Family's Reaction To Inmate Beating

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Posted: 7:27 PM Aug 29, 2008
Last Updated: 7:50 PM Aug 29, 2008
Reporter: Angela Sparkman
Email Address: angela.sparkman@wymtnews.com

22 comments

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The family of a man beaten almost to death in jail is talking about the incident.

Terry Fisher is fighting for his life after police say ten inmates beat him up two weeks ago in the Floyd County jail. His family says he did not deserve what happened to him. They are upset this happened and says he will never recover. He was accused of molesting a child. His family believes he didn't do it, but says no matter what, he didn't deserve to be beaten.

Terry Fisher's family says they were surprised when they found out he got hurt in jail, but say nothing prepared them when they saw him in the hospital.

"There wasn't an inch on him that wasn't black or blue or swollen. I didn't recognize him," Tina Green, Fisher's niece.

Police say ten inmates punched and kicked Fisher and then slammed his head onto the concrete floor.

"Just seeing how he is right now tears me all to pieces. He means so much to me," said Marilyn Johnson, Fisher's sister.

Fisher was in jail, accused of molesting a child, but his family believes he didn't do it.

"I trust him completely with my own children. I've never noticed anything inappropriate," Green said.

"He'd never do anything like that for the world," said Michael Fisher, Fisher's brother.

Still Fisher pleaded guilty to his charges. Investigators believe that's why the inmates beat him.

"I don't think somebody who's in jail for whatever they're in there for, I don't think they should decide who they whip and who they don't," Green said.

"I love my brother dearly, and for him to get the way he is, the way the done him, he didn't ask for that," Johnson said.

"The jail time they may have tried to give him is nothing compared to what he's been given," Green said.

She says even if Fisher survives, he will have brain damage and is paralyzed.

"When he looks up at me, like he's trying to say with his eyes, why did this happen to me? All I can say is, it shouldn't have happened. He didn't deserve this," Johnson said.

They hope his attackers are punished.

Fisher is at Cabell-Huntington Hospital in West Virginia.

The ten inmates are charged with assault. One pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday. Four others have preliminary hearings on Tuesday.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Mad as Hell Location: HiHat,ky on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I would just like to set the story straight Terry Fisher was accused of interfering with a minor also. He did not intend to plead guilty to both charges but, because he knew so little about the law, he plead guitly to both counts when in reality he thought he was only pleading guilty to giving the boy cigarettes. And for all you covincing judus' I have been told the boy now is saying it never happened.The boy lied.There was no proof.

Posted by: pike citizen Location: pike county on Aug 31, 2008 at 07:17 PM
i think the solution to this problem is...DON'T COMMIT CRIMES AND STAY OUT OF JAIL!

Posted by: Jeff Location: Somerset on Aug 31, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Jails are a very bad place to be, that's why I obey the law and try my best to stay out of them.

Posted by: citizen Location: ky on Aug 31, 2008 at 07:52 AM
If Terry Fisher is quilty of molesting a child and someone got to freely BEAT him why didnt the parents of the child get to do it, instead of a bunch of criminals? That would have been more Justifiable! What happened here was and is WRONG! I know that most of the Officals in Floyd County Ky say they are Christian, but they dont pratice true Religion. The News made sure they told Terry Fishers charges against him, but what are the charges against the other inmates? What right does one criminal have to beat another? How can this go on and on in our own Justice System? This just puts more FEAR in the people toward our own Legal system, because this is how it works in the Mountians! And Jesus said" Those of you without Sin, cast the first stone"!

Posted by: nieka Location: prestonsberg on Aug 30, 2008 at 11:18 PM
why would he pleed guilty to raping a baby a child if he had not of done the crime. now really wouldn't u fight until the end if you really didn't touch the little kids. no oh course hez goin to take what ever he can get to hurry up and spead he time an get out of jail so he can go rape again. so i thank the prinoners forlooking out for the child,that has to cry their self a sleep over the memorys they will remember ther whole like knowin ther were knowone to pretect them

Posted by: sarah Location: pike county on Aug 30, 2008 at 09:52 PM
in reply to the comment as to why a person not guilty would plead guilty , well could be no money for decent lawyer ,threatened with much more time and a promise of better place to do the time, if i were in jail with a bunch of people capable of this i would say i was guilty of anything to go somewhere else . guilty or not. if this man hurt a child he deserves what the laws say has to be done to him ,he should serve everyday of it ,but not locked in a cage and beaten by people probally worse than he is.

Posted by: confused Location: e.ky on Aug 30, 2008 at 08:55 PM
i agree that this man should be punished, but by the court not other offenders. after all, aren't the people in the cell with him criminals also? drug dealers are just as low life as child molesters, only in a different way. children are harmed either way. it's still a crime. i may be wrong but i think this man is a little mentally slow?? Floyd county jail cannot pick and choose whose crime is the worst. the jailer lets the criminals give justice where the judge should do it. Someone needs to look into the corruption in this county. It's beyond pathetic...

Posted by: William Location: seky on Aug 30, 2008 at 05:15 PM
If I had to choose from two evils, (My child has been Molested) Or (My child has been Killed) To be the surviving parent of a sexual abused child, Or a surviving parent of a dead child,There is no question in my mind witch of the two evils I had rather fall victim to, ECC ,9,4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Words of Solomon. The evil of abuse child is horrible,but at least you can hold that child in your arms after the abuse alive, I herd the crys of my mother over my older sister that was killed in a car crash, If my mother had been given a choice of a daughter lost to death or a daughter molested my mother would choose the later not desiring either, we have made sex offenders equal to murders in USA thanks to MSNBC and Tv programing that gets ratings from shock value , Protect our children and all citizens of America In prison our out from violent crimes This is what divides us from the animals.

Posted by: Child Advocate Location: London on Aug 30, 2008 at 03:57 PM
I don't know if he is guilty, but if he is, then he deserved it. That child didn't deserve to go through what it did either. His family should think about what the child may have endured. This child is scarred forever. They don't believe he is capable, but no molester is going to act inappropriate around other adults, that's why it happens so often.

Posted by: Lisa Location: Prestonsburg on Aug 30, 2008 at 03:16 PM
No one deserves to be beat to near death. That is cruel punishment, if you ask me. He may or may not have molested a child but does that justify him being beaten to the point that if he survives he'll be paralyzed and brain dead?

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Eastern KY on Aug 30, 2008 at 02:29 PM
To Bill .... I was insulted by what you said. I am a registered Democrat, have a very IQ and carried a pistol until I retired from police work!!!!!!!Don't judge until you've walked in someone else's shoes.

Posted by: LOIS Location: LONDON on Aug 30, 2008 at 02:28 PM
WHY SHOULD,CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST,BE GIVEN SPECIAL PRIVIDLEGES? WERE VICTIM OR VICTIMS? I AM SO TERRIBLY SICK OF THE CONVICTEDS RIGHTS, THEY CHOSE TO GIVE UP THE FREEDOM OF GOOD OLE USA RIGHTS WHEN THEY DID OF FREE CHOICE SUCH UNSPEAKABLE CRIME.

Posted by: ML Location: Floyd Co. on Aug 30, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Why would anyone plead guilty to molesting a child if they were not indeed GUILTY? I don't understand how this got by for three days without notice. Some of the jail employees should be held accountable for this also. Why on earth would it take 10 men to beat someone up, that's a little much, don't you think? Sounds like the 10 inmates were cowards themselves. One of the ten was in there on rape charges, why not beat him? The ten must like it in jail or they would not have added more time to their sentences. Let God be the judge.

Posted by: Jack Location: Pike County on Aug 30, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I'm sure that the child he abused thinks that this is undue punishment.

Posted by: ME Location: PIKE COUNTY on Aug 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD BE SUED, THATS WHAT THEY HIRE OFFICERS FOR, WHATS IS THEIR JOB.

Posted by: Sam Location: prestonsburg on Aug 30, 2008 at 10:44 AM
I spent some time in Floyd County jail. Inmate beatings happen a couple of times per week. The guards pay little attention to these events, arriving well after the damage is done. This jail is contaminated with drugs, violence and miserable living conditions. An in depth investigation of this jail is long over due. Some of the administration should be the inmate population.

Posted by: Bill on Aug 30, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Having to face police or jail in Ky. can be a death sent.Our justice systems are broken from the cop. to the courts and jails.Thers nothing more dangerous then a bunch of low IQ democrats with pistols.

Posted by: WORRIED Location: KY on Aug 30, 2008 at 08:14 AM
This is one sick story! I still think this was A planned beating, by everyone involved including the Employees! Everyone knows that if they are lodged in the Floyd County Jail, they may come out they may not! Its not the first time this has happened, nor has it been in the past where men are collected from that Jail by the corner! I think our Attorney General needs to send someone in this area to stop the POLITICAL CORRUPTION! Break-up this little BUDDT-SYSTEM, and let the people have some Freedom without FEAR! You people remember what GOD taught us, if you kill by the sword, then you shall DIE by the sword,, and ( HOWEVER YOU JUDGE THEN THATS HOW YE SHALL BE JUDGED ALSO)! GODS SPEED TO ALL INVOLVED!

Posted by: The Punishment Fit the Crime Location: Paintsville on Aug 30, 2008 at 07:04 AM
This man plead guilty to a crime that in some ways is worse than murder. This small child will have to live with what was done to it for the rest of its life. Statistics show it will now have trouble is school and life and will more than likely turn to drugs or suicide. This is a crime that makes me wish that hanging was legal.

Posted by: family member of one of the attackers Location: floyd county on Aug 30, 2008 at 02:48 AM
my heart goes out to you. NO ONE deserves what happened to your family member. NO ONE can be judge, jury and executioner. there is only one GOD and it is his choice for punishment, whether it be legal or personal to the attackers. i have prayed for terry ever since i have found out about this incident. rumor has it that one of the attackers is also a child molester. isn't it funny how the others in the cell didn't know this? please accept my heart felt sympathy for you and yours. my heart goes out to you all. i have read the comments posted on the item yesterday, people jump to conclusions before they know the whole TRUE story, and that in itself, is a very sad thing.

Posted by: William Location: SeKy on Aug 30, 2008 at 02:42 AM
What charges is going to be brought against the Jailer? and employs at the jail When the people Elected this Jailer, They said ok we trust you to protect people who may become incarcerated,This is inexcusable, I feel the Jail was more at fault then the Inmates Heathens that beat the man accused his family deserves restitution payments from this county can you say Law suite? someone should! but even that is not going to restore the broken body and the criminal turn hideous victim...shame on Floyd County. containment of prisoners its a mini opera of the Holocaust These men inmates and them in charge would make good Nazis, kinda like war crimes.

Posted by: Joe on Aug 29, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Why did this happen to you because you are a "predator" on young people

Posted by: Liz Location: auxier on Aug 29, 2008 at 10:39 PM
bet he has been to Mtn. Comp a few times.

Posted by: C.O Location: Ky on Aug 29, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Its a shame things like this happen..this is why inmates arrest and conviction records are suppose to be kept secret..Ive seen this same type of incident happen several times over the years..When your short staffed and you have one officer watching 125 inmates its hard to see everything..

Posted by: chris Location: prestonsburg on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:57 PM
It doesn't matter what he has done. Noone should be subjected to that sort of beating. The jailers should be held responsible for this as well as the inmates. it probably was a case of "we'll look the other way do what you want". Our jailers and sheriff's deputies love to beat someone who is helpless. It makes me sick.

Posted by: Retired Teacher Location: E. KY on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Let's let them send Ron Berry to Floyd County Jail and let the inmates have a go at him....Oh, no...Beshear won't have a running mate next Governor's race...Better not do that!!!

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