PART I-Chapter 11: WORSE THAN DEAD

Chapter 11

Worse Than Dead
(Ó 2007)

July 1995

Cook County Hospital - Chicago Illinois

They could never go to the court, so the court had to come to them. At 10:00 AM in the morning, Judge Owen Bridges sat at his makeshift bench in the same room where the two defendants, Raul Ortega and William Freeman had in the past six weeks not only recovering from their injuries, but also confessed to their crimes and pled guilty to them.

 

Today, Judge Bridges was going to bring it all to an end for them, and their victims. Today he was going to hand down them their formal sentence. He was a serious, rugged looking middle-aged man. Silver haired and hazel eyes. If it were not for the black robe, you could swear he would be on the sidelines coaching a high school football game.   

In the room with him was, once again, Ms. Scarpelli, along with David and Noel. She told them both that she hardly recognized them in their suits and ties. There was also a bailiff present. David looked to the two broken men, still in their Halo braces and Roto beds. He told the prosecutor, the bailiff, and his partner that it all felt more like a wake than a sentencing.

Leon Robbins however was not present. He was out of town on a personal “sabbatical”. Instead, there was an attorney from the Cook County Public Defenders Office, who was now acting as counsel for the two defendants.   

Seven floors below, in the same large room where before Leon Robbins had his news conference to announce his then intentions as counsel for the two serial rapists, every victim of Raul and Billy, and their families were gathered. Therein the room was set up a large television screen for them to witness the sentencing of their attackers via closed circuit broadcast. Obviously, they all could not be upstairs to watch the proceedings in person. After all, this was only a temporary courtroom; it will be a hospital always.

 

The large television screen was showing split screen live images. The left side showed the two incapacitated men, the right showed the makeshift judicial bench where Judge Bridges sat. The known sixteen victims had their eyes riveted to the left side of the screen. They were joined in the room with all of the other new alleged victims from Joliet, Rockford, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Their eyes also fixated to the screen, studying the men who brutally attacked them, humiliated them, and devastated their lives.

The trials for these other crimes committed were now pending, following the sentencing of this morning. 

The tables were turned now. Each woman, each girl, remembering the details of their attacks, remembering how both of the men that they were all now looking at, enjoyed themselves as the raped them. Remembering their smiling faces, their laughter, their sick jokes, and their pleasure. Each victim now, as they looked at the men in their halo braces and special beds, each victim now suppressing the pleasure they themselves now felt. Keeping secret the joy they had as they stared at the two men on the television screen.

Suddenly, the lights of the room were dimmed, so all present could witness the proceedings better. Silence fell over the room and soon the voice of the bailiff came over the speakers.

“All rise, Hear ye all. The off sight Circuit Court of Cook County is now in session, Judge Owen Bridges residing.”

“Let’s forget about any formalities here bailiff, and just proceed with the business at hand.” Judge Bridges said. “Please be seated. For all of you in the conference room downstairs. These proceeding are also being videotaped for the record. We are here under extraordinary circumstances, but this still is considered a court of law, and all respects as such will be shown. Upon the reading of my sentences, I must also ask all of you to remember that this is still a hospital, with patients who are ill. Please render all courtesies as such. Please, no outbursts of any type.”

There was a silence for a few minutes. Anticipation was thick in the air of the conference room. All that was heard now over the speakers was the rustling of documents and the whispers between the Judge and the others in the makeshift courtroom.

Then Judge Bridges began to speak, “I have gone over all aspects of this case. I have read all police reports. I have seen all the evidence, all the photographs of the victims, and have read their accounts if their attacks. I have also viewed all videotaped testimony from the two defendants. Council for the defense? Have you or your clients have anything to add before I pass sentence?”

The Public Defender stood and quietly answered, “No your honor.”

“Your clients then are not going to change their plea of guilty to the charges against them?”

“No your honor.”

“Then their plea shall remain guilty, on all counts of first degree sexual assault, first degree sexual assault against a minor, kidnapping, assault, and battery?”

“That is affirmative your honor.”

“Do your clients wish to address the court in any way?”

“No your honor, they do not.”

“Thank you then counselor, you may be seated.” Judge Bridges said and then turned to Ms. Scarpelli. “Does the Prosecution have anything it wishes to add before sentence is past?”

Ms. Scarpelli stood and said, “We have nothing to add your honor.”

“Thank you then, you too may be seated.”

There was a silence again, more sounds of whispers and rustling of documents. Everyone in the conference room still glared at the televised image two men in their beds. Raul had his eyes closed tight, and Billy just stared to the ceiling. A file folder then was placed in front of Judge Bridges. He opened it, looked over the contents, and then folded his hands on top of it. He then looked up to the two defendants and began to speak.

“Never, in my thirty years of practicing law, twelve of them here on this bench, never, have I seen two more despicable human beings such as I do right now. I have often thought over these years that I have seen and presided over the worst incidences that human beings can do to one another, then the both of you came along.

“I remember when I first went into the Marine Corps, my Drill Instructor during my basic training, Sergeant Hobbs. I thought he was the meanest most heartless man on earth. However, as I progressed he earned my respect. I back then thought afterwards that he was just one tough battle hardened gung-ho Marine, and that nothing could get to him.”

Judge Bridges paused for a few seconds, and then continued.

“If I had read any of your victims’ testimonies to Sergeant Hobbs today, it would make him break down and cry. What you both have confessed to doing over these past few years? Well, the only word I can think of that can truly describe it, - - - is evil.

“It is a shame that, and I’m not condoning the actions of the citizen who put you in the condition that you both are in now, nobody must take the law into their own hands. However, as I was saying, it is a shame that it took something like that, to make you both see how enormously evil you both are.

“And, after going over all aspects of your crimes, I find that I cannot muster from myself any sympathy for your circumstances right now. Your last victim? She is only fifteen years of age, her whole life really just at the beginning, and she is one of three of your victims that are minors, she just happens to be the youngest.

“The vile things that you have done to these women and girls. Not only have you violated them, but their families and loved ones as well. There will not be a day in their lives that will go by without the memory of the pure malevolent and sinful things that you both have done to all of them. I feel that no matter what sentence I hand down to you both today, that it will never be enough to erase the evil that you have done. Not only to your victims, but also the evil of the fear that you both have inflicted to the women and families of our community over the past three plus years.

“It has also come to the attention of this court, that other similar charges from not only other municipalities in the state of Illinois, but other states as well are at this moment pending against the both of you.

“Therefore, I shall now render my sentence to you both. For those of you in the conference room downstairs, I once again remind you and ask that you to render all courtesies to this hospital, no loud outbursts please.”

Judge Bridges then cleared his throat and began to read his sentence, “Raul Juan Ortega and William Robert Freeman. You have both pled guilty to thirteen counts of first-degree sexual assault, three counts of first-degree sexual assault to a minor, sixteen counts of kidnapping, sixteen counts of assault, and sixteen counts of battery. I hereby sentence you both to two hundred years imprisonment each, without the possibility of parole, at the Illinois State Penitentiary in Joliet Illinois. Upon your physicians’ approval, you will be transported from this hospital to the infirmary located at the State Penitentiary, where you will remain for the natural length of your lives. May God have mercy on you, and someday, however it may come, may your victims find it in themselves to forgive you also. This court is now adjourned.”

There was the sound of the Judges gavel striking, followed by a collective gasp from all in the conference room, then the sound of muffled cheers and crying. The television screen showed the judge standing from his makeshift bench and exiting the room. The screen then went black.

There was now a collective restrained joy among the crowd in the conference room, all of the victims where hugging their family members and loved ones. They then began hugging and congratulating each other. They all were careful to follow the judges’ request, and all remained calm in the hospital.

Meanwhile, back upstairs Judge Bridges stood out in the hallway with Ms. Scarpelli, the bailiff, David and Noel. They were shaking hands with the Judge, thanking him for his sentence, and congratulating each other on the outcome and the end to the ordeal. The Public Defender came out, shook hands with everyone also, and soon was on his way back to his office, and his huge stack of case files.

Judge Bridges offered him a ride back, and both men then left together. Ms. Scarpelli remained with David and Noel. She asked, “So, what do you guys do now?”

Noel answered, “We gotta look for the ‘Dark Man’ now.”

“And it’s gonna be harder finding him,” David added, “than them.” He said pointing his thumb back to the room where Raul and Billy were in.

“Got any leads on that?” She asked.

“Zip, nada, nothing, and zero.” David said.

“Well, all I can say to you then is good luck with your search.” She said. “Shall we all go now and face our friends in the media?”

“Yeah,” Noel said, “Let’s get that out of the way.”

“I’ll be down in a couple of minutes,” David said, “I have something I have to do real quick.”

“OK Bud,” Noel said, “but don’t be to long, I can’t be alone with those guys.”

“Just a couple minutes, I’ll be right down.”

 

Noel then left and escorted Ms. Scarpelli to the elevator. David watched as they waited for a few seconds, and then step into the elevator. The doors closed, and they were both then on their way downstairs.

David then stepped back into the room where Raul and Billy were. He stepped up right to the foot of their beds, and stood there between them. David could not help but think of how right he was in what he had told them before. They were now both going to be placed in a drab colored cement room, where they would do nothing but stare up at the ceiling, day in day out. Week in, week out. Year in, year out.

“So, - - - officer.” Raul said aided by the rhythm of his ventilator, “Have you - - - come back - - - to gloat?”

“No, no I haven’t come back to gloat Mr. Ortega,” David said.

“Then, - - - what did you - - - come back for - - - then?”

“Well, Mr. Ortega, I guess I really came back here to say good-bye.”

“Say good-bye?” Billy asked.

“Yes, I know it may sound strange,” David said, “ but, my wife you see, she listens to all that psycho babble they have on the Oprah Show, things like ‘self-esteem’ and such. So, she tells me that I need, what’s the new psychobabble fad now? Oh, yes, the word is ‘closure’.” David now stepped to the sides of their Roto beds, where he could be right up close to their faces, “And let’s face it, you two have been an active part of my life for a few years now, I guess I’m just here for my personal closure.”

There was a pause, David first looked at Billy. Billy turned his eyes then to look back to David. David then looked to Raul, he was already staring back to David, and there was an expression of contempt in his eyes. He looked as though he wanted to tear the ventilator tube from his throat, jump up, and attack David. However, David felt some humor in this.

“I just want you two to know,” David said, “that your, quote unquote capture? The way you both were finally stopped? Well, my partner and I had nothing to do with it.” He then stepped to the top of their beds where they could not see him. “You two had us completely baffled, we had no idea who you were or how to find you. You two were just all over the map. How this all ended? It was complete dumb luck, a total fluke, and that’s the problem I’m having with all.”

“What do you mean?” Billy asked.

“What I mean Mr. Freeman is that I’m like, stuck between two emotions. On the one hand, I am happy that this is all over, happy that you both been caught, happy you both been stopped.” David now stepped back to the center of both beds with his back to them. “On the other hand, I feel a great disappointment, because it wasn’t me that caught you both.” He then turned and faced them again. “Somebody else did that. Somebody else just handed the both of you to us. And what‘s ironic about the whole thing, is that my partner and I now have been given the task of looking for the guy who did this to you.” David then smiled and added, “You two both should have stuck with just selling drugs.”

He again remained silent for a moment, then stepped back to the foot of their beds, looked back and forth to them both, “I can say this though with a clear conscience, I’m like the judge there. What this guy did to the both of you? I too can’t find one fiber of my being that has any sympathy for you.”

There again was a brief pause of silence.

“So,” Raul then said, “I guess - - - you could say - - - that we both - - - are as good as dead - - - now - - - right?”

“No, - - - no Mr. Ortega,” David said and then made his way back to the doorway, “I wouldn’t say that you both are good as dead now.” He then stood right at the doorway turned back to them and said, “I would say that you both are worse than dead. Good bye and good riddance to you both.” He then stepped away swiftly from the doorway and made his way to the elevator.

Once in the elevator car, he felt a weight lift from him. It was over now, except for the media circus downstairs. However, he felt his own “dark side” come over him. What he had spoke of before, concerning the victims and their families. He thought of the two of them, lying in those beds, slowly going insane just from the boredom. It was a fate worse than a life sentence, also a fate worse than the death penalty. Lying there, their hours will seem like days, their minutes like hours. He thought of how it would be like for them, waking up sitting in their own urine and excrement, smelling it and waiting for someone to clean them up. Someone who will take their time getting there, just as he told them. 

A simple itch on the nose will be torture.

The opening of the elevator doors brought David out of his thoughts. It was a good thing, because he realized that he was starting to enjoy what he was thinking. He quickly poured some light onto his dark side, composed himself, then made his way to the outside of the hospital, where all the local media were conducting their interviews and broadcasts. There was a podium set up with the microphones from all the local news radio and television outlets. Each microphone had the logo from whichever radio or television station it was affiliated with.

At the moment, Ms. Scarpelli was answering questions being thrown to her. All affiliates were broadcasting live to the entire Chicagoland area, and there were other stations from the quad state area broadcasting and recording.

Soon both David and Noel stepped to the microphones. Noel spoke first, “I’m just very happy that this whole ordeal is now over. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I hope that they all feel vindicated with the sentence, and that they now can put their lives back together, and move on.”

David then stepped to the microphones, “I too, have the same sentiments as my partner here. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. From what I have seen and heard, they are happy with the sentence, and I would like to thank Judge Bridges for giving the victims and their families the justice that they deserve.”

Just then, one of the reporters yelled out, “Sergeant Todd! Any word on the citizen who attacked the two rapists? Any leads on him?”

“We have statements of two witnesses who may have seen something. Sergeant Jaworski and I have been assigned to that matter. Let me then take this opportunity to repeat the request from the Mayor to this, I guess vigilante as you have referred to him. If he is listening or watching right now, please think about your actions and turn yourself in. You will be treated with the utmost courtesy and fairness. As the Mayor stated, as well as Judge Bridges a short time ago, no one has the right to take the law into their own hands. Thanks guys, thanks ladies, but we all really have to go now.”

With that, David turned and briskly left the podium with Noel. In a few moments, they both were far enough away from the crowd for Noel to ask, “We have the statements from two witnesses?”

“Sure do.” David answered.

“What two witnesses?”

“Stephanie Morris and Raul Ortega.” - - -

 

- - - He then turned off the small radio that was on his desk. He listened to the live broadcast of the verdict on the Chicago News Radio Station. In front of him was this mornings Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune. Both papers showed the pictures of both Sergeants David Todd and Noel Jaworski. Now he knew the voices that went with the faces.

He knew they had no leads on him. In fact, from his own personal experience, he felt the utmost confidence that they had no idea where to start looking for him.

The two witnesses? He knew the tricks, he knew the code terms to the media. The only two witnesses were the girl, and the second man he neutralized.

This was all good. For now, he could go forward with his next mission. His strategy for that was still being thought out and put together. There was someone else now. Someone who must be neutralized. Someone extremely despicable doing extremely abominable things. Someone he had under surveillance. Moreover, during this surveillance, there was another discovery. 

He now felt at ease to continue, to continue to watch, to continue to plan. However, with this target, it would not be easy. However, there was never a mission from the past that was. 

Soon.

Soon he will carry out his strategy. Nevertheless, as he had been taught, there must be patience.

There must be patience. 

For it all to be successful there must be patience. His patience always was always his best asset; it saved his life many times, and the lives of others before.

Just some more time, that’s all. Then the mission will be executed.