shock and disbelief in the poor girl’s eyes betray that she has only begun to grasp the true horror of what has just happened to her; she has been sentenced to death by the new FemEx ‘three strikes and you’re out’ legislation. DRD reporter Frank Hamilton was present when she checked in.
Linda Petermann posing for mugshot
Linda Petermann is standing in the small clinically white room, carrying the board that announces her name, her prison number, her check-in date and her prison sentence. The last item reads ‘Death’. Linda Petermann is standing with her back against the wall – both quite literally and metaphorically. In less then 30 days her life will end.
“Smile!” The warden jokes as she takes the mugshot. Linda doesn’t smile. Her eyes are empty, her movements sedated, her expression calm but vacant. She swallows a lot, her eyes are wet and shiny, her body heaves ever so gently and sometimes a slight tremble ripples through her body. It is obvious that she struggles hard not to burst into tears.
“Remove your clothes.” The warden commands when the picture is taken. Linda obeys without protest, her movements efficient but unenthusiastic. She moves like a robot. Within seconds she has kicked off her shoes and removed her top, skirt and panties. She is naked.
Linda strips naked
“You’re a good girl, Linda.” The warden comments, as she slips on a pair of white rubber gloves. “I like it when a girl obeys without protests. It makes it a lot easier for both you and me. Now I’m going to do a full body cavity search, to ensure that you don’t bring any illegal substances or items with you to the cell. Please open your mouth wide.”
Again Linda obeys without protest. The warden’s gloved fingers invade Linda’s mouth, expanding her cheeks and lifting her tongue in search of any ‘irregularities’.
The warden inspects Linda's mouth
“Nothing here.” The warden reports and taps the top of the small, white table with her hand. “Now, will you please sit up here, Linda?”
“Why?” Linda asks with a weak, trembling voice – her first word since she entered the prisoner reception room.
“I’m going to have to search your vagina and anus.” The warden explains.
Linda crawls up on the table, her movements slow and hesitant. The warden grabs her legs and forces them apart. Linda whimpers as the warden’s fingers push her labia apart. Linda sobs as the warden forces a finger into her vagina. Finding nothing, the warden probes Linda’s anus.
The warden inspects Linda's vagina
“All clear.” The warden reports. “OK, Linda, you’re clean. Now if you’ll just put on this uniform, I’ll escort you to your cell.”
“Don’t I get a phone call?” Linda says her trembling voice little more than a whisper.
“No. Your sentence is final. You have no possibility to appeal, so there is no sense in yiu calling your lawyer.” The warden informs Linda. “And you family has already been notified. You’ll get no calls and you’ll be allowed no visitors. You’ll remain in your cell and you won’t see anyone except the guard who will bring you your three daily meals. At least not until your time comes.”
“My time?” Linda whispers, as she inspects the simple uniform with utter disbelief in her eyes.
Linda puts on her prison uniform
“Yes. Your execution. Then I will come and get you and escort you to the death chamber.” The warden informs Linda in a matter of fact voice.
“Oh God. So I’m just going to sit in my cell all alone, until I’m going to die?” Linda sobs.
“Not necessarily. A lot of young women are being sentences under FemEx, so you might get a cellmate very soon.” The warden explains as she put handcuffs on Linda.
The warden handcuffs Linda before escorting her to her cell
“That’s it, Linda. We’re ready to go.” The warden says and pushes the helpless woman towards the heavy steel door leading to the prison’s death row.
“Oh God.” Linda sobs. She resists a bit as she is being pushed out of the room. Just as she passes through the open door to death row, she looks back at me, a desperate expression in her eyes. “Please don’t let them do this to me. Please don’t let me die! You're my last hope!”
The steel door slams shut, Linda and the warden gone. At least the warden will be back. Linda will not be so fortunate.
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