Houston Herczog, my beloved son--WE NEED HELP

[aunt2d]

Dear Sonoma County,

I'm Houston's "Aunt Toodie" and Mark Herczog's little sister, Annette Keys. I just returned to Ohio after testifying for Houston, along with Mark's eldest daughter, Cameron, and Mark and Marilyn's daughter Savannah. Yep, Savannah testified for her brother!!! When she heard how the prosecution's testimony was leaving out some truths, she asked to get involved. She was rivetting and honest and emotional and funny and both girls were poised, confident and amazing. Waner didn't cross examine Cam, but he went after Savannah and that girl held her own! Naturally, the Press Dem wasn't there that day. As a matter of fact, I had a talk with Paul Payne about what I felt was biased reporting on Friday, and last Sat. was the first day a balanced report was printed. Hope it stays that way.

After my experience as a witness, then watching 3 days of testimony, it's pretty clear that from the start, Bob Waner and Jill Ravitch aren't out for the truth as they continually professed to us. They just want Houston in prison for the conviction. It's disgusting. From the day of the arraignment, Marilyn, Cameron and friends and family at that meeting told Bob Waner that Houston was sick, that she and Mark were worried sick, had no recourse for help - everything - and he assured us that the family would have a say in this. He strung us along for 18 months, acting like he cared. He doesn't care a whit about us. I've written Jill Ravitch numerous letters and emails on behalf of the family to please stop this trial and convert to a bench trial for the experts only (which was an option, along with her signing off on hospitalization after TWO doc reports came in) - but I got a reply after the trial started, saying how the jury will find the truth. How can they, when we can't even discuss Mark's wishes - or even show a handwritten prayer (one of many) that Mark had written to God pleading for help for his son?

While in the courtroom after my testimony, I beheld the "two-tiered" justice system at work and it's a sad reality that money, power and position have the upper hand in any trial. The DA has more funding, staff, technology and time than the PD and it's apparent in each attny's preparation for testimony, questioning and statements to the jury. While Houston's attorney is dedicated and cares deeply for Houston and what our family is going thru, her previous caseload and lack of support and finances puts her at a disadvantage. She doesn't have a team of paralegals to do her bidding and prepare power point presentations like the DA used in his closing for the first phase. What's more, most people who have attended the proceedings have perceived a bias for the prosecution.. The Judge over-rules 90+% of Karen Silver's objections and sustains 90+% of Bob's. (Except, I'm happy to report, when Savannah was on the stand. She was given a lot of leeway.) I'm not the only one who notices that she looks to Attny. Waner as she makes her decision. I need to say that these are just perceptions, but they are shared perceptions, and quite telling, at the very least.

Now, they're painting my brother Mark as a mentally ill man with drug problems. Mark was a pillar of the AA community with nearly 35 years sobriety who was a wonderful, stand up guy. The best of the best. There is so much that's morally wrong and reprehensible about this trial I don't even know where to begin. When all is said and done, I plan to write an OpEd piece on our dealings with the justice system.. In Ohio, we have mental health courts for these types of crimes. At the very least, Ravitch should hire an attorney who at least understands mental illness to prosecute trials involving mental illness. I doubt Mr. Waner believes in insanity at all and clearly embraces, and argues, the fact that you have to be a "wild beast" to have schizophrenia. The fact is, there are 3 main types of schizophrenia: catatonic (self-explanatory), disorganized (those whose intrusive thoughts have little rhyme or reason) and paranoid (the highest functioning of them all). Houston is paranoid schizophrenic.

Now that the jury (who had no idea that 3 docs declared Houst insane at the first phase) came back with a Murder One verdict, the second phase of this case will be hard fought, and won by people of heart - not of means. I've been blown away by your support and action on Houston's behalf and I'm writing to thank you and ask for your continued action. If at all possible, we need people in that courtroom! Because Marilyn is a witness, she can't be there for her son, and the jury needs to see that he has support outside the family. We couldn't stay in town, and it's terrrible not to be there to support him and hear the testimony. Besides, if this case has caught your attention, you should see what's happening in Courtroom One for yourself. We also need letters to the Editor, more letters to Jill, and Marilyn could use some personal support as well.

If you'd like to keep up with the proceedings, there are two FB pages you can check out. One is called "Friends and Family of Houston" - dedicated solely to the trial, witnesses and daily reports. The other is called "Herczog Family Tragedy" and this site allows you to offer advice, share your experience with mental illness and print words of support and compassion, that will be passed onto Houston. We also have a fundraising site going for Houston.at www.gofundme.com/20dyck. Houston is a remarkably intelligent young man who, once hospitalized, wants to further his education and make a worthwhile contribution to society. This fund is currently helping with expenses and allows him to afford books, phone calls, and $$ for his jail needs (the cost of phone calls are outrageous - $35 for 20 minutes), and unfortunately we are not a family of means (hence, the Public Defender). Once he's hospitalized (it's too hard to let myself think otherwise), he can use the rest for classes, etc. Houston's a great writer, and his story can help so many people. We just want to give him the best chance we can for a new beginning. He never asked for this, none of us deserve what we've been through, especially Mark. But at this point, we have to stay strong and believe that justice of the highest nature, will prevail. God bless you all! You are an amazing community!!! Thank you again, from all of us.

[aunt2d]

Sonoma County,

I thought I posted this yesterday, but apparently my
session timed out. I just wanted to let you all know that testimony ended in
Houston's trial on Friday and closing arguments are slated for 10am tomorrow
morning! Marilyn closed ot the testimony and everyone present said she did a
great job and clarified important points with poise and confidence. Cudo's to
you, Mar! That witness stand is not an easy place to sit.

Houston's attorney successfully proved to the jury that the prosecution's
expert witness, Dr. Missett, was incompetent. Actually, he managed to do a lot
of that himself by forgetting important facts and fumbling through two days of
testimony. He never mentioned that Houston was on an anti-psychotic in his
report. He listed nine "Axis One" diagnoses for Houston. "Axis One" is
the category for the most severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder, but Dr. Missett listed things like "anti-social behavior due to
stealing his mother's pills and killing his father." All were
successfully disproven and rejected through Karen and the three other experts.
It was evident to anyone in court how much these doctors care about Houston and
believe he should be hospitalized.

One of the most disturbing things about his testimony was that Dr. Missett
actually filled in some of the "bubble" answers on one of personality tests he
administered to Houston. There were answers on the test in both pen and ink.
Houston is only allowed to use pencils. The doctor could not remember why both
were used, but he testified that he noticed some of the answers were not filled
in, so he gave the test back to Houston to complete. This is not how these
tests are conducted. Once the client is done, they're done - whether all the
questions have been answered or not. Finally, part of another doctor's report
was included with the testing results. Dr. Missett could not remember why or
how it came to be there. To be honest with you, his report was a sloppy
and appalling 32 page character assassination of Houston and his parents. It
was loaded with with misassumptions and mistruths and from what I'm told, Karen
did a great job discreditting this witness.

Bob Waner had originally planned to call Dr. Misett and two jail guards to
testify as well as play a number of recorded phone calls to Houston from friends
and family. After Dr. Missett's two and a half days on the stand, he did not
call the guards or play the tapes. Both attorneys rested their cases on
Friday. While this all seems very positive, we've been here before and have
been punched in the gut too many times to feel truly confident about anything.
At least, I don't anyway. I'm concerned that this group of men and women,
patient and dedicated as they may be, are going to judge Houston's sanity at the
time of Mark's death. Shouldn't this be decided by experts? If the jury
is instructed to choose between the experts' opinions, then we have a shot. If
they choose to play god, then who knows. (BTW, this case could have been
tried in a "bench trial", where the judge questions just the experts and makes
her decision. We pleaded for Jill Ravitch to make this choice, but she blew us
off so that Bob Waner to force us to re-live this tragedy again in open court.
How Houston got through this, I will never know. Thank God for Dr. Apostle, who
finally got him on medication that's working for him.)

Come Monday morning, please keep Houston and his attorney in your
thoughts. Once the jury begins deliberations, Houston will be placed in a tiny
cell to wait. He's allowed no book, no nothing, so he will be alone and in
fear. If you can, please pray for him. And if you really want to take some
action, send the letters you wrote to Jill Ravitch to the Press Democrat and the
Bohemian! It's time people know how members of this community feel about what's
transpired here. God bless you all again, and thank you so much for being such
wonderful, caring people!

Warmest regards,
Annette Keys
(Houston's "Aunt Toodie". Don't ask. My dad gave me the nickname.
Still don't know why!)

[Barry]

Houston Herczog was was declared not guilty by reason of insanity.

Here's the PD article.

[rossmen]

duh, of course. the citizen's question is why does our da practice torture of the mentally ill at taxpayer expense? is it her sexism, or perhaps her distrust for those who ask for justice? she lost to a jury of peers, will she be accountable for her stupid mistake?

Houston Herczog was was declared not guilty by reason of insanity.

Here's the PD article.

[Malene Rander Comes]

This is the video I just sent to Ms. Ravitch.

Malene

Ms. Ravitch,

So you lost the case. That is the good news. The bad news is your wasted tax payer money on a case that not only wasn't winable, but which it was morally reprehensible to prosecute.

Come election day you will be remembered as the DA who tortured a mentally ill man and his family who had been through enough, and wasted tax payer money on an case that should never have been brought to trial.

You lost the case, and your lost respect. If you don't have the conscience to feel bad about your choices, I hope you feel worried about your future. If you don't have the conscience to feel bad about your choices then you are a worse person than Houston Herczog.

Sleep Tight!
Malene Comes

[aunt2d]

Malene, thanks so much for sending that to Jill! I hope more people take your lead. (Regarding your last sentence however, Houston is not bad. He is sick.)

I sobbed from relief after I heard the verdict and I'll tell ya, I haven't felt this happy and vindicated in a very very long time. (I also feel like I could sleep for a month or I would've posted about this glorious victory
sooner.) At the same time, it's going to take awhile to get past my anger at the many ways this tragedy was compounded by bad choices and ignorance.

This entire thing was an absolute nightmare that could have ended months and months ago. After the arraignment, Bob Waner told everyone present, "We realize there is mental illness involved and the family will have a say in what happens with Houston." In numerous meetings, phone calls, letters and emails,
they strung us along with rhetoric, all the while planning a juicy murder trial and conviction for the office superstar.

Meanwhile, for 8 months before he was medicated, Houston was alone in a 6 x 10' cell, 23 hours a day plagued by hideous voices and flashbacks of that horrific night. He was suicidal for a very long time, and help came when he was placed naked in a rubber room for days, with no bed, mattress or sink - just a hole in the floor for a toilet. He learned not to ask for help after that.

While I'm happy about finally moving forward, I don't think I can be silent about what Houston and our family went through. Now that the verdict is in and Houst will finally get help, I pray this case will create awareness in the community about the prevalence of mental illness and the need to destroy the stigmas surrounding it; and activate community leaders to look into better options for education, treatment and justic for mentally ill offenders so that another family will never have to endure what we did. When I think of the people that could have been helped with the money that was spent on this case and Dr. Missett, it makes me sick. As for Jill, I hope Sonoma county remembers her actions (or lack thereof) come November!

Thanks again, everybody, for your incredible support and advocacy!

This is the video I just sent to Ms. Ravitch.

Malene

Ms. Ravitch,

So you lost the case. That is the good news. The bad news is your wasted tax payer money on a case that not only wasn't winable, but which it was morally reprehensible to prosecute.

Come election day you will be remembered as the DA who tortured a mentally ill man and his family who had been through enough, and wasted tax payer money on an case that should never have been brought to trial.

You lost the case, and your lost respect. If you don't have the conscience to feel bad about your choices, I hope you feel worried about your future. If you don't have the conscience to feel bad about your choices then you are a worse person than Houston Herczog.

Sleep Tight!
Malene Comes

[meherc]

Yes, I offered to volunteer with them when this whole thing is over and I have recovered too.

I've worked with NAMI over the years, to help my sister who's schizophrenic. It sounds like things didn't go too well for you and NAMI. I felt really sad when I read you posting about NAMI. The local NAMI, to my knowledge, is a group of volunteers, probably only a couple, who probably have sons or daughters, or parents, who are mentally ill. They deal first hand with the stigma of mental illness, not only caring for their loved ones, but in volunteering for NAMI. It's a hopeless task.

Who would ever want to volunteer for an organization helping the mentally ill, in addition to caring for their loved ones? Who would ever want to go through the experiences that you've gone thru, with their loved ones, and local authorities, such as social workers, therapists, educators, the police... and spend their free time listening to or trying to help others dealing with mental illness? Anyone who's volunteered for NAMI is an angel.

Many suffer from mental illness themselves, and volunteer at NAMI, working in day programs for the mentally ill, and helping other people cope with the illness. I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience with them. I hope you can hold them with love, those few people who volunteer for NAMI, against unsurmountable needs, hugh suffering, their own and others, and all the difficulties experienced with civil authorities.

[meherc]

Ravitch said "she had to keep the community safe." I said I am not suggesting you put him in Courthouse Square with a machete, just let him go to the hospital so he can be treated properly" He is a wonderful, smart, talented, loving kid. He is just sick now.

I thilnk Ravitch counted on the community to look at Houston as a monster but most of them, including the jury didn't. If I can see that, his wife, if his daughters can see that, if his family can see that and forgive him because he is obviously very sick (paranoid schizophrenic), why didn't Ravitch stop it when she could or the judge could have made a decision from the bench.

She is out to claw her way up the ladder. I am going to write to the Press Democrat with an open letter to Ravitch outlining what I think of her. The final psychiatrist which the prosecution hired was so inept, people were laughing at him. He filled out the MMPI for Houston and admitted it! He virtually made up the whole report. He said Houston came to my house that nite and stole 29 of my Adderal. I had changed the locks 2 days before and hadn't told anyone. I don't have 29 pills in the house. On and on.

Only 1% of NGI [not guilty by reason of insantiy] cases are successful and the prosecutor, Bob Waner, had just lost one to Chris Andrian (who very kindly worked for us pro bono) recently and he might have wanted to regain his rep.

Thank you all for your support. I still have my trial on Thursday, Houston has another hearing on the 18th. A lawyer told us that the prosecutor could appeal. That's not true, is it? We couldn't go thru this again. I must hold the record for being thrown out of the courtroom.

compare this case to the lady who stabbed her mother. criminal prosecution way before trial was halted for her by a judge and she is going to a mental hospital. ravitch could have let the same thing happen in this case with three docs determining mental illness. instead she got a forth evaluation so she could put it before a jury. the jury gets to decide now. what is ravitches motivation for pushing this one?

[meherc]

"A worse person than Houston Herczog"? He is not a bad person, that's the whole point. He's sick.Thank you for writing your letter though.

Malene, thanks so much for sending that to Jill! I hope more people take your lead. (Regarding your last sentence however, Houston is not bad. He is sick.)

[rossmen]

i think your advocacy for your son is a heroic example to us all. getting thrown out of court and prosecuted is not an easy road. i hope you have the strength to keep up this good work. thanks also for the info on why ravitch has been such an aggressive attack dog to your son and grieving family. the da's ego is clearly in play and getting in the way of serving safety, community and justice. may your efforts be instrumental is guiding ravitch to dial down and see the humanity of all involved in the criminal justice system.

Ravitch said "she had to keep the community safe." I said I am not suggesting you put him in Courthouse Square with a machete, just let him go to the hospital so he can be treated properly" He is a wonderful, smart, talented, loving kid. He is just sick now.

I thilnk Ravitch counted on the community to look at Houston as a monster but most of them, including the jury didn't. If I can see that, his wife, if his daughters can see that, if his family can see that and forgive him because he is obviously very sick (paranoid schizophrenic), why didn't Ravitch stop it when she could or the judge could have made a decision from the bench.

She is out to claw her way up the ladder. I am going to write to the Press Democrat with an open letter to Ravitch outlining what I think of her. The final psychiatrist which the prosecution hired was so inept, people were laughing at him. He filled out the MMPI for Houston and admitted it! He virtually made up the whole report. He said Houston came to my house that nite and stole 29 of my Adderal. I had changed the locks 2 days before and hadn't told anyone. I don't have 29 pills in the house. On and on.

Only 1% of NGI [not guilty by reason of insantiy] cases are successful and the prosecutor, Bob Waner, had just lost one to Chris Andrian (who very kindly worked for us pro bono) recently and he might have wanted to regain his rep.

Thank you all for your support. I still have my trial on Thursday, Houston has another hearing on the 18th. A lawyer told us that the prosecutor could appeal. That's not true, is it? We couldn't go thru this again. I must hold the record for being thrown out of the courtroom.

[sebastacat]

Dear Meherc:

I have been reading your posts and praying for you. Sebastacat feels that no one should have had to go through the ordeal which you and your family just went through -- and which, unfortunately, it sounds like you're still going through.

When I read about the inept "doctor" (egg-spert) which the prosecution hired to bolster its case, I just simply could not believe it.

But filling in the blanks on a test which is supposed to be filled in by the person being tested? That sounds like professional misconduct to me. Perhaps you should look into filing a formal complaint with the state medical board.
And you now have the best evidence you could ever hope to have: the doctor's own words.

And when Waner made the lame argument at the end of the trial in his closing argument that the jury should just disregard the opinions of the doctors -- including the doctor which was hired by the district attorney's office, the office which HE, HIMSELF works for -- it smacked of prosecutorial desperation at its finest.

Both he and Ravitch should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Am I proud of them as public servants that they made a decision -- without first involving your family -- to prosecute Houston in the first place, when they said that they would involve the family in the decision process and when they knew that he had a history of mental illness for which he had never been treated? No.

Do I feel safer that they put on their "tough as nails" persona after they made this poor decision and prosecuted Houston to the fullest extent of the law? No.

Do I have more respect for them as public servants now that they've lost this case which cost the taxpayers of this county hundreds of thousands of dollars and put your family through a living hell? NO!

Sebastacat thinks that some degree of accountability is in order. As a lifelong, 51-year resident of this county who has not a blemish on his record and considers himself to be a good law-abiding citizen, I ask members of the WaccoBB community to continue to make your feelings known, your displeasure felt and your voices heard.
Then -- and only then -- will our public officials perhaps come to their senses and think twice next time before they embark on such a perilous judicial roller-coaster ride at the taxpayers' expense.

And finally, let's not forget to remind them of something else, something even more important: We're dealing with people's lives here. The victim, the perpetrator -- and their families. And in my opinion, that's way more important than any attorney's ego will ever be.

[meherc]

In a very hard to get meeting with Ravitch (she doesn't have time to meet with you, says the secretary. I call the next day, secretary says since she didnt' call you, she doesn't want to mee)t I called prosecutor, said , Gee, too bad Jill refuses to even take my calls. When I go the the newspapers and tell them the DA won't even return the calls of a grieving widow with a schizophrenic child in jail, I don't think that's going to look very good for Jill. And isnt' she up for re-election next year? My, I don't think the community will look at her as someone with "integrity" when they hear this and won't be voting for her again. I got a call from her office with the mean secretary suddenly very nice, practically begging for a meeting. When we did meet, I asked Jill if she had anyone in her family with a mental illness. No, she says. She must be the only one in America who doesn't but they know zilch about mental illness. I definitely knew more - bipolar and schizophrenia typically come on between 18 and 25, had to explain meds. They were giving him Trazadone for psychosis. I said you might as well be putting leeches on him to help.

[meherc]

Now that I am allowed to, I want to publicly name the person I consider responsible for most of this, the psychiatrist who had been treating Houston for almost a year before the psychotic break. He knew of the increasing violence and strange behavior (I phoned him approximately 16 times during that year). His session notes don't show any of my calls but do show Houston's talk about hearing voices, disordered thoughts, destroying his room with a machete. This idiot doctor -Dennis Glick. GLICK, GLICK, GLICK- had suggested he was schizophrenic or schiazoaffective at his first visit but then decided he had a drug problem, not bothering to ask me if my pills were missing. We're talking about 3 pills missing in 4 incidents over the year. I am prescribed 9 /day.

I tried to sue him for malpractice and when the attorney had the papers served on him, he left the state and moved to Maryland the next day. I am going to report him to every association,governing board and newspaper that will listen.I had to drop the case because the lawyer pulled out because he couldn't get access to Glick's notes, which I think he falsified anyway. I wrote the summons/legal complaint myself (thank you, Nolo Press) and filed it on the last day but could not flnd a lawyer to help me, all saying it wouldn't make them enough money. I couldn't handle doing one more thing so dropped the case but that doesn't mean I'm keeping quiet.

We had no health insurance and had to pay $300/visit and I consider Glick the one who killed my family. Mark is dead, Houston will probably not get out till I'm dead and my daughter is taking all her anger out on me so won't talk to me. I am $35k in debt because I couldn't work for a year. Oh, there's more but I don't want that bastard Glick to get off scott free with no consequences . I don't want him to do this to any other family.

[Dr Pam]

Here is Dr. Glick's current contact and licensing information in Maryland. I thought some of us sympathetic with the Herczog family plight might wish to contact Houston's former psychiatrist or his state licensing authority and express our opinion of his treatment. He has not maintained his California medical license, as it expired last year.

The URL for the Maryland Medical Board is https://www.mbp.state.md.us/. Anyone can check licensing status online on almost any health care professional in any state with nothing but a name. If the name is "John Smith" you might need another way to verify it is the correct person. The California medical board URL is https://www.mbc.ca.gov/.

[Barry]

I want thank everybody who wrote to the D.A. on behalf of Houston, and in particular, Magick, for helping to spearhead this initiative. It's been a great example of the community coming together to support someone in need and upholding compassionate justice.

[meherc]

Thanks for giving me courage, Magick, and for taking action as well as supporting mine. You write much kinder letters than I and I'm sure yours work better. I use more of the "Gee, Jill, when I tell the papers about how you treated me, I don't think the community will be too sympathetic. Hmm, election next year, guess you'll have to kiss that one goodbye. Next time you talk about integrity and doing what's right,for the community, you might actually do it.As a matter of fact with all the national attention, you might consider training at the IT Institute."

I just sent the following message to DA Jill Ravitch via her Facebook page. Please do the same and keep the conversation going here so that she knows we care...

"Dear Jill, I appreciate your motto, Justice with Integrity, and ask that you search your soul to consider what true integrity is in the case of Houston Herczog.
This tragic story begs for healing. ...

[meherc]

And he asked for a lawyer twice as did I when I was arrested. I asked what would happen if I chose to remain silent and thecop said jail for a year. I also found out that if you say a word after asking for a lawyer, your Miranda rights are waived.

sexism is one of my guesses too. also i think that the severity of illness plays a part. houston was sane enough to call for a lawyer when the interrogation got to his action. the woman parent killer is reported to be totally out of it, talking to herself in court. perhaps the da doesn't think that people who remember their rights are insane?

[jsjjane]

Just want to set the record straight about one of your earlier posts. Dr Glick, Houston's psychiatrist, did not leave town because of anything to do with Mark's death. He had been planning the move for a long time. I know this because he worked in the office next to mine and we talked frequently. He was planning the move for a long while before he told his patients and he quite honorably made sure his patients were informed well in advance of his move. I know this because some of my clients were also his patients. So he certainly did not skip town the next day after being served anything.

I knew Mark, he was a client for many years. And I would see him in the waiting area while Houston was with Dr Glick. When we talked Mark was happy with Dr Glick and Dr Glick helped many, many people in this county for decades. He also did much pro bono work for the indigent in our county. Anybody who has worked with people with severe mental illness knows the heartbreak and difficulty of finding lasting help. Dr Glick is a man who would go above and beyond the call of duty for his patients. Just FYI.

We sent him to a psychiatrist for almost a year. He said he might be schizophrenic in his first session notes and NEVER followed up on it. When he was served the malpractice papers, he moved to Maryland the next day. As if that were Switzerland or the Virgin Islands. It's damn Maryland. GLICK is his name. G--L--I-C-K.

[Sabrina]

I'm late to reading all the threads here - finally found the time; it inspired me to leave a scathing voice message to Ms Raviching Ravich about the way she handled the case, wasted tax dollars, AND the fear she put the Herczog family and the entire community through in the way she handled and treated Houston. THANK GODDESS she lost the case; but it sure scares the heck out of me for how she may handle / treat others in the future - I hope she learns a lesson and starts to get educated. It's shocking how little she new about mental illness / challanges in her position as a prosecutor. DA's should have mandatory training regarding mental illness in this day and age.

Where is the video?

This is the video I just sent to Ms. Ravitch.

Malene

Ms. Ravitch,

So you lost the case. That is the good news. The bad news is your wasted tax payer money on a case that not only wasn't winable, but which it was morally reprehensible to prosecute.

Come election day you will be remembered as the DA who tortured a mentally ill man and his family who had been through enough, and wasted tax payer money on an case that should never have been brought to trial.

You lost the case, and your lost respect. If you don't have the conscience to feel bad about your choices, I hope you feel worried about your future. If you don't have the conscience to feel bad about your choices then you are a worse person than Houston Herczog.

Sleep Tight!
Malene Comes

[norcalgal]

A few things about medical records. Patients are entitled to copies of their records upon written request. The Physicians office has 2 weeks to comply. Physicians must keep patient medical records for a period of time, I beleive it's 10 years, but I am not sure.
In the each medical chart should be a diagnosis, treatment plan and detailed notes of each visit whether its for mental health or medical issues. You may not be able to file a lawsuit, but you can have the chart reviewed to see if he was following protocol for best practice in the State of Cailfornia. I hope this is helpful.

I had to drop the case because the lawyer pulled out because he couldn't get access to Glick's notes, which I think he falsified anyway.

[Dr Pam]

I tried to sue him for malpractice and when the attorney had the papers served on him, he left the state and moved to Maryland the next day. I am going to report him to every association,governing board and newspaper that will listen.I had to drop the case because the lawyer pulled out because he couldn't get access to Glick's notes, which I think he falsified anyway. I wrote the summons/legal complaint myself (thank you, Nolo Press) and filed it on the last day but could not flnd a lawyer to help me, all saying it wouldn't make them enough money. I couldn't handle doing one more thing so dropped the case but that doesn't mean I'm keeping quiet.

I can't understand why no attorney would represent your family in a wrongful death suit. Perhaps matters would be different now that Houston's future has been decided. Lawsuits sometimes only prolong the trauma and the sense of loss because the person who is grieving has to keep dealing with the past day in and day out. On the other hand, successful law suits can bring a sense of relief that justice has been done.

[jbox]

I can't understand why no attorney would represent your family in a wrongful death suit. Perhaps matters would be different now that Houston's future has been decided. Lawsuits sometimes only prolong the trauma and the sense of loss because the person who is grieving has to keep dealing with the past day in and day out. On the other hand, successful law suits can bring a sense of relief that justice has been done.

This has been an odd thread in a way, lots of attention paid to everything going on with regard to the legal and psychological issues of Houston, Marilyn's legal issues, the insanity vs. criminal conundrum,. condemnation of the DA and the legal system as a whole. But I don't think the issue of Mark Herzog being stabbed 60 times and Houston's father losing his life has come up but once on this thread. Isn't that an issue here too?

[Sabrina]

I'm sure Mark will continue to be grieved and I know the family had a large service for him with all community involved. What more is there to say for that? This IS the discussion about it. Mark lives on in those who love him including his son, X wife, daughter, and many others including, I believe, in this conversation. Just my opinion and belief.

[meherc]

They all said they wouldn't make enough money on it even though I did have a case..I want justice. I consider that Glick killed my family and then ran awayl. Every therapist that I ever went to called to offer their condolences. Not a word from Glick. Afraid of a lawsuit if he said any thing?
I wrote a long e-email refuting what that woman had claimed and of course it whooshed away when I was almost done.

I can't understand why no attorney would represent your family in a wrongful death suit. Perhaps matters would be different now that Houston's future has been decided. Lawsuits sometimes only prolong the trauma and the sense of loss because the person who is grieving has to keep dealing with the past day in and day out. On the other hand, successful law suits can bring a sense of relief that justice has been done.

[rossmen]

what is your point? revenge? here is a family seeking healing and wholeness in a system designed to punish wrong, looking for community support. maybe you can get a job with the da ;(

This has been an odd thread in a way, lots of attention paid to everything going on with regard to the legal and psychological issues of Houston, Marilyn's legal issues, the insanity vs. criminal conundrum,. condemnation of the DA and the legal system as a whole. But I don't think the issue of Mark Herzog being stabbed 60 times and Houston's father losing his life has come up but once on this thread. Isn't that an issue here too?

[meherc]

And what do you suggest I do? Bring him back to life? It's done. We are still mourning Mark and I cry every day because I miss him so much. But he would have forgiven Houston because he knew H was sick, not mad at his Dad .I feel awful that I love Houston so much and we were so alike and I couldn't tell how sick he was. I thought he was depressed like I have been since I was 15. Houston cries every night too because he now knows it was his dad and not an evil demon. How would you like to live with that forever? I tell him that I KNOW his dad forgives him because he loved H more than anything in the world and he is there watching over him. So I am concentrating on my kids. BOTH of them. They need a mom now, not stories about their dad's killing..

That's kind of my job, not yours, don't you think? I do tell our story often but not for the vengeful reasons you seem to want. It's so people are not ashamed and think they're the only one with mental illness in their family.. I've had people thank me because their son has been in jail for 6 years and they haven't even told their best friend. There is still that strong stigma about mental illness and I am not ashamed of my son. It doesn't feel so hot when everyone is talking about their kids going to Oberlin, winning a scholarship, or Yale or studying pre-med and I pipe up with "Well, my son was declared insane this week". But he is brilliant and artistic and we're doing the best we can in the situation when you're heart is wrenched out of your chest.

We had a huge memorial for Mark, several fundraisers with his band playing, and my wonderful friends setting up bank accounts for me and Savannah so I can survive (I haven't been able to work for a year, went through all my savings and don't know what to do because I still can't think right and forget things after 5 minutes, fall over, have a hard time driving and can't work very fast. (All my clients on WACCO, close your ears). I lost 40 lbs and would not eat at all if people like my mailwoman didn't come on her break and feed me. She insists on watching me eat so I actually do it.. And a fund for Savannah to help her pay for school. That kid was taking 19 units and had a 30hr/week job. I said slow down, you don't have to work that hard. She said if she stops, she thinks about Daddy.

So, feel free to say what you want about Mark, he was a wonderful man,, but don't you dare disparage my kid.

what is your point? revenge? here is a family seeking healing and wholeness in a system designed to punish wrong, looking for community support. maybe you can get a job with the da ;(

[meherc]

I actually went to see Paul Payne and thanked him for what I thought was even handed reporting. I testified too, Annette. Gotta remember that family thing, remembering I am part of things too..

Dear Sonoma County,

I'm Houston's "Aunt Toodie" and Mark Herczog's little sister, Annette Keys. I just returned to Ohio after testifying for Houston, along with Mark's eldest daughter, Cameron, and Mark and Marilyn's daughter Savannah. Yep, Savannah testified for her brother!!! When she heard how the prosecution's testimony was leaving out some truths, she asked to get involved. She was rivetting and honest and emotional and funny and both girls were poised, confident and amazing. Waner didn't cross examine Cam, but he went after Savannah and that girl held her own! Naturally, the Press Dem wasn't there that day. As a matter of fact, I had a talk with Paul Payne about what I felt was biased reporting on Friday, and last Sat. was the first day a balanced report was printed. Hope it stays that way.
...

[meherc]

Only 1% of people who plead NGI win their case. THANK YOU,WACCO.

Houston Herczog was was declared not guilty by reason of insanity.

Here's the PD article.

[meherc]

Ah, just the woman I've been looking for. I feel it is necessary to re-set the record straight. First of, you must be talking about some other Glick or some other family since your memory of things is so far off as to be delusional.

Since he quite honorably informed his patients of the move, we must not have been on his list. He did not tell Houston, who would have been jumping up and down with joy. Since I was the one paying out of pocket, one would think he'd mention it to me also. When I left a message on his answering machine telling him about the killing, he never even had the courtesy of calling back. Quite a coincidence, that he left a day or two after getting my lawyer's letter, I have the letter in my and- left no forwarding address and wasn't able to give the police his session notes till11/30 when they were requested the next day.

He was not a fan of Glick. Mark despised Glick after Mark wanted to ask a simple question about our son and Glick said sure, make an appt and it will be $300. Mark would never even set foot in his waiting room after that. Houston was 21 so we usually just sent him off on his own with a check which certainly was generous of Glick to charge us full price when Mark was on disability and I was unemployed. He must have been so busy treating all those indigent people, he forgot about our income.

Unless he was living a double life, Mark was definitely NOT one of your clients. He was not a big fan of Shin Jitsu or whatever you do is called. He had Kaiser and I handled the finances and never saw your name or any kind of Asian business name. You should be ashamed of yourself, making up lies, like Mark was your client' or he happily praised Glick. It even came out in court that Mark couldn't stand Glick. It is also in the court records that all three of the professional and well respected psychiatrists were dumbfounded at how incompetent Glick was. I tried recorded to scan that part of the report to you,

I am dumbfounded myself how you could just make all this up.
What kind of a person would do that ?

Just want to set the record straight about one of your earlier posts. Dr Glick, Houston's psychiatrist, did not leave town because of anything to do with Mark's death. He had been planning the move for a long time. I know this because he worked in the office next to mine and we talked frequently. He was planning the move for a long while before he told his patients and he quite honorably made sure his patients were informed well in advance of his move. I know this because some of my clients were also his patients. So he certainly did not skip town the next day after being served anything.

I knew Mark, he was a client for many years. And I would see him in the waiting area while Houston was with Dr Glick. When we talked Mark was happy with Dr Glick and Dr Glick helped many, many people in this county for decades. He also did much pro bono work for the indigent in our county. Anybody who has worked with people with severe mental illness knows the heartbreak and difficulty of finding lasting help. Dr Glick is a man who would go above and beyond the call of duty for his patients. Just FYI.

[jsjjane]

Marilyn, you are way off base to call me a liar. Everything I said was true. The only way I knew Mark was that he was a client. He did a trade with me for installing an alarm system in my home a few years ago and he was a client before that. What I said about Glick was true too. I knew he was leaving for Maryland way before his patients. I don't know why he didn't tell your son. I don't know if he didn't tell your son. I don't know if your son was seeing Glick during the time when he was telling patients. It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, I'm just letting you know what I know because I thought you were interested in truth. My mistake.

I am so sorry about your son. I am so very very sad that your ex husband is gone. Mark was a really good man. I'm so sad for your entire family. And I agree that the mental healthcare in this county is shameful as a whole. I have a friend with a son now who is much like Houston and can't get mental health because he's violent and poor. I appreciate your stand for better mental healthcare. May it be so.

Ah, just the woman I've been looking for. I feel it is necessary to re-set the record straight. First of, you must be talking about some other Glick or some other family since your memory of things is so far off as to be delusional.

Since he quite honorably informed his patients of the move, we must not have been on his list. He did not tell Houston, who would have been jumping up and down with joy. Since I was the one paying out of pocket, one would think he'd mention it to me also. When I left a message on his answering machine telling him about the killing, he never even had the courtesy of calling back. Quite a coincidence, that he left a day or two after getting my lawyer's letter, I have the letter in my and- left no forwarding address and wasn't able to give the police his session notes till11/30 when they were requested the next day.

He was not a fan of Glick. Mark despised Glick after Mark wanted to ask a simple question about our son and Glick said sure, make an appt and it will be $300. Mark would never even set foot in his waiting room after that. Houston was 21 so we usually just sent him off on his own with a check which certainly was generous of Glick to charge us full price when Mark was on disability and I was unemployed. He must have been so busy treating all those indigent people, he forgot about our income.

Unless he was living a double life, Mark was definitely NOT one of your clients. He was not a big fan of Shin Jitsu or whatever you do is called. He had Kaiser and I handled the finances and never saw your name or any kind of Asian business name. You should be ashamed of yourself, making up lies, like Mark was your client' or he happily praised Glick. It even came out in court that Mark couldn't stand Glick. It is also in the court records that all three of the professional and well respected psychiatrists were dumbfounded at how incompetent Glick was. I tried recorded to scan that part of the report to you,

I am dumbfounded myself how you could just make all this up.
What kind of a person would do that ?