Writing to someone who was featured on UM...

[justins5256]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever written a letter to, or ever considered attempting to contact someone who was featured on UM. For some time now, I have been considering writing to Glen Consagra. Consagra is in prison for allegedly murdering two friends in 1979. His story was profiled on special 3 and he claims he is innocent. The case intrigues me, and a part of me is wondering what he has been up to since the UM broadcast in '88. Assuming he really is innocent, it must really suck to be in jail for a crime you didn't commit. Since I now have the resources to find out exactly where Consagra is incarcerated, I'm wondering if I should attempt that next step.

Any thoughts?

[DarkDante]

I have often thought about writing to Nyleen's mother just telling her that I feel badly about what happened to Nyleen and send my sympathies etc. The only problem with this though is after you say that, what else can you say? - I mean sometimes a few kind words go a long way but writing to someone who you don't know personally who has experienced a great tragedy which you really CANNOT understand how it feels to be them is a bit of an awkward situation to be in. I know someone here sent a letter to the parents of the Baskins, but I don't think they ever got a response. In a lot of the cases profiled especially ones involving missing children the information is so "hush hush" that you really aren't going to get any new information by writing the parents or the investigators but if you want to express concern or sympathy I guess thats okay. I still want to write Nancy Marshall because the segment did effect me and I guess I could write in care of the Jefferson Police Department but in the end I probably won't.

Okay enough rambling in the case you are talking about are you even sure Glen Consagra is still in prison. I saw the segment last night and am pretty sure he is innocent although not as positive about his innocence as I am about Michael Lloyd Self and Michael Scott Martin among others although I do think Glen Consagra did not kill his friends. I know he was given at least one life term but it may be a case of he was eventually released. I would check into that first. Writing a inmate shouldn't be very hard once you locate him and most prisons have "letter writing" programs set up for inmates to communicate with people. Either way best of luck to you Justin.

[crystaldawn]

Justin, I think it would be interesting to write to Glen Consagra. He has a lot of time on his hands and I'm sure he would appreciate your interest in the case. Let us know if you do and if you receive a reply.

Btw, do you still think he's guilty? I'm leaning more towards thinking he is innocent. Maybe he would tell you his side and change your mind.

[justins5256]

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Btw, do you still think he's guilty? I'm leaning more towards thinking he is innocent. Maybe he would tell you his side and change your mind.

I go back and fourth with regard to the issue of Consagra's guilt. When I first saw the special, I thought he was probably innocent. After repeated viewings, the most recent being last week, I'm not sure.

I don't understand why he plead guilty. He said he thought he would get some kind of deal in which he could be paroled. His attorney should have made it very clear to him what was coming if he entered such a plea. So, I find it hard to swallow that he would have known anything but two consecutive life sentences were in his future if he plead out the way he did.

Also, as the prosecutor pointed out, Consagra has never been able to come up with the name of the true killer, even though (according to that schizophrenic woman's testimony) it was someone Consagra knew personally.

[DarkDante]

Originally Posted by justins5256

I go back and fourth with regard to the issue of Consagra's guilt. When I first saw the special, I thought he was probably innocent. After repeated viewings, the most recent being last week, I'm not sure.

I don't understand why he plead guilty. He said he thought he would get some kind of deal in which he could be paroled. His attorney should have made it very clear to him what was coming if he entered such a plea. So, I find it hard to swallow that he would have known anything but two consecutive life sentences were in his future if he plead out the way he did.

Also, as the prosecutor pointed out, Consagra has never been able to come up with the name of the true killer, even though (according to that schizophrenic woman's testimony) it was someone Consagra knew personally.

Justin,

I watched the Consagra case too last week and it's a bit of a puzzle. I mean I would really like to believe he is innocent but the location of the murders shoots a lot of holes in his story at least in my view. The thing is though if you watch the segment closely you'll hear Karl Malden explain why Consagra took the guilty plea. "He" committed these murders in a state where a death penalty would be almost a lock if he was found guilty in fact, I think the prosecutor told him that he would ask for it if he was found guilty. Now I'm not saying I would do the same thing in his position but Consagra was in a virtual "no win" situation here - He didn't have a strong case if he was innocent, the state was holding the death penalty over his head and besides his defense not being strong the prosecution had a fairly strong case against Mr. Consagra based on the circumstancial evidence and as previously stated the LOCATION of the murders didn't help Consagra out any either. I think in his case Consagra made the only decision he could have made, he was obviously not the HARDENED criminal who could stare death in the eye and laugh but was **** scared of going to the electric chair so he did what he had to do to save his life.

Now some might say if the defendant doesn't believe enough in his own innocence his case must be **** and why should we believe him? - The thing is though that isn't exactly what was at stake here, Consagra made a decision based on his fear of "what was behind door B" if he lost his case - Was it a good use of foresight or just a stupid impulsive decision based on his part? - I dunno but I don't think we should write Consagra off just because he didn't come in waving his saber in the air yelling "I'm innocent" - I think it came down to Consagra's fears of the death penalty if he lost and thats why he took the plea - Bottom line.

How are the dvds coming, hope your surgery goes well

Later.

DD

[girl_without_fear]

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Justin, I think it would be interesting to write to Glen Consagra. He has a lot of time on his hands and I'm sure he would appreciate your interest in the case. Let us know if you do and if you receive a reply.

Btw, do you still think he's guilty? I'm leaning more towards thinking he is innocent. Maybe he would tell you his side and change your mind.

If you really feel that this person is innocent then I say by all means let them know. It helps for people to know they have people on their side. I wrote someone in prison whom I feel is innocent of a crime. He wrote me back and we still continue to write each other.
Also, I am in contact with some of this persons family members through e-mail and just hearing from them and they way they feel also leads me to believe even more this person is innocent.
If you do decide to writhe this person my best advice is not to bring up the crime he is in there for except the start of his letter and a few things why you feel he is innocent. Tell him a bit about yourself, but not a whole great deal. Ask him what he likes doing, what kind of movies he likes, etc. Let this person know you have been wanting to write for sometime now, but was not sure if it was the right thing to do. Innocent or guilty prisoners do not like to think theyare being used for a story and after writing you several times he will learn that you are not a reporter or anything like that and be able to put his trust into you. Let us know.

[george ramos]

Does anyone know if he is even still prison? The courts probably affirmed the convictions since he plead guilty. The courts usually don't overturned convictions in which a suspect plead guilty since they feel the suspect knew the risks but there is still a chance he was released. Anyway, I can't believe I missed the episode. If anyone knows what happen to him, please tell us. This case is interesting.

[crystaldawn]

Actually the Glen Consagra case was on one of the pre-Stack Specials so it was never aired on Lifetime. As far as I know he is still in prison.

[pjpiazza]

Last week I wrote one of the dj's who did the hoax on-air. He replied pretty quickly. He's still in radio believe it or not.

[george ramos]

I couldn't believe he was still on the air but that's what the show said. That guy is a jackass. Sorry for the language but he is. He gave the families of missing people false hope. Kind of like John Edwards. If you saw the south park episode you'll know what I mean. Also thank you for the reply CrystalDawn. As I said, People who plead guilty almost never have their convictions overturned. The judges feel they knew the risk of pleading guilty.

[KyooMac]

I could not believe they are still working at the SAME radio station. As to Glen Consagra, didn't he get TWO life sentences? He's still in jail....

What state was he convicted in?

[george ramos]

Florida, but the prison website doesn't have him listed for some reason.

[Mr. Fuji]

Originally Posted by pjpiazza

Last week I wrote one of the dj's who did the hoax on-air. He replied pretty quickly. He's still in radio believe it or not.

Wow! What did you write to him? And what was his response?

[pjpiazza]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fuji

Wow! What did you write to him? And what was his response?

I said the segment still airs on from time to time and "bean" responded that it was odd because it's neither unsolved nor a mystery.

[justins5256]

Originally Posted by pjpiazza

I said the segment still airs on from time to time and "bean" responded that it was odd because it's neither unsolved nor a mystery.

I suppose he doesn't watch the show much.