If this man were not registered he might still be alive.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Steven Stryker, a Navy veteran, died after his court-appointed guardian, Rebecca Fierle, determined that he should not receive life-saving actions, despite Stryker’s desire that they be administered.
According to the Sentinel, “When investigators interviewed Fierle, she told them it was difficult to find facilities for Stryker because he was a registered sex offender.” But that “Even though it was difficult to find a facility willing to accept him due to his sex offender status, as court-appointed guardian, it remained Fierle’s responsibility to ensure the ward’s medical care needs were met.”
Stryker would likely have been alive today if he had access to a proper facility that could meet his needs. Ironically, last month the Miami Herald ran a story about the aging registrant population and just a few weeks later we see the unfortunate consequence of these laws.
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There is only one solution end the public registry, punish 1 time at the sentencing level. Law enforcement keeps their tabs on who they know is dangerous anyway and stopping by my house probing is an invasion of privacy. Taking a forced statement 2-4 times a year is illegal as I have no right to remain silent. They need to read us our Miranda rights before we register because we are under investigation based on what alot of times is a plea of connivence obtained through intimidation. Dealing with uniformed cops unwarranted is punishment to anyone and mimic probation as we are under duress by men with guns and handcuffs. I shouldn’t have to deal with anyone I don’t want in my free life. If they have a private registry I get that and a private company or agency of trained professionals that actually help the situation of the right to freedom and have a plan and are trained thats one thing this is counter productive and harmful in everyones lives and everyones lives associated in behalf of the accused and in some cases proves more dangerous to the public. Treatment professionals should be sued having the right to choose lives they treat is sicking. Whats next the EMS pulls up sees your ID and goes and works on someone else less in need. The tag on our ID is an indicator to treat someone different because law enforcement without cause, investigation or professional observation is now freelance psychiatric professionals to tell everyone your bad is slander. Period
To me, there are two different issues here. The first is the actions taken by Ms. Fierre. In my opinion, she should be prosecuted. Period. The second is the statement she made about it “being difficult to find a place that will take a sex offender”. She is right about that. I shared information regarding this in a June 20 thread that basically there is only ONE place in the state that will take an aging sex offender who has health issues. This was brought to my attention by my probation officer speaking to one of my roommates (a veteran and has health issues).
This second (and larger) issue of there not being a place is in effect a death sentence to anyone on the registry who needs long-term medical assistance. For that, I place the blame on the owners of the private facilities as well as the lawmakers who place unfounded residency restrictions upon us. Maybe if we start charging them with involuntary manslaughter for every registrant who dies because care could not be found? An idea?
I don’t know why the woman wasn’t charge with murder!! wtf? Sounds like a cover up!!
Here’s my answer to your question. She was court-appointed and therefore had some sort of relationship to the state of Florida. That being the case, they’re not about to do anything that would reflect badly on the state. She as much as put a gun to the head of that man and pulled the trigger. She with malice of forethought did everything in her power to keep this man’s daughter from helping him and very possibly saving his life. The court-appointed guardian was intent on preventing this man from getting any help. Pure and simple, this wicked, subhuman wench wanted him dead. She got what she wanted and intended. Now she should have an appointment with FLA’s death chamber if they have one.
Steve had a many decades long history of alcohol abuse. He suffered from PTSD after his tour in Vietnam. What led him to become a registered sex offender was for indecent exposure. He was driving back from a McDonalds in a nightshirt. He was also drinking at the time. He crashed his vehicle and ended up slumped over the wheel. At the time that he was extracted, he had his take out all over himself and of course was pretty much naked from the waist down.
Sex offenders end up as such for many reasons. I agree with your comments. It is very, very hard to remove this stigmata that offenders are left with. It is a huge problem to find placement as offenders need long term care or assisted living.
Rebecca, the guardian, knew that Steve had a place to go to. We were making arrangements to bring him to our home which was documented by the VA social worker, law enforcement, home health and of course Florida Hospital, who knew of the discharge plans. Instead, he was sent off to an ALF in Tampa who couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t smoke and kept him away from his providers at the Tampa VAMC. Smoking would damage this man’s already compromised esophagus. Florida Hospital didn’t care – out the door he went.
Instead, I was turned into DCF and Florida Hospital told the judge in their petition for guardianship that “Daughter’s whereabouts were unknown…” Complete lie.
They successful got me out of the way as DPOA and kept the family from getting involved so the guardianship would be approved.
By the time I cleared my name and family was involved, the guardian was already in place. Apparently this is a practice that is rampant.
Linda – we are sorry for your loss. There are grievous wrongs taking place throughout the state’s departments. DCF and the guardianship system is no exception. Children, elderly, the physically and mentally impaired are abused by “the system” as much as they are abused by any individual.
The shame here is that if Steve had options and could have gone to a facility close to home or a more caring environment, this possibly wouldn’t have happened. We need to work to fix that.
I hope you will bring his case to the attention of the Miami Herald writer who broke the story last month. Steve is a victim of this system.
Linda this is horrible. I’m sorry for your loss. Please don’t give up on this and get justice for Steve. Those details you mentioned need to be published and circulated.
wow. I’m reading this and just astonished. That court appointed guardian literally killed this man. There is no other way you can slice this. Making a decision for someone who was capable of deciding himself if he wanted to live or not and even expressed concerns himself about the order that she herself wrote. What the hell ? Charges against this vile woman should easily be Felony Murder.
Here is my take on all the post ever about sex offenders. If the judge has wanted us to have a life sentence for our offenses, we would have gotten that. But the law makers turned around years after our sentences and basically sentenced all of us to not only a life sentence of punishment and misery but putting ours and our families lives in danger every time we leave the house. How embarrassing to go to see a doctor and the person at the front desk asking for your I.D and a huge Fla Statue stamped across the front like a scarlet letter.