Originally Posted - August 6, 2006




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EXCLUSIVE - Deadly Pattern Of Abuse Permeates Schiavo Case

By June Maxam
All Rights Reserved


The administrator of the Sabal Palms Nursing Home in Largo, Florida, said he was belligerent and caused fear of bodily injury to the staff members and residents of the facility.

Noted psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman said that in her professional opinion he fit the profile of a wife abuser.

They were talking about Michael Schiavo.

And his abusive behavior continues as evidenced by a Feb. 21, 2005 inter-office memo of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office with the subject "M. Schiavo's conduct".

In the fall of 1993, while Terri Schiavo was a resident at Sabal Palms, she was diagnosed with an urinary tract infection. Michael Schiavo issued an order to the nursing home not to treat it and placed a do not resuscitate order in her records.

At age 26, Terri Schindler Schiavo had incurred brain damage as the result of a still unexplained and suspicious collapse at her home on Feb. 25, 1990, which resulted in oxygen deprivation to the brain of four to six minutes. After his initial attempts in 1993 to kill his wife failed by attempting to deny her medical treatment while she was a resident at Sabal Palms, Michael Schiavo then sought court permission to end her life by the withdrawal of her feeding tube claiming she was in a persistent vegetative state.

He had testified at a medical malpractice trial just months before in November, 1992 that he wanted to take care of her for the rest of his life but after he got the money awarded by a sympathetic jury, he issued orders for the nursing home not to treat any infections and made funeral arrangements for her with the Moss Feaster Funeral Home.



He'd also met his new girlfriend Jodi Centonze in July 1993.

After he'd issued his death order to Sabal Palms, he was sitting with Terri, apparently waiting for the "death process" by sepsis to begin, when the nursing home administration of Sabal Palms told him they couldn't by law withhold treatment from a patient. The nursing home administration refused to enforce the DNR because it violated Florida law.

The attempt to kill his disabled wife by withholding her medical treatment hadn't worked and relationships between the nursing home staff and Schiavo became strained. In October 1993, shortly after the nursing home had refused to withhold treatment as per his orders, the Sabal Palms attorney Lisa Augspurger wrote to Schiavo's attorney, Steven Nilsson, saying "basically from the Sabal Palms Health Care Center perspective, Mr. Schiavo causes distress to the staff due to screaming at the staff for what he feels is delayed care for Mrs. Schiavo's needs".

The nursing home attorney reminded Schiavo's attorney that Sabal Palms was dedicated to providing excellent care for its residents.

In 1992, Terri's parents had met with the nursing home administrator who had made the decision to discharge Terri as a resident because of Michael's abuse of the staff but the Schindlers convinced the facility to allow Terri to remain.

The Schindlers' petition to remove the guardianship from Michael Schiavo was before Sixth Judicial Circuit Court judge Thomas Penick in early 1994 and on Feb. 4, 1994, Penick had appointed court monitor Daniel P. Nievinski to investigate Michael and determine his fitness to be a guardian. Nievinski PDF

The monitor was directed to "review the court's case file and conduct interviews with any persons who may have information bearing on both the personal well being and financial affairs of the ward".

According to Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, within days Nievinski filed a report with Penick recommending that Schiavo be removed as guardian. Penick reportedly refused to accept the court monitor's report and instead appointed John Pecarek as a guardian ad litem on Feb. 17, 1994.

On March 1, 1994, Pecarek orally presented his report, recommending that Michael Schiavo remain as his wife's guardian. Without any chance for cross examination of Pecarek by the Schindler's attorney, James Sheehan, Penick closed the case and summarily refused any rehearing.

The same day that Penick appointed the court monitor, the attorney for Sabal Palms filed a motion with the court for a temporary restraining order to keep Michael Schiavo off the property of the Sabal Palms Health Care Center and from contacting any of its staff or residents by telephone "or by communication outside and off the property of Sabal Palms". RESTRAINING ORDER MOTION

The motion Augspurger filed on behalf of nursing home administrator Emily Layton was supported by an affidavit signed by Alexa P. Boyle, director of nursing at the facility.

Boyle attested that she was present by phone at the facility on Feb. 12, 1994, "and witnessed the demeanor of and statements made by Michael Schiavo. She said that based on her observance of these actions "I am in fear for my safety and welfare as well as that of other staff members and residents".

Boyle told that court that Michael Schiavo had stated to her during a phone conversation that he had brought two police officers with him to the facility "because he didn't know how he would act and didn't want to go off".

The motion centered on events at the nursing home involving Michael Schiavo which occurred Feb. 12, 1994, and said that the administrator and staff was "in fear of bodily harm based upon the actions of Michael Schiavo. "Were Michael Schiavo's visit unaccompanied by a police officer, the staff of Sabal Palm Health Care Center is concerned that he may, in fact, act upon his earlier statement", the motion read.

Sabal Palms asked for an expeditious hearing "in light of the potential problems which could result from a delay in hearing the contents of this motion".

Penick's reaction was to dismiss it without hearing as well as the Schindlers' guardianship petition, leaving the life of Terri Schiavo in the hands of her husband even though by this time, he'd already tried to kill her twice while she was a resident at Sabal Palms by withholding medical treatment.

So much for looking to the courts, especially in the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, to protect the vulnerable and elderly from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

On Feb. 14, 1994, a year to the day that Schiavo and Terri's parents had had the volatile argument in her nursing home room about Michael's failure to use the malpractice award for therapy and rehabilitation as it was earmarked, Penick signed the order which gave Michael Schiavo full control of his wife----her person and property.

Michael Schiavo moved from his parents' house into his own apartment, bought himself a Jeep and moved Terri from Sabal Palms to Palm Gardens, discontinuing all rehabilitation and therapy by the end of March once Penick gave him control of her care and her money. He'd already made her funeral arrangements.

His relations with staff and administration at Palm Gardens weren't much better.

There is strong evidence of the controlling, possessive and abusive behavior of Michael Schiavo, not just by her siblings and friends, but by her caregivers. The night before Terri Schiavo was found face down in her home under mysterious circumstances, her best friend says Terri had had a fight with Michael and that she had talked about a divorce.


"We have evidence that something may have happened pretty ugly the might that she collapsed" says Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri's sister.

"It sounded like she had been crying. I asked her if she was OK. She said she had a fight with Michael. He was extremely upset with her because she had spent $80 on her hair" Jackie Rhodes recalling her last conversation with Terri, her work partner and best friend.

"The patient has a history of trauma". Dr. W. Campbell Walker, who performed a bone scan of Terri Schiavo 13 months after her collapse.

"The trauma can be from an auto accident, the trauma can be from some kind of beating that she obtained from somebody somewhere. It's something that should have been investigated in 1991 when those findings were fresh". Michael Baden, renowned forensic pathologist, former chief medical examiner for New York City.


"They are truly withholding food from a person who is awake, alert and can eat and swallow", Dr. William Hammesfahr said.

"To enter the room of Terri Schiavo is nothing like entering the room of a patient who is comatose or brain-dead or in some neurological sense no longer there", Dr. William Polk Cheshire Jr. said.

"As I looked at Terri and she gazed directly back at me, I asked myself whether if I were her attending physician, I could in good conscience withdraw her feeding and hydration. No, I could not, I could not withdraw life support if I were asked. I could not withhold life-sustaining nutrition and hydration from this beautiful lady whose face brightens in the presence of others" Dr. Cheshire added.

"On three or four occasions, I personally fed Terri small amounts of Jello which she was able to swallow and enjoyed immensely", Heidi Law, certified nurses assistant related.

"I know that Terri did not receive routine physical therapy or any kind of therapy. I was personally aware of orders for rehabilitation that were not being carried out. Even though they were ordered, Michael would stop them", Heidi Law said.

"On one occasion Michael Schiavo arrived with his girlfriend, and they entered Terri's room together. I heard Michael tell his girlfriend that Terri was in a persistent vegetative state and was dying. After they left, Olga told me that Terri was extremely agitated and upset, and wouldn't react to anyone. When she was upset, which was usually the case after Michael was there, she would withdraw for hours. We were convinced that he was abusing her, and probably saying cruel, terrible things to her because she would be so upset when he left". Heidi Law said.

"No therapy per husband's orders. Dr's orders over-ridden. Patient kept in isolation, no stimulation", Caregiver Carolyn Johnson said.

"How the hell should I know we never spoke about this, my God I was only 25 years old. How the hell should I know? We were young. We never spoke of this". Michael Schiavo's ex-girlfriend Cindy Shook said.

"But this is not about them (her parents), it's about Terri. And I've also said that in court. We didn't know what Terri wanted, but this is what we want. Michael Schiavo told Larry King on national TV.

"How did they know she would want this? How did they know she wouldn't want to go on?", was Terri's comment to Diane Meyer about removing a respirator from Karen Ann Quinlan.

When she reviewed the circumstances of the case, Dr. Lieberman says in her opinion Terri was frightened to object to Michael's pathologically controlling behavior. For example, he would monitor her odometer to control where she went. He tried to isolate her from her friends and family prior to her collapse, just like he did for the 15 years that followed, essentially shutting her off from the outside world. She had to account for every penny, though they often lived on her income since he would be fired or would quit, sometimes after only two weeks at a job. He would splurge on $400 suits for himself and gold chains, while she had to economize, buy a gold watch for a co-worker. He called her at work 3 to 4 times a day, often complaining of hating his job because no one appreciated him. He was often observed scolding her.

Terri's family observed black and blue marks on her before the incident that forever changed her life. Medical records and experts have revealed that her neck injury was consistent with strangulation. A bone scan revealed multiple fractures occurring within one to two months before or after the incident, which has been described as equivalent to her being "hit by a Mack truck". Michael has given multiple conflicting descriptions and explanations of how he found Terri after the incident.

He had her jewelry reset into a ring for himself, had her two beloved cats euthanized when moved in with his girlfriend, Cindy Shook. Psychologically, this is symbolic of what he did to Terri, Dr. Lieberman says.

He was under psychiatric care, including being prescribed several psychotropic medications. Bob Schindler Sr. says Michael threatened to commit suicide. One of Michael's treating therapists, Dr. Peter Kaplan, told Terri's father than he should have called the police after Michael argued with Terri's sister, Suzanne, and Michael tried to attack her. This incident reportedly occurred right after Terri's collapse, when they were all in a house together. Terri's father told Suzanne to lock her door and keep a hammer nearby.

Lieberman says that as a psychiatric expert witness, she has had experience performing psychiatric examinations of men like Michael Schiavo performing psychiatric examinations of men like Schiavo, and testifying in court about similar cases. She says that Michael Schiavo should be definitely investigated as the perpetrator of the 'incident' that caused Terri's collapse and her current condition. "If Terri were to be allowed to die, as Michael has been desperately struggling to achieve for years, it could help him escape detection. This would be a grave miscarriage of justice", Lieberman said.

Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, says that he himself was once the subject of a violent rage by Michael Schiavo. He says that in 1984, when the family was still living in Philadelphia, he and Michael got into an argument. "I remember distinctly that Michael got so upset that he suddenly snapped, and grabbed me by the throat and threw me down on the couch, had one hand around my neck and the other was in the air ready to punch me in the face".

During a radio show on April 25, 2001, when the Schiavo case was being discussed when Terri's feeding tube had been removed the first time, Cindy Shook, a former girl-friend of Michael Schiavo's, called into the show and said that Michael had told her he didn't know what his wife's wishes were.

She told the radio show host that Michael was "very possessive, he's very jealous, he stalked me at, at my, at where I worked after I stopped dating, when he would get mad at me, he would tell me I would rather be with her laying in that bed at the nursing home than you, I mean he could be the most incredibly mean person…

Soon after Shook's call-in to the radio station, Terri's parents contacted a private investigator who interviewed Shook. Shook had to be subpoenaed because of her immense fear of Michael Schiavo and was deposed by attorneys for both sides on May 8, 2001.

Thereafter, Terri's brother, Bobby spoke with Cindy Shook who relayed a paralyzing fear of Michael Schiavo.
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/071006WordGames.html

"Cindy then came to the phone. I initially thanked her for taking the time to speak with Kim. I asked if she would speak to our lawyers regarding this information. She told me absolutely not! I asked her why? She told me that Michael is insane and she is so scared that if she did speak about this, that he would cause harm to her husband and kids. I said to her, "Cindy, if you have information that will save my sister's life, then it is your responsibility to come forward." She said that she understood why we were asking her to do this and understood our love for Terri but her children's safety was more important than what would happen to Terri.

"Cindy then went on to briefly tell me about their relationship when her and Michael were dating. "He was insane," she told me. (Cindy stated this several times throughout our conversation) After we broke up, "He stalked me," Cindy said. She had to get her husband (boyfriend at the time) involved so Michael would stop stalking her. She told me that Michael had tried to run her off the road on one occasion. She also included that at one time she thought the only way he was going to stop harassing her was by getting a restraining order against Michael. "I said to her that we would do anything we could so that Michael would not go near her and her family if she agreed to testify. She said that no one could ever guarantee that Michael, at some point, would not do something to her family, particularly her children. She continually stated that, 'You have no idea the person (Michael) you're dealing with." She explained to me that if she were single she would be there for my family but because of all the money involved, she was convinced, that Michael would retaliate against her family.

Carla Iyer, a charge nurse at Palm Gardens from April, 1995 through July 1996 when Terri Schiavo was a resident at the facility, said "Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death" saying "when is she going to die, has she died yet? and "when is that bitch gonna die?"

These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as Michael Schiavo would make them casually in passing, Iyer said in 2003, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member.

"Other statements which I recall him making include 'can't anything be done to accelerate her death---won't she ever die?' When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious", Iyer said.

Iyer had come forward on Aug. 29, 2003, to speak about Michael's alleged abuse within days after the neurologically impaired woman had been discharged from her second stay at Morton Plant Hospital.

She filed an affidavit with the court alleging that Schiavo "wanted nothing done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing".

In August, 2003, Iyer gave a sworn affidavit to the attorney representing Terri's parents in their challenge to the guardianship of Michael Schiavo and his petition to remove his wife's feeding tube in order to cause her death.
http://www.terrisfight.org/userfiles/File/Affidavit%20C%20Iyer%20082903.pdf

Terri had been transported to Morton Plant on Aug. 13, 2003, after she reportedly coughed up blood. It was reported that doctors first suspected that she had a stomach ulcer but it was later said that she was treated for a bleeding esophagus.

Less than two weeks later, she was returned to the hospital with a "substantial infection" and lung congestion which attorneys said was possibly pneumonia. The family was not notified at that time either why their daughter had been hospitalized. Although she was admitted through the hospital's emergency room where Michael Schiavo was employed, on Sunday night, Aug. 24, 2003, the Schindlers did not learn of her admission until noon the following Monday.

Schiavo was employed as a registered nurse in the emergency room at Morton Plant-Mease Hospital from 1998 until October, 2004 when he was hired by former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice as a nurse in the jail division of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department.

Following the first hospitalization , the court ordered Schiavo's attorneys to surrender a hospital discharge report to the Schindler family one day before the Florida Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of Greer's death order. That denial set the stage for the removal of her feeding tube in October, 2003.

She lived without nutrition and hydration for six days in late October, 2003 until Terri's Law was passed and the tube was reinserted. The law was later ruled unconstitutional.

The parties had been in court Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, concerning the family's allegations that Michael had intentionally withheld medical information from them about their daughter at the time of the Aug. 13, 2003 hospitalization.

Although Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, maintained that he had advised the attorney representing the Schindlers of Terri's hospitalization, attorney Pat Anderson said that was untrue and a misrepresentation. Anderson said that Terri's hospital chart contained "specific instruction from Michael Schiavo that no information about Terri's condition be given to her parents. This was confirmed (Aug. 15, 2003) by a physician to the parents".

While Deborah Bushnell, another of Schiavo's attorneys, tried to maintain that information had been provided to the Schindlers in a "timely fashion", Anderson told the court that Schindlers had only learned of their daughter's admittance to the hospital until after Anderson telephoned Felos' office for information.

The information provided by Bushnell and Felos was contradictory, Anderson told the court and in what could almost be designated a historic event, Greer actually ruled in favor of the Schindlers and ordered Bushnell to provide the hospital's discharge report to the Schindlers.

But within hours, Schiavo did it again, refusing to advise the family of her second transport to the hospital.

Throughout both hospitalizations, Michael Schiavo continued his quest to end his wife's life thus it his notice of intent to file a medical malpractice claim would seem to be seem somewhat novel if he's claiming that the hospital or hospice improperly handled the matter---unless he's distressed that they administered antibiotics and treatment that saved her life at a time when he was trying to end it.

At the time of the August, 2003, hospitalizations, Schiavo said his wife might die without medical treatment. He said that doctors told him her prognosis was uncertain even with treatment and he again petitioned the court to stop treatment, seeking to end his wife's life.

"To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there", Iyer told the court but Greer dismissed her.

"Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy", Iyer said in her affidavit.

"Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented by Michael". She said she "made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart".

She said that "Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter".

"Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, or pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would say something like, "Hallelujah! You've made my day!" He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!" and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.

"When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about 20 minutes or so. When he left Terri would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift, as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is medically possible that Michael injected Terri with regular insulin, which is very fast acting, but I don't have any way of knowing for sure".

Iyer had stated in her August 2003 affidavit that "it was clear to me at Palm Garden that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo with no allowances made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consists solely of the instruction, "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated".

And terminated she was on Aug. 11, 1996, the day after she filed a police report, alleging that Michael Schiavo had injected Terri with insulin in an attempt to kill her.

The North Country Gazette attempted to obtain a copy of the complaint filed by Iyer with Pinellas County Sheriff's Department but none was produced. A report filed by Iyer on July 23, 1996 , was filed by Deputy Howard Bennett. The police report indicates that Sauer-Iyer had advised that she had been having problems with a fellow employee named Carolyn Adams. The report says that Sauer had been receiving threatening letters on her car at work and believed that Adams was the one who was responsible. She reported that she had received one letter on July 18, 1996 that stated, "I will get you bitch". Another letter received said "You had better invest in a cemetery lot". Sauer told the police that she was afraid of Adams but that she was not totally sure than Adams was the one leaving the notes.

Although Sauer-Iyer is adamant that she filed a police report against Michael Schiavo in August, 1996, the sheriff's office says none exists. Eleanor Centonze, mother of Schiavo's long-time girlfriend, now wife, was employed as a clerk in the sheriff's office under Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice at the time that Iyer's complaints concerning Schiavo would have been filed with the police.

Iyer reiterated her complaints against in 2003 and again discussed them, a matter of public information, in a TV interview in March 2005 which has resulted in Florida's Department of Health trying to revoke Iyer's nursing license for discussing Terri's medical condition, the same thing that everyone else, including Michael Schiavo, was discussing in 2005.

In the police report obtained by The North Country Gazette from the sheriff's office, the Oct. 17, 2003 report has the name of the officers involved blacked out along with other information such as the number of a supplemental report filed. A notation on the document says to "hide narrative text" and the report number, case number and other identifying information is blacked out.

The narrative says that approximately 4 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2003, an unknown deputy was advised that a female subject by the name of Carla Iyer had possible information concerning the Terri Schiavo case.

The report says that on Oct. 17, 2003, the officer contacted Iyer and requested her to go to the sheriff's office to be interviewed.

"Upon my conclusion of speaking with Carla Iyer, I was advised that a male subject by the name of Tom Broderson was in the downstairs area of the SAB, and wished to discuss the Terry (sic) Schiavo case. I went to the snack room area of the SAB where I met Mr. BRoderson. Mr. Broderson advised, that he is the office manager for Attorney Patricia Anderson. It should be noted that Ms. Anderson represents Terry Schiavo and her parents, the Schindlers, in this case. Accompanying me for this interview was Det. Judy Vovan. Mr. Broderson then pulled out several stacks of apeprs and advised he wished to speak to someone concerning possible criminal incidents involving Michael Schiavo. Mr. Broderson stated that Michael Schiavo had committed perjury, was possibly responsible for the initial injury to Terry Schiavo, and had possibly attempted to kill Terry Schiavo in 1996 with an overdose of insulin. It should be noted that the papers Mr. Broderson provided to me included a time line and several affidavits from several people involved in the incident. Furthermore, there were doctor's affidavits who had stated they could treat Terry Schiavo in her present condition. There was also a copy of the bone scan done on Terry Schiavo back in 1991. Said bone scan states, that it possibly reveals a compression fracture and goes on to state that the patient has a history of trauma. It does on to state that additional possibilities would be neoplastic bone disease, widespread disseminated infectious bone disease, or multiple bone infarcts from abnormal hemoglobin. (All of these were ruled out by autopsy) The said report is inconclusive and states that she was possibly the victim of trauma, but also incinuates (sic) that this was caused from a bone/blood disease.

"Mr. Broderson then inferred that there was domestic violence occurring between Terry Schiavo and her husband, Michael. He provided me with a diagram written and drawn by Mr. Schindler. The diagram showed a sketch of the resident ofthe Schiavos'with a body lying on the floor next to a bdroom and bathroom. Mr. Brderson advised, that Michael Schiavo had called Mr. Schindler and advised him that Terry was not responding and lying on the floor. Mr. Broderson stated Mr. Schindler asked him 'did you call the paramedics' with him saying 'no' with Schindler then telling him to do so. Mr. Broderson advised that Mr. Schindler then called his son, Bobby who lived in the same apartment complex as the Schiavos with him going there and arriving before the paramedics did. Broderson went on to state that Bobby had found Michael Schiavo sitting on the couch with his wife lying on the floor. Broderson stated Mr. Schindler didn't understand why Michael did not perform CPR which he knew. Brderson stated, that the paramedics then arrived and had to use the paddles to revive Terry Schiavo.

"Broderson advised that Michael sued for malpractice, and he and Terry were awarded a huge amount of money due to Terry's condition. He stated that during this trial, Michael stated he wanted to go to nursing school so he could care for Terry for the rest of his life. However, once Michael received the money he began to change. Broderson stated that Michael had a girlfriend by the name of Cindy Brasher at that time. Broderson advised she stated that once Michael got the money he began to change and broke up with her. Brashier went on to state that after Michael broke up with her Michael began to stalk Cindy to include running her off the road. I asked Mr. Broderson if this incident was ever reported to the police with him saying 'no'. Mr. Broderson also stated that Michael had destroyed medical records concerning Terry Schiavo. He stated that everyone Michael dealt with Michael tried to intimidate them. Broderson advised he did not think Michael, due to his character and criminal acts, was fit to be the guardian of Terry Schiavo. He further stated that Michel has denied any rehabilitation for Terry and also placed a "do not resuscitate" order at the nursing home where she was staying. Broderson read verbatim an affidavit he had taken from Carla Iyer.

"On 10.17/03, at approximately 1340 hrs. Det. Vovan and I interviewed Carla Iyer. It should be noted that when I went to the front desk upon Ms. Iyer's arrival, Donna Kuntz was with her and requested to come with her for the interview. I advised Donna Kuntz I needed to interview Ms. Iyer alone with Ms. Kuntz then leaving the SAB. Det. Vovan and I then interviewed Carla Iyer in a small office area across from the SAO rooms. Ms. Iyer advised she presently lives in ------, is a registered nurse and presently works for --------. She further stated that she was fired from Palm Gardens of Largo which is located at 10500 Starkey Road on 8/12/96. She stated she started work there in April of 1995. I asked her why she was fired from Palm Gardens with her stating the official reasons was poor nursing judgment, and that she made up stuff. She went on to state that she had field a police report with the Sheriff's Office, and had a copy of this report. This report was #96-164479. It should be noted that prior to speaking with Ms. Iyer I had also obtained a copy of this report. This report was written by Deputy Howard Bennett. I had been informed that Deputy Bennett was no longer employed by the PCSO. The said report narrative stated that Carla had reported she was having problems with a fellow employee named Caroline Adams. Iyer stated she had been receiving threatening letters on her car at work and believes Adams is the one who was leaving the letters on her vehicle. The report further stated that Iyer wanted documentation of these incidents, and that she had contacted the administration at Palm Gardens concerning it. However, Iyer advised, that she had told Deputy Bennett about a vial of insulin that she had discovered in the trash can in Terry Schiavo's room as well as many other things concerning her relationship with Michael when he was there. I then asked her why the deputy did not put this information in his report. Iyer advised that she had gone to the SAB front desk approximately three times but Bennett was always too busy. She advised that approximately a week later, Deputy Bennett showed up at her address in his marked police cruiser wearing shorts and other civilian attire. She advised she allowed him in, then he made sexual advances to her. She did not report this because "you know how men are". It should be noted that Ms. Iyer lived in the Safety Harbor area when this supposedly occurred.

"Ms. Iyer then advised that Michael was very intimidating to the staff. He also made statements that he wanted his orders followed, not the doctor's. I then asked her if she ever did not follow a doctor's orders with her stating, 'no, I always followed the doctor's orders'. I then asked her if she knew of any other employees there who did not follow the doctor's orders and instead followed Michael's with her stating 'no'.

I asked her what some of these orders were that Michael didn't want followed with her stating that he did not want them conducting range of motion exercises with her limbs, and she also described how they would put a wash cloth in Terry Schiavo's hand and squeeze for exercise. She stated, that if Michael ever saw this he would get very angry. She further stated that the staff including herself were scared of Michael. Iyer went on to state that on two occasions she heard Michael state 'when is that bitch going to die', 'is that bitch dead yet?' She stated both of these quotes occurred in 1995 at Palm Gardens. "I then asked Iyer if she ever observed Michael commit any physical abuse to Terry Schiavo, to include punching her, kicking her or hitting her in any way. Iyer responded that she did not. Iyer stated that once Michael arrived no staff was allowed in the room and that he would make them all leave. Iyer stated the above information was given to Judge Greer and the Federal Judges also. I then asked her about the vial of insulin. She advised that on one occasion she saw paper wrapped around something in the bathroom garbage can. She advised she thought this was unusual because there was never any trash in Terry Schiavo's garbage can. She went on to state that she unwrapped the paper and discovered a small vial of empty insulin. She stated it was regular insulin. She described it as small, approximately 1" in length. I asked her if she had ever seen anything like that or syringes or cotton balls, or anything else that would have gone along with a shot, with her stating 'no;. She then stated that approximately five times in a one week period, which was around the time she saw the vial she observed several small hematomas the size of nickels underneath Terri's breasts, her armpit area and on the inside of her leg close to the groin area. She stated she believed this could be from Terry receiving a shot. I asked her if she ever observed any needle marks on Terry with her advising, 'no'. I asked her if she ever reported these incidents with her stating 'yes, to the medical staff and her supervisors'. She then went on to state, however, that her notes concerning these incidents were always missing from her charts. She advised that Michael would always take the charts and look at them when he ordered everyone out of the room. I asked her if she ever observed Michael or anyone else tear the papers from the medical charts with her stating 'no', Ms. Iyer then stated to us that she believed Terry had been given the insulin due to her condition, which included sweats and other medical observations which she had been trained for. Iyer advised that while she worked at Palm Gardens she was not a full RN but a LPN. She then advised that she had observed the hematomas during a skin assessment for Terry. She went on to state that at the time she worked there the nursing home had approximately 120 beds and 90 employees. She stated only female staff took care of Terry.

"Iyer also advised that at the time she was at Palm Gardens, Terry would often speak to her. This included phrases 'help me, I am in pain" and also at times Tery would laugh when Carla said something funny. Carla stated she had discovered the insulin vial in July or early August of 1996. Iyer advised me that she had reported the incident concerning the vial of insulin to a supervisor by the name of Mary Rose. She advised Rose had advised her she would look into it. "Before concluding my interview with Iyer, I again requested if she had any knowledge of any criminal act committed by Michael Schaivo concerning his wife, Terry. Carl responded that she knew of no criminal acts committed by him.

"On this date, at approximately 1800 hrs. I telephoned SAO Investigator Doyle Jourdan reference this case. At that time, I requested any and all information the SAO had concerning any investigations they had done concerning the Terry Schiavo case. I was advised by Mr. Jourdan that Terry's father Robert Schindler, had gone to the SAO in June of 2003 with several papers and requested investigation by the State Attorney's office. Jourdan advised that the SAO had reviewed the papers and concluded that no investigation was warranted. Many of the accusations made by Mr. Schindler back in June were also many of the same accusations that were being made by Mr. Broderson. Det. Vovan will review said file at the SAO at a later date.

"In conclusion, the incidents at the nursing home do not constitute any criminal acts that I know of. The incident concerning the vial of insulin which Carl Iyer observed seven years ago and it was disposed of. By her own words, she saw no accompanying instruments concerning any type of shots. Furthermore, she observed no one ever give Terry Schiavo any shot. To the best of my knowledge, the initial incident that occurred concerning Terry Schiavo's heart attack/stroke (she had neither) was investigated by a police agency, and no signs of abuse were found by them or medical staff at the hospital where she was. As far as the perjury accusation, it is unknown to me if Michael Schiavo originally wanted to take care of his wife for the rest of her life, then as the years went by he saw his wife deteriorating and changed his mind. Broderson had advised me, that Michael had trick the Schlinders into singing all guardianship over to him early on in this incident. Again, it is unknown to me at this time if Michael wanted this guardianship to take care of his wife, then later changed his mind due to her condition. Apparently, this perjury charge was reviewed by the State Attorney's office with them declining any further review of the incident.

"It is recommended that a copy of this report be sent to the PSCO Homicide Unit for their review. I will also supply all documents and papers given to me by Mr. Broderson to the Homicide Unit".

People are continuing to file complaints against Michael Schiavo for his belligerent attitude, short temper and abusive behavior according to inter-office memos and reports obtained by The North Country Gazette under the Sunshine Law from the Pinellas County Sheriff's office where Schiavo is now employed as a nurse in the inmate division.

In a memo dated Feb. 21, 2005, regarding "M. Schiavo's conduct" and signed by seven of his co-workers, it states that on Jan. 30, M. Schiavo was working as relief supervisor. "He passed out the assignment and then said that was all he had . He then stormed out of the room and slammed the gate as he left. L. Fulton said to Nurse Cross "What was that all about" and she never replied. About five minutes later, he returned and gave something to nurse Cross and stormed out again, slamming the gate again. We feel this was unprofessional conduct for a relief supervisor".

According to file notes, Schiavo was "made aware of his behavior and their perception was enough of a resolution".

In another memo in Schiavo's file, complaints were filed that "Nurse Schiavo delegated an excessive amount of work to the Bravo assist and that he in fact did very little with regards to patient care. Nurse Schiavo stated that he felt that Nurse X's complaints were baseless and seemed upset and offended by the allegations. At times Nurse Schiavo raised his voice and had to be instructed to lower it and remain calm and professional.

The controlling and possessive behavior existed before Feb. 25, 1990, it continued for 15 years and it continues today among Michael Schiavo's co-workers.

It's called a pattern of abuse and in the case of Terri Schindler Schiavo, it was a deadly pattern of abuse. 8-5-06

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© 2006 North Country Gazette


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