September 26, 2003
Hi Everyone,
My name is Dick Blanchard. Some of you know me. Some of you I have communicated with in some form or another. Those that I haven't communicated with I look forward to talking with you in the future. The purpose of this email is to start a forum to help free Michael O’Laughlin for a crime he has been wrongfully convicted of.
Six months ago I had never heard of Michael O’Laughlin. It was through his Mother, Gera Petersen that I began to learn about Michael and his case. Gera knew that I had some experience with web sites so she asked if I would go out and visit a newly created web site called www.freemichael.com It was through this wonderful web site, created out of much love by a woman named Lorraine Miller, that I learned about Michael's plight. I became very moved by the work done by Lorraine. I felt I could create a 2nd web site that could also help Michael. Hence the web site www.freemichaelnow,com was born.
My only intention at the time was to put my thoughts and ideas into this new web site and, through my background in marketing, help create some awareness about Michael’s wrongful conviction. I did not plan on becoming actively involved in Michael’s case. I guess God had other ideas.
Shortly after the web site was completed I left my home in Tucson, AZ and came to Cape Cod where I spend the summer and fall months. Upon arriving on Cape Cod I asked Gera if she had some “stuff” I could read about Michael’s case. Boy did she have some “stuff.” Gera had mounds and mounds of documents and information about the case. I began reading the information and upon first glance I was astounded on how Michael was ever convicted. However, I told Gera that I had to be objective. I told her that I was going to read all the information on the case searching for the “silver bullet” that would show me the Commonwealth of Massachusetts got it right and that Michael was guilty. In all the reading and studying I’ve done I couldn’t find that “silver bullet.” Maybe I couldn’t find it because it doesn’t exist. What I did find is that the police, the District Attorney, the judge, and yes, even Michael’s defense lawyer made mistakes. Some might even say “purposeful mistakes”, but I prefer not to go there and instead just say mistakes were made in Michael’s case.
In addition to all the reading I’ve done on Michael’s case I also started reading up on wrongful convictions through web sites, magazine articles and books. I was astounded by what I found. Michael’s plight is not that unusual. There are many people in prison that have been wrongfully convicted. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in a study they performed, has admitted that 5-10% of people in prison in Massachusetts are innocent. That’s a pretty big number, particularly if you happen to be one of them. Some people even say that number may be as high as 20%. To me that’s amazing. Even more it’s sad, wrong, and unjust.
Who are these wrongfully convicted prisoners? In the vast majority of cases they fit the profile of Michael. People who don’t have money to properly defend themselves. What I have learned through this experience is that if you have money you have a darn good chance of receiving a fair verdict. In some cases money can buy your freedom even when you are guilty (does anyone remember OJ Simpson?). But if you don’t have money it’s a “crap shoot.” You may or may not receive the correct verdict. In Michael’s case he happened to receive the wrong verdict.
Prior to meeting Michael I was a firm believer that if you were convicted of a crime you were guilty and deserved to be in prison. It never crossed my mind that people could be wrongfully convicted. Boy have I learned a lesson. Knowing Michael I have learned many, many valuable lessons. The relationship I have with Michael is based on love and trust. I have grown to trust Michael and believe in him. He has made mistakes, but is there one of us that hasn’t. Michael is learning to accept responsibility for his past mistakes. But even though Michael has made mistakes he doesn’t deserve to be in prison for a crime he did NOT commit.
The purpose of the web site, this and subsequent emails, and a communication channel I hope to open up with you is to rectify the mistakes made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and free Michael from prison. That is why I’m writing to you. You are the family and friends of Michael’s. Those of you that personally know Michael know he is innocent. To help free Michael from prison we need to take action and build awareness.
Here are some steps we can take to help free Michael:
1. Pray for Michael. Pray that he remains hopeful, continues his faith and puts his trust in God God will do the right thing for Michael.2. Pray for the police, the District Attorney and the judge. Pray that they will take responsibility for their mistakes, come forward and lead the way to Michael’s release from prison.3. Encourage your friends to visit Michael’s web site at www.freemichaelnow.com and read up on Michael’s case. Once they do they will see the injustice that has been done and may want to become involved in helping free Michael.4. If you haven’t already done so please sign the Guest Book on Michael’s web site http://www.freemichaelnow.com/Guest_Book.html. Michael needs our support and we need to show the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that Michael has support in his effort to obtain his freedom.5. Michael’s appeal and retrial will cost money. Right now Michael cannot obtain his discovery (which he is entitled to by law) and his trial transcripts (they keep getting pushed back). Without the discovery and trial transcripts the appeal process remains stalled. I am convinced if there is money we can obtain Michael’s discovery and trial transcripts sooner rather than later and can move his appeal process forward.6. Send Michael a letter (his address is on the web site) http://www.freemichaelnow.com/send_letter.html), he'd love to hear from you. For those close to the prison in Shirley, MA pay him a visit, he'd love to see you.7. Let’s stay in contact with each other. This is the first email in a series of emails to open up the communication channel between us. For my part I will send you emails updating you on new additions to the web site (believe me there is much more coming), information I have heard from Michael, information in conversations I plan on having with his attorney, and any other information deemed relevant to keep us all informed. I encourage you to email each other and me on ideas you may have to help free Michael. If any of you would like to see anything added to the web site please let me know.This is going to require time and effort on our part. We all love Michael, we all know he is innocent, and we all want him free. We can help obtain Michael’s freedom by working together to correct the mistakes that have been made. The web site is listing the facts in Michael’s case. It is asking the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to take responsibility for their mistakes and errors and make restitution. Right now there are articles on the web site that probably will put the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the defense. This is not meant as a revenge effort. It is meant for those in error to accept their mistakes and do the right thing.
Michael and Gera continue asking me why a perfect stranger is taking on this effort. At first I thought it was the right thing to do. Today I know it is God’s will. He has directed me in this effort. I can’t rescue Michael. I can’t even free him. What each of us can do is support Michael and begin the process that hopefully will lead to Michael's freedom.
Thank you for allowing me to communicate with you. I look forward to hearing from you as we unite in out effort to Free Michael NOW.
My warmest love and regards,
Dick
dickleb@aol.com
P.S. If these email messages and updates are not in harmony with your thinking at this time please let us know, and we’ll remove your name from this list.
