Death Row Inmate’s Ad On Website Outrages Victim’s Family

Rochester, NY (06/11/03) - A man on Florida's death row, who victimized a local family 15 years ago, now advertises for pen pals on a Website describing himself as “caring and easy-going.”

In September of 1988, Raymond Wike kidnapped Sarah and Sayeh Rivasfar from their biological mother's home in Florida.

He killed 6-year-old Sarah and slashed Sayeh's throat, but the 8-year-old played dead and survived.

Sayeh was shocked when she saw her sister’s killer on a Website.
"It is very disturbing. It makes me think the criminal now has more rights than the victim," she said. “I have no words for this, it is disgusting. The lies!”

The Rivasfar family has fought to keep Wike on death row and to prevent him from writing letters to Sayeh.

Now they want his Internet privileges taken away.

Wike isn't the only death row inmate appealing for pen pals on the site set up by the Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

Tammy Rivazfar, the victim’s step-mother said, "I don't understand where the justice comes into play here. He doesn't admit he's a child-killer. If kids aren't monitored on the computer they could be communicating with him!

"[If] you want to give him access, make him say he's a child killer who killed a six-year- old and raped an eight-year-old!”

The Rivasfars believe Wike has too many freedoms for someone scheduled to die in prison. They have contacted Florida’s governor and attorney general and  appealed to US.Senator Chuck Schumer.

They want legislation to that takes away Internet privileges for death row inmates or requires them at least to disclose their crimes on any site.

The Rivasfars are also preparing to fight Wike's latest appeal of his death sentence.
-ORAL ARGUMENT BRIEF..