To Sherry, with our sympathy and love
Ronald Patrick Swiney 1944-2009 Patrick can breathe perfectly now. And he has no pain! He had been in the Alabama Prison System since 1989, when he was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole. He maintained his innocence until the moment he died. Patrick, and his wife Sherry (who campaigned tirelessly for his release and his well-being 24/7) became friends of ours in 2002. Sherry was fighting on behalf of Patrick, and I was fighting on behalf of Maurice Carter. I most recently corresponded with Patrick late last year. I learned that he loved to talk about drag racing, and so I sent pictures of Doug racing Studebakers. How he loved those memories! He closed his last letter to me: I appreciate all your hard work on my behalf, and making my heart happy with using one word: STUDEBAKER! But, as his appeals and requests for legal assistance continued to fail, so did his health. Last night, Sherry sent out an urgent appeal to those of us who remained close to the case