Governor Blagojevich, so much power to do the right thing. Will he?

Paul Modrowski, who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Dean

Fawcett, is seeking release from prison. Modrowski, autistic, and

then 18 years old, was convicted of Murder 1 on an "accountability"

theory for supposedly lending his car to the supposed killer - who was

acquitted. Modrowski was then sentenced to life in prison with no

possibility of parole. He has been in prison for about 15 years and

needs our help.

You can sign a petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

Signing is free and takes just a minute.

Modrowski filed a Clemency petition that he wrote himself. A hearing

was held by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, where Paul was

represented by his mother, Linda. The Review Board then sent the

petition on to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

If you want to encourage Governor Blagojevich to sign the Clemency

petition, you can sign this petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

The Fawcett murder got mixed up in the infamous Brown's Chicken

massacre murders in Palatine, Illinois, that took place nearby in time

and place. The Brown's Chicken massacre appeared "unsolvable," but

two strong suspects, James Degorski and Juan Luna, were finally

arrested in 2002. Luna has been convicted and Degorski should go to

trial in 2008.

Through fear and media frenzy, Paul Modrowski was considerd a "prime

suspect" in the 1993 Brown's Chicken Massacre in Palatine, Illinois --

but not for any good reason. This was highly publicized so people

assumed Modrowski was guilty of the Palatine killings. There were

newspapers on stands inside the courthouse cafeteria when Modrowski's

jury went to lunch - with a front page article saying: "Prime Suspect

in Brown's Massacre Killings on Trial in Other Murder." The judge did

not grant a mistrial or a change of venue. Unfair? Sign now:

http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

Those involved in the legal process against Paul Modrowski in the

Fawcett case may have believed that they had to secure that conviction

and long sentence to have leverage in solving the Palatine massacre

murders or to appear as if they had gotten the (assumed) restaurant

killer on something. This was probably more true after the acquittal

of Robert Faraci, who also stood accused of murdering Dean Fawcett.

1) Essentially, Paul Modrowski was convicted of loaning his car for

the murder. The only evidence about this was the testimony of a

police officer, who said Modrowski confessed this to him. There was

no written or signed confession, no confession on tape or video. Paul

Modrowski is autistic and was held for several days and mistreated

before "confessing." He was not given an attorney and signed no

waiver giving up that right. The officer claimed Modrowski confessed,

yet he did not write a report about that till weeks later. ALL of

this should call its truth seriously into question. Show you care

about fairness and sign at: http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

2) The State's Attorney used the theory of "accountability" to say

that Modrowski was guilty of Murder 1 because he supposedly lent his

car to the other defendant, Robert Faraci, who was acquitted by his

separate jury. The car was thoroughly searched by the FBI and it

contained not even a trace of evidence. Does this bug you? Sign the

petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

3) The judge sentenced Modrowski to LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO POSSIBILITY

OF PAROLE. He has been in prison for about 15 years now and cannot

get out unless Governor Blagojevich signs the Clemency petition. Want

to help? Sign the petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

4 ) Paul Modrowski probably would have been freed or at least retried

after some level of appeal, but his appeals were bollixed up by

lawyers having personal problems. His appeals were half-written, sent

in without mandatory affidavits, filed one day late, etc. The "one

day late" issue went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which said

that prisoners should know what their lawyers are doing and should

file a second set of papers on their own to be sure it is done right.

Obviously, this makes no sense. Help right this wrong by signing:

http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

5) Paul Modrowski's trial probably would have gone much differently if

he had been afforded the rules that are now mandatory in Illinois

death penalty cases, such as the requirement of a lawyer qualified to

try death penalty cases and full discovery procedures. Crucial

materials were withheld from the defense and STILL have not been given

to Modrowski--but the prosecution and judge saw them!

6) The meager physical evidence in the crime was found in the

Barrington woods months after Dean Fawcett's murder, when Robert

Faraci was arrested, as opposed to being located there when first

searched at the time the body was found. The woods went from having

no evidence during a thorough search when the body was found, to

having pieces of odd evidence once an arrest was made. The evidence

makes little sense. A broken saw and shovel were supposedly used to

dismember a body, yet showed not even microscopic traces of blood or

skin tissue. Why would someone dismembering a body take the head and

arms with them, but leave behind a saw and shovel? None of this adds

up to reliable evidence.

7) Paul Modrowski earned a college degree while in prison, getting

straight As - before education was removed from Illinois prisons. He

has read many books. He wrote his own Clemency petition. He wants to

complete his education, start a career and family. His parents and

family are eager to help him adjust to being free. Want to help give

him that chance? http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

Please sign the petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/paulmod/

Thanks, Sue Basko suebasko@hotmail.com