Letters from a new hampshire prison from the wrongfully convicted chad evans

You asked if I wanted you to purchase more of the paper that already has been "3-hole punched." Thank you but the plain paper was fine. I was just saying that the 3-hole paper mistake couldn't have happened at a better time because it was when you were sending me all of the Pam and Jackie series photos for identification, and I was planning to 3-hole punch and save the photos anyway.

I watched a movie last night titled "HOTEL RWANDA." It was made several years ago and

was about the terrible genocide that happened there in the early 1990's while the rest of the world sat back and did nothing! It was a gut wrenching movie, and if you haven't seen it, I recommend it. The reason I bring this up is that one of the reporters had a quote in the movie that immediately struck me. He was describing some of the horrors he had photographed. When he was asked about if he thought his pictures would make a difference to the rest of the world when they saw them. He looked the person who asked the question in the eye and said something to the effect of, "No, I don't. I think people will look up from their dinner table and say, 'Oh that is so terrible' and then go right back to eating their steak." It is likely a common fear shared by many when you have to be dependent on others for things such as your life, safety, and freedom from a wrongful conviction.

I just reread the case you sent me as part of your letter #262. It was on the subject of actual innocence. The case, Greg Gaylor v. Starbranch, Soldati,and Jeffco, was filed by a NH inmate. I just thought it was kind of ironic, because when you asked me two weeks ago during our visit for names of reputable NH attorneys I named two from the seacoast area in addition to Alan. Lincoln Soldati was one and Stephen Jeffco was the other.

I forgot to ask how your meeting with Claudia Whitman went when you met her and another

inmate at the Bridgewater State Prison. I'm just curious. Sad to hear about others in similar situation I find myself in. When will the truth start mattering more than wins and losses? You are correct, in that the American public is becoming more aware of wrongful convictions, but it still takes far too long to get them corrected. A large percent of society puts tremendous faith in our police and courts. Many of these folks still don't believe that these mistakes happen.

In your letter #285 you mentioned one good news/bad news aspect about going to good schools is that you meet people who become rich and famous. How about alumni of the same schools that were in a different class???? I believe the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, went to Phillips Exeter. He is very rich and pretty famous. He recently donated $100 million to a struggling school district in New Jersey. I wonder how he feels about donating to the wrongly convicted? Hmmm....

Has Mrs. Edgar responded yet to the email that you sent her about the photographs? Hopefully, your meeting with Susan Nagelsen went well. I'm sure you will fill me in. I have not received a response letter from David Rothstein, about the names of the students who I met with, and who will be working on my appeal. I know that you emailed him right after and he responded that he would pass the website onto them. I think you and I view these students in a similar manner. If they check out the website and became interested, they could be future resources. Who better to blow

something wide open than a recent college graduate with lots of energy and a fresh set of eyes. I guess the lesson in this is for you and I to communicate better to avoid duplicating efforts and also to determine which of us is the better person to tackle each issue. In this instance, it would likely have been me as I have been working with David for several years and am his current client for federal court appeal. I don't want to ask again and seem desperate or annoying so I step back for a bit and see if I have another opportunity to meet them.

After our discussion at your visit and giving it more thought, I am ok when you get to editing letters again to include on the website, I'm ok with including the information I shared with you about the tragic mistake and loss of Amanda's personal possessions, most significantly, all the photos and video of Kassidy that were accidentally destroyed in the fire in Vernon, VT. It was clearly my fault and was upsetting to so many people that I wanted to provide no reminders but it was clear from your letter that you understand the sensitivity and you make some really good points of why we should include this information. The bottom line is, it is part of the story.

While on the same subject, in letter #285 you are responding to something I asked you. It was in regard to some of the articles written about my case. I have a mistrust and distaste for the media. I think they are the number one vehicle presenting incorrect information and generating hysteria in the general public on many issues. It's hard to ever get people to look at the facts if you have been wrongly convicted largely because the media has "fed" them information that is one sided and a large percentage is highly inaccurate, for so long. I feel it's ok for people to know my opinions on this issue. If a person reads this far into the letters section they deserve to know how I truly feel. If it happens to be a reporter that reads it, I say, "There is no reason to personalize as long as you have integrity and printing the actual truth matters more than selling some newspapers.

Having said this, I don't want you to think I don't listen to or appreciate much of what you have to say. In fact, I have been giving a lot of thought about our conversation about my use of the word girls as opposed to referring to females as women. It's so weird how different a single word can be perceived. I appreciate your feedback on the issue as the last thing I want to do is insult someone.

Looking back over some of the past letters I wrote you, I was unaware how often I referred to females as girls. I am going to make every effort in the future to use the term woman instead. I appreciate the clarification. I would regret it if I didn't at least take a second and explain why I believe I use the term girl instead of woman. First, most of the women I write to you about were 17, 18, and 19 year old girls when I knew them. Time kind of stands still when you are in prison, especially when I haven't seen many of them since then. I am often writing about the past and in the past they were girls. I'm nearly 40, yet I still find myself feeling like a young 20 something at times. Second, I guess I have a mental block. Using the woman sounds so "old" to me. Most females I know want to remain young and girl sounds much younger. I can certainly see how calling a 50 year old woman a girl can be insulting to her but ...30 something ... I guess it just goes to show how little I truly know about women. Anyway, point taken. Insulting people is never my goal so now I will be more aware.

Ok, with all my miscellaneous notes out of the way, time to begin answering your questions from #274.

I have not heard from Anne Gildea. I likely won't hear from her until Christmas. With Anne this case means very little, and she's had a month to check out the website if she is going to. If you want to try and contact her about our working relationship or whatever, it won't hurt anything. Likewise, I have not heard from Glen Varney since I wrote him a letter. You may want to try and call him again. I don't know. I wouldn't suggest it other than we spent quite a bit of time together in the summer of 2000. He likely saw Kassidy no less than 10 times between me taking kids out on boat and cookouts and things at his place.

You asked about the surgery I had while at Children's Hospital in Boston as a 4 year old child. I believe the name of it was Hypospadious. I was born with a condition that affected my urinary tract. I believe I was in the hospital for 10 days so it was fairly serious, even in the 1970's.

Regarding Becky and other women members of our team, thank you for your clarification and input. I'm ok with you sharing any opinion you have. I just always want to understand where it comes from.

Oh wow, right here in your letter 274 you are responding to my #210 about the Vermont fire story. You said here, "I'm inclined to treat it like everything else: innocent man, hopeful, if not confident of being cleared, seeing Amanda out of love and concern but fearful of apprehension, overreacted, along with brother, to fear that the police were coming." My explanation of what happened along with your summary here pretty much tells the story. As I said to you many times before, "Anything that could go wrong in this case, did..."

The Wikipedia pages you sent me with photos of the game, "Operation," are in fact the game I played with Kyle and Brent. I can't believe you have never played the game with your grandchildren. You don't know what you are missing, my friend. The boys loved this game. Especially when they were able to successfully pull out a bone without making the nose light up and the game buzz and daddy couldn't.

You asked about the "Parents" magazine that Tristan took a photo of at the Family Strength office during one of our supervised visits in 2001. Yes, I brought the magazine with me to the visit. Tristan and I communicated very well then regarding the boys. I was a subscriber for several years prior to this. I would bring the magazine from time to time if something in it pertained to the boys, and if I wanted to pass it off to Tristan as she also read then. I brought it at least once because I wanted to point something out that the "experts" were saying to Alex. I cannot recall the issue but

I remember it being a little confusing to me and I wanted clarification because I think she told me something slightly contradictory.

I should have seen that this was going to be your next line of questions... :) You asked about magazine subscriptions, and books I read about relationships and parenting, tape programs, newspapers at home or work, etc. Where to begin... Well, let me start by saying that I have always tried to read a lot. My motto has been "knowledge is power" since I was little. It's kind of funny. Tristan and one of her girlfriends would be studying for a college exam from time to time in the living room after the boys were asleep, asking each other questions. I would be sitting in my office or occasionally walking through the living room and blurt out the occasional answer they were struggling with. Tristan would look it up, see I was correct and call me "nerd" with a big smile. Those were the days... Anyway, most of these answers I knew because I read a lot. When I got involved with Tristan, and it was clear things were becoming serious I would purchase parenting magazines at times while at the grocery store.

She had a young son, Brent, and if I was going to be a father figure I wanted to do the best job that I could. I got good ideas of things to do, parenting tips, etc. Tristan and I subscribed to some of the best. "Parenting," "Parent," and "Child" after Kyle was born. There was a bookstore at the Lilac Mall and I shopped mostly in the "parenting" or "self-help" section. I read quite a bit after Kyle was born.

I know that my mom recently found a tub of some of my old books and things and is setting it aside for you. Much of that stuff was picked over after I came to prison. I wanted everyone to have something that was mine. Hopefully there will be some of it in there so I can give you exact titles. We will revisit again after you've browsed.

I have always been interested in self-help information. Since my earliest days as a McDonald's manager I have been listening to cassettes of people like Richard Tosti. I think my interest started when, as a young child, I found some business tapes in my father's dresser. My dad was my hero and if he thought it was good to listen to them then I should too. Sometime in the 1990' s Peter Napoli brought all of the supervisors and several of the restaurant managers tickets to an all star cast of speakers at the then-named Fleet Center in Boston. It was awesome. I can't remember

all of the speakers, but I enjoyed it immensely. Drew Bledsoe, Zig Ziggler, Ben or Jerry from the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream franchise (I think Ben. He was awesome) Christopher Reeves, possibly Tony Robbins and many others. I remember purchasing several tape seminars. One was on enhancing your relationship with your spouse and one 10 tape program was on parenting, I believe. I used to listen to them in my car in between restaurants as I was traveling. It's always been important to me to be the best person I can be. It didn't matter if it was as a father, brother, son, employer, friend, etc. If someone had a suggestion that I felt made sense, I would try to incorporate it into my life.

Kyle has always been with my parents on Labor Day weekend as he has yet to miss the Guilford Fair. I am not sure when school started for him at Cross Road that year. Asking Mrs. Edgar is probably your best bet. It's funny that Yokens was a favorite of your in-laws when you were in Portsmouth. After I came to prison and Amanda was living at our house in Rochester, she was working as a waitress at Yokens.

Ok, about my comment calling you a stubborn mule.... (LOL) The reason I wanted you to watch and listen to that Rhianna/Eminem video for "LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE" was because of the extreme passion displayed between the characters, but also the violence. She's spitting at him one moment and kissing him the next. It goes to the extreme on both ends of the spectrum. Amanda and I were never as violent as what was depicted, but there were times where I could have punched a wall. The video was a good depiction. Hard to describe. No biggie. You have the lyrics and they are passionate enough. You talked about the two electric meters at my house. I don't believe that there was ever a split of my house into two apartments. I'm pretty sure that the second electric meter was because when I purchased the house there was an electric hot water heater and I think it had its own meter. Either that or there was something about when the electric service was updated to 200 amp another meter was put in. I'm pretty sure it was the hot water heater though. Yes, there was a small metal awning over the side door when I purchased the house. It was very cheap looking and once during a wind storm one of the slats came off. It was my ultimate plan to re-side the house with vinyl, so I ripped the entire thing off and was going to have a wood and shingle awning made.

Joe Lincoln's sister, Stacy, worked for me. I am not sure what her last name is now. You can try to contact her if you'd like. I don't know how she'd respond. You can try Joe Lincoln if you'd like, but I don't expect anything good to come of it. He and I did not like each other. Hopefully, though, he would tell you the truth, that I was always good to Brent. After my arrest, he had the upper hand, and we met at the Dunkin Donuts in Rochester where he acknowledged that I was always good with Brent. I requested the meeting with Joe because I loved Brent and missed him. I wanted him to be OK with me seeing him at the Family Strength meetings. I have to give him credit he never put up a stink about it. I wish I had treated him nicer and been less judgmental. He isn't a bad guy and has done well by Brent over the past 10 years.

I'm not sure which Michelle Labrie, from your list, to start with. Raymond Labrie in Wakefield is likely related. I'm guessing she is at least 30 now. Only 4 listed. I guess you could try them all. You can let her know that Travis, Renee, and others are on board.

Gina Garcia (maiden Fortier I believe) would be ok to call. I'm not sure about Jim Kennedy Jr. Becky likely wouldn't know Samantha but Renee and others will.
October 5, 2010 (234)

Questions for Amanda

While reviewing the later half of the letters project I found many references to questions that needed to be asked of Amanda for clarification purposes or general knowledge. Certainly some of these would be great in a deposition. Most are questions that you have asked me. Many of them, I just don't know the answer. I will put what I recall of the event in italics. In any event, I wanted to put them in one spot so that you would have them together for when you make contact. Obviously, some questions are more important than others. I know that you already have many that I provided that would be helpful. Please enclose these in your "Amanda" file.

1. Do you recall Jeff bringing Kassidy home with make-up on her face covering a bruise? (Letters from New Hampshire Sate Prison page 240 "Mama's here" Kassidy fall from bed) My recollection of the event is that Jeff brought Kassidy to our house sometime in October and she had make up in a couple of spots on her face. I don't know what had caused the bruises. Jeff had to go somewhere in public with Kassidy and didn't want to be questioned about them. I believe Jeff had Kassidy overnight and was returning her home. Amanda was home working on the survey project as I recall. Jeff had to come to Rochester or Dover for some reason and that is the reason he was dropping Kassidy off vs. Amanda going to get her.

2. What did you do with your brothers, Josh and Scott, when they stayed with you and Chad in

Rochester in the summer of 2000? I recall Josh staying longer than Scottie. I know we walked to

3. Amanda summarize Dec. 2000 interview with NH AG's and Jim White. Interview was paraphrased rather than recorded. (Pg. 217 of letters).

4. Did you go to both the York and Portsmouth Hospitals upon finding out something happened to Kassidy? (from Jen?)

5. What do you recall about the night of Nov. 9th after you left the police station and drove back to Jeff and Jen's apartment with them? At the time she told me Jeff instructed her to stay in the car and then he went in to get some clothes as they were going to stay in a hotel that evening. Jeff was in the house for 15 minutes or so and never came out with clothes.

6. Page 229 of letters- You went to Olympia Sports and met your friend, Shannon, there at some point with Kassidy? Do you recall when that was? Who else might have been there, (another child) or anything else about that visit?

7. Melissa Chick testified at Chad's trial that she had watched Kassidy once during the summer

(August) and during this overnight visit, she bathed Kassidy and noticed bruises all over her stomach. Chad recalls that you and Melissa were not in communication with each other through much of the summer and in fact, you didn't even see her until after she started working at the "Y" in Sanford. Melissa started working at the Y in Sept/ Oct. Do you recall when you first saw Melissa during that June to November 2000 time frame? If it is true that Amanda didn't see Melissa until she ran into her and Tracy Foley at the Y around the time of Chad's birthday, then Melissa could not have bathed Kassidy during the summer.

8. Letters page 236- I know that you testified that Chad NEVER hit you. In fact, Chad has described your play as more violent than your disagreements. Chad said that the two of you loved to wrestle on the bed, chase each other around the house, splash water from the sink, pillow fight, etc. He describes you as being very fun loving and tough. Is this a fair characterization?

9. Page 211 of letters. Trip to York's Wild Animal Kingdom. Chad believes that after you left the park you and he took Kyle and Kassidy for a drive to York Beach. Do you recall this? Chad had several photos of your day at York's in his possession. I also found that your mom had several others from the same outing posted on ancestry.com. Chad says there are still a dozen or so missing from that day. Do you have any idea where some of those photos are?

10. As part of the Aspire program you went to the Maine DSS office from time to time. Chad recalls that you took Kassidy on those occasions. Do you recall when the last visit there might have been?

11. There was some discovery information that you either had a doctor's appointment or an actual appointment with a daycare that you canceled at Chad's request. Do you recall if or when that may have happened? (Nov. 1 time frame. page 194 of "letters.")

12. Chad recalls that your friend, Emily Conley, was pregnant and that you went with her and Kassidy to one of Emily's pre-birth doctor's appointments. Chad believes that Kassidy had bruises on her cheeks and that he cautioned you about taking her into a doctor's office in that condition. Might this be the origin of the allegation that Chad tried preventing you from taking Kassidy in public and this is the alleged reason Jeff and Jen watched Kassidy?

13. You took three trips to Texas to stay with your friend Cathy Nurenberg. As I understand it the first trip was paid for by the state of NH. And then they paid for your return so that you could be

interviewed by the AG's office in December of2000. It's the second and third trips I am unsure of

Can you recall any details from the next two trips? I'm not sure how the second trip was paid for but

14. Chad has a vague recollection of you and he catching a movie at the Lilac Theatre after Travis moved in to the basement. Chad felt the kids might have been in bed and Travis stayed with them for the evening. Do you recall at all?

15. As you know, we are fighting for an innocent man's life. Photo's help tell the story. It is obvious from the photographs that there was a lot of love and passion between you and Chad. These photos certainly contradict the state's implication that your relationship was about control rather than love.

16. I recently met Chad and Linda Dalessandri, the owners of Linda's childcare in Lebanon Maine. They informed me that they watched Kyle until he started going to Crossroad's in the fall of 2000. I know that you sometimes brought Kyle to Cross Road in the fall of 2000. Do you recall ever bringing Kyle to daycare in the summer of 2000?

17. When we spoke previously, you couldn't recall when you had taken Kyle to the doctor but were

sure you had at some point. Do you have any memory if Chad was with you and perhaps Kassidy?

I know there are other questions but these are some that I thought of or stuck out to me as I was reading the letters. Hopefully we can obtain some helpful information.