TO: GOV GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE TEXAS BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES

AUSTIN, TEXAS

I am writing on behalf of my brother whose execution date has been set for August 17, 1999. His name is Larry Keith Robison and his inmate number is #748. He is currently on Death Row at the Ellis Unit in Huntsville, Texas 77343. He was convicted to die for the murder of 5 people in 1982. His plea was insanity.

Larry was first diagnosed in 1978 as a classic and severe paranoid schizophrenic. Seven subsequent doctors confirmed this diagnosis. My mother fought for years to keep him in treatment for his mental illness. Although we could not imagine that he was capable of committing the acts that he did because he had a rather quiet and passive personality, we clearly knew that there was a serious problem and he needed to be in treatment. He even knew himself at times when he would call my mother in the middle of the night and begged her to come and rescue him when he could not control the things going on is his mind. Despite my Mother pleading for help for him, the professionals, who should have known better released him from treatment many times in the years preceding this tragic incident. At his discharge from the VA Hospital in Waco, Texas, the doctors told my Mother there was nothing more that could be done to keep him in treatment because he had never been violent. She was strongly advised not to bring him home because he was severely ill. They refused to explain why, did not release his medical records to her and offered no real solutions as to what else could be done to help him. The VA Hospital and John Peter Smith Hospital both assured her that IF he became violent, THEN something could be done to confine him for long term treatment in a hospital. Have we actually resorted to waiting around for our mentally ill to become violent and instead of offering them appropriate medical treatment, the state offers to execute the person for a manifestation of his illness? Would we treat people who have cancer or heart disease this way? This appears to be a convenient method of eliminating our mentally ill and undesirable citizens from society. Had Larry remained in treatment, it is almost certain that the five people who lost their lives would be alive today and Larry would not be facing his own imminent death! This seems such a tragic and preventable waste of human life!

Because Larry was refused treatment, many families including my own have been devastated by what has happened. The families of the victims have lost their loved ones and my family is about to lose Larry. I love Larry very much it has been a long and painful 17 years for me. We have been allowed no contact visits and we have not been able to give him a hug or a kiss for all these long years. I have personally suffered with severe bouts of depression having to deal with the emotional trauma of what has happened and what is about to happen to my brother. I have tearfully watched while my Mother valiantly continues trying to save her son's life while a large segment of society celebrates and applauds this man's death. The world will never know how devoted and persistent my Mother was in trying to seek help for him BEFORE this tragic event took place. Something that I know very well, having personally seen the many tears she cried when she could not get anyone to help and no one to listen to what she was saying. I have much fear for my own children. I know that this illness is hereditary and there are other members of my family, going back three generations, who have now or had schizophrenia prior to their death. It is impossible not to worry that the same thing could happen to one of my children. If it does, will they be denied treatment as my brother was?

In closing, I have to say that murder is wrong no matter who does the killing. I feel that it is equally wrong for the state of Texas to kill as it was for Larry to kill. I fear that these executions are sending the wrong message to American children that violence will cure violence. Do you not see this happening over and over today with our youths killing each other in retribution? It is abundantly clear to me that executing one will never prevent the next from killing especially in the cases involving mental illness. I must strongly object to the fact that as a citizen of the state of Texas, this killing will be done in my name. It is my hope that the board will seriously look at Larry's consistent peaceful and non-violent record while he has been confined in prison before deciding to proceed with his execution. It is my prayer that he will be moved to a hospital setting where professionals might turn this tragedy into a way to learn about how the mind of a mentally ill man works. In doing so, they may discover a more humane way to deal with and treat the mentally ill persons who live among us, many of which are homeless. Larry is very intelligent and has much to offer our society if he receives the proper treatment. -------------- Please, do not kill my brother.

Sincerely,

Vickie Robison-Barnett
Larry Robisons' Sister