Tale of Two Sisters - An Update on Lacie’s Case - January 12, 2021

Oh, the joy in this expression! Lacie had this taken last year. It is so good to "see" her personality shining through in spite of her many obstacles.

Please forgive the lengthy details.

We value your prayers!

Because Lacie’s case is so complicated and because she is coming up for parole, we are considering hiring her attorney to represent her in the parole hearing. This could be helpful from the perspective that she knows Lacie’s case best. We are going to need "Character Reference" letters to be written on her behalf.

Her current attorney was introduced to this case by a Denver University Law Professor almost two years ago. She has been working for Lacie pro bono. She created all the documents to begin the first step, a Federal Habeas case - because her rights have been violated - and that is in the works right now. A new judge took on the case this summer and it has been going back and forth with Gail, Lacie’s attorney, and the district attorney’s office. The District Attorney is responding to Gail’s most recent submission and it is supposed to be submitted by Friday, 1/15/21. It is such a long and drawn-out process.

While that is happening, Lacie’s parole is scheduled for March. Ken and I asked if it would help to have a parole attorney involved in the process. Colorado is known for not granting parole and requiring individuals to serve their entire sentence.

Additionally, there is the reality that Lacie has a serious health condition that would put her at serious risk if she were to be exposed to the virus and it has been circulating around the prison. They are currently on another lockdown until 1/19/2021.  I can hear it in her voice when she calls that she is tired. She spends most of her days resting, which is what she needs right now. Due to the overlooked lung infection, she has been on at least 5 rounds of antibiotics since April 2020, not to mention the lengthy hospital stay she had in 2018. A CT Scan was completed on 12/30/2020. We are waiting on the results. The bottom line is, if you need medical care, prison is not the place you want to be.

So many things are happening all at once and somehow we believe it would be EXTREMELY beneficial to hire her attorney for her parole hearing. The challenge is it will require a retainer of $12,000. I have asked the attorney to give me one week to see if I can somehow get the funds together.

After the call with her attorney on Friday, I stayed in praise and prayer with the Lord in order to get direction on how to move forward.

Ironically, I was given a book at the end of last year that has turned out to be a total God-send! "The Handbook for Mitigation" by Victoria Rusk has brought some options to light. I reached out to the author today and she has already given me some great advice and things to consider.

I know God’s hand is over Lacie and we want to see her OUT of the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility so we can get her back to good health. 

As I see it, she is a liability to the State of Colorado and I am hoping we can help them realize that and grant her a release, especially since she is innocent of the charges she has been falsely accused of doing. These false accusations are so extreme.

As it is with most things, it costs money. It is something we are expecting God to move on for us because as of right now, we do not have the $12,000 on hand to make this happen, however, I expect we will!

We are going to do our best to make it happen in the next week.

Your support and prayers are tremendous! I am in awe of the people I have never met that are interceding for Lacie and trusting God with her. It has been an incredible experience to witness and walk with Lacie.

For now, while all of this is being considered and collected, please continue to pray for wisdom and understanding on how to move forward AND for Lacie to have the strength and protection to stay well!!

In Him who sits on the throne,

Stephanie 

PS I had surgery a few months ago, in November 2020. Surgery was postponed for two weeks due to my testing positive for Covid. It brought a whole new meaning to being tired. I had a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor) and removed a few lymph nodes on the right side. Unfortunately, they found cancer in one of them. This was disheartening, to say the least. After further tests and a meeting with the oncologist, I learned that chemotherapy was not recommended. That was an answer to prayer and I am thankful. I will continue to pursue alternative treatments as well. I realize that Lacie and I are in this together. She has not given up through all her own obstacles, and neither will I - through His grace and mercy.