Family Rallies In LA To Have Dying Mother Released From Prison
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Patricia Wright is serving time for killing her husband, but to this day, she still claims that she is innocent. Now the 60-year-old has an even bigger battle -- cancer.
Doctors say that she has about 6 months to live. Her family is trying to get her released, but if their efforts fail, she will die alone in a Northern California prison.
"It is extremely painful when my sister calls and tells me that her head is hurting, her body is hurting," said Wrights sister, Vanessa.
Wrights family, along with a group called Families to Amend California's Three Strikes (FACTS), rallied Wednesday in outside of Governor Jerry Brown's Los Angles office, asking to grant her clemency.
"She's in prison as a wrongfully-convicted woman. The prestigious innocence project in New York took her case," said FACTS Director Geri Silva.
Wrights ex-husband was found stabbed to death in his motorhome along East Temple Street in Downtown Los Angeles in 1981.
Wrights family says that although there was no physical or forensic evidence linking Wright to the crime, she was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder 17 years later.
Supports say not only was Wright wrongfully convicted, but that she also had two felonies added to her record this year.
"Two of the felonies are for two toys that [cost] 99 cents that her son actually stole, not her," Vanessa said.
Vanessa sent petitions for clemency to the governor. She said he responded, saying his hands were tied, because Wright had three felonies on her record.
"The governor said that once one of the felonies was reduced to a misdemeanor, he would be willing to sign," Vanessa said.
Although the Wright family is trying to get the felonies reduced in court, they know time is not on their side.
Supporters Wednesday knocked on the doors of the governor's office, but no one was there.
We reached out to the office as well for comment, but our call had not yet been returned at the time of this writing.
"We're all suffering and just because of two 99-cent toys, my sister can't come home and die."
