URGENT- the squeaky wheel gets the oil! I’m Louisa’s Mom and I need your help.
Updates to her story are available please follow the enclosed links. While there please leave comments and find information on how you can help with fair sentencing. WE are urging concerned citizens to write to the judge requesting George Hartwig be sentenced to the full extent of the law.
PLEASE within the comments at the record, direct readers to the family blog where they can find updated pictures of Louisa and her condition now! http://freemenow.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/george-hartwig-admits-to-firing-shotgun-into-sister-in-law%e2%80%99s-face/
We need hi visibility and we hope we can get it at the newspaper http://www.northjersey.com/news/HARTWIG.html big-time! The higher the interest in this cases the better the chances we will get results of fair sentences.
It is URGENT our Comments and letter to the judge are respectful and support of full and consecutive sentencing rather than the plea deal offered by the prosecutor and rejected by the defendant in lieu of lesser sentence because George says ” He was very intoxicated”.
Copies of your letters will be appreciated in the comments section below.
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
November 4, 2011
Your Honor:
Please remand the defendant, George Hartwig, to the sentence he most deserves: consecutive 20 year terms of incarceration. His appeal for clemency should be disregarded. If he receives a lesser sentence, he will automatically consider you stupid, and agitate to compress you into additional concessions. His first thought will be: “I got away with it…Let me see what else they’ll endure.” His malice is emboldened by others’ kindness which he considers weakness and like a dog, he will always endeavor to dominate them. The Mother of Denise and Louisa is heart-broken and has worked tirelessly in behalf of victims of domestic violence.
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote:”But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”
Hartwig wishes only to conduct himself as a despot, taking liberties, lives and no responsibility. His testimony shows that he is oblivious to the rights of those around him, feeling neither remorse nor respect for those he harms. Anything but Justice would be an affront to the upright citizens who showed him all the compassion to which he might have been entitled when they refrained from exercising the Vigilante Justice he advocated. They could have just removed him as their problem when they had him cornered like the animal he is in the home he invaded. But they are law-abiding, contributing Citizens who suffered a profound shock seeing both beloved women so savagely abused. They could just as readily have pleaded for mercy had they retaliated.
This offender HAD his chance to make the most of the mercy accorded him THE FIRST time he was jailed for this sort of attack on his wife and her family. The unrelenting threat this criminal posed to her sister placed Louisa in danger and she was shot trying to protect her. Like Lily Potter, whose love for her son Harry bounced the Voldemort curse back at the perpetrator, the love this Family had for each other, and which George Hartwig COULD HAVE shared, should be affirmed and supported as their protection and defense. Please issue both the maximum sentence and a stern, determined defense of the domestic tranquility for which this Family has paid dearly.
In solidarity with the Family of Betty Jean Kling,
Ann R Augustine
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Judge of the Justice Court of Bergen County New Jersey
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Dear Judge DeAvila-Silebi,
I am writing you in regards to the case of New Jersey vs. Hartwig. It has come to my attention that you are scheduled to sentence Mr. Hartwig. I have been following this case closely and am urging you to pass a sentence that reflects the egregiousness of the crime.
Mr. Hartwig seems to have thrown himself on the mercy of the court, pleading his helplessness of being a drug addict. This is a pitiful attempt to deflect the responsibilities and consequences of his deliberate and premeditated actions. Mr. Hartwig has used this excuse before and has manipulated the court system to his advantage and the result has been continued and unrepentant criminal actions. Mr. Hartwig has not been rehabilitated and shows no remorse.
Mr. Hartwig has terrorized his family by physically abusing his wife, then shooting his sister- in- law in the face. He even turned a weapon and pulled the trigger on his brother-in-law. He stated it was unfortunate he brought a gun when he went to confront his mother- in- law; he also said that he made a mistake by shooting his sister- in- law because he mistook her for his mother –in- law. Your Honor did he also make a mistake in trying to shoot his brother-in-law?
Please consider the fact that Louisa’s son, not a stranger that was trying to disarm George; this was after Mr. Hartwig shot Marc’s mother in the face because she was on the phone calling the boy for help. Marc and Tommy were there because Louisa had time to call for help before George shot her for making those calls. How many more horrors must this child endure?
New Jersey vs. Hartwig (Pg. 2)
This family has suffered enough at the hands of Mr. Hartwig, he as demonstrated to the court that he will not change. He has callously and deliberately flaunted the courts attempts at rehabilitation. He admitted he was under the influence of illegal drugs, that he secured a weapon, that he planned to confront his mother in law with said weapon, that he took this weapon out of his transportation walked through the door went inside and when in fear of being caught or stopped from getting away without his drugs, he started shooting. Then he callously stood there while his sister- in- law lay horribly shot in the head and demanded that his wife give him her cancer drugs. This is premeditation and intent to cause great bodily harm and death, all for the sake of his drug habit.
I humbly and respectfully beseech your Honor to take all the facts into account. Mr. Hartwig has been given ample opportunities and support from the courts to rehabilitate from his aggressive behavior and his drug addictions. He clearly has no intentions of changing and should now receive full punishment for his actions and be sentenced to the fullest extent of the law. To give him a lesser sentence would only embolden him to continue as he has, unrepentant and unremorseful.
Respectfully,
YOUR HONOR:
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
WE ARE WRITING TO YOU PRIOR TO YOUR SENTENCING OF GEORGE HARTWIG IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT SEEMS TO US THAT WHEN MR. HARTWIG ADMITTED THAT HE FOUND IT TO BE A GOOD IDEA TO CONFRONT HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND WHEN HE DID SO, TO BRING A WEAPON ALONG WITH HIM, THAT HE WAS APPARENTLY INTENDING TO SHOOT MY COUSIN, OR HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, BETTY JEAN KLING. IT APPEARS TO US, FROM HIS OWN ADMISSION, THAT HE “WAS VERY INTOXICATED, AND HIGH ON DRUGS THAT NIGHT, AND WAS GOING TO MURDER SOMEONE. AS IT HAPPENED, HE SHOT OUR BELOVED LOUISA RODAS WHO WAS MERELY IN THE HOME THAT EVENING ATTENDING TO HER SISTER WHO WAS SOON TO DIE OF CANCER. ‘HARTWIG SAID, ‘UNFORTUNATELY, I BROUGHT A WEAPON WITH ME, AND I MISTOOK MY SISTER-IN-LAW FOR MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.’
I THINK, IN HIS OWN WORDS, HE PLAINLY ADMITTED THAT HE WAS SEEKING REVENGE THAT EVENING TO INCLUDE PRE-MEDITATED MURDER.HOW GEORGE HARTWIG CAN ACTUALLY CONSIDER HIMSELF A ‘VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE’ IS BEYOND US; SIMPLY BECAUSE HIS’ PLAN JUST WENT HORRIBLY WRONG’, AND HE ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIS SISTER-IN-LAW IN THE HEAD, RATHER THAN HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW.
OUR COUSIN, LOUISA RODAS, WILL NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE AFTER HAVING BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD BY GEORGE HARTWIG, AND HAS BEEN INSTITUTIONALIZED SINCE HER INJURY, AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL SHE DIES.
BELIEVE ME, YOUR HONOR, SINCE THIS CRIME WAS COMMITTED, WE CAN ATTEST TO THE HORRORS, PAIN, TEARS, SADNESS, AND FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS THROUGHOUT THE FAMILY. THE GRIEF THAT EVERYONE; RELATIVES, FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES ,AND FAMILY ALIKE, HAVE ENDURED FOLLOWING THIS HEINOUS CRIME IS ONGOING AND DEBILITATING. I HAVE WATCHED LOUISA’S AND DENISE’S MOTHER AND HER GRANDPARENTS RE-LIVE THIS MEMORY ON AND ON SINCE THE CRIME; BUT ALSO, BEFORE THIS CRIME EVEN TOOK PLACE, GEORGE HARTWIG WAS BEATING DENISE WHEN SHE WAS INCAPACITATED AND SUFFERING FROM PAIN AND SIDE-AFFECTS FROM HER TREATMENTS FOR CANCER, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED HER DEMISE, AND HE WAS CONTINUING TO STEAL HER DRUGS, AND BEAT HER UP.
FOR MY AUNT AND UNCLE, (MR. AND MRS. ROY DOWNING-GRANDPARENTS OF DENISE, WHO IS NOW DECEASED, AND LOUISA, ( WHO WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE HER LIFE TO ANY DEGREE OF NORMALCY, AND THEIR BELOVED MOTHER, BETTY JEAN KLING, WE BEG YOU TO PLEASE HELP WITH OUR FAMILY’S CONTINUAL HEARTBREAK, AND SORROW, AND CONSIDER SENTENCING THIS LIFE-LONG DRUG AND ALCOHOL USER AND ABUSER, AND ATTEMPTED MURDERER TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. HE DESERVES NO BETTER FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO THIS FAMILY, WHOSE PAIN AND HEARTACHE WILL NEVER CEASE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
DR. AND MRS. JAMES K. WEAVER
Dear Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi,
I am writing as a concerned citizen interested in fair and equal justice for women, about the case of George Hartwig and his violence against his wife, Denise Richardson, and his sister-in-law, Louisa Rodas. This case, as you well know, is one of the most tragic accounts of domestic violence in recent memory. I have followed this case closely since these crimes were committed by George Hartwig in December of 2008.
It is apparent to me, and to most women alive today, that the law does not adequately protect women from abusers known and unknown, and that the convention in law is to allow for lesser sentences when a man abuses a person, especially a woman or child, that he knows and has a relationship with. This seems completely upside down to me. A man who perpetrates violence against a woman with whom he has a relationship–whatever that relationship–should receive a harsher, not a lesser sentence. Women should, without question, expect that the men in their lives will at the very least do them no physical harm.
George Hartwig has a long history of criminal activity, including domestic violence and drug/alcohol charges. If the law had done its job when it released him after he had bashed in the skull of his wife to secure her pain medications for himself, Louisa might still be the functioning, smiling woman she was before George Hartwig shot her. The law will have to live with that black stain up it, but it can take action to correct this wrong.
I am writing to ask you to sentence George Hartwig to the maximum sentences that are allowed for the 10 crimes he’s been charged with, and that you order these sentences to be served consecutively. Doing this will send a powerful message to the women of today that the law will have their backs when they are victims of a crime at the hands of a loved one. It will also serve as a powerful message to the men in your community that violence against women they are supposed to love and cherish will not be tolerated by the society in which they live. You have the power to deliver this message, to stop giving this man more chances to harm more women, including Betty Jean Kling, whose life will be in danger if he is ever released. I urge you to do the right thing and deliver this message in the form of your sentence upon George Hartwig.
I thank you for taking the time to consider my appeal and the appeals of others who are interested in seeking fair and equal justice for women.
Sincerely,
Anna Belle
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Dear Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi,
I am a former Lodian, concerned about the about the case of George Hartwig and his violence against his wife, Denise Richardson, and his sister-in-law, Louisa Rodas. I have been reading about this case of the crimes commited by George Hartwig in December of 2008.
George Hartwig has a long history of criminal activity, including domestic violence and drug/alcohol charges. The fact that the law did not do it’s job when it released him after he had abused his wife to get his hands on her meds, Louisa might still be able to live a normal and productive life. Let’s do it right this time. Give George Hartwig the maximum sentence.for the cimes he’s been charged with, and that you order these sentences to be served consecutively. This will send a message to all men, that they cannot get away with abuse of any kind. Do the right thing, and put this animal away for the rest of his natural life.
Please consider all he and done and what he could do if he was to get out.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Regards,
Paula Rieder
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Re: Imminent sentencing of defendant George Hartwig, State of New Jersey v. Hartwig
Dear Judge DeAvila-Silebi:
I am writing to request that the mercy of the Court be extended not to George Hartwig when he stands before you for sentencing but rather to his victims—direct and indirect, past and
future—in the form of imposing the maximum penalty on Hartwig: life in prison, with no chance of parole.
This sentence would equal the one that he “unfortunately” imposed on Louisa Rodas when he blew off half her head, rendering her, in effect, lifeless—confined for the rest of her days to the prison of a hospital bed, unaware of her surroundings, her loved ones, or of life itself. Life in prison is the sentence Hartwig imposed on Louisa’s family and friends.
The defendant has admitted to the Court the “unfortunate error” in that he meant to confront with a shotgun (i.e., kill) his mother-in-law, BettyJean Kling but, “unfortunately,” his malice aforethought was mistakenly misdirected toward his sister-in-law Louisa, who was caretaking her dying sister, Denise Richardson, and protecting her from yet another unjustified and merciless beating by the defendant.
That Hartwig—an unrepentant and violent drug addict, alcoholic, and active misogynist—was previously shown mercy by the Court enabled him to perpetrate this further, horrific crime. Please do not show the same lack of discernment displayed by the previous judge—and by countless other government workers and political personages on a daily basis, in many ways—by awarding Hartwig’s latest act of violence with your leniency.
It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to know that, once set free among society, Hartwig will strike again. And for the third time, the blood of an innocent will be the fault of the Bergen County justice system.
George Hartwig already had a second and third chance. He deserves no further chances and NOT JOT MORE OF MERCY. It is time for mercy for his victims!
Please impose the fullest sentence on George Hartwig. Keep him away from society for the rest of his miserable, evil, recidivist days.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Juli Barbato
(a former Lodian, from Millbank Street, now Kennedy Drive)
I fixed the actual letter: should read “NOT A JOT MORE OF MERCY.”
Oy vey: “reward,” not “award.” So sorry for not having fixed the typos first. –Lunch Lady
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Your Honor,
After reviewing the case of George Hartwig I found what he did to be quite disturbing. He not only murdered one human being, but in actuality he murdered TWO. Louisa Rodas is basically a vegetable and will be for the rest of her life, if you wish to call that a life.
I am originally from Lodi, though I do not reside there any longer. Your honor, I implore you to please sentence this man to the maximum penalty. Although I am not against capitol punishment in certain situations, I believe that George Hartwig should be forced to spend the rest of his life behind bars, so he can think about what he’s done and with any luck, his conscience will cause him a lifetime of pain! Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Respectfully,
Geoff Hoyas
Geoff, You are ight – Louisa was as good as murdered. but Denise was not murdered – she died of cancer not of the head wounds. Thomas was not shot as the gun jammed. So he is charged with 2 counts of attempted murder and a hot of other charges. I just want your leeter to reflect accuratly and it appears to say 2 murders.
“He not only murdered one human being, but in actuality he murdered TWO. ”
Now that I think about it he did actually murder two – Louisa and I both are as good as dead.. He came after me and might as well as shot me when he shot her- – I have to live with this every day as I care for her – I know that gunshot was meant for my head!
I mailed a hard-copy to Judge DeAvila-Silebi a few days ago, contents are as follows:
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Judge of the Justice Court of Bergen County New Jersey
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Re: George Hartwig
Judge DeAvila-Silebi
Your Honor,
I am writing to ask you to sentence George Hartwig to the fullest extent of the law for shooting Louisa Richardson Rodas. The damage he inflicted is irreversible. I understand he pleaded guilty to 8 counts and threw himself on the mercy of the court asking for a minimal sentencing. George Hartwig is a repeat offender, a menace to society, and mercy from the court would send the message that violence against women is tolerated in our society. Please sentence him consecutively for his crimes and to the maximum the law allows. This will not restore Louisa’s life back to her, or the loss to her family, but it will be the right thing to do. Please show mercy to Louisa, to those who know and love her, and to those who care about what happens in this case. Please do everything you can to keep George Hartwig off the streets.
Respectfully
Jocelyn Andersen
Thought I might contribute this “If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies… It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.” – Albert Einstein
Hello, Judge DeAvila-Silebi,
I am a former resident of Lodi N.J. with many family members and friends still residing there. Therefore, making me a Lodi Girl at heart forever. Which is part of what prompts me to write to you regarding the sentencing in the case of the State of New Jersey vs. George Hartwig.
I have followed this case for quite some time and the thought that this man and his counsel are relying on the excuse of drug abuse to have him shown mercy by the Court astounds me. This man, for lack of a better word, is an absolute animal, with no regard for Human life. He has a history of violence and serves absolutely no purpose being part of a Community. He deserves maximum, consecutive sentences as he is not fit to be part of Society.
We, as a Society need to send a very strong, clear message that Domestic Violence is unacceptable. We have the power to send that message, and my hope is that you will do so in this case. Louisa Richardson Rodas is a victim of this animal and her family are his victims as well.
Most drug addicts only physically harm themselves. George Hartwig is more than a drug addict. He is a violent repeat offender who has harmed so many people and needs to be punished accordingly.
I thank you for taking the time to read this letter and your consideration of prosecuting this Sociopath to the fullest extent of the Law.
Respectfully,
Paula Geraci
Hi everyone and supporters of Louisa: I was asked by Bettyjean to paste my copy of the letter I sent off to the judge today. My intent was to have the judge see what this terrible man did to Louisa’s immediate family on a very personal level.
–Penny
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
November 30, 2011
Your Honor:
My stepson is Louisa Richardson Rodas’ son. I am respectfully asking that you consider the strongest sentence allowed by law for the attempted murder of Louisa, her brother, sister and mother.
George Hartwig is a repeat violent offender and we believe that he will seek revenge against the rest of the family if a reduced sentence allows him to walk free anytime in the foreseeable future.
Allowing him clemency will not repair the damage that he has inflicted on my stepson, who virtually lost his mother on December 15th, 2008. Louisa cannot eat, walk, stand or sit on her own. She is unaware of place or time. Her condition is not expected to improve.
I wanted to list a few things George has taken from my stepson and his mother.
Louisa is unaware that her son received his car license. She is unaware that he graduated high school. She was not able to share in the joy of this achievement. She was not able to see him get his first girlfriend, or secure his first job. And, in the future, when he becomes a father, she will be unaware that she is now a grandmother. Nor will she be able to participate in all the things a grandmother is to a child’s life.
Please consider the damage that Mr. Hartwig has permanently conveyed to this family, and please consider the maximum allowable sentence to the heinous crime against my stepson and his immediate family.
Sincerely,
Penny Otte
Stepmother of Joshua Richardson Otte
Penny- this letter took my breath away!
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
December 27, 2011
Your Honor:
I am writing in regards to the case of George Hartwig’s attempted murder of Louisa Rodas. I feel compelled write the court due to the disturbing nature of this case. Obviously the details of this case are deeply troubling, and it’s unfathomable how much pain this man has inflicted not only on Louisa, but her family as well. However, what is disturbing from a legal perspective is that the only reason this man isn’t guaranteed a lifetime behind bars is that he failed as a murderer. There is no doubt about intent; he shot an unarmed woman in the head. The idea that he should be rewarded for either being on drugs, possibly mixing up the identity of his victim, or being a failure as a murderer and a human being, is truly tragic and flawed logic. That dreadful day he chose murder, and consequently should be treated as a murderer regardless of whether or not his victim paid the ultimate price or not. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Katherine Morrison
Kathy,
You managed to narrow the entire circumstance down to a simple common sense ipso facto case and a reasonable conclusion.
Unbelievable how simple it is to see exactly who, what, when, how and where– now all we need is the right thing to do about it!
Let’s hope the judge has your common sense! Thank you for your letter.
BJ
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
November 4, 2011
Your Honor:
Please remand the defendant, George Hartwig, to the sentence he most deserves: consecutive 20 year terms of incarceration. His appeal for clemency should be disregarded. If he receives a lesser sentence, he will automatically consider you stupid, and agitate to compress you into additional concessions. His first thought will be: “I got away with it…Let me see what else they’ll endure.” His malice is emboldened by others’ kindness which he considers weakness and like a dog, he will always endeavor to dominate them. The Mother of Denise and Louisa is heart-broken and has worked tirelessly in behalf of victims of domestic violence.
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote:”But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”
Hartwig wishes only to conduct himself as a despot, taking liberties, lives and no responsibility. His testimony shows that he is oblivious to the rights of those around him, feeling neither remorse nor respect for those he harms. Anything but Justice would be an affront to the upright citizens who showed him all the compassion to which he might have been entitled when they refrained from exercising the Vigilante Justice he advocated. They could have just removed him as their problem when they had him cornered like the animal he is in the home he invaded. But they are law-abiding, contributing Citizens who suffered a profound shock seeing both beloved women so savagely abused. They could just as readily have pleaded for mercy had they retaliated.
This offender HAD his chance to make the most of the mercy accorded him THE FIRST time he was jailed for this sort of attack on his wife and her family. The unrelenting threat this criminal posed to her sister placed Louisa in danger and she was shot trying to protect her. Like Lily Potter, whose love for her son Harry bounced the Voldemort curse back at the perpetrator, the love this Family had for each other, and which George Hartwig COULD HAVE shared, should be affirmed and supported as their protection and defense. Please issue both the maximum sentence and a stern, determined defense of the domestic tranquility for which this Family has paid dearly.
In solidarity with the Family of Betty Jean Kling,
June Andrews
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Judge of the Justice Court of Bergen County New Jersey
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Re: George Hartwig
Judge DeAvila-Silebi
Your Honor,
We are saddened about the heart wrenching case of Louisa Rodas and the attempted murders upon her family; for the emotional, physical, and psychological damage has eternally changed the landscape of bright futures. What is more disturbing is the injustice of a jusdicial system which is more beneficial to murders and attempted murders, than to serve the very people you are elected to protect. Too many times, we continually have to deal with perpetrators on the streets, in our businesses, our schools, and in our communities because the jusdicial system failed us. We are all accountable for actions, how we treat the just and the unjust. I implore you to consider the sentencing George Hartwig deserves, and others like him. We all want our families safe, healthy, and happy, despite the society we live in. To make that happen, we have to make better decisions today, because our choice today becomes tomorrows behavior, which becomes our charcter and who we are. It is never too late to bring change and hope to a community and a nation that desperatley seeks it.
Connie Lee/FACSA Founder/President
facsasavethechildren.com
Connie Lee,
Sincere thanks for addressing the injustice of the judicial system in terms of appropriate sentences that hold perpetrators fully accountable for the seriousness of their crimes. Victims serve longer, harsher sentences than their attackers.
This case calls for at least 40 years, certainly not the minimum and certainly not 10 crimes served concurrently and out in under 20 years.
Again thank you.
WE ARE STANDING WITH YOU
Thank you Robert!
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Judge of the Justice Court of Bergen County New Jersey
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Re: George Hartwig
Judge DeAvila-Silebi
Your Honor,
In a hotel in Ireland at Christmas at 4 am an altercation broke out between a drunken abusive husband and his frightened wife. She managed to get into her room and lock the door while the night porter and I tried to deal with the situation.
At one point the man looked as if he would like to strike me and it struck me as extremely ironic that he could strike his wife and get away with it, as it would be a “domestic,” but inflicting the same injury on a stranger would cause his arrest and incarceration.
In my work as a Homeopathist treating long term effects of substance abuse, and in volunteer service to a group run by the Missionaries of Charity, I have seen both the tragic physical, mental and emotional consequences of substance abuse, and the remorse of which even long term abusers are capable.
George Hartwig demonstrates no such remorse.
Outside a profound spiritual awakening, Mr. Hartwig’s prolonged and continued use of highly toxic and dangerous substances obviate hope of any such remorse. There is no shortage of studies on the self serving manipulativeness and wilfulness of the addict. There are fewer studies on the secondary responsibility of the non-hostage “enabler” who provide the advanced addict with the means and opportunities to inflict unlimited pain and suffering on his/her family and fellow citizens and become unwitting but de facto accessories in the commission of heinous criminal acts and the abrogation of all Human and Civil Rights of the victim of said acts.
Does Louisa enjoy First Amendment Rights? Fourth Amendment Rights? The Right to the Pursuit of Happiness? In theory, yes. In practice, no!
I am not without compassion for addicts. Addiction and its parent, alcoholism, are frightening, intractable diseases with shared genetic alleles. They are the only diseases that seek exacerbation; in all other diseases, the body and mind desire health. For his own safety, Mr. Hartwig should be “quarantined;” for the safety and health of others, he must be.
My heart prefers that no man or woman lose his/her liberty. My heart prefers that no human person be subjected to the abuse and violence that slowly poisoned Denise, and in one nano second took Louisa’s faculties; that the demented, auto intoxicated person that destroyed an entire family and a community of friends be prevented from injuring, hurting, insulting, abusing any single person or multiple persons or pet ever again, for their sake and his.
Justice for Louisa requires it.
Your Honor, I thank you for your concerned attention.
Sincerely,
Deirdre McNamara
Doctor of Homeopathy, Substance Abuse Minister
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Judge of the Justice Court of Bergen County New Jersey
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Dear Judge DeAvila-Silebi,
I am writing in regard to the sentencing for George Hartwig, in the case of New Jersey vs Hartwig. I am respectfully asking for the maximum sentencing allowed under the law. This man is and always will be violent and a danger to society. He will always be a danger to the family of his deceased wife. He committed the horrible crime of shooting Louisa Rodas after he had attempted to kill his wife by bashing her head with a hammer. For that he was released on bail, free to commit these further crimes of violence and attempted to kill two family members. And it is apparent to this day that he has no remorse.
I have observed my entire life how men receive very little or no punishment at all for violent crimes against women. When will this end? Our society will not begin to value women’s lives until either the laws are changed, or those currently on the books are enforced to the fullest extent possible.
Your Honor, I am asking for justice for Louisa, for protection for her family, and for protection of our society. I am asking for the maximum sentencing for George Hartwig.
Very respectfully,
Tess Elkins
Nothing can bring her back to the person she was.
This is awful and horrible,and I don’t believe in his innocence.
Thank you- this is very important – not just for my daughter but for all daughters. We must say no to the revolving door. This man was out without bail after having bashed one daughters head in with a hammer for her cancer drugs – when he returned for more drugs and found her younger sister calling for help he blew her brains out! Now he is asking for mercy because he was under the influence. We need to ask the judge to give innocent people mercy – NOT him!
Thank you for your help one and all!
The judge who granted him bail is a de facto accessory, just as State agencies who place abused children with abusive foster parents are accessories to the crimes committed by those children once they grow up.
The State is assuming greater control of our lives on a daily basis, but refuses to take responsibility and pay for the consequences of its gravest errors. That also applies to the judiciary. Small errors are one matter; to leave at large a man who bashed a woman’s head in with a hammer is insane, irresponsible and inexcusable. That judge should leave the bench, STAT.
Let’s hope and pray that Judge DeAvila Silebi is sane, sober and competent.
Honorable Judge DeAvila-Silebi,
I ask on behalf of mothers everywhere who have lost a child to the plague of domestic violence to please use the full weight of the law and your authority to sentence George Hartwig to the maximum. This sentence which is in reality more forgiving than the one given to Louisa or Denise.
On a daily basis we see media reports on murders by perpetrators that could have been avoided if judges would have used their powers to keep them away from society. There is nothing more that George Hartwig can contribute to society. There is nothing that can rehabilitate George Hartwig, he will always be an abuser.
This monster needs to be locked away from all so that no one will have to live the nightmare as Betty Jean Kling and her daughters have lived.
We beg you on behalf of mothers everywhere to give Louisa and Denise a voice. Give them back what was taken away so callously. Send a message to Hartwig and all other abusers that this is not tolerated in society. There are repercussions when you harm others, this is not acceptable.
We can only accept this half justice, nothing more, nothing less.
Sincerely,
Lorraine Tipton
American Mothers Political Party
http://www.americanmotherspoliticalparty.org
Thank you one and all- we arre beginning to make a difference- we must be. Keep up the great work – it is coming from the heart – can’t you feel it? I can and my heart is soaring!
I love you all for what you are doing here!
BJ
January 12, 2012
Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Court
10 Main Street Hackensack,
New Jersey 07601
Your Honor,
I am writing you in regards to the case of New Jersey vs. Hartwig. It has come to my attention that you are scheduled to sentence Mr. Hartwig. I am also writing to you not only on behalf of my long time friend BettyJean Kling, the mother of the victim (Louisa) and her family, but also on my own behalf. I am a parent as well as a natural born US citizen.
I, have been privileged and blessed to have born a single and magnificent Son, Jonathan, now of age 27. He has far surpassed his Father in life and value to his communities through his own efforts of scholastics, and personal responsibility for himself and his actions. I can honestly say that I have never once heard him say anything at all that was unkind to another. He has more good, kind, law abiding and faithful friends then I might have ever imagined. He is a beacon of light and faith to them and to me and his Mother. In my words…”He is the best thing that I ever did.” He is a wonderful human asset, a productive member of society, and I am VERY proud that it is he alone that will carry my family name forward. At least if he is not stopped short in life as was Louisa.
In brief your honor, I don’t want to labor you with rhetoric, or the facts that I am confident can be found in your case files. I simply want to say that the perpetrator in this matter does indeed have a problem that needs to be addressed appropriately and in a manner that will provide our communities with the assurance that such crimes will always result in the maximum allowable penalty when the case facts are clear and indisputable. Single handedly, the perpetrator has taken away a human resource, that like my Son, was a beacon of light to so many people. She was kind and loving, productive, honest, law abiding, and believed in the close ties of friends and family. Success seemed to follow her everywhere, and a room would light up when she walked into it. She couldn’t help it.
Perhaps you also are a parent; maybe even own a pet that you dearly love. And if so, you have guided, protected, nourished and also prayed for them to enjoy a better life. Free from harm but not challenge.
Everything has changed for Louisa’s family. Nothing will ever be the same.
I have always had a lot of faith in our justice system to do the right thing. I recognize that it’s not a perfect system and it doesn’t always work how everybody would want it to. That is part of life in the ‘civilized’ world. I have that same faith in you as you preside over this case and make your ruling. I want to look back on this case after your ruling and sentence is carried out and be able to say this:
“Within the allowed law, he was taken off the street for as long as was possible to further insure that he won’t have the slightest chance to regain the privilege of living in the public sector, as a free man, and that he will be asked to accept the appropriate just consequences (not punishment) and take responsibility for his own actions, even if by force of incarceration.”
I know that every case decision and sentence that you hand down is based on serving justice to the best of your ability and according to the letter of the law and all other factors. I would be remiss in my duties as a Father to not ask you to put the perpetrator where he truly belongs for as long as possible. Further, if there is some matter or point of law allowing you to extend his consequences, please consider and take that action as well. My entire family will breathe easier that justice, all that was available under the law way served.
Thank you for your consideration,
Steven Seale
Marietta, GA 30062
Another letter I opened this morning:
January 12, 2012
The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Bergen County Justice Center
10 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Re: State of New Jersey v. Hartwig
Introduction: Who is George Hartwig.
He is a man who has a long history of criminal activity, including domestic violence as well as drug and alcohol charges. He is the man who smashed his wife’s head in with a hammer while she lay dying of cancer so that he could steal her pain medicine. He is the man who, by his own admission, pre-meditated the shooting that took place on December 15, 2008 (he just thought it was Louisa’s mother he was shooting, not her). He is the man who, by his own admission, pointed the gun at Louisa’s brother Tommy within a few minutes of shooting her and pulled the trigger – but the gun jammed so Tommy lived. He is a man who laughs at the justice system because it never inflicts upon him the punishment he deserves. His actions should have consequences. He is the man who should be sentenced to the maximum amount allowable for his crimes.
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Dear Judge DeAvila-Silevi:
I am writing mainly on behalf of Louisa Rodas and her family. But I am also writing for all women. I have a daughter and a granddaughter so I can feel the pain of Louisa’s mother, Betty Jean, a lifelong friend of mine. My husband and I have known the entire family for over 30 years, our children played together growing up and we have spent a lot of time together. So it is no surprise that we have been following the shooting of Louisa by George Hartwig and the subsequent court procedures. We saw Louisa days after the shooting in Intensive Care at Hackensack Hospital, fighting for her life. We cried and prayed with her mother and her family. We saw her a week later, still in Intensive Care and still fighting for her life. Our judicial system should also be fighting for her.
It has come to my attention that you will be sentencing Mr. Hartwig on January 27, 2012 on 2 counts of attempted murder, armed robbery, burglary, assault and criminal weapons possession. With all due respect, I would like to throw myself on the mercy of your court and make a plea to you. Ignore his pleas. Please sentence him to consecutive terms for the maximum time. Please do not let his plea outweigh the pleas on behalf of justice for Louisa. Why would this man ever have the possibility of a reduced sentence? Barring a miracle from God, Louisa has a life sentence. The man who did this to her should not serve less time. To be really fair, the day Louisa is returned to the condition she was in before George shot her is the day he can be released from jail.
The only plea bargaining that rightfully could have taken place was Louisa’s. That helpless, frightened, young woman pleading for him not to shoot her. Her pleas went unheard. Do you grasp the significance of that – her pleas went unheard. He ignored her pleas and he stood in front of her and shot her in the face at point blank range. His pleas should now go unheard. This is attempted murder. This is premeditated. He had been to that home earlier in the day and was escorted out and told not to return. He came back with a loaded shot gun. By his own admission to the court, he had full intention of taking lives that night.
Allowing Mr. Hartwig to plea for a lesser sentence is victimizing Louisa, her family and all victims of domestic violence again. That should not happen. They have been through enough. They deserve the right to sit in that courtroom, stare him down and see him be sentenced to the maximum allowable by law for this heinous act. An act for which he has shown no remorse. This is the United States of America – we promise liberty and justice for all. Louisa deserves justice. Her family deserves justice for themselves and Louisa and nothing less. We deserve justice for Louisa. Her life has been destroyed, her children’s lives have been destroyed, her family’s lives have been destroyed – because a sub-human, fully aware of what he was doing, took a loaded shot gun and shot her in the face. Justice demands that this does not deserve a plea bargain. His defense that he was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol should not be considered as a reason for him to get a reduced sentence. If it were, no one would be punished for DUI because, after all, they were ‘under the influence’. That may have been a contributing factor to his actions, but those actions were still criminal and Louisa should not be the only one suffering the consequences of his actions.
While Louisa may not be dead according to the medical definition, that is simply a distinction without a difference. Make no mistake, George Hartwig took her life on December 15, 2008.
According to the Press Release issued dated December 16, 2008, “George Hartwig has been charged with the following: Attempted Murder (1ct.), Aggravated Assault (two cts.), Possession of a Weapon for unlawful purposes (1ct), and Possession of a prohibited weapon (1ct). Additional charges may be likely. Bail was set by the Honorable Harry G. Carroll, P.J.S.C. at $1,000.000.00 with no 10% option.
Please search your heart as well as following the law. Do you really believe those counts against him deserve a plea deal? If so, then what crimes do you think deserve the maximum sentence allowable by law? Please listen to our pleas –and sentence George to the fullest extent allowable by law. That would be fair and just. Thank you for your consideration of my request.
Where are the charges of Grevious Bodily Harm – it exists in English Law. Do we have anything comparable in the USA.
The charges seem almost abstract in the context of the destruction that he has inflicted on two human beings.
For instance – “attempted murder” infers that the victim escaped murder, but Hartwig condemned Louisa to incapacitation and incarceration. He must never do this to another human being, and any judge who releases him becomes an accessory to future crimes. The evidence is there. Let the punishment fit the crime.
A Case number is helpful in these matters.
Your Honor,
I am a doctor of Internal Medicine practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii and became aware of the heartbreaking case of Louisa Richardson Rodas through my wife who works in the area of domestic violence.
While I am happy that justice is about to be served for the “man” who inflicted such egregious injuries on Ms. Rodas, it was particularly disturbing for me to learn that had justice been appropriately and adequately applied before (and the time before that and the time before that) Ms. Rodas wouldn’t be in the agonizing condition she is today because this guy would’ve been locked up and prevented from doing so.
In my practice throughout my career, I have come across substance abusers of all types but one of the scariest is the type you will be sentencing on the 27th. Although he had ample opportunity to turn himself around, his propensity towards violence fueled by his substance abuse has brought him before you at Ms. Rodas’ expense. While Mr. Hartwig did not successfully kill Ms. Rodas, make no mistake that he did indeed take her life.
Please do not afford him the leniency he has already taken for granted or the mercy he failed to show for Ms. Rodas. Send the message that domestic violence is a crime that will not be tolerated in any form and may-be then people will all start taking it seriously.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Guy Yatsushiro, M.D.
Honorable Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi
I am a domestic abuse survivor and am advocating for an abuse victim whose perpetrator has been in court every month for the past year for multiple acts of abuse on his partner and previous landlords. He has failed to comply with orders for anger management assessment and been granted continuance upon continuance by the family court judge. This man knows that the system is painfully slow to hold him accountable for his actions, so he is indifferent to restraining orders and violations thereof. Eventually, his priors will “catch up” with him, but that may not be until he has been responsible for a homicide. To date, he has escalated to assault that sent 3 family members to the hospital.
I believe that the consequences of battering of family members is taken too lightly in this country. When you consider the sentence for the egregious act of the defendant in the case of Louisa, please compare identical crimes by two different perpetrators. An abusive spouse or partner forcibly grabs a child from his mother while she is trying to leave him and flee to safety. A stranger in a parking lot grabs a child from a mother while she is trying to get into her car. Given that there’s a witness to attest that both perps had malicious intentions during the act of snatching a child, I would suggest that the incident would be taken much less seriously in the “family” context. In this case, the crime is the same.
I implore you to weigh whether or not the defendant in this case is worthy of any less harsh sentence than if the crime had been committed by a stranger. Even if your judgment is not biased by either scenario, I would beg you to impose the maximum allowable sentence.
Marilyn Yamamoto
Hilo, Hawaii
Betty Jean Downing – Kling
Lodi, NJ 0764
January 23, 2012
Re: State v. George Hartwig Dear Judge DeAvila-Silebi,
I am the mother of Denise Richardson and Louisa Richardson- Rodas. I am making this statement to you on their behalf because they cannot. Denise died in the spring of 2009 and Louisa is no longer able to speak.
George Hartwig was married to my daughter Denise; they were together for 23 years. The marriage was marred by many acts of domestic violence on his part towards her. He was cruel and vicious to her during the relationship and marriage but for reasons a mother will never know, she kept taking him back.
In June of 2007, Denise was at her home in Lodi. She was suffering and nearing the end of a three year battle with ovarian cancer. She was awakened to sharp blows to her head and body because Gorge Hartwig was trying to kill her. She begged for her life and she was finally able to convince him that if he stopped beating her she would give to him what he wanted the most, her pain medication.
On December 17, 2008 George Hartwig was scheduled to go to court for the June 07 attack on Denise. On December 15, 2008 he entered 540 North Main Street, Lodi where I was caring for Denise. Denise was in the final stages of Ovarian Cancer and she weighed only 80 Lbs. George began to drag her around the living room and only stopped when I intervened in order to defray his attention away from her. He kept holding up the bloody pillow from the last time he had beaten Denise. He finally left but not before threatening to kill me with a gun.
George returned hours later with a shotgun. Denise was sleeping and Louisa was at the very far end of the couch working on her computer. She never heard him enter, when Louisa spotted him hovering over Denise holding a shotgun, she immediately texted her son Marc for help.
Denise awoke to hear George demanding the phone and holding a gun. Groggy, she began looking for a phone to give him then heard a shot fire. When she turned to look all she saw was George peering down at her – the gun pointed at the ceiling. She had no idea what direction the gun shot took nor where her sister was at the time. George now began pointing the gun at her and demanding her pain pills.
Louisa had used the phone to call for help. George saw her and shot her in the face with his shotgun. My son and grandson arrived and George tried to shoot my son Tommy but the gun jammed. Marc then subdued him and the police came.
Louisa had suffered a shot to the face and head leaving her nearly dead.
George was lucid enough to tell the officers exactly what happened that day and night – he said that he thought Louisa was me and that I had made him very angry and he decided to come over and kill me.
Denise died from her cancer on March 7, 2009. She never saw her sister again and she was forced to go to her death feeling responsible for marrying the guy who shot her sister.
The court appearance scheduled for December 17, 2008 never happened. George was never required to answer for the beating he gave to Denise back in June of 2007.
Louisa suffered severe traumatic brain injury. She currently resides at a Sate run hospital known as the Bergen Regional Medical Center (formerly Bergen Pines). She requires 24 hour care but receives only a tiny fraction of the care she needs. So much of her care depends on me. Louisa is a young woman who deserves to be in a happy and caring atmosphere attended to by care takers and by doctors who actually examine her and prescribe with expectations of quality of life.
This long term care facility hospital is far from that. Louisa’s injuries rendered her physically helpless and mentally incompetent but not oblivious or comatose. During this time she has been subjected to continuous acts of negligent medical treatment, physical abuse and personal neglect at the hands of management, nursing and support staff. Specifically, Louisa suffered from severe rashes, infections and other ailments the facility completely failed to reasonably treat or attend at all. On numerous occasions BMC completely neglected Louisa in that she was forced to lie in her own feces for extended lengths of time without proper nursing assistance. Louisa has often exhibited signs of bruising and various other traumas to her body, face and hands without explanation. Louisa is denied daily ear, eye, nose and mouth care. Finally, Louisa has been denied appropriate medical attention when she becomes ill and needs special care she also has been denied physical, occupational and speech therapy. Instead she is merely warehoused as if she were an unfeeling vegetable. Louisa is well aware of these wretched conditions and her untenable situation and feels pain and discomfort and she is able to clearly express this hurt and distress.
For all intents and purposes, her life has been taken away from her. Louisa remains incapacitated for life which should be another 40 years. While there may ultimately be a light at the end of George Hartwig’s tunnel, there is none for my daughter and her family. We will sleep with one eye open at best, knowing that she needs constant care and attention. I worry constantly over the fact that the day will come when I cannot care for her. And then, what will we do?
This man, for no good reason bullied and battered two innocent young women and if he had his way, he would have killed my son and me. There can never be justice for my daughters and my family; nevertheless, I ask Your Honor to do the best that the law permits in punishing this man for his evil acts.
I further ask to court to order him to pay restitution to my daughter Louisa for the extensive medical care she has incurred and will need in the future. I have been told that George Hartwig settled a civil lawsuit and received a substantial amount of money. I request that the Court make inquiry into his assets and any disposition he made of them over the period of time since he attacked my daughters over three years ago.
“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand: there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend; some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.” –Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
J. R. R. Tolkien has the talent for putting thoughts into words that I, as her representative and that of her children cannot. How could I possibly put into words our journey and all the events that brought us to where we are today? These past three years, I have asked myself, “What does the human spirit need in order to heal and move on?”
I have settled on the following which I have paraphased from the book BONSHEA’by Coral Anika Theill: We need a safe place to share our pain and be acknowledged, we need compassion, we need to know that we and others will be protected from the perpetrator, we need accountability — someone who will hold the perpetrator accountable, we need restitution for the losses incurred by the victim, and we need justice (not revenge) but vindication — to be set free. Scars remain, but healing is sufficient so as not to continue to be held in bondage to the trauma.(paraphrasing Coral Anika Theill)
I am attaching photos of my daughters. They are self-explanatory and substantiate and support the information I report to you herein.
I thank you for Louisa, and her sons Marc and Josh Richardson and our family for the opportunity to be heard in this matter,
Betty Jean Downing- Kling