How you can help

It's been a while since I've posted anything because, as I've said before, unless things are public documents, I can't share details of an on-going investigation.  I can say that even though Brent's trial was supposed to start sometime this month, it has now been moved back to "sometime between October and December" of this year.  In review, he has been held in the Wichita County Jail since April 17th of last year, being treated like a criminal, even though he has not been convicted of anything.  He has missed birthdays, holidays and many other milestones in his children's lives.  We do not want him to have to wait until then. 
I have set up a fundraising campaign through Fund Anything (www.fundanything.com).  They suggest offering a reward for people who donate, so I am going to post photos of the rewards here in a post to follow.  This is brief, as I have a lot to work on, but more details will follow!

thanks for reading


---jaime

www.facebook.com/justiceforlucas

Tomorrow

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the day that Lucas Bryant Benefield was removed from life support following non-accidental trauma on February 8th, 2012.  I have thought and thought of the best thing to say...the best way to remember him...and I'm blank.  When a grandparent or other loved one passes away after a long, full life, happy memories can be shared.  Stories can be told.  My family has learned the hard way that when an infant passes away, there is only pain. 
Thank you all for your support the past year.  We are still working diligently on the justice that Lucas deserves, but because of the sensitive nature of legal proceedings, that is all I am liberty to say right now.


<3


---jaime

Just another day...

Today is Brent's birthday.  I thought about not mentioning it at all, but then maybe some of you would like to drop him a note.  Obviously it won't get to him on his birthday, but everything I send him is through snail-mail, so who knows when stuff gets there.  It definitely lifts his spirits to hear from friends, even ones he hasn't met.

If you are so inclined, here is the address:

Brent Benefield
AD9214 57122 S/19
P.O. Box 8526
Wichita Falls, TX  76307

I spoke with an attorney friend last night who told me about a case where a woman sat in jail on a first degree murder charge and (it was a long story) when it came before the judge at trial, he threw it out, saying it was the most clear-cut case of self-defense he had ever seen.  It amazes me that someone can sit in jail for over a year when all of the evidence points away from that person.  Thanks to prosecutors, this happens.  Thanks a lot.  At least it gave me a little hope, and I'll take what I can get these days.

Thanks for reading and sharing


<3

---jaime

Denied.

The appeal that we have all been waiting on (the writ of habeas corpus) was denied on Friday by the Circuit Court of Appeals.  That means that unless someone posts bail for him, Brent will have to sit in jail under his trial, which is supposed to be in mid-May.  It was quite a blow to all of us.  They did not even give a reason for the denial.
I am focusing on raising money for an attorney to work with the Public Defender.  I say work with because the public defender's office has worked on this case for so long, they are the most familiar with it, and would be able to assist a private attorney with the massive amount of information.
In other news...Brent asked me to make some pillows for Jenna out of superhero t-shirts.  That's what he usually wears, and Jenna loves to sleep in them.  I bought a Spiderman and Superman shirt and did as he asked.  There are pictures below.  Her mom says she sleeps with them every night, so that makes me happy.  More information coming soon.  Thanks for reading and sharing.

<3

---jaime

Darlin, you give lawyer a bad name...

Hopefully all of you had safe and happy holidays.  You may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while.  We tried to maintain some sense of normalcy, as difficult as that was, so I didn't do any updates here.  Lucas was not left out--below are pictures of a Christmas/New Year's visit to his grave.

I am told that the absolute latest the circuit court in Ft. Worth that is reviewing Brent's habeas corpus writ appeal can rule on it is the end of this month.  That means if they rule in his favor, he could be released before his trial (whenever that will be).  If they rule against him, he will have to continue to sit in a tiny jail cell and be treated like a criminal, even though he has not been convicted of anything.  That's just how our wonderful system works.  I would say, "justice" system, but the more dealings I have with this, the more apparent it becomes that it is just like any other business system.  The more money you spend, the more valid your opinions, options and general well-being.

Pretty much every profession has certain stereotypes that come along with it.  My degree is in dental hygiene, and people make comments frequently about dentists having the highest suicide rate of any profession.  Statistically, yes, that is true.  I've worked for many, many dentists over the years temping in the Dallas area, and while many of them are a bit off-kilter, I've yet to hear of one that I know committing suicide.  Teachers are seen as kind-hearted.  Firefighters are seen as brave.  The list goes on and on, and while these are sweeping generalizations, there is some bit of truth that fuels the perceptions. 

Then, there are lawyers.  I have friends who are lawyers, and they are great people.  Intelligent, fun, all-around great people.  But we all know that the stereotype for lawyers involves terms generally associated with smarmy crooks.  Until this case, I had not had the displeasure of dealing with someone who lived up to the stereotype so perfectly.  One of Lucas's birth mother's attorneys is the embodiment of an ego who has NO scruples and is supremely concerned with money, totally disregarding "justice" and what is morally right. 

The points of this case regarding Lucas's birth mother that I have been allowed to share on this blog are so very limited.  If it hasn't been said in open court or posted in a public document, I can't talk about it.  As "just" a citizen, I do not enjoy the same protections as legal professionals, reporters, etc.  The best way for me to illustrate the rest of the information that I have personally seen/witnessed is this:  take the information on the writ of habeas corpus about her wanting to "throw the baby out the window", yelling at Lucas, not taking her prescribed anti-psychotic and depression medications, being in contempt of court, and realizing what type of person we are dealing with, multiply.  And keep multiplying.  Then multiply some more.  Because every time I get new information, it is worse. 

After all of the trials and hearings, the truth will come out.  In the mean time, I ask you to imagine what type of person, knowing all of this and more, would stand up for her in court?  How low would a lawyer have to go to see all of these facts and still make false accusations about innocent people to help Lucas's birth mother.  I really don't know how this person sleeps at night.  I don't know how one can look at this case and choose to help someone so truly horrible.  Is the money really worth it?  Would you, the reader, trust someone like her to babysit your children?  She is a teacher.  Would you want her being with your children all day?  She isn't even allowed access to her surviving child without direct supervision.  Would you accept money to represent this person?  These are just some of the questions that make me lose sleep.  I can only wonder if this attorney loses any sleep over it.  I doubt it.

thank you for reading and sharing.

<3

---jaime

"They love me like I was a brother. They protect me..."

Brent's most recent letter to me had a section thanking me for asking others to write him.  He also addressed the issue of not being able to spend Christmas with family, which is a particularly difficult subject to broach. 
He asked me to help with what he wants to give his daughter, and I started thinking that even though this situation has been extremely difficult for all of us as adults, it will be infinitely harder for his children and Lisa's children when they are all old enough to really understand what has happened and is still happening.  They will have questions.  Maybe we'll have some answers by then, but maybe we won't.  I know there are parts of my childhood that I carry (as many, many people do) as enormous burdens that still affect my decisions today. 
Of course they'll be able to look at news stories, since once it goes to trial, the media coverage will increase exponentially.  But maybe they will still be able to see this blog.  If they do, there are some things Aunt Jaime would like for them to consider.

Be nice to your brothers and sisters.  They are the ones you will grow old with.

Animals are friends, not food.

No matter how many times people tell you that you cannot change someone else, you will still try.  You will still fail.

Radiohead's album The Bends must be listened to from start to finish.

Bad things (sometimes horrible, tragic things) happen to all of us.  If nothing else, these bad things teach us empathy for others.

Learn to really listen to people, but still think for yourself.

If something feels wrong, it probably is.  DON'T DO IT!  (That acidy taste in the back of your mouth is fear.)

Travel, travel, travel.  Learn from the cultures of others.  People fear what they don't understand, and hate what they fear.  It is infinitely more difficult to hate people if you learn about them and understand them.

There is NO excuse for harming children or animals.

Just because you are related to someone, you do not have to be like them.  You have a choice.

Of course, this is all contingent on the idea that the Mayans were wrong and we aren't all destroyed by fire in a couple of weeks.  We'll see soon enough.  In the meantime, if there are any updates, I will be sure to post them here.  Thanks again for your thoughts, letters, and for continuing to share this story.

<3

---jaime

"This road never looked so lonely"

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday.  We enjoyed the beautiful weather out at my parent's land even though a couple of people got some stomach flu that's been going around!  The most recent letter I wrote to Brent asked if we could send him food or anything like that over the holidays.  I know he can receive books as long as they come from the publisher.  I wonder what they would do if I called and had a pizza delivered to the jail?  It will be interesting to see what the answer is.
Some of you have been kind enough to write to him, even though you may not know him, or may not know him well.  This appeal (that I am starting to think is imaginary) is still waiting out in legal-space somewhere.  That's why I haven't posted recently; there haven't really been any changes, but since some of you are writing and sharing, I thought I would update.
I hear stories on the news quite frequently about people who have been wrongly convicted of a crime, spent years in prison, and then were eventually exonerated.  This both terrifies me and gives me hope at the same time.  I appreciate that people who know my family now or knew us when Brent, Lisa and I were children support us, knowing that Brent is not capable of the crime of which he is accused. I am not saying he's Superman or free of flaws.  We all have things about us that people will criticize.
For example:
1)  Even though it has never done anything to me, I hate celery.
2)  I will call people on their BS even if it means making enemies.
3)  I will say out loud that the Shins are one of the most overrated bands of all time. (Yeah.  Totally said it.)
4)  I prefer *most* dogs to *most* people.
5)  I am still mad at Justin Campbell for squishing a baby bird in 2nd grade.
6)  He had it coming, but I punched Greg Kennington in the face in the 5th grade.  Hard.
7)  I hold onto grudges (see above).
8)  I never make the bed.
9)  Even though I am vegetarian, after Lucas died, I ate fish at Long John Silver's.  Twice.
10) I didn't go see my grandmother as much as I should have before she died.

The comparison I give people when they ask about Lucas is this:  Brent injuring Lucas, his own son, so badly and violently would be like me taking my little 7 pound dog Gizmo, who I adore, and shaking him.  Shaking him violently til his bones broke.  His retinas bled.  His body went limp.

I have stood in traffic like a mad woman blocking cars to pick up a stray dog that I don't know.  The idea that I would EVER do something like that to one of my pets is outside the realm of possibility.  THAT is what I tell people about Brent and Lucas.  So whatever people think about me and my flaws ("Did you see what she said about the Shins and celery?"  "Bitch.") I am confident that they would know it is untrue if I were accused of such a thing.  THAT is what I truly believe about Brent.  And I will not stop until he is released and the person actually responsible for my nephews death is arrested and brought to justice.  Thanks to all once again for your support.

Here is the song that helps me on Monday mornings when I wake up and this is still reality.

Here is the link if it doesn't load:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENM2wA_FTg

<3

---jaime