Florida – On January 12, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed a death warrant for Martin Grossman, convicted of murdering a Pinellas County wildlife officer in 1984. Grossman was 19 years old when he and a friend went to a wooded area in Pinellas County, Florida to shoot a stolen handgun.
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Grossman, who was on probation for burglary when the event occurred, pleaded with Florida Wildlife Officer Margaret Park not to report the incident as both possession of the weapon and being outside of Pasco Country, were violations of his parole agreement. When Park attempted to radio for help, Grossman struck her, while his accomplice beat Park. Grossman, who was high on drugs when the incident occurred, wrestled Park’s gun away from her and shot her in the back of the head.
Activists, who argue that while Grossman is guilty of murder, he never should have been found guilty of murder one or placed on death row, are gearing up to ask Governor Crist to commute Grossman’s death sentence. Grossman is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on February 16th at 6 PM.
VIN News has learned that Grossman, who practices Judaism as much as possible in the Florida prison, has requested a proper Jewish burial.
Rabbi Menachem Katz of The Aleph Institute, an organization that provides for the needs of Jewish inmates and their families told VIN News that there is a strong case to be made for commuting Grossman’s death sentence. According to Rabbi Katz, not only was this not a premeditated murder, but Grossman was high on numerous drugs at the time of the crime, had a very difficult upbringing which affected him psychologically and is not the same person he was 25 years ago.
Rabbi Katz, who visited Grossman last week on death watch and received special permission from the warden to allow Grossman to put on Tefillin, says that Grossman “has changed a great deal and is highly remorseful.”
Very sad and very depressing.
Why have we never heard of this case before?
If the victim were Jewish, and the attacker were a non-Jew, on probation for burglary, high on drugs, who had a “difficult upbringing”, does anyone think that the Rabbis would lift a finger to ask for commutation?
For that matter, if commutation were granted, does anyone doubt that cries of “Anti-Semitism” would be raised?
While we might want to oppose all death sentences in the US as being incompatible with even Noachide standards (I certainly do), there is nothing I see that looks like Grossman is being treated any better or worse than any other convicted murderer. Murdering a law enforcement officer is a capital offense in most US States.
And unfortunately, politics will probably intervene here. Gov. Crist is facing an uphill battle for a US Senate seat against a right winger who will savage him mercilessly if he commutes the sentence of someone convicted of murdering a law enforcement officer.
“According to Rabbi Katz, Grossman was high on numerous drugs at the time of the crime, had a very difficult upbringing which affected him psychologically and is not the same person he was 25 years ago”
I cannot believe this rav would be seeking to commute the sentence of a convicted murderer of a policeman because he had a “difficult” childhood etc. and all the other lame excuses we hear regularly about goyishe murderers and never lift a finger to help them. In fact, those here on VIN are the first to scream when someone brings up some mitigating circumstances about the killer’s childhood or was on druges. Yidden especially should NOT have a double standard for murderers simply because they are jewish. He should be executed based on the facts of his horrendous crime, and his religious beliefs are irrelevant to us in any commutation decision.
Bde i hope they give him a jewish burial hamakom yenachem eschem
If anyone wants to help with this really big mitzvah of saving a fellow jew please write and call the Office of Governor Charlie Crist.
Address-State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Telephone:
* Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 488-4441
* Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146
[Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time]
Fax: (850) 487-0801
In this zechus may we all be zoche to the coming of moshiach speedily!
I hope his death sentence is commuted, people who commit far more henious crimes receive less severe sentences. Its ridiculed to give hime death for this crime, considering the curcumstances. This has nothing to do with the fact that he’s our blood brother, but more to do with the pulse of todays era of sentencing guidlines and todays “norm”. Justice does not lay in his death but rather in his incarcaration and rahbilitation.
As bad as his crime was, and the punishment has to be severe, still, if these mitigating factors are true he should not be executed.
Based on the information in this article, Mr. Grossman should not be given the death penalty. According to secular law, the murder as described does not qualify as premeditated, and according to Jewish law there were not two witnesses to the crime other than the defendant and there was no warning issued to the defendant regarding the potential punishment for his behavior.
People committing way worse crimes aren’t given the death penalty. It seems way beyond the norm to have him executed over such a crime.
Murder is murder however you spin it no matter who you are and what state of mind you are in I’m sorry if I sound so arrogant the fact of the matter is that a life was lost
You can also email the Governer at
[email protected]
He shot a police officer in the head. She died. To me, that’s pretty serious. He chose the behaviour, now he must pay the price. Being Jewish, he should have known better.
The excuse that he was high on drugs when the shooting occurred. Can anyone explain to me, being so high drugs how did he find the mark so accurately at the back of the officers head.
He has been incarcerated for 26 years, isn’t that enough of a punishment?
OJ Simpson murdered 2 people (one of them was the mother of his children), not only was he not sentenced to death, he didn’t even sit one day in jail for those premeditated cold blooded murders.
when a jew is to be executed, his crime becomes less severe, excuses are made, the man is a mensch. but if this guy was just some WASP and the park ranger a yid, every comment would be: “rot in hell” and so on. murder is murder is murder is murder!!!!!!!
And this is why frum jews should not be republicans and support the capital punishment and death penalty. because when it comes to cases like these, we want exeptions. lesson learned – dont vote for republicans and the death penalty in the first place and preserve the real “culture of life” form the hands of people like governor “jesus lisence plates” crist.
I am stunned. The state is going to kill this man. Once he is dead, he will not have the chance to do tshuvah or mitzvahs.
We can never be sure what happened or what his mental state was the day the police officer was killed.
Nobody is saying release this guy from jail; just keep him ALIVE in jail.
He is your brother. No matter what your brother does you would never advocate killing him for it.
Stop the pompus pontificating and posturing about whether he should be killed. Once he is dead, you will never be able to do tshuvah for your role in standing by while someone who possibly should not have been killed is killed.
It doesn’t matter whether the man wears a bekitshe or not. He’s your brother.
Send your letters:
Gov. Charlie Crist
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Telephone:
* Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 488-4441
* Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146
[Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time]
Fax: (850) 487-0801
Here’s an email you can send to the Governor at [email protected]:
Governor Crist,
Martin Grossman has been imprisoned by the State of Florida for 26 years for a murder he was convicted of committing when he was 19. He is on death row.
As a religious American, I believe there are circumstances in this case that warrant commuting the death sentence. When the murder happened, Martin was suffering from drug addiction, which is a disease that can make people do things they don’t intend. There is no evidence of premeditation in this case.
Additionally, Mr. Martin has cleaned himself up during his 26 years in prison. This perhaps does not excuse what he did when he was 19, but I can’t help but ask myself why the State should execute a man who has, as much as possible, reformed himself.
God has taught us to forgive, to give people the chance to repent, and to leave the ultimate punishment to God himself.
I beg you to please spare the life of this condemned man. When his purpose in the world has been accomplished, God will surely take his soul, and administer all required punishments. It is not for us to force God’s hand.
“No one knows what happened. . .” He chose actions which led to a prior conviction for burglary and was on probation. He knew his activities on a preserve were illegal and he chose to do them while on probation. He chose to resist arrest and he chose to shoot the law official to death.
Which of these choices was he not responsible for?
What a shame and waste of a life. We should be publicizing this case to the youth of NYC who feel the appeal of going off the derech and doing drugs to feel good. This is the best example of why drugs are totally ASSUR. Why drugs should NEVER be legal. Why good kids who use drugs do CRAZY things.
Does not make sense to give it 25 years later at a time when someone could have changed then when it comes to date of sentence he is a tottal diffrent perosn and some time sorry for him self committing the crime
It looks Like death row ain’t that bad, it looks like he is well fed.
I think he should plead guilty to a parking ticket, this is justice in the U S. You get a speeding ticket and the judge make you plead that you parked on the parkway…
Let’s pray for his life. Kol hamekayem nefesh achas m’yisroel k’ilu kiyum olam mulei. We need to do what ever there is in our powers to sav e this man from dying. I bet that he has done teshuva and will ne ver do it again
Ein udom choite
h elu em necnes boi ruach shtus
Doesn’t the Torah teach us to be firm with murderers because if we show leniency, victims will be blamed and murderers will see more compassion as is shown in some of these posts.
this guy is toast…….and he aint getting any jelly.
Where is your heart? We are so fortunate that comes the day of atonment and we have an aibishter to judge and none of you!
It is tough, yes he commited murder but we do not live in the times of the bais hamikdosh and can’t decide how to punish that is not up to me or you.
I am thankful that the aibishter is a forgiving!
Let us face it.
Crime commmited at 19 + 25 years spent in jail.= 44-45.What a shameful waste of a human being & Yiddishe Neshoma
Will he ever get out of jail? Will he ever get married & have children?
Will he ever be able to conform mitzvos & have a happy productive life in jail?
I think no.
In his place so many would want to die or even kill themselves. Of course life is better than death, and a Sanhedrin would not kill him. Unfortunatly the law of the land commands death, sad as it may be and as much as alive dog is better than a dead lion.[reffering to Dovid Melech Yisroel who died on Shabbos] Is his life worth more than his death? Of course spitually it is.
I guess Afilu Cherev chado munach al tzavoro al yisyoesh min horachamim, Let us pray that all changes for him to the better.
If you want a clear perspective on this, spend one single hour of life walking along side rabbi katz from aleph – it will touch your neshama and change your life!!! The Lubavitcher Rebbe Ztz”l gets kudos for a lot of things, but this is one that gets overlooked.
What Aleph does, as inspired by the L.R. is astonishing.
The average Jew will never know the extent of Rabbi Katz’s and Aleph’s daily chesed shel emmes. From the experience i have with them i can tell you that if rabi katz is an expert on these matters and should be trusted and supported by all of the Jewish world. Period.
I am a documentary filmmaker and have been filming Martin Grossman and his family for almost two years. The film is called RETURN (TESHUVA). Please take action to stop Martin’s execution and contact Gov. Charlie Crist. Martin is not the same person he was 25 years ago. He has sincerely changed and feels great remorse for what he did. He is not evil and his crime was reactive, not pre-meditated. At the age of 19, he was a troubled youth, high on drugs, and in possession of a stolen hand gun in the woods with a friend. This was a violation of his probation. (He had spent time in jail for burglary.) Peggy Park, a Fish and Wildlife Officer, came upon them, and told Martin he was going back to prison. Martin panicked and the rest of the story is a tragedy of monumental proportions for both her family and Martin’s family. Every human life has value. Executing Martin will not bring back Peggy Park. As Jews, we believe that every person has a divine light inside of them, and every person is capable of doing Teshuva. “Our job as Jews is to be agents of Teshuva in the world.” (Daniel Sokatch)
please sign this petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/584394380
if he is a murderer because he killed somebody, what is Governor Christ or the state called if they kill him? Are we so barbaric as to not give a deserving yid another chance. May HKBH help give him another chance for the great gift of life to be able to add light to this world.
If chas v’ sholem someone related to me was in that situation I would do everything in my power to save his life. It has nothing to do with religion whatsoever. Every person will try his best to save his brother or his son or his father. I don’t know very many people who would agree that their relative should be put to death. Anyone who says that they would agree with the death sentence for their own brother has a heart of stone. Of course we feel bad for the deceased and their family but killing this person will not bring her back. They will have closure and a sense of revenge and that is understandable but his family still has the right to try to save his life and that desire is very understandable as well.
All the posters here should relaize one thing,charlie crist is a extremely shrewd politican.According to the torah, it’s not at all clear what his sentence should be.Now as charlie is very shrewd, he will most likely make behind the scene checks to see if the jews really are united to support this plea or he can away with ignoring the request as the jews are not really united and strong asking for a stay of excution and not responding in the affirmative will not cost him politcally in his upcoming senate race.One of the places he will probaly check is jewish blogs like VIN and so your comments can actuallly make the diffence between life and death.Now if according to the torah he doesn’t deserve to die, do you really want after you come up to the next world to be accused in being partially responsible in getting him killed?
My understanding is that this guy confessed to shooting the policewoman in the back of the head, so I don’t know why people are talking about the need for witnesses. The killing of a police officer is a terrible crime against society and if that is the law in Florida that he must die, so be it. I am amused by the comments that “he has changed in these last 26 years in prison.” Of course he “changed” in prison, he had no access to drugs or alcohol, I am sure that give the path he was on he would have bumped off a few more people had he not been stopped.
He is a disgrace to his family and the community and his remains should be cremated and dumped at sea with the goyim and fish.
Noachide courts are not required to have any eyewitnesses to convict a nochri.
I remember visiting martin grossman on death row to read megilla for him and he came across as a very sweet individual.
hashem please help him.
For what it’s worth; One reason there is a more severe vigilance for killers of law enforcement officers is if they would kill someone with a badge and a gun they would easily kill an unarmed individual.
I feel bad that a Jewish life was so wasted. I feel bad he that nobody was able to help him when he was 14 or 15 so that he never got to such a point. It seems like he never had a father who could guide him. I feel bad that at 19 he ended someone elses life and effectively ruined his chance at a normal life. My only consollation is because he was under 20 he is suffering in olam hazeh for his avairos and not in olam habaoh. As to all those who also mracham, moshe rabainuh also had rachamin; but those he had rachamim on caused intense sorot for bnei yisroel. I feel really bad too and can’t stop thinking about it. But whatever happens hashem is more rachamim then us. Believe me he knows what he is doing. I hope he gets to live out his life in jail too. Such a terrible waste of a human life.
To members of the Aleph Institiute and others trying to prevent this execution: I hope you are reaching out to non-jews as well to petition and write the governor. There are many Catholic groups as well as secular groups that oppose the death penalty or, at least would in this case where the condemned man was a troubled youth at the time of the murder and has repented.
Fact, He committed murder. Fact he was convicted of committing Murder.
Fact, He deserves the death penalty. Fact He is going to get it (Executed). Was it premeditated, once he saw the ranger that’s what he decided to do. That’s all the premeditation I need. He could have fled the scene, but he decided violence was the way to go. It did not have to happen that way, that was a choice he made. Now he has to deal with the consequence.
One more point: He has already served 26 years the best years of his life the time when people establish themselves & a family. In Britain 25 years is a life sentance, was he sentanced to life inprison & death. Is it fair to give 2 such sever punishments?
In Torah Inuy Hadin isn’t allowed, straight after the conviction, the penalyty is carried out, any appeal on the way who ever makes it revokes the penalty & takes it back to trial, no appeals left, the procedure goes ahead.
Living in jail on death row 26 years is more harsh than a death penalty, this country doesn’t believe in double jepordy, but how about double punishment.
If they have adeath penalty it should be straight away.
It is always tough to see someone being executed regardless if you are pro or con capital punishment, however when it comes to a Jew we do feel a special connection but that connection is the same when a born again ala Karla Faye Tucker, Velma Barfield, for their community. As a Jew and liberal, I did struggle with being pro death penalty, but because I am a Jew and a first generation were both my parents lost their loved ones in the holocaust, I for one cannot take of the table death penalty for Nazi criminals, therefore I am not against the ultimate punishment, but were to not enforce it is the hard part, yes definitely it is painful.
He was 19, not a child, an adult, who must take responsibility for his actions. Using drugs and having a “difficult” upbringing as an “excuse” for this vicious murder, is completely ridiculous. The sum of how much he has “changed” throughout the years does not bring this person’s life back. Had it been your family member murdered, no doubt would you want to see justice served to the fullest.
But he killed a law enforcement officer and as a former sheriff it is hard to not want him to pay the price, otherwise it threatens the badge and uniform. so when you need us we need to know that the badge and unifrom represent severity in judegment and sentencing when messed with. May Hashem have mercy on him, his family and the victim and her family.
this is terrible it should not go through
please sign the following petition to Governor Crist.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-martin-grossman
Don’t want to weigh in on this other than to say, I’d support whatever decision the Governor makes here.
Let me say this short and concise,
As far as the US government is concerned, Mr. Grossman should not be treated any different then any other US citizen.
We should not make any excuses or minimize the severity of this heinous crime.
There is probably no anti-Semitism involved here.
BUT, here is the big BUT:
We as orthodox Jewish people we are obligated to do what ever it takes to stop this execution, because he is being sentence to death by GOYIM according to GOYISHA laws, which by definition according to the TORAH makes it to murder. We are obligated to save a fellow Jewish person from being killed by a GOY according to there laws. So if it takes making excuses for his actions, we have to do that to, why? Not necessarily because he really had an excuse, but rather because we have to do what ever it takes.