Terri Schiavo's parents say their son-in-law has continued to keep them from their daughter.
By Associated Press
Published May 18, 2004
CLEARWATER - The parents of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo said Monday that their son-in-law won't let them visit their daughter.
Bob and Mary Schindler said they have been barred from visiting their daughter for the past seven weeks, since Clearwater police began investigating the appearance of what appeared to be puncture marks on her arms after a visit by the parents.
But an attorney for Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband and legal guardian, said the Schindlers have been offered the chance to visit if they hire private security at their own expense to accompany them into her room.
Michael Schiavo has been trying to remove the feeding tube that has kept his wife alive for 14 years, saying that would be her wish, but her parents have successfully blocked his attempts.
Last week, police finished the investigation of the arm marks, which were found in March shortly after a parental visit, and concluded that no crime had been committed.
They said the marks were likely caused by the apparatus used to lift the 40-year-old woman in and out of bed at the nursing home where she lives.
Bob Schindler said the family attempted to visit Friday but were again turned away by order of Michael Schiavo.
The Schindlers have sued to have their visitation rights reinstated, and a hearing has been set for May 26.
"It's mean and it's cruel," Schindler said at a news conference Monday. "It's just something else to harass us."
Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, said that even though police found no evidence of a crime in Terri's room, the incident raised enough suspicion to warrant a more restrictive visitation policy.
Raising concern was the discovery of a plastic adapter used to introduce fluids into the feeding tube, he said. Caregivers told police they had not used the part, which was found in Terri's clothing.
"We think that raises questions and suspicions, and we'll just let the judge decide . . . whether it warrants supervision when Terri's family visits," he said.
Felos said the Schindlers also have shot video of their daughter in violation of a court order, and extra security is needed to make sure that doesn't happen again.
The Schindlers say they didn't do anything wrong on March 29 and resent having to pay for security to visit Terri, especially when an off-duty police officer is already stationed outside the room.
Their attorney, George Tragos, called the incident involving the alleged needle marks "a red herring" designed to sway public opinion against the family.
