00:00:20.145 --> 00:00:23.982
[crickets chirping,
dramatic music slowly builds]

00:00:25.817 --> 00:00:28.278
[sirens blare as dramatic
music continues]

00:00:28.278 --> 00:00:29.362
DISPATCHER: Michelle Ricks:

00:00:29.362 --> 00:00:33.199
last name Romeo India
Charlie Kilo Sierra.

00:00:33.199 --> 00:00:36.411
First name Michelle: Mike India
Charlie Hotel Echo

00:00:36.411 --> 00:00:39.164
Lima Lima Echo.
Middle initial: R Romeo.

00:00:39.164 --> 00:00:40.665
That's gonna be
the missing person.

00:00:40.665 --> 00:00:43.334
She's deaf and mute and

00:00:43.334 --> 00:00:45.628
has the mental capacity
of a five-year-old child.

00:00:48.757 --> 00:00:49.758
OFFICER: What' going on?

00:00:49.758 --> 00:00:51.342
KIM: I have guardianship
over a young lady.

00:00:51.342 --> 00:00:53.720
She's 35 years old.
She's autistic.

00:00:53.720 --> 00:00:56.848
She's deaf/mute and
terrified of police officers.

00:00:56.848 --> 00:00:59.476
She will become
violent with officers.

00:00:59.476 --> 00:01:00.310
OFFICER: Okay.

00:01:00.310 --> 00:01:02.437
KIM: Because of what's
happened to her in the past.

00:01:02.437 --> 00:01:05.231
OFFICER: We're working on
getting a bloodhound.

00:01:05.231 --> 00:01:08.568
As long as we have her
clothing, we can get a sniff.

00:01:11.112 --> 00:01:13.072
OFFICER: Michelle?

00:01:13.948 --> 00:01:15.408
[cars passing]

00:01:15.408 --> 00:01:16.409
KIM: Michelle's missing.

00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:18.745
She's been missing
since 6:30 this morning.

00:01:18.745 --> 00:01:21.372
Trying to find somebody
that has night vision goggles

00:01:21.372 --> 00:01:22.791
or a night vision scope.

00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:29.380
[sharp, rhythmic tapping,
dramatic music builds]

00:01:33.384 --> 00:01:35.804
[dramatic music and tapping
echo and fade away]

00:01:41.601 --> 00:01:43.269
[stirring, pulsing music]

00:01:47.982 --> 00:01:51.110
PUBLIC DEFENDER: I can't
even conceive of

00:01:51.110 --> 00:01:55.198
not being able to hear
and not being able to talk

00:01:55.198 --> 00:01:56.866
and being in Florida
state prison.

00:01:56.866 --> 00:01:58.535
[door buzzer blares,
door unlocks]

00:02:00.119 --> 00:02:03.248
How Michelle fits
into the law isn't easy.

00:02:05.166 --> 00:02:09.128
But we should be judged by
how we deal with the hard ones.

00:02:09.128 --> 00:02:12.382
When confronted with the hard
case that doesn't fit into

00:02:12.382 --> 00:02:16.261
any particular category,
the answer is too often

00:02:16.261 --> 00:02:19.305
to discard that person...

00:02:20.348 --> 00:02:22.809
sweep the problem
under the rug,

00:02:22.809 --> 00:02:25.812
pass the problem on
to the next place.

00:02:29.107 --> 00:02:30.650
[prison door slams, echoes]

00:02:30.650 --> 00:02:34.779
[stirring music pulses,
slowly fades out]

00:02:39.450 --> 00:02:42.453
[breeze blowing, birds singing]

00:02:42.453 --> 00:02:45.456
[footsteps crunching]

00:03:05.226 --> 00:03:07.228
[haunting, pulsing sound]

00:03:12.775 --> 00:03:14.777
[tender music begins]

00:03:25.747 --> 00:03:26.915
[cars rushing]

00:03:34.213 --> 00:03:37.300
[flowers crackle underfoot]

00:03:41.304 --> 00:03:45.308
[tender music continues]

00:04:04.577 --> 00:04:06.788
[makes happy sounds to cat]

00:04:09.415 --> 00:04:13.461
[cat purrs as music
and birdsong continue]

00:04:16.631 --> 00:04:20.259
[laughter]

00:04:21.552 --> 00:04:23.930
KIM: Michelle and I met
when she came to

00:04:23.930 --> 00:04:26.724
my Sunday School class
that I teach at Lowell Prison.

00:04:30.186 --> 00:04:33.189
Bob and I have been motivational
speakers and trainers

00:04:33.189 --> 00:04:36.526
for many years,
helping people to be able

00:04:36.526 --> 00:04:38.903
to find their
purposes in life.

00:04:40.488 --> 00:04:43.282
We took classes and
programs that we had

00:04:43.282 --> 00:04:45.785
already been working
on and converted them

00:04:45.785 --> 00:04:47.829
to the process of
working with inmates

00:04:47.829 --> 00:04:49.080
so that
when they get out,

00:04:49.080 --> 00:04:51.040
they have the tools to succeed.

00:04:57.171 --> 00:05:01.926
Back in 2002, the doctors
gave me some medication

00:05:01.926 --> 00:05:04.595
to deal with Bell’s palsy.

00:05:04.595 --> 00:05:06.681
As a side effect
from the medication,

00:05:06.681 --> 00:05:08.558
I became what’s
called “white blind.”

00:05:09.308 --> 00:05:13.396
My eyes have been permanently
dilated open for 16 years.

00:05:14.397 --> 00:05:17.025
For about the past two years,

00:05:17.025 --> 00:05:19.652
my eyesight has started
changing and improving.

00:05:22.030 --> 00:05:24.032
My eyes are
beginning to practice tracking

00:05:24.032 --> 00:05:27.243
and focusing again together.
It’s pretty cool.

00:05:29.954 --> 00:05:32.582
Michelle was in
prison for five years.

00:05:33.875 --> 00:05:36.044
She had
a really rough life.

00:05:36.919 --> 00:05:38.629
Nice to see you again.

00:05:39.255 --> 00:05:42.425
We have a program that assists
individuals coming out of prison

00:05:42.425 --> 00:05:46.387
to be able to have a place
to start over, basically.

00:05:52.602 --> 00:05:55.605
[keys jingling, door clanking]

00:06:07.533 --> 00:06:10.995
KIM: When she came to us, she
was on so many medications,

00:06:10.995 --> 00:06:12.622
she literally looked
like somebody

00:06:12.622 --> 00:06:14.290
who had full-blown
Parkinson's.

00:06:14.290 --> 00:06:16.542
She couldn't hold a
drink without spilling it

00:06:16.542 --> 00:06:17.835
to her mouth.

00:06:17.835 --> 00:06:21.172
She was on perphenazine,
Depakote, Celexa,

00:06:21.172 --> 00:06:23.466
Vistaril, benztropine.

00:06:23.466 --> 00:06:26.427
Side effects were tremors
and shaking;

00:06:26.427 --> 00:06:32.100
uncontrollable muscle movements;
fast and uneven heartbeats;

00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:34.393
severe nervous system reaction.

00:06:35.978 --> 00:06:38.564
There was four different times
that we had to put her in

00:06:38.564 --> 00:06:41.109
the hospital because
she was having such a hard time

00:06:41.109 --> 00:06:42.068
coming off of the stuff

00:06:42.068 --> 00:06:43.736
that they had her on
in the prison.

00:06:44.654 --> 00:06:47.532
MICHELLE: [laughs]
[crunching footsteps]

00:06:47.532 --> 00:06:51.452
KIM: The reason I became
Michelle's guardian is because

00:06:51.452 --> 00:06:54.956
[voice shaking]
if we didn't do that,

00:06:54.956 --> 00:06:58.668
then she was gonna
be institutionalized.

00:06:59.377 --> 00:07:02.046
[glass beads clinking on wood]

00:07:02.505 --> 00:07:03.506
MICHELLE: Ah.

00:07:03.506 --> 00:07:05.800
KIM: No, you're not
gonna give me one?

00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:06.801
MICHELLE: Ah!

00:07:06.801 --> 00:07:10.138
KIM: Uh-huh. [beads clinking]
[snaps]

00:07:10.138 --> 00:07:13.933
KIM: When I was 13 years old, I
had the opportunity to babysit

00:07:13.933 --> 00:07:16.936
for a 2-year-old little girl.
She was deaf.

00:07:16.936 --> 00:07:19.188
So, as she learned
sign language, so did I.

00:07:22.608 --> 00:07:25.319
KIM: Ahhh!
MICHELLE: [laughs]

00:07:30.324 --> 00:07:32.326
MICHELLE: [continues laughing]

00:07:32.326 --> 00:07:38.040
KIM: When you and I met for the
first time, what did you think

00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:40.793
when I started to sign with you?

00:08:05.985 --> 00:08:09.989
[pensive music,
shoppers chatting nearby]

00:09:27.692 --> 00:09:29.068
MICHELLE: Ah.

00:09:33.572 --> 00:09:35.574
Ah!

00:09:35.574 --> 00:09:37.702
KIM: Yeah, see?
It's peat moss.

00:09:40.746 --> 00:09:42.373
Okay.

00:09:42.540 --> 00:09:44.292
Ah, here it is.

00:09:44.292 --> 00:09:48.504
MICHELLE: Ah!
KIM: There's the tree. Yeah.

00:09:48.504 --> 00:09:50.298
MICHELLE: Nah.
KIM: No, it's dead.

00:09:50.298 --> 00:09:57.722
MICHELLE: [vocalizes]
KIM: [laughs]

00:09:58.597 --> 00:10:02.643
KIM: What do you feel
when you hear a loud sound?

00:10:07.231 --> 00:10:08.232
[music pulses]

00:10:17.241 --> 00:10:20.536
[mellow music, birdsong]

00:10:33.424 --> 00:10:36.761
[mellow music continues,
an uplifting melody]

00:11:05.122 --> 00:11:07.958
KIM: Michelle can
create change for herself.

00:11:07.958 --> 00:11:10.711
She's got a God-given talent,
and this is something

00:11:10.711 --> 00:11:12.713
that could make her a success.

00:11:16.509 --> 00:11:18.594
KIM: Acrylics is her go-to.
CLERK: OK.

00:11:18.594 --> 00:11:21.305
KIM: So, water and oil
is something

00:11:21.305 --> 00:11:22.765
new that she wants to try.

00:11:48.249 --> 00:11:50.418
[stomps her foot, moans]
KIM: No, no, no. No.

00:11:50.418 --> 00:11:51.877
It’s okay. Michelle?

00:11:52.878 --> 00:11:56.340
MICHELLE: [cries, gasps]
KIM: Hey.

00:12:01.303 --> 00:12:05.182
KIM: I think the biggest
hardship is not knowing

00:12:05.182 --> 00:12:09.854
what causes her to have
a flashback with PTSD

00:12:09.854 --> 00:12:12.231
from the traumas that
happened in her life.

00:12:13.232 --> 00:12:16.527
[music begins to race]

00:12:16.527 --> 00:12:18.279
KIM: Hey, we need your help.

00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:20.322
ROBIN: What’s up?
KIM: Michelle’s missing.

00:12:24.034 --> 00:12:25.119
[dispatcher's voice
on police radio]

00:12:25.119 --> 00:12:26.996
DISPATCHER: Need all units.
Suspect is female.

00:12:26.996 --> 00:12:29.165
She does not like
anybody in uniform.

00:12:29.165 --> 00:12:31.625
Again, she does not
like anybody in uniform.

00:12:31.625 --> 00:12:33.586
WOMAN: I lost her as soon as
she went like that.

00:12:33.586 --> 00:12:34.962
OFFICER: In those
woods right there?

00:12:34.962 --> 00:12:37.715
Did she cut through the woods?
WOMAN: I don’t know!

00:12:37.715 --> 00:12:39.425
OFFICER: Is she suicidal?
WOMAN: Yeah.

00:12:39.425 --> 00:12:43.554
[chopper blades
whir as music intensifies]

00:12:45.806 --> 00:12:47.183
OFFICER: Major, I’m
on the bottom

00:12:47.183 --> 00:12:49.977
of the bridge here
at the street.

00:12:49.977 --> 00:12:52.021
OFFICER: Sergeant, I thought
that maybe a couple of units

00:12:52.021 --> 00:12:53.856
can creep up
the little walkway.

00:12:53.856 --> 00:12:55.816
Is that something we
can get up to her?

00:12:55.816 --> 00:12:57.610
SERGEANT: No,
absolutely not.

00:12:57.610 --> 00:12:59.320
She’s on the outside
of the bridge, outside

00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:01.280
the railing. She's not
even holding on.

00:13:01.280 --> 00:13:05.576
Anybody else got sign language?
We don't have anybody?

00:13:05.576 --> 00:13:08.871
OFFICER: We got a rescue swimmer
here ready to go on a board.

00:13:08.871 --> 00:13:10.372
DISPATCHER: Family’s
on the way, you guys.

00:13:10.372 --> 00:13:12.124
Probably less than
four minutes out.

00:13:13.209 --> 00:13:18.214
[tense music, police
walkie talkies buzz with voices]

00:13:23.344 --> 00:13:24.845
-Nice.
-Okay.

00:13:24.845 --> 00:13:26.305
-Got her.
-Got her?

00:13:26.305 --> 00:13:28.140
-She just came over the railing.
-Good.

00:13:30.351 --> 00:13:32.353
KIM: We just wanna
stand here and wait.

00:13:32.353 --> 00:13:35.272
We just want to wait for
the officer to get here.

00:13:36.857 --> 00:13:40.486
[tense music slowly softens, fades]

00:13:41.487 --> 00:13:44.573
OFFICER: Explain to her
that because of everything

00:13:44.573 --> 00:13:47.493
that happened today with her
running away from you

00:13:47.493 --> 00:13:50.621
and finding her on the bridge,
I have to do this.

00:13:50.621 --> 00:13:57.461
KIM: Because you ran today,
they had helicopters

00:13:57.461 --> 00:13:58.212
looking for you,

00:13:59.630 --> 00:14:02.258
dogs looking for you.

00:14:04.009 --> 00:14:09.932
All the officers, all over,
were looking for you.

00:14:09.932 --> 00:14:14.979
And they find you
on top of a bridge?!

00:14:15.729 --> 00:14:18.983
All of them think that you
are trying to kill yourself.

00:14:20.067 --> 00:14:21.860
KIM: I know! But.

00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:26.031
He has to have
you checked here.

00:14:26.865 --> 00:14:29.159
OFFICER: I'll get you
a copy of the report.

00:14:30.661 --> 00:14:32.496
KIM: Thank you.
OFFICER: You're welcome.

00:14:33.289 --> 00:14:35.374
OFFICER: Can you tell her
I'm a nice guy?

00:14:37.209 --> 00:14:40.921
KIM: The reason she was so upset
was because she was wanting

00:14:40.921 --> 00:14:44.383
to spend time with you
for Mother's Day, and—

00:14:44.383 --> 00:14:46.885
ROBIN: I know, and that
even makes it worse.

00:14:46.885 --> 00:14:48.512
KIM: Why?
Why would you say worse?

00:14:48.512 --> 00:14:51.557
I think that that's a—
ROBIN: It's wonderful, yes.

00:14:51.557 --> 00:14:55.644
But then the fact that she run
off because of it, you know,

00:14:55.644 --> 00:14:58.939
I mean, it makes it like
god, it's my fault.

00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:04.903
KIM: The courts don't realize
that even though she left again,

00:15:04.903 --> 00:15:08.907
it didn't take 27 hours
to find her this time.

00:15:08.907 --> 00:15:12.870
It was more of a cooldown time
than anything, though we have to

00:15:12.870 --> 00:15:15.706
work with helping her to
understand if she's upset,

00:15:15.706 --> 00:15:17.916
there's other things
she can do besides running.

00:15:17.916 --> 00:15:20.002
Because that's like her go-to.

00:15:20.753 --> 00:15:22.630
ROBIN: Yeah.
Yeah, it really is.

00:15:23.380 --> 00:15:25.299
KIM: Okay.

00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:34.183
I need you to understand that
if you run again, the judge

00:15:34.183 --> 00:15:40.981
might not say it's okay for
you to stay with me and Bob.

00:15:40.981 --> 00:15:46.111
So, you need to not run.
Do you understand?

00:15:48.113 --> 00:15:55.204
I want, and Bob wants, you
to stay living with us always.

00:15:56.205 --> 00:15:59.416
[pensive music]

00:15:59.416 --> 00:16:01.585
KIM: My personal belief
about Michelle's case

00:16:01.585 --> 00:16:04.672
and what she's dealing with
right now in the court, I think

00:16:04.672 --> 00:16:07.341
it's a bogus,
trumped up situation.

00:16:07.341 --> 00:16:11.261
They are looking
at her past record.

00:16:11.261 --> 00:16:15.182
Because when she was 13 years
old, police officer released

00:16:15.182 --> 00:16:17.476
a police dog onto Michelle.

00:16:17.476 --> 00:16:21.313
And when the dog latched onto
her leg and she was beating

00:16:21.313 --> 00:16:25.776
the dog, that dog is
considered a police officer.

00:16:26.402 --> 00:16:31.573
So, she was charged with battery
on a law enforcement officer.

00:16:31.573 --> 00:16:34.660
The police officer
didn't call the dog off!

00:16:34.660 --> 00:16:37.037
He just allowed the dog
to stay latched to her.

00:16:37.788 --> 00:16:40.082
So, that was the first
charge of battery

00:16:40.082 --> 00:16:42.126
on a law enforcement officer.

00:16:44.086 --> 00:16:48.090
[pensive music continues,
a dog barks sharply]

00:16:53.554 --> 00:16:57.558
[music continues tenderly]

00:17:02.271 --> 00:17:03.439
KIM: What is this?

00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:05.190
How old were you?

00:17:06.984 --> 00:17:10.696
17, 18? 18.

00:17:11.864 --> 00:17:13.741
MICHELLE: Ah.
KIM: So, you're 18.

00:17:13.741 --> 00:17:16.452
That was the first
time that you were in jail?

00:17:16.452 --> 00:17:20.622
And you were in Palatka.
And this is Palatka.

00:17:22.166 --> 00:17:23.709
MICHELLE: No.
KIM: That one's Palatka.

00:17:23.709 --> 00:17:25.919
All of it is Palatka?
MICHELLE: Right.

00:17:26.962 --> 00:17:29.631
KIM: Ah, Michelle, my gosh.
Okay.

00:17:30.090 --> 00:17:32.926
Battery on a LEO.
MICHELLE: Mm.

00:17:32.926 --> 00:17:34.928
KIM: You don’t know
what that means?

00:17:36.722 --> 00:17:40.601
That is you
hitting an officer.

00:17:42.144 --> 00:17:44.730
Did you hit an officer?

00:17:46.315 --> 00:17:48.317
Well....

00:17:49.985 --> 00:17:51.069
What happened?

00:17:52.446 --> 00:17:55.991
BOB: 2003: battery upon
a law enforcement officer.

00:17:58.202 --> 00:18:02.623
2004: resisting officer
with violence.

00:18:02.998 --> 00:18:06.919
2005: battery upon a
law enforcement officer.

00:18:09.630 --> 00:18:13.675
2006: aggravated battery
on a police officer

00:18:13.675 --> 00:18:15.093
with a deadly weapon.

00:18:16.512 --> 00:18:19.973
2011: felony battery
in Putnam County.

00:18:19.973 --> 00:18:22.518
[achingly tense music]

00:18:22.518 --> 00:18:25.437
2011: felony battery.

00:18:29.316 --> 00:18:34.738
Arson, willful damage to
dwelling attempted in 2012.

00:18:35.322 --> 00:18:37.324
KIM: It’s just heartbreaking.

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:42.663
[music becomes haunting]

00:18:45.666 --> 00:18:51.255
[school bell rings;
boisterous children’s voices]

00:18:51.255 --> 00:18:54.258
[music darkens as
childrens's voices continue]

00:19:43.098 --> 00:19:45.100
MICHELLE : [via Kim]
I didn't know. I didn't know

00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:46.226
the other officer was there.

00:19:46.226 --> 00:19:51.064
When I swung backwards, I caught
his leg, and it hurt him bad.

00:19:51.064 --> 00:19:55.777
They shot me with a taser,
and I was shaking terribly bad.

00:19:55.777 --> 00:19:57.112
I couldn't move.

00:19:57.112 --> 00:19:58.780
Then they handcuffed me.

00:19:58.780 --> 00:20:01.491
Then the officers
took me to court.

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:06.872
KIM: When you came here to
this courthouse, the judge,

00:20:06.872 --> 00:20:09.666
did he give you an interpreter?

00:20:10.876 --> 00:20:12.002
MICHELLE: [via Kim] No.

00:20:12.002 --> 00:20:13.503
He said I was trouble.

00:20:13.503 --> 00:20:15.923
I was a lotta trouble
growing up, all the time.

00:20:15.923 --> 00:20:18.926
I kept coming in
over and over and over.

00:20:18.926 --> 00:20:22.679
He was mad at me.
Very mad.

00:20:25.933 --> 00:20:27.935
KIM: Five years in prison.

00:20:28.936 --> 00:20:32.940
[haunting music slowly builds]

00:20:34.107 --> 00:20:39.279
[haunting music soars]

00:20:43.158 --> 00:20:45.744
EX-SERGEANT: What was it like
in Lowell?

00:20:45.744 --> 00:20:50.207
It had a lot of inmates
coming in that kept returning.

00:20:50.207 --> 00:20:54.878
They had a lotta juveniles
that had no idea what to do.

00:20:54.878 --> 00:20:56.713
They didn't even know
how to fold clothes.

00:20:57.673 --> 00:20:59.675
Some of them were
from bad backgrounds.

00:20:59.675 --> 00:21:02.719
Some was from rich backgrounds.

00:21:02.719 --> 00:21:04.596
A lot of them, you could tell,
just didn't have

00:21:04.596 --> 00:21:05.764
the upbringing at home.

00:21:05.764 --> 00:21:08.392
They were just turned
loose to do their own.

00:21:08.392 --> 00:21:12.020
But then you had some
that had such great talent

00:21:12.020 --> 00:21:14.856
that could've been turned around
a different way instead of

00:21:14.856 --> 00:21:16.149
being put in prison.

00:21:17.150 --> 00:21:20.112
SHANNON: Lowell Correctional
Institution was the most

00:21:20.112 --> 00:21:22.864
dysfunctional institution
I ever was housed in.

00:21:23.907 --> 00:21:28.120
There wasn’t much effort made
to help us better ourselves

00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.579
or improve our situation.

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:34.710
It was all about suffering
and deprivation and pain.

00:21:35.377 --> 00:21:37.254
ROXANNE: I remember Michelle.

00:21:38.255 --> 00:21:40.507
I remember her not
being able to speak.

00:21:41.258 --> 00:21:44.678
Michelle's just another person
in that prison that shouldn't

00:21:44.678 --> 00:21:46.763
have been there, probably...

00:21:46.763 --> 00:21:48.181
really didn't deserve it.

00:21:48.181 --> 00:21:50.767
[window clanks open]

00:21:51.768 --> 00:21:54.062
And to know that she
went to close management,

00:21:54.062 --> 00:21:56.982
and that's a place where
not only are you cuffed...

00:21:59.192 --> 00:22:02.362
'cause you have a black box that
goes onto your cuffs to secure

00:22:02.362 --> 00:22:05.574
that your arms stay at an angle
where you can't do anything.

00:22:05.574 --> 00:22:07.993
And in that box,
they take a chain,

00:22:07.993 --> 00:22:09.870
and they waist it around you.

00:22:10.871 --> 00:22:14.624
They take the clip, they stick
it through, they padlock you.

00:22:17.669 --> 00:22:21.506
The way Michelle is, she can't
speak, she can't hear,

00:22:21.506 --> 00:22:23.633
she needs her hands to talk.

00:22:25.552 --> 00:22:28.430
Can you imagine going
in a shower like this

00:22:28.430 --> 00:22:30.390
and trying to wash yourself?

00:22:32.267 --> 00:22:34.811
CHENA: When you're in prison,
you're less than human.

00:22:36.021 --> 00:22:37.731
And that's what you're
constantly reminded.

00:22:37.731 --> 00:22:41.276
Like, every day, it's,
"Inmate, inmate, inmate."

00:22:42.944 --> 00:22:44.404
You're nothing.

00:22:46.907 --> 00:22:52.913
[dark music pulses and drones,
voices echo all around]

00:23:44.131 --> 00:23:45.632
MICHELLE: [via Kim]
I felt her push on me.

00:24:17.247 --> 00:24:20.333
VIRGINIA: Now, these people,
they can be strong.

00:24:20.333 --> 00:24:22.919
She saw the shot the
nurse was fixing to give her

00:24:22.919 --> 00:24:26.423
to calm her down, and we
had to call for reinforcements.

00:24:26.423 --> 00:24:29.551
I mean, it was just
like we were nothing.

00:24:29.551 --> 00:24:33.346
They coming after you, and
it's your life or their life.

00:24:33.346 --> 00:24:37.142
You're trying to not kill
them but bring them down.

00:24:37.142 --> 00:24:40.812
So, there's a time and
a place for most things.

00:24:41.354 --> 00:24:43.523
SHANNON: That’s the only
environment where you could

00:24:43.523 --> 00:24:45.525
abuse people and
get away with it

00:24:45.525 --> 00:24:48.486
and get paid to be there
and get promoted!

00:25:13.386 --> 00:25:14.721
[buzzer, door banging open]

00:25:16.681 --> 00:25:17.849
[door crashes shut]

00:25:21.436 --> 00:25:23.855
SHANNON: Being locked in
a room was torture.

00:25:23.855 --> 00:25:25.232
It’s meant to
break you down.

00:25:25.232 --> 00:25:27.317
It’s meant to destroy your mind.

00:25:27.317 --> 00:25:30.028
The long-term isolation
causes irreparable

00:25:30.028 --> 00:25:33.281
psychological damage, and it
makes people less likely to

00:25:33.281 --> 00:25:34.950
function normally
when they’re released.

00:25:34.950 --> 00:25:36.826
If they make it
out of there alive!

00:25:42.707 --> 00:25:44.626
ROXANNE: She can't speak.

00:25:45.835 --> 00:25:48.088
She can't tell you nothing.

00:25:48.838 --> 00:25:50.423
She can't tell on you!

00:25:51.758 --> 00:25:53.385
They can't even hear her cries.

00:25:56.429 --> 00:25:58.139
Could you imagine
being in prison,

00:25:58.139 --> 00:26:00.433
and somebody can't
even hear your cries?

00:26:03.103 --> 00:26:07.148
[music becomes gentle,
birdsong fills the air]

00:26:28.128 --> 00:26:31.131
[water sprinkles as
music gently fades]

00:26:31.131 --> 00:26:32.632
[video call ringing]

00:26:32.632 --> 00:26:34.467
MICHELLE: [via Kim] Hi,
how are you?

00:26:40.557 --> 00:26:42.309
MICHELLE: [via Kim] I'm fine.
Thank you.

00:26:44.602 --> 00:26:47.230
Oh, May 22nd? Yes, court.

00:26:50.525 --> 00:26:51.901
COLLEEN: [via Kim] On Wednesday.

00:26:51.901 --> 00:26:54.237
Yes, it's close.
It's very close.

00:26:55.322 --> 00:26:57.782
MICHELLE: [via Kim] We're all
gonna come to court together.

00:26:57.782 --> 00:27:00.618
They're gonna come
to court with me.

00:27:01.328 --> 00:27:03.872
COLLEEN: [via Kim] That's good.
That's very good.

00:27:06.916 --> 00:27:10.462
MICHELLE: [via Kim] Today, when
I was sleeping, I was crying.

00:27:11.463 --> 00:27:12.964
COLLEEN: [via Kim] I understand.

00:27:12.964 --> 00:27:15.592
Worrying.
You got a lotta stress.

00:27:16.634 --> 00:27:18.386
I understand.

00:27:19.387 --> 00:27:23.558
When you feel stress, it's
important to not worry so much.

00:27:24.309 --> 00:27:26.686
You gotta think positive.

00:27:26.686 --> 00:27:29.272
I'm asking you. Just try.

00:27:31.066 --> 00:27:35.487
[piercing bird calls
and tender music]

00:27:42.410 --> 00:27:45.914
[chickens cooing
and clucking]

00:27:53.463 --> 00:27:56.466
[clucking intensifies]

00:28:11.272 --> 00:28:12.774
[bright music]

00:28:12.774 --> 00:28:14.484
MICHELLE: [via Kim] You
go under the bridge.

00:28:14.484 --> 00:28:18.530
There's like a courthouse there,
and then there's a place

00:28:18.530 --> 00:28:19.823
that you go inside.

00:28:19.823 --> 00:28:22.117
And over on the side is
where the ice cream is.

00:28:22.117 --> 00:28:23.326
KIM: Ooh!

00:28:23.326 --> 00:28:25.412
So, it's by the
courthouse building?

00:28:26.371 --> 00:28:27.372
Awesome.

00:28:27.372 --> 00:28:31.084
Is that where your dad,
he'd take you for ice cream?

00:28:32.085 --> 00:28:34.087
Oh, it tastes good. Okay.

00:28:34.754 --> 00:28:36.089
Hey, Bob.
BOB: Yeah?

00:28:36.089 --> 00:28:37.841
MICHELLE: [laughs]
KIM: Can you take us to

00:28:37.841 --> 00:28:39.676
get some ice cream
where her dad

00:28:39.676 --> 00:28:40.844
took her for ice cream?

00:28:40.844 --> 00:28:42.595
BOB: Yes, I can.
KIM: Awesome.

00:28:48.560 --> 00:28:51.563
[bright, uplifting music
continues]

00:29:10.457 --> 00:29:12.500
CLERK: Small
vanilla cone.

00:29:18.590 --> 00:29:20.341
CLERK: Have a good day, okay?

00:29:20.341 --> 00:29:22.343
CLERK: Thanks, guys.

00:29:22.343 --> 00:29:25.346
[bright music winds down
slowly, gently]

00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:53.666
[music becomes somber]

00:29:54.667 --> 00:29:57.003
ROBIN: I didn't really
communicate that often

00:29:57.003 --> 00:29:58.213
when I was on drugs.

00:29:58.213 --> 00:30:03.301
So, there was a lotta gaps
where I would not be around.

00:30:04.844 --> 00:30:08.932
Her father, he was also a
drug addict, and Michelle

00:30:08.932 --> 00:30:11.851
was taken away from him
because he was accused of

00:30:11.851 --> 00:30:13.686
sexually molesting her.

00:30:19.817 --> 00:30:23.530
She was going to school,
acting out with a doll.

00:30:23.530 --> 00:30:25.156
And when they saw her
acting out with a doll,

00:30:25.156 --> 00:30:27.283
it drawed their attention to it.

00:30:28.368 --> 00:30:31.454
So, they were put in foster
care for quite a little while.

00:30:33.289 --> 00:30:37.418
By the same token,
Michelle still cared about

00:30:37.418 --> 00:30:40.338
her father, you know.

00:30:40.338 --> 00:30:43.466
So, and their relationship,
I really don't know

00:30:43.466 --> 00:30:45.301
how to describe it.

00:30:46.219 --> 00:30:48.721
The first time they were
taken to put in foster care,

00:30:48.721 --> 00:30:53.309
I had went to prison because
I took a charge for her dad.

00:30:53.309 --> 00:30:57.730
And when I got out, me and
my second husband, Morgan,

00:30:57.730 --> 00:31:00.858
we got custody back of Michelle.

00:31:02.902 --> 00:31:05.154
Did pretty good for a
little while with Morgan,

00:31:05.154 --> 00:31:07.282
and then I tried to stay sober.

00:31:08.575 --> 00:31:11.744
But I ended up
drinking and drugging again.

00:31:12.412 --> 00:31:14.706
Somehow, her
father got them back.

00:31:16.165 --> 00:31:18.876
After that, then
Michelle just kinda went crazy.

00:31:19.627 --> 00:31:23.590
She started fires in the
woods and got arson charges.

00:31:24.340 --> 00:31:26.843
This guy had taken advantage
of her out there, so she had

00:31:26.843 --> 00:31:30.013
set the trailer on fire
and burnt it down.

00:31:30.013 --> 00:31:33.182
[flames roar, wood collapses]

00:31:34.475 --> 00:31:37.687
[somber music continues]

00:31:37.687 --> 00:31:40.565
She's been locked up
in the mental hospital,

00:31:40.565 --> 00:31:45.778
in Tampa Bay Academy, Ten Broek,
just several different places.

00:31:45.778 --> 00:31:48.197
She's been through a
whole world of mess.

00:31:50.408 --> 00:31:53.620
During my addiction, I did
all kinds of things to get

00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:57.957
the drugs, from prostitution
to stealing to robbing.

00:31:57.957 --> 00:31:59.626
[church bell rings out]

00:31:59.626 --> 00:32:00.835
It kept me numb.

00:32:00.835 --> 00:32:03.504
It kept me where I couldn't
think of what I was doing

00:32:03.504 --> 00:32:06.299
to their lives, my children's.

00:32:07.216 --> 00:32:11.220
[somber music continues]

00:32:13.806 --> 00:32:16.809
[music fades away]

00:32:17.226 --> 00:32:19.979
CLERK: Okay. What type
of records?

00:32:19.979 --> 00:32:25.693
BOB: This is Michelle, and she
has records from 1989-’91.

00:32:25.693 --> 00:32:28.738
We’ve requested
the records several times.

00:32:28.738 --> 00:32:30.740
We’ve been in here.
We’ve signed releases.

00:32:33.951 --> 00:32:37.580
CLERK: This is the number
for Jennesy Hennings.

00:32:37.580 --> 00:32:39.540
She might be able to
tell you of a way

00:32:39.540 --> 00:32:43.836
to get those records, but
we don’t have them here.

00:32:43.836 --> 00:32:47.632
KIM: You don’t keep old records?
CLERK: No.

00:32:47.632 --> 00:32:49.801
BOB: Can we use that phone?
CLERK: No.

00:32:51.010 --> 00:32:54.514
[hold music on Bob's cellphone]

00:32:54.514 --> 00:32:56.641
RECEPTIONIST: [on speakerphone]
Good afternoon, DCF Legal.

00:32:56.641 --> 00:32:59.394
BOB: I'm calling on behalf
of Michelle Ricks.

00:32:59.394 --> 00:33:01.312
She’s deaf, so she can’t hear.

00:33:01.312 --> 00:33:03.022
RECEPTIONIST: Our records
are confidential.

00:33:03.022 --> 00:33:05.858
So, are you her guardian?
BOB: Yes.

00:33:05.858 --> 00:33:10.071
RECEPTIONIST: You went to
our office in Marion County?

00:33:10.071 --> 00:33:13.199
BOB: That’s where we’re sitting
right now, in the lobby.

00:33:13.199 --> 00:33:16.244
RECEPTIONIST: Oh! And so,
are they just telling you

00:33:16.244 --> 00:33:18.329
there aren’t any records?
BOB: Yes.

00:33:24.502 --> 00:33:27.463
BOB: This document
is the DCF report.

00:33:27.463 --> 00:33:31.050
It provides a lotta detail
on the early abuses

00:33:31.050 --> 00:33:32.802
that she dealt with.

00:33:33.678 --> 00:33:37.640
The father was released
from jail and wanted custody

00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:38.808
of the children.

00:33:38.808 --> 00:33:42.186
But HRS did not
want him to have custody

00:33:42.186 --> 00:33:43.646
due to past neglect.

00:33:43.646 --> 00:33:46.065
All the children were
placed in a foster home.

00:33:46.065 --> 00:33:49.068
The children did
very well in foster care.

00:33:49.569 --> 00:33:53.740
-Michelle, she was about
three years old.

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:56.200
They brought her to
me late in the evening,

00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:59.912
and Michelle decided that
she wanted to stay

00:33:59.912 --> 00:34:02.415
under the dining room table,
which I let her.

00:34:02.415 --> 00:34:05.668
And I’d talk to her every once
in a while, and she acted

00:34:05.668 --> 00:34:07.462
like she knew what I was saying.

00:34:07.462 --> 00:34:09.255
So, we kinda just clicked.

00:34:10.631 --> 00:34:12.049
She was the best child.

00:34:12.049 --> 00:34:14.135
I couldn’t have
asked for a better daughter.

00:34:15.470 --> 00:34:16.804
And I never
had a daughter,

00:34:16.804 --> 00:34:20.141
so she was the closest thing
I ever had to a child.

00:34:21.142 --> 00:34:23.436
She didn’t fight with
the other children.

00:34:24.437 --> 00:34:27.732
I never saw any
violent temper.

00:34:27.732 --> 00:34:29.901
I never saw any aggravation.

00:34:31.027 --> 00:34:33.154
She just wanted to
make everybody happy.

00:34:33.946 --> 00:34:36.324
I didn’t ever want her to leave,
and that’s why

00:34:36.324 --> 00:34:38.785
I fought it so hard.

00:34:38.785 --> 00:34:41.204
But there was nothing
I could do.

00:34:41.204 --> 00:34:43.164
My hands were tied.

00:34:43.915 --> 00:34:46.959
They were with me a while,
about three years, I think.

00:34:46.959 --> 00:34:50.296
Then the last time we went
to court, the judge said

00:34:50.296 --> 00:34:53.257
that they were going
home permanently.

00:34:53.257 --> 00:34:57.220
And that’s when Michelle got
real upset when the last time

00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:59.347
that we started to go
somewhere, we got in the car,

00:34:59.347 --> 00:35:00.598
and she started screaming ‘cause

00:35:00.598 --> 00:35:03.559
she thought she was going
back to their dad’s.

00:35:04.644 --> 00:35:08.231
BOB: July 6th, 1989,
Judge Lee

00:35:08.231 --> 00:35:11.442
placed the children in
the custody of the father.

00:35:12.693 --> 00:35:16.614
In returning the children to
their father, Judge Lee ignored

00:35:16.614 --> 00:35:19.075
clear warning signals by HRS.

00:35:21.536 --> 00:35:23.371
[somber, pulsing music]

00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:50.022
[silence]

00:35:51.899 --> 00:35:55.403
GLENDA: To know that that’s
happening to a child,

00:35:55.403 --> 00:36:00.241
and to know that you can’t do
a thing about it is devastating.

00:36:01.200 --> 00:36:05.121
BOB: Michelle's teacher, social
worker, and foster parent,

00:36:05.121 --> 00:36:09.542
and the Child Protection Team
were all subpoenaed for trial,

00:36:09.542 --> 00:36:14.630
but there was no presentation of
evidence or trial at that time.

00:36:14.630 --> 00:36:16.632
And they brought Michelle in.

00:36:16.632 --> 00:36:20.469
They tried to get her to sign
to the judge, but they said that

00:36:20.469 --> 00:36:23.598
she didn't sign good
enough to be a witness.

00:36:24.765 --> 00:36:27.977
GLENDA: It looked like they were
protecting him more than her.

00:36:29.770 --> 00:36:33.816
I always thought, when we left
court that day, that her dad

00:36:33.816 --> 00:36:39.363
had to have some connection
somehow because all the agency

00:36:39.363 --> 00:36:43.701
knew what she was going through.
Everyone knew.

00:36:43.701 --> 00:36:46.621
Nobody in their right mind
would’ve let that child go

00:36:46.621 --> 00:36:48.581
back to that environment.

00:36:51.959 --> 00:36:54.670
BOB: The staff attorney,
Susan K. Glant,

00:36:54.670 --> 00:36:57.840
decided to blow the
whistle, saying the judge,

00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:02.637
the HRS attorney, and everybody
who had anything to do with

00:37:02.637 --> 00:37:06.390
turning their backs on those
children should be investigated

00:37:06.390 --> 00:37:07.892
by the federal government

00:37:07.892 --> 00:37:10.353
because there is
something wrong.

00:37:11.354 --> 00:37:15.149
[tender music]

00:37:28.913 --> 00:37:32.750
[bright birdsong as
tender music continues]

00:37:34.043 --> 00:37:36.712
[music fades away]

00:37:41.259 --> 00:37:43.260
KIM: Your dad?

00:37:56.023 --> 00:37:58.609
KIM: Yes, they were bad. But you're not bad.

00:38:00.736 --> 00:38:02.321
Okay, but okay.

00:38:02.321 --> 00:38:04.615
Yes, you went in prison.

00:38:04.615 --> 00:38:06.784
But no.
No, you're not bad.

00:38:06.784 --> 00:38:08.869
MICHELLE: [sobs quietly]

00:38:08.869 --> 00:38:10.955
KIM: [whispers] God, Baby,
I'm so sorry.

00:38:12.581 --> 00:38:16.085
[touching music]

00:38:21.549 --> 00:38:23.092
INSTRUCTOR: Okay.

00:38:23.092 --> 00:38:27.471
Well, hopefully, we're full up
and not gonna have

00:38:27.471 --> 00:38:28.973
too many more joiners.

00:38:28.973 --> 00:38:31.517
We're gonna be a little
crowded today, but that's okay.

00:38:31.517 --> 00:38:34.770
I don't know a lot of you.
You're fairly new here.

00:38:34.770 --> 00:38:36.856
So, I'm gonna go around,
and you can just let me know

00:38:36.856 --> 00:38:39.859
who you are and tell me
something about you

00:38:39.859 --> 00:38:41.986
that'll help me
remember you, okay?

00:38:43.904 --> 00:38:46.073
Michelle, why don't
we start with you?

00:38:48.200 --> 00:38:50.995
MICHELLE: [via ASL interpreter]
My name is Michelle.

00:38:50.995 --> 00:38:54.081
This is my sign name, Michelle.

00:38:56.125 --> 00:38:58.002
And I'm here to
learn in class.

00:38:58.002 --> 00:39:00.004
That's about it.

00:39:00.004 --> 00:39:02.173
INSTRUCTOR: Good.
Today, we're going to

00:39:02.173 --> 00:39:03.632
plant some flowers.

00:39:03.632 --> 00:39:06.677
And when we're on our own,
we want to plant flowers,

00:39:06.677 --> 00:39:08.888
plant a tree, plant a garden.

00:39:08.888 --> 00:39:11.724
And learning to do
one thing, you can learn

00:39:11.724 --> 00:39:13.601
to do a lot of things.

00:39:14.060 --> 00:39:17.188
Make your soil on
the bottom level.

00:39:17.188 --> 00:39:21.317
If you have to move it so that
it fits in there level,

00:39:21.317 --> 00:39:24.195
you can do that and
put more dirt around.

00:39:24.195 --> 00:39:25.738
Sprinkle.

00:39:26.655 --> 00:39:29.116
-Do we push it down?
-You can.

00:39:29.116 --> 00:39:31.577
You don't have to
push it down super hard.

00:39:32.286 --> 00:39:34.663
[many conversations,
touching music continues]

00:39:39.126 --> 00:39:41.295
INSTRUCTOR: Looks good.
Awesome.

00:39:45.716 --> 00:39:49.678
[water sloshes,
music rises with emotion]

00:39:54.350 --> 00:39:58.104
[pouring water builds to rain
pattering on the tree leaves]

00:40:12.284 --> 00:40:14.286
MICHELLE: Ah!

00:40:14.286 --> 00:40:16.664
[touching music slowly fades]

00:40:16.664 --> 00:40:21.710
KIM: So, this is the tiny house
that you wanna do, 12 by 24.

00:40:22.628 --> 00:40:25.172
And art supplies.
Oh! Okay.

00:40:25.172 --> 00:40:27.466
MICHELLE: [via Kim] Shelves,
I'm gonna put shelves in there

00:40:27.466 --> 00:40:31.512
on that side so I can put
all my arts and paints.

00:40:31.512 --> 00:40:33.973
I'm not gonna have a kitchen.
KIM: You don't wanna cook?

00:40:34.598 --> 00:40:36.600
MICHELLE: [via Kim]
No, I don't cook.

00:40:40.980 --> 00:40:44.066
KIM: [laughs] A composting toilet!
Awesome!

00:40:44.066 --> 00:40:46.110
I love it. That's great.

00:40:47.486 --> 00:40:49.822
KIM: Why do you want
a tiny house?

00:40:50.197 --> 00:40:51.490
[stirring music]

00:41:06.505 --> 00:41:09.508
[laughs with delight,
speaks to mewling kitten]

00:41:20.895 --> 00:41:22.271
[coos to the kitten]

00:41:22.271 --> 00:41:24.565
ROBIN: She always
wanted to pet animals.

00:41:26.817 --> 00:41:30.237
She loves cats.
Cat's her favorite animal.

00:41:30.237 --> 00:41:33.908
I suppose that she liked
the animals more because

00:41:33.908 --> 00:41:36.827
they probably related
to her better.

00:41:36.827 --> 00:41:39.246
GUIDE: The building coming up
serves as a holding area and

00:41:39.246 --> 00:41:41.665
a hatchery for many
of our bird species.

00:41:41.665 --> 00:41:45.794
ROBIN: She veered more to
the animals than trying to

00:41:45.794 --> 00:41:47.379
mess around with other
people because people would

00:41:47.379 --> 00:41:49.798
make fun of her
because of her disability.

00:41:49.798 --> 00:41:51.634
GUIDE: We have one
male named Dixon

00:41:51.634 --> 00:41:52.927
and seven females.

00:41:52.927 --> 00:41:55.721
ROBIN: You know, slamming her
around, bruising her up.

00:41:55.721 --> 00:41:57.640
GUIDE: We have three
African bush elephants here

00:41:57.640 --> 00:41:59.058
at the Jacksonville Zoo.

00:41:59.058 --> 00:42:03.020
We have two females named
Thandi and Sheena and one male,

00:42:03.020 --> 00:42:05.648
who is in the yard
right now, named Ali.

00:42:06.065 --> 00:42:08.734
Ali stands six feet tall
at the shoulders....

00:42:09.109 --> 00:42:11.445
ROBIN: Well, I just really have
no respect for none of them.

00:42:11.445 --> 00:42:12.988
She didn't need to be
put in a prison.

00:42:12.988 --> 00:42:14.365
She needed to go
to a place where

00:42:14.365 --> 00:42:16.784
she could actually get help.

00:42:18.911 --> 00:42:21.538
It's obvious that she could've
been a different person

00:42:21.538 --> 00:42:23.666
because she is now.

00:42:23.666 --> 00:42:26.627
All they did was just
throw her into the system

00:42:26.627 --> 00:42:28.837
and let her fend for herself.

00:42:29.713 --> 00:42:30.965
[tender, stirring
music continues]

00:42:35.469 --> 00:42:36.428
ROBIN: Uh-huh?

00:42:40.266 --> 00:42:42.434
ROBIN: Oh, wow....

00:42:46.438 --> 00:42:52.611
It...[sighs] was bad.

00:42:52.611 --> 00:42:54.613
Not much good.

00:42:55.906 --> 00:42:58.117
Maybe same as you.

00:42:59.118 --> 00:43:02.121
[traffic passes, music darkens]

00:43:40.826 --> 00:43:42.828
[rush of a nearing car]

00:44:03.432 --> 00:44:05.309
[chains rattle,
music continues]

00:44:31.752 --> 00:44:33.629
[music softens,
slowly fades]

00:44:40.094 --> 00:44:42.346
[staff chats quietly]

00:44:43.514 --> 00:44:44.932
[slap]

00:44:45.265 --> 00:44:47.142
MICHELLE: [giggles]
[slap]

00:44:51.897 --> 00:44:53.524
KIM: I swear!

00:44:54.024 --> 00:44:57.528
MICHELLE: [calls out,
laughs gleefully]

00:45:01.073 --> 00:45:02.908
DENTIST: Okay. Here’s what
we’re gonna do.

00:45:02.908 --> 00:45:07.329
I have to make bite rims,
some guides

00:45:07.329 --> 00:45:09.915
for the technician
to mount the teeth.

00:45:09.915 --> 00:45:12.167
I'm gonna make her
like a temporary denture

00:45:12.167 --> 00:45:14.962
and see how she does first.
You see what I'm saying?

00:45:14.962 --> 00:45:17.089
We gotta open her
bite up 'cause it's collapsed.

00:45:17.131 --> 00:45:18.382
[camera clicks]

00:45:19.383 --> 00:45:20.551
[pensive music]

00:45:34.731 --> 00:45:38.735
KIM: With Michelle, I do my best
to keep my composure

00:45:38.735 --> 00:45:41.155
when she's sharing
with me what's going on.

00:45:41.155 --> 00:45:44.783
And then after she
goes to bed, I just cry.

00:45:44.783 --> 00:45:47.828
I cry a lot because
it's really hard to imagine

00:45:47.828 --> 00:45:50.122
how she has managed to survive.

00:45:50.122 --> 00:45:51.248
MICHELLE: [moans]

00:45:57.421 --> 00:46:00.841
KIM: Michelle never had a trial
by peers in any case.

00:46:00.841 --> 00:46:02.926
It was always in front
of a judge.

00:46:05.095 --> 00:46:09.266
The judge made the decision
whether she went to jail or not.

00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:15.522
Oh!

00:46:20.569 --> 00:46:23.530
Oh, that's the same as my shirt!

00:46:23.989 --> 00:46:25.574
Thank you.
Oh, my God.

00:46:25.574 --> 00:46:26.909
That is so awesome!

00:46:28.535 --> 00:46:30.621
KIM: There’s a thing
called recidivism.

00:46:30.621 --> 00:46:35.292
The average for the nation
is three out of four inmates

00:46:35.292 --> 00:46:38.670
will return to prison within
the first five years

00:46:38.670 --> 00:46:40.672
of being released.

00:46:41.298 --> 00:46:43.300
I’m very concerned
for her safety.

00:46:45.802 --> 00:46:48.931
CHENA: It's always drilled in
your head: You made a mistake.

00:46:48.931 --> 00:46:52.017
You were a bad person.
You have to be punished.

00:46:52.017 --> 00:46:54.978
There's no such thing as
paying a debt to society.

00:46:54.978 --> 00:46:56.355
It always comes back up.

00:46:56.355 --> 00:46:58.023
I know people who
try to go get a job.

00:46:58.023 --> 00:46:59.858
Something happened 10 years ago.

00:46:59.858 --> 00:47:01.443
It pops up. Guess what.

00:47:01.443 --> 00:47:03.445
They can't get a job.

00:47:04.446 --> 00:47:06.782
You're not the same person
who you were five years ago.

00:47:06.782 --> 00:47:09.159
You're not the same person
who you were a week ago.

00:47:09.159 --> 00:47:11.286
People constantly change.

00:47:11.286 --> 00:47:15.082
But once you become a convicted
felon, you're forever penalized.

00:47:17.626 --> 00:47:21.255
OFFICER 1: [from body cam]
Get down! Hands in the air.

00:47:21.255 --> 00:47:24.091
Hands up in the air. Don’t move.
Don’t move.

00:47:24.091 --> 00:47:27.177
OFFICER 2: 5527.
1012, 1015.

00:47:27.177 --> 00:47:31.139
DISPATCHER: 10 4. 1012....
[dispatcher continues]

00:47:31.139 --> 00:47:33.183
[ominous music]

00:47:34.309 --> 00:47:36.895
MICHELLE: [moaning]

00:47:38.021 --> 00:47:41.567
OFFICER 1: Got it. You got her?
OFFICER 2: Yes, sir.

00:47:41.567 --> 00:47:42.859
All right. It’s all you.

00:47:42.859 --> 00:47:47.072
[officers continue talking]

00:47:47.072 --> 00:47:48.448
OFFICER 3: Knife is right there
on the ground up there,

00:47:48.448 --> 00:47:49.533
so get something to secure it.

00:47:49.533 --> 00:47:51.660
You know where my stuff is at.
Right there on the left side.

00:47:51.660 --> 00:47:53.662
Let's get it secured.

00:47:53.954 --> 00:47:54.997
MICHELLE: [moaning]

00:48:01.461 --> 00:48:02.713
OFFICER: Face the car for me,
ma’am.

00:48:02.713 --> 00:48:04.548
MICHELLE: [cries]

00:48:04.548 --> 00:48:07.884
OFFICER: Face the car.
Face the car, ma’am.

00:48:11.597 --> 00:48:13.682
Removing your purse so
we can check to make sure

00:48:13.682 --> 00:48:15.392
there’s no additional
weapons, okay?

00:48:15.392 --> 00:48:17.561
REPORTER: Well, Deputy Casey
was sitting in front of

00:48:17.561 --> 00:48:19.938
the Dollar General
when an unarmed

00:48:19.938 --> 00:48:23.233
Lowell Correction Officer,
who was in uniform, off-duty,

00:48:23.233 --> 00:48:26.903
came out of the Dollar General
and advised that former inmate

00:48:26.903 --> 00:48:30.324
Michelle Romaine Ricks had
just pulled a knife on him

00:48:30.324 --> 00:48:32.909
inside the store
and was chasing him around.

00:48:56.642 --> 00:48:58.018
[tense music,
voices on police radios]

00:49:14.034 --> 00:49:15.577
REPORTER: She violated
her probation.

00:49:15.577 --> 00:49:18.246
Her previous
arrest was for, get this,

00:49:18.246 --> 00:49:20.540
assaulting a law
enforcement officer.

00:49:20.540 --> 00:49:22.417
OFFICER: Hmm.
Making it a habit.

00:49:24.002 --> 00:49:24.753
MICHELLE: Ah.

00:49:24.753 --> 00:49:27.255
OFFICER: You wanna take your
jacket off ‘cause you’re hot?

00:49:27.255 --> 00:49:28.882
MICHELLE: [groans]

00:49:28.882 --> 00:49:32.177
OFFICER: Are you hot?
MICHELLE: [moans]

00:49:36.306 --> 00:49:38.558
OFFICER 1: Yeah, she won’t talk.
She’s deaf.

00:49:38.558 --> 00:49:40.519
OFFICER 2: Oh, she is?
OFFICER 1: Yes.

00:49:40.519 --> 00:49:42.396
OFFICER 3: I’m not gonna
ask her any questions.

00:49:42.396 --> 00:49:43.980
We have enough PC
without her talking.

00:49:43.980 --> 00:49:45.482
OFFICER 1: Oh, yeah.

00:49:45.482 --> 00:49:48.151
OFFICER 3: How do you Miranda
as a deaf person?

00:49:48.151 --> 00:49:50.153
-Write it down?
-Let her read it.

00:49:53.657 --> 00:49:55.242
PUBLIC DEFENDER: The crime
Michelle Ricks is being

00:49:55.242 --> 00:49:59.329
accused of is, under Florida
law, called aggravated assault

00:49:59.329 --> 00:50:01.331
on a law enforcement officer.

00:50:03.208 --> 00:50:07.796
In laymen's terms, it's someone
you know or should know is

00:50:07.796 --> 00:50:11.258
a police officer, and you use
a weapon, a deadly weapon,

00:50:11.258 --> 00:50:15.512
to place them in a
reasonable fear...

00:50:15.512 --> 00:50:17.514
that you're gonna
use that weapon upon them.

00:50:17.848 --> 00:50:19.891
If I were a prosecutor,
I could make

00:50:19.891 --> 00:50:23.186
a compelling argument why
Michelle should go to prison.

00:50:23.186 --> 00:50:25.981
Michelle pulled a knife
on the corrections officer,

00:50:25.981 --> 00:50:28.108
and that's the crime.

00:50:29.025 --> 00:50:32.988
It's 15 years for something
that happened in 15 seconds.

00:50:33.864 --> 00:50:35.574
[pensive music]

00:50:35.574 --> 00:50:38.243
MICHAEL: In Michelle's
circumstance, definitionally,

00:50:38.243 --> 00:50:40.954
it's a one-sided investigation:

00:50:40.954 --> 00:50:43.498
She must be a
violent individual.

00:50:43.498 --> 00:50:45.083
You have all these batteries.

00:50:46.084 --> 00:50:49.588
[gentle music]

00:50:52.299 --> 00:50:54.384
People will look at it
and say, "Oh, God.

00:50:54.384 --> 00:50:56.136
She might be a sociopath."

00:50:56.136 --> 00:50:57.471
OFFICER: Transfer to jail staff.

00:50:59.514 --> 00:51:05.854
MICHAEL: Michelle's case is a
confluence of her prior cases

00:51:05.854 --> 00:51:09.608
where, as a result of her
incarceration in Florida state

00:51:09.608 --> 00:51:15.822
prison, she was victimized by
the authorities, we believe,

00:51:15.822 --> 00:51:21.620
and that it was just by
happenchance she had run into

00:51:21.620 --> 00:51:25.499
one of the individuals
that had victimized her.

00:51:26.500 --> 00:51:31.713
And she acted out in a manner
that, in Michelle's mind,

00:51:31.713 --> 00:51:33.965
was acting in self-defense.

00:51:33.965 --> 00:51:36.927
But she got arrested
for a violent felony.

00:51:38.220 --> 00:51:40.639
There's this thing called
due process that really

00:51:40.639 --> 00:51:43.683
is the rights of
the person in court.

00:51:43.683 --> 00:51:45.519
That they have a right
to a fair trial.

00:51:45.519 --> 00:51:51.024
They understand, have the right
to be heard, have the right

00:51:51.024 --> 00:51:53.527
to have their side of the story
heard, to be represented

00:51:53.527 --> 00:51:55.612
by a lawyer.

00:51:56.321 --> 00:52:02.994
If you can't understand
what's being said,

00:52:02.994 --> 00:52:08.041
nothing about those
things are fair.

00:52:08.041 --> 00:52:11.169
And then that isn't the
due process that our law

00:52:11.169 --> 00:52:14.297
says that every citizen has.

00:52:14.297 --> 00:52:17.133
[Kim's white cane tapping]

00:52:17.133 --> 00:52:20.345
Certainly, with a number of
Michelle's disabilities,

00:52:20.345 --> 00:52:24.349
we have significant question
whether Michelle can ever be

00:52:24.349 --> 00:52:26.268
competent to proceed.

00:52:26.268 --> 00:52:28.478
We're setting out to
prove that to the court.

00:52:31.064 --> 00:52:34.067
MICHAEL: Michelle's next
court date is late June.

00:52:34.067 --> 00:52:36.611
We still have some work to do
because it's going to be

00:52:36.611 --> 00:52:39.739
the important court
date as we stand.

00:52:46.329 --> 00:52:50.333
[peaceful, lyrical music]

00:53:27.787 --> 00:53:31.791
[lyrical music continues
soaring, twinkling]

00:53:38.256 --> 00:53:41.468
OPTOMETRIST: Do you notice any
difference between lens one,

00:53:41.468 --> 00:53:43.470
lens two, or they
look about the same?

00:53:43.470 --> 00:53:45.472
KIM: Two seems to be sharper.

00:53:47.849 --> 00:53:49.476
OPTOMETRIST: Okay. And what
about this one:

00:53:49.476 --> 00:53:52.854
Number two versus
number three?

00:53:52.854 --> 00:53:55.065
KIM: Oh, no.
Definitely number two.

00:53:55.065 --> 00:53:57.108
OPTOMETRIST: Very nice.
All right.

00:53:57.108 --> 00:53:57.817
KIM: Yes.

00:53:57.817 --> 00:53:59.653
OPTOMETRIST: Oh, wow, Kim!
Look at you!

00:54:02.948 --> 00:54:04.282
We need to change your glasses.

00:54:04.282 --> 00:54:06.242
BOTH: [laugh]

00:54:06.242 --> 00:54:08.662
KIM: I guess I don't have
a problem with that!

00:54:08.662 --> 00:54:10.246
Oh, my God.

00:54:10.246 --> 00:54:12.040
OPTOMETRIST: I'm
so happy for you!

00:54:12.040 --> 00:54:14.084
KIM: You just don't understand.

00:54:14.084 --> 00:54:16.294
OPTOMETRIST: [laughs] I'm so
happy for you.

00:54:16.294 --> 00:54:17.504
Oh!

00:54:18.505 --> 00:54:21.257
[cricket chirps fill the air]

00:54:23.343 --> 00:54:26.054
[somber music, slow steps
crunching on the dirt]

00:54:45.073 --> 00:54:47.283
[smoldering pile of
leaves crackles lightly]

00:54:53.498 --> 00:54:55.875
[cell phone buzzes,
leaves crackle]

00:54:58.378 --> 00:54:59.671
KIM: Hi.

00:55:03.800 --> 00:55:04.801
Okay.

00:55:05.385 --> 00:55:07.387
Was the door unlocked?

00:55:08.430 --> 00:55:10.432
When was the last time
you saw her last night?

00:55:11.808 --> 00:55:15.270
The last time she walked off,
she told me that

00:55:15.270 --> 00:55:17.063
she'd walked on
the train tracks.

00:55:17.063 --> 00:55:20.817
Make sure you notify the train
system that there's a deaf girl

00:55:20.817 --> 00:55:23.653
that might be
walking the tracks.

00:55:23.653 --> 00:55:27.407
We've got to figure out a way
for her to clearly understand if

00:55:27.407 --> 00:55:30.577
there's something she's gonna
do, she has to let us know.

00:55:30.577 --> 00:55:31.828
-[on phone] I've told her that.

00:55:31.828 --> 00:55:33.621
I said, "They're gonna
have to tell someone in court

00:55:33.621 --> 00:55:35.790
that you escaped again.

00:55:35.790 --> 00:55:37.792
There's gonna be
consequences for that."

00:55:38.793 --> 00:55:40.712
[suspenseful music races]

00:55:43.882 --> 00:55:46.384
KIM: How many officers do
you have on duty right now

00:55:46.384 --> 00:55:48.178
in Levy County?

00:55:48.178 --> 00:55:50.847
SAMANTHA: I have seven,
and they're all on calls.

00:55:50.847 --> 00:55:54.100
KIM: [sighs] It took us
five hours with a helicopter,

00:55:54.100 --> 00:55:56.478
hound dogs, and
10 police officers

00:55:56.478 --> 00:55:57.771
the last time to do this.

00:56:01.232 --> 00:56:04.944
KIM: I just got off the phone
with Marion Correctional,

00:56:04.944 --> 00:56:09.532
Said all they needed is
a call from you guys saying

00:56:09.532 --> 00:56:12.327
that you need their
assistance to find Michelle.

00:56:15.413 --> 00:56:17.373
SAMANTHA: We spoke to our
Corporal earlier, and he said

00:56:17.373 --> 00:56:19.834
we didn't need
assistance from Marion County.

00:56:19.834 --> 00:56:22.629
KIM: Okay.
So.... [frustrated laugh]

00:56:25.173 --> 00:56:26.132
[music intensifies]

00:56:28.426 --> 00:56:30.512
KIM: Michelle walked up to some
people's houses that were

00:56:30.512 --> 00:56:32.222
close to the train track.

00:56:32.222 --> 00:56:34.974
We're trying to find somebody
that has night vision goggles

00:56:34.974 --> 00:56:36.643
or a night vision scope.

00:56:36.893 --> 00:56:38.645
[footsteps crunching on gravel]

00:56:38.645 --> 00:56:40.146
-So, I think you said
it's just all pasture.

00:56:40.146 --> 00:56:42.232
The gate's open over here.

00:56:42.232 --> 00:56:44.025
KIM: Okay.
So, she jumped this fence?

00:56:44.025 --> 00:56:47.487
-Yeah, she jumped the fence,
but jumped that way over there.

00:56:48.154 --> 00:56:51.908
[rock bangs and
echoes on track]

00:57:02.085 --> 00:57:04.212
[suspenseful music continues]

00:57:06.214 --> 00:57:09.092
-[on phone] I'm right off of 41.
-Okay.

00:57:09.092 --> 00:57:10.468
-[on phone] Something
happened to her.

00:57:10.468 --> 00:57:15.431
She's been cutting herself or
crawling through barbed wire.

00:57:22.522 --> 00:57:24.023
-I had my light on.

00:57:24.023 --> 00:57:26.276
I was just getting
ready to go to bed,

00:57:26.276 --> 00:57:28.361
and I heard the doorbell.

00:57:28.361 --> 00:57:29.946
KIM: [whispers] Thank you.
Thank you.

00:57:31.948 --> 00:57:34.367
MAN: We've been,
the last five hours,

00:57:34.367 --> 00:57:36.244
we've been talking to cops.

00:57:36.244 --> 00:57:37.453
KIM: Let's go home.

00:57:37.453 --> 00:57:39.205
Yeah, home. Yes.

00:57:40.665 --> 00:57:42.083
No. No, no, no, no.

00:57:43.126 --> 00:57:44.294
What's wrong?

00:57:48.590 --> 00:57:50.216
KIM: No, to find you!

00:57:50.884 --> 00:57:56.598
You. I didn't call
until you ran!

00:57:58.057 --> 00:57:59.058
I didn’t. I didn’t call!

00:58:02.187 --> 00:58:06.941
KIM: Yeah! You see this?
I’m cold!

00:58:08.276 --> 00:58:12.071
[whispers] Been looking
for hours for you.

00:58:24.584 --> 00:58:25.835
KIM: Yeah.

00:58:25.835 --> 00:58:28.630
But why did you,
why did you leave?

00:58:30.131 --> 00:58:32.634
KIM: You gotta open it.
No, not that one, this one.

00:58:32.634 --> 00:58:34.886
No. Come over on the—
No! No, no, no.

00:58:34.886 --> 00:58:36.554
You're staying.
You're staying.

00:58:36.554 --> 00:58:39.641
MICHELLE: [moans]
KIM: No! You, you ran.

00:58:39.641 --> 00:58:42.644
You're gonna stay
with me, my home.

00:58:42.644 --> 00:58:44.520
OFFICER: Does she have any kind
of ID or anything like that,

00:58:44.520 --> 00:58:46.814
that I can run to make sure,
to verify that it's her?

00:58:46.814 --> 00:58:49.442
KIM: Yeah, yeah.
They just need your ID.

00:58:51.069 --> 00:58:52.737
OFFICER: All righty. I’ll be
right back with it, all right?

00:58:52.737 --> 00:58:54.489
KIM: Okay.

00:59:01.329 --> 00:59:05.333
[pensive music, an
ethereal voice sings]

00:59:08.461 --> 00:59:09.629
[river water flows,
birds singing]

00:59:14.467 --> 00:59:16.594
BOB: It’s been an
interesting couple of days.

00:59:18.221 --> 00:59:19.722
KIM: This is really hard.

00:59:21.349 --> 00:59:24.644
God, I need your help.
Please help me.

00:59:25.395 --> 00:59:28.982
BOB: Sometimes it’s
stressful helping other people,

00:59:28.982 --> 00:59:31.025
but it’s a commitment
that we make.

00:59:37.949 --> 00:59:39.534
[bells jingle as a door opens]

00:59:52.213 --> 00:59:52.755
Okay.

01:00:50.021 --> 01:00:51.856
[soft, wistful music]

01:01:04.243 --> 01:01:06.746
[crickets chirp, water pouring]

01:01:26.307 --> 01:01:27.975
[music rises with emotion]

01:01:39.612 --> 01:01:42.073
[sniffles and cries]

01:01:47.912 --> 01:01:50.248
[birds sing as
she continues to cry]

01:02:00.591 --> 01:02:03.261
[music brightens
and lifts]

01:02:04.595 --> 01:02:06.681
MICHAEL: Nothing in her life
has ever happened to her

01:02:06.681 --> 01:02:08.683
except bad things.

01:02:10.226 --> 01:02:14.564
This is her day in court,
her ability to participate,

01:02:14.564 --> 01:02:16.858
her ability to
understand what's going on,

01:02:16.858 --> 01:02:20.570
her ability to assist
us in her defense.

01:02:26.576 --> 01:02:28.953
This is really the best
opportunity we're gonna have

01:02:28.953 --> 01:02:31.122
for her to get out of
the revolving door

01:02:31.122 --> 01:02:33.166
of the criminal justice system.

01:02:48.723 --> 01:02:55.396
KIM: Heavenly Father, we thank
you for today, for the help

01:02:55.396 --> 01:02:59.984
and the judge knowing
and understanding that

01:02:59.984 --> 01:03:03.154
this case needs to
stop and finish.

01:03:04.113 --> 01:03:09.243
We pray for help and strength,
that it's gonna be okay,

01:03:09.243 --> 01:03:12.914
and that Michelle is gonna
get to stay with us and live

01:03:12.914 --> 01:03:14.749
with Bob and me.

01:03:14.749 --> 01:03:19.253
We ask for help in the
name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

01:03:25.134 --> 01:03:26.177
[jiggles handle]

01:03:26.177 --> 01:03:27.970
KIM: It's locked.
MICHELLE: [moans]

01:03:27.970 --> 01:03:29.597
KIM: I just have to wait four.

01:03:29.597 --> 01:03:31.682
COLLEEN: 20 minutes
KIM: Just have to wait.

01:03:35.478 --> 01:03:37.605
MICHAEL: There's a number of
things that the courts look at:

01:03:37.605 --> 01:03:40.983
the ability to understand
the charges against you,

01:03:40.983 --> 01:03:45.279
the ability to understand the
consequences of those charges.

01:03:45.279 --> 01:03:47.865
I wish I could look into
my crystal ball and see

01:03:47.865 --> 01:03:49.575
what the judge is gonna do.

01:03:49.575 --> 01:03:52.370
Courts previously have ruled
she has become competent.

01:03:52.370 --> 01:03:54.247
I don't agree
with their decision.

01:03:54.247 --> 01:03:57.333
I'll respect their decision,
but I think we're hoping to give

01:03:57.333 --> 01:04:01.420
Judge Rogers in this case
a little more background,

01:04:01.420 --> 01:04:03.381
a little more information.

01:04:03.381 --> 01:04:04.423
She suffered abuse.

01:04:04.423 --> 01:04:07.385
She suffered violence while she
was in Florida state prison.

01:04:07.385 --> 01:04:09.637
I don't think
anybody can deny that.

01:04:09.637 --> 01:04:13.516
I'm not sure she's capable
of setting aside the role that

01:04:13.516 --> 01:04:16.811
she has perceived the judges
played in her life previously.

01:04:20.565 --> 01:04:22.358
BAILIFF: ...hearing for
the State of Florida versus

01:04:22.358 --> 01:04:26.988
Michelle Ricks
case, 2018, CF-1526.

01:04:28.781 --> 01:04:30.908
ASST. PUBLIC DEFENDER: Yes, Your
Honor. I had a couple of things

01:04:30.908 --> 01:04:32.660
that I wanted to address under
Florida Rules of

01:04:32.660 --> 01:04:35.913
Criminal Procedure 3.21382.

01:04:35.913 --> 01:04:37.873
After determination that
the person is incompetent

01:04:37.873 --> 01:04:41.627
to stand trial, the charge shall
be dismissed no later than

01:04:41.627 --> 01:04:43.629
two years after a finding
if incompetency

01:04:43.629 --> 01:04:45.214
is due to intellectual
disability.

01:04:45.214 --> 01:04:48.467
I would argue here that there’s
no indication that Ms. Ricks is

01:04:48.467 --> 01:04:50.803
going to regain competency
in the near future,

01:04:50.803 --> 01:04:53.472
so I’d ask first that the Court
dismiss this charge.

01:04:53.472 --> 01:04:55.391
ASST. STATE'S ATTORNEY: What she
is saying is not accurate.

01:04:55.391 --> 01:05:00.688
The most recent evaluation
I have, it does not say that

01:05:00.688 --> 01:05:03.983
she is incapable of
regaining competency.

01:05:03.983 --> 01:05:06.986
And to the contrary, in the case
back in 2012, she was

01:05:06.986 --> 01:05:10.990
found incompetent
and then regained competency.

01:05:10.990 --> 01:05:13.284
The State’s concern
is that there has been

01:05:13.284 --> 01:05:16.912
no additional expert opinion
that something has changed

01:05:16.912 --> 01:05:17.663
with Ms. Ricks.

01:05:17.663 --> 01:05:19.749
ASST. PUBLIC DEFENDER: I would
dispute that. I’d like to take

01:05:19.749 --> 01:05:21.709
some testimony from Ms. Law.

01:05:21.709 --> 01:05:23.961
I understand that
the condition of the Court

01:05:23.961 --> 01:05:27.006
has imposed that Ms. Ricks
must stay with you is becoming

01:05:27.006 --> 01:05:28.007
a hardship on you.

01:05:28.007 --> 01:05:31.427
KIM: We teach in the prison.
We can’t go into the prison

01:05:31.427 --> 01:05:34.805
unless we have someone
to sit with Michelle.

01:05:34.805 --> 01:05:37.683
We’re not able to go and work
the way we normally do

01:05:37.683 --> 01:05:41.771
to create the income, and the
costs of supporting Michelle

01:05:41.771 --> 01:05:45.441
is much more than what her
Social Security check is.

01:05:45.441 --> 01:05:48.903
Just based on the medications
that we have her on, those are

01:05:48.903 --> 01:05:51.947
not sufficient enough to
cover all of the expenses.

01:05:51.947 --> 01:05:55.868
It’s causing us a very strong
financial challenge.

01:05:55.868 --> 01:05:58.037
ASST. STATE'S ATTORNEY: I have
no further questions.

01:06:00.164 --> 01:06:03.584
MICHAEL: The judge will hold a
status type review and make

01:06:03.584 --> 01:06:06.879
a determination as to
whether Michelle continues to be

01:06:06.879 --> 01:06:08.881
incompetent to proceed.

01:06:09.757 --> 01:06:12.093
In the worst case, she
goes back to state prison.

01:06:14.762 --> 01:06:17.348
[music soars, then slowly
drifts away]

01:06:24.689 --> 01:06:26.691
[water gently laps
the shore]

01:06:27.983 --> 01:06:32.321
KIM: What do you
think about the judge?

01:06:32.905 --> 01:06:36.367
MICHELLE: [via Kim] I'm afraid
of what the judge will say.

01:06:36.367 --> 01:06:39.995
He needs to just let it go, just
wash his hands and let it go.

01:06:39.995 --> 01:06:40.788
He needs to.

01:06:40.788 --> 01:06:42.373
I'm tired of
having to go to court.

01:06:42.373 --> 01:06:43.499
I'm tired.

01:06:43.499 --> 01:06:46.043
I am so tired!

01:06:46.043 --> 01:06:49.130
I need the judge
to let everything go.

01:06:49.130 --> 01:06:52.758
I need him to let me
stay living with you, Kim.

01:06:52.758 --> 01:06:54.135
That would be good.

01:06:57.638 --> 01:06:59.432
KIM: At times, I
think you're psychic.

01:07:06.814 --> 01:07:08.649
[camera clicks]

01:07:10.901 --> 01:07:12.903
TECHNICIAN: I'm gonna let Doctor
know that she's seated,

01:07:12.903 --> 01:07:14.905
and he'll be in, in
just a couple minutes.

01:07:14.905 --> 01:07:16.699
KIM: Okay.

01:07:18.117 --> 01:07:21.871
You wanna get your
new teeth today?

01:07:22.037 --> 01:07:23.122
[sweet music]

01:07:23.539 --> 01:07:24.874
Awesome!

01:07:28.002 --> 01:07:30.880
No! You're not shy.

01:07:30.880 --> 01:07:34.633
You wanna show
everybody your smile!

01:07:36.427 --> 01:07:40.598
[uplifting music]

01:07:48.647 --> 01:07:50.733
[car tires crunching on gravel,
music continues]

01:08:08.542 --> 01:08:10.002
[screen door squeaks]
GLENDA: Oh, yeah!!!

01:08:10.252 --> 01:08:13.672
Oh, you look so pretty!
Your hair’s gorgeous.

01:08:14.924 --> 01:08:16.884
GLENDA: It’s so good to see you!

01:08:19.011 --> 01:08:21.889
You’re all grown up. [laughs]

01:08:22.765 --> 01:08:23.265
Oh.

01:08:26.602 --> 01:08:27.853
I love you. I’ve missed you.

01:08:30.147 --> 01:08:33.776
There you are. You were little!
You were.

01:08:34.276 --> 01:08:35.903
Maybe you were. Yeah.

01:08:41.951 --> 01:08:44.078
On the bus, going to school.

01:08:44.537 --> 01:08:46.121
Getting your ears pierced.

01:08:46.121 --> 01:08:47.748
BOTH: [laugh]

01:08:47.748 --> 01:08:49.458
GLENDA: You were
probably seven when

01:08:49.458 --> 01:08:52.878
you left my home.
You were my baby. [chuckles]

01:08:52.878 --> 01:08:55.214
You were always my baby.

01:09:03.764 --> 01:09:05.015
GLENDA: Wow.

01:09:08.769 --> 01:09:11.730
GLENDA: [laughs gently]
It’s amazing to see how

01:09:11.730 --> 01:09:14.817
she turned out such
a beautiful person.

01:09:16.652 --> 01:09:19.655
[music soars with emotion]

01:09:20.781 --> 01:09:25.870
GLENDA: [chuckles softly]
Aw, you're so sweet.

01:09:28.789 --> 01:09:31.792
[music continues, birds sing]

01:09:59.987 --> 01:10:03.282
MICHELLE: [happy sounds
and laughing]

01:10:13.167 --> 01:10:15.252
[cat purrs]

01:10:37.733 --> 01:10:41.737
[dulcet music]

01:10:45.699 --> 01:10:48.160
[cell phone buzzing]

01:10:49.161 --> 01:10:50.621
KIM: Hello?

01:10:50.621 --> 01:10:52.164
Yes.

01:10:54.750 --> 01:10:56.752
Mmhmm. Hang on.

01:10:56.752 --> 01:10:57.753
The attorney’s on the phone.

01:10:57.753 --> 01:11:00.214
Pull in front of
the gas station.

01:11:00.214 --> 01:11:01.882
[turn signal ticks]

01:11:01.882 --> 01:11:03.467
KIM: Uh-huh.

01:11:06.679 --> 01:11:08.681
Really?

01:11:09.556 --> 01:11:10.766
Hold on, hold on, hold on!

01:11:11.934 --> 01:11:13.185
Hold on. Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.

01:11:13.185 --> 01:11:14.311
Just a minute. I gotta
tell Michelle.

01:11:14.311 --> 01:11:16.689
Hang on just a second. Hang on.

01:11:16.689 --> 01:11:19.108
Michelle, it's your lawyer.

01:11:19.108 --> 01:11:20.693
They said...

01:11:20.693 --> 01:11:23.404
the judge
said you're finished.

01:11:23.404 --> 01:11:25.864
All done. Good job.

01:11:27.116 --> 01:11:28.701
Awesome! Thank you!
Bye.

01:11:28.701 --> 01:11:29.702
BOB: All right!

01:11:29.702 --> 01:11:31.870
Good deal! Whew.

01:11:31.870 --> 01:11:33.956
Man, that
takes a load off us.

01:11:35.165 --> 01:11:37.167
Michelle is free. All right!

01:11:56.770 --> 01:12:03.485
MICHAEL: "Michelle Ricks,
case number 2018, CF 1526."

01:12:04.570 --> 01:12:06.155
[music rises and
fills with delight]

01:12:07.031 --> 01:12:10.200
ROBIN: I’m so happy for you.

01:12:11.285 --> 01:12:14.997
MICHAEL: "This cause came before
the court at the review hearing

01:12:14.997 --> 01:12:19.168
conducted on June 17th, 2019.

01:12:20.753 --> 01:12:24.131
The court finds
the defendant is not expected

01:12:24.131 --> 01:12:27.051
to become competent to
proceed in this action.

01:12:28.469 --> 01:12:33.390
Wherefore, based upon the
foregoing, it is hereby ordered

01:12:33.390 --> 01:12:38.062
that this action is dismissed
without prejudice, dated this

01:12:38.062 --> 01:12:42.483
12th day of July, 2019,
Circuit Court Judge."

01:12:45.986 --> 01:12:47.863
There you go.

01:12:49.448 --> 01:12:51.283
KIM: "I'm gonna
keep this," she says. [laughs]

01:12:51.283 --> 01:12:52.993
"Put it in my book."

01:12:53.994 --> 01:12:55.913
[tender music]

01:12:56.747 --> 01:13:02.878
MICHAEL: The fact that Michelle
is deaf isn’t the factor

01:13:02.878 --> 01:13:05.589
that caused her to be
found incompetent.

01:13:06.173 --> 01:13:09.468
Because she was deaf,
no one wanted to

01:13:09.468 --> 01:13:12.262
take the time to communicate.

01:13:12.262 --> 01:13:15.766
If we don’t take the time
to communicate,

01:13:15.766 --> 01:13:19.103
we don’t discover
the other issues

01:13:19.103 --> 01:13:23.190
that are present:
the mental health issues,

01:13:23.190 --> 01:13:27.653
the educational deficits,
the abuse that she suffered

01:13:27.653 --> 01:13:29.488
during a lifetime.

01:13:30.072 --> 01:13:34.284
And without discovering those
issues, someone like Michelle

01:13:34.284 --> 01:13:37.454
is never going to receive
due process,

01:13:37.454 --> 01:13:40.040
is never going to
receive justice.

01:13:40.374 --> 01:13:43.961
Michelle, all the Michelles,
become an inconvenience.

01:13:50.050 --> 01:13:52.136
KIM: It’s a different feeling.

01:13:56.598 --> 01:14:00.144
For all those people
who are the same as Michelle,

01:14:00.144 --> 01:14:02.396
their voice is not being heard.

01:14:03.647 --> 01:14:05.732
She's gonna be that voice.

01:14:07.568 --> 01:14:08.819
[uplifting music]

01:14:50.652 --> 01:14:52.905
[music becomes triumphant]

01:14:58.994 --> 01:15:02.998
[music softens, becomes pensive]

01:15:26.271 --> 01:15:30.275
[pensive music soars
with emotion]

01:15:34.196 --> 01:15:38.200
[an ethereal voice floats
above the music]

01:15:45.916 --> 01:15:49.920
[tender music]

01:16:15.737 --> 01:16:19.741
[an ethereal voice
returns, soaring]

01:16:42.639 --> 01:16:46.643
[rhythm builds like
a gentle heart beat]

01:17:28.810 --> 01:17:32.814
[tender music continues,
light and upbeat]

01:17:45.077 --> 01:17:49.081
[music gathers energy]

01:18:00.801 --> 01:18:04.805
[ethereal voices layer
and drift like clouds]

01:18:20.695 --> 01:18:24.699
[music builds, soars]

01:18:55.105 --> 01:18:59.109
[melody softens, voices float]

01:19:21.631 --> 01:19:25.635
[music slowly quiets, settles]