Why, this is:
Now, we admit that we've never heard of her, but what we've read thus far really has been a bit of an eye opener:
(Jan 7, 2010)
She wants to be declared a dangerous offender. Just like the man she worships.
Years ago, at the peak of the Paul Bernardo case, she used to phone me. Sometimes several times a day.
She would call to say she loved the serial sex killer and he loved her. That we were all wrong about her Paul. He was innocent. Misunderstood.
She would go on to be a diagnosed off-the-dial psychopath. She would tell psychiatrists she wanted to become a famous killer.
Her name was Michelle Erstikaitis. Still a teenager back when she used to dial me. Obsessed with a man she had never met.
I had lost track of Michelle. Until this week.
On Tuesday she appeared -- sans lawyer -- in a Toronto courtroom to tell a judge she wants to be declared a dangerous offender. If the court bestows that designation on her, the now 30-year-old says, "I'll write a book about it."
The Toronto Star's Peter Small quotes her saying: "I'll be the only female dangerous offender. ... I'll write a lot of nasty s--- about everybody who's done this."
The judge has put the matter over until a later date with plans to appoint a legal professional to assist Michelle, who fired her lawyer a month ago.
Meanwhile, let me tell you about the train wreck of a person who is Michelle Lyne Erstikaitis.
She is a Hamilton girl. The eldest of three sisters.
"First born, first forgotten," she once said.
Her mother was a sex worker and drug addict. Michelle was raised by her for the first five years. At 8, she was adopted by a local family. They had their hands full.
During the next few years, she was hospitalized with mental health problems -- depression, hysteria, psychosis and borderline and antisocial personality disorders -- at least five times. She used drugs and cut herself.
At 13 she became obsessed with Bernardo, writing to him in jail and claiming he was the only one who understood her.
In 1995, when Bernardo was on trial for the first-degree murders of teenagers Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French, Michelle's obsession flourished. (She was also becoming infatuated with Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.) She began leaving sadistic, threatening messages on Debbie Mahaffy's answering machine about her dead daughter. A girl her own age.
Sometimes Michelle pretended to be Leslie. Other times, she threatened to kill the grieving mother and her son.
"I love him, you know," she said in a message after Bernardo was given a life sentence. "But you put him in jail. ... I'm afraid I'll just have to go to your son's school and -- you know -- get him, a la Kristen French."
Michelle also called 911 and said she was going to kill Debbie Mahaffy. Michelle gave her name. She was convicted of making death threats in early 1999.
That fall, she poured gasoline around her Hamilton apartment and ignited it. Emergency workers broke down her door to rescue her. Tenants were home in six other apartments in the building. She was taken to Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital first, then charged with arson, endangering life and breaching her probation.
After a guilty plea and a two-year sentence, the Hamilton Crown attorney's office ordered a psychiatric evaluation as part of a dangerous offender application.
Out of a possible 40 points on the psychopathy checklist, Michelle scored a 37.8. Anything over 30 indicates a substantial risk that the offender will commit a violent crime.
Michelle was just 22. A young woman to be facing a possible lifetime locked up as a dangerous offender. In the end, the Attorney General of Ontario sought -- and got -- a six-year long-term offender designation instead, meaning she was supervised for six years after her release from prison.
She was still on that supervision when she allegedly slashed her boyfriend with scissors a year ago. And that's why she was in court this week. She wanted to plead guilty to armed assault, mischief and threatening and consent to being declared a D.O., which means an indefinite sentence.
Michelle, who has been in custody since last January, wants to represent herself. She told the judge she was capable: "I have more intelligence than the average inmate." The judge, however, wants her to have a lawyer by her side if the long process of declaring her a D.O. -- a designation Bernardo already has -- is to begin.
Now, we suppose you're wondering why we would take the time on this blog to write about this particular individual who is clearly mentally ill and who, perhaps for her own safety and certainly for the safety of people she might come into contact with, should be designated as a dangerous offender and put away for an indefinite period of time?
Well, it seems that, according to Paul Fromm, Ms. Erstikaitis is the victim here. You see, she's being persecuted for her "White Nationalist" beliefs:
sive and has had a somewhat checkered past -- youthful convictions for attempted arson, possession of marijuana and assault.
In 2009, she was through with probation and had found a good job. In 2008, she had worked for Elections Canada. She is personable and eager to succeed. Now, the Ontario Government is considering naming her a "dangerous offender" -- subject to unlimited imprisonment.
There is strong evidence this extraordinary action is being considered, not because Miss Erstikaitis is a dire menace to the community, but because of her unabashed political views -- she once wrote a letter encouraging Timothy McVeigh to die proud.
It's urgent that people FAX Ontario Attorney General Christ Bentley and urge him not to do this. Yuo [sic] can also e-mail him by logging on to the Attorney General's webpage http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca. Go to "Contact Us" and click on to e-mail and send your message.
Paul Fromm
Director CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION
Canadian Association for Free Expression Inc.,
P.O Box 332,
Rexdale, ON., M9W 5L3
Ph: 905-274-3868:
FAX: 905-278-2413
Paul Fromm, B.A., B.Ed., MA. Director
Hon, Christopher Bentley,
Attorney General of Ontario
Re: Possible “Dangerous Offender” Application for Michelle Erstikaitis
BY FAX: 416-326-4007
Dear Minister Bentley:
I am writing to urge you to avoid a draconian miscarriage of justice. It is our understanding that on Monday you shall announce whether you are seeking to have Michelle Erstikaitis, presently in the Vanier Detention Centre on minor domestic assault charges, declared a “dangerous offender.”
Incidentally, Miss Erstikaitis has been held in remand for over sixteen months and has not been granted bail – a seeming waste of taxpayers’ money and a violation of her rights to bail and a speedy trial. Miss Erstikaitis has an arson charge going back to her teen years and a number of minor assault convictions.
Before the January, 2009 domestic violence charges, two of which have been withdrawn, Miss Erstikaitis was gainfully employed and had worked for Elections Canada in the 2008 election. It is our fear that it is her White Nationalist political views that have targeted her as dangerous.
While she was still a teenager, she wrote to Timothy McVey, the alleged Oklahoma City
Miss Erstikaitis also says that one of the arresting officers, called by her then boyfriend, spoke inappropriately to her, saying words to the effect “we you know who you are, you racist bitch, and you’re going down.”
I urge you not to declare Miss Erstikaitis a dangerous offender as it seems only her political views set her apart from others with far more serious and life threatening crimes, who still walk our streets.
Sincerely yours,
Paul Fromm
So how bad is it when Bill Noble appears clear headed by comparison?
We really aren't sure why Paulie is willing to fall on his sword for this woman, though it's not exactly the first time he's voiced his support for questionable individuals (his support for the Aryan Guard and of Kyle McKee regarding the pipe bomb allegation in particular being two such examples).
We think Paulie has lost his mojo. Or jumped the shark. Or whatever pithy pop culture reference for loosing his shit you, our dear readers, can come up with yourselves. Feel free to share.
But hey, if Paulie is so confident that she's being railroaded, perhaps he'd be willing to take Ms. Erstikaitis in to his own home to prove she's not a threat?
How about it Paulie?
hehe very funny how the Ag coiterie cant figure out why MR Fromm is falling on his sword so to speak for this one, but the answer is probably quite simple and implicite in the Hamilton spectator article alluding to her OTHER infatuation with the original Tea PartyMovement super star Timothy MCveigh.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that she also Idolises A man who tortured raped and killed white women/children doesnt show a great amount of "race consciousness" or whatever they call it in this girls psycopathic behaviour, never the less Idolizing the Man and the party behind the genocide of 6 million people doesnt make much sense either, though it no doubt lowers the bar for "political constency".....
The man sounds like he is just trying to start some sort of drama, like he is simply trying to get his face out there as the man who defends the batshit insane. No offence to the Erstikaitis girl.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, however, there is no point in sending her to jail or labelling her a dangerous offender. She needs real, long-term help in a facility. A jail is not the place for that. (In many ways, it is supposed to be, but it's not.)
I was wondering when you'd mention it. Haha
ReplyDeleteBill raised that interesting point, "...someone's professed politics doesn't merit our coming to their support." That SHOULD be the case!
ReplyDeleteThis is, sadly, another negative example of Paul's own occasional discreditable conduct!
This time, I think that Paul bases his concern on mere suspicion, in terms of the attorney general's decision having ANYTHING to do with her alleged political sympathies! She IS a dangerous offender and should be designated as such! As I said, I do believe that if Paul's suspicion was truly the case, the notion that this person is a so-called, 'white nationalist,' would have been widespread information! So far, it hasn't been.
I think it's about to be!
Well Meghan you've been so disappointed in our writing that we felt we needed to throw you a bit of a bone.
ReplyDeleteThe psycho ones are always White Nationalist...
ReplyDeleteSomeone may want to let some of the folks over on Fromm's FB page that it's actually pretty easy to get work with Elections Canada when there's an election on. Like there was in 2008. Psycho-girl's work for EC doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean she's a CSIS mole nor does it indicate, as Mr Fromm believes, that she's any sort of a mental competent. All it means is she was available for casual labour in an election year.
ReplyDeleteNos200, yeah. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Michelle is that she goes through long periods of being "normal" before she blows up. This shows a personality disorder for sure but not necessarily a psychopath.
ReplyDeleteI was incarcerated with her for over a year at Syl Apps secure treatment facility and during that whole time her obsession with Bernardo only came up twice, the first time only in a very subtle manner.
We were sitting in computer lab during school and she turned to me and said "I was involved in a kidnapping" and then turned back to whatever she was doing. I never thought much of it and believe me I have heard and seen far worse in that place. Only later did I learn about her alleged obsession with Paul Bernardo.
In the interest of full disclosure I was still a teenager then and too consumed with my own crap to pay much attention to anyone except myself. Also we did not like each other much although we were not normally antagonistic to one another either.
The second incident amounted to scribbling pictures of the Bernardo murders on a wall, which seemed very attention grabbing and almost out of character for her otherwise benign personality. people can change but she was not some blabbering psychotic or cold psychopath, which means either she is a tremendous actress with a high degree of self awareness or she is play acting at being crazy.
Michelle also never once to my knowledge exposed ANY racist sentiment, and I was around her almost 24/7.
She was however beaten and molested constantly before she was even five years old and passed from family to family like an unwanted pet. This doesn't excuse her abhorrent behaviour but is a factor in he obviously broken psyche.
Michelle is also VERY intelligent and I have no doubt more then capable of playing most psychiatrists like a violin, if she wants to look like a psychopath then she will.
Unfortunately permanent incarceration may be the best thing for her own safety and the safety of others, because she has had opportunities for treatment, (not that Syl Apps was a good place for ANY troubled teen), and rejected them all. I am sad that she has made such a crappy life for herself but at least many of the others I lived with have become successful.
The thing about Michelle is that she goes through long periods of being "normal" before she blows up. This shows a personality disorder for sure but not necessarily a psychopath.
ReplyDeleteI was incarcerated with her for over a year at Syl Apps secure treatment facility and during that whole time her obsession with Bernardo only came up twice, the first time only in a very subtle manner.
We were sitting in computer lab during school and she turned to me and said "I was involved in a kidnapping" and then turned back to whatever she was doing. I never thought much of it and believe me I have heard and seen far worse in that place. Only later did I learn about her alleged obsession with Paul Bernardo.
In the interest of full disclosure I was still a teenager then and too consumed with my own crap to pay much attention to anyone except myself. Also we did not like each other much although we were not normally antagonistic to one another either.
The second incident amounted to scribbling pictures of the Bernardo murders on a wall, which seemed very attention grabbing and almost out of character for her otherwise benign personality. people can change but she was not some blabbering psychotic or cold psychopath, which means either she is a tremendous actress with a high degree of self awareness or she is play acting at being crazy.
Michelle also never once to my knowledge exposed ANY racist sentiment, and I was around her almost 24/7.
She was however beaten and molested constantly before she was even five years old and passed from family to family like an unwanted pet. This doesn't excuse her abhorrent behaviour but is a factor in he obviously broken psyche.
Michelle is also VERY intelligent and I have no doubt more then capable of playing most psychiatrists like a violin, if she wants to look like a psychopath then she will.
Unfortunately permanent incarceration may be the best thing for her own safety and the safety of others, because she has had opportunities for treatment, (not that Syl Apps was a good place for ANY troubled teen), and rejected them all. I am sad that she has made such a crappy life for herself but at least many of the others I lived with have become successful.