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John C. Salvi III (March 2, 1972 – November 29, 1996) was an anti-abortion terrorist and a convicted murderer. He carried out two fatal terrorist attacks on two abortion clinics in Massachusetts, on December 30, 1994. These were the subject of intense media coverage. On March 19, 1996, he was found guilty of murdering receptionists Lee Ann Nichols and Shannon Lowney. Despite claims of schizophrenia, he was convicted in both killings. Salvi was found dead in his prison cell on November 29, 1996.

John Salvi was captured in Norfolk Virginia after murdering two young women at the Hillcrest abortion clinic, located at 1600 E. Little Creek Road. This was also an abortion clinic picketed by Donald Spitz, a known supporter of anti-abortion terrorism. It was reported by the Boston Globe that Salvi had Spitz's name and unlisted phone number on his person at the time of his arrest.^{[1] [2]} Salvi was seen as a hero to the anti-abortionists in Norfolk Virginia. ^[3] However, Spitz was never charged in connection with this terrorist crime.

The official report states that Salvi's death was a suicide. This was a source of some controversy, as other reports claim he was found with his hands and feet tied together, with cotton shoved in his mouth and a bag placed and tied with a shoelace over his head. His lawyers are quoted as saying that his body showed marks of having been beaten before his death.^[4]

During Salvi's trial, the defense argued that Salvi suffered from schizophrenia. Several expert witnesses testified that Salvi exhibited schizophrenic behavior and was not competent to stand trial.^[5] John's mother Anne Marie Salvi testified that her son had told her that he, "was the thief on the cross with Jesus."^[6] The prosecution brought forth Dr. Joel Haycock, who spent eleven days with Salvi out of his sixty days under observation at Bridgewater State Hospital. Dr. Haycock claims Salvi purposefully chose not to give a narrative of the events of December 30, 1994. Dr. Haycock concludes Salvi has no mental disease and is competent to stand trial. In further cross examination, the defense brings forth accounts of Salvi telling his parents, "...the mafia and KKK are out to get me". ^[7] Salvi was found competent to stand trial and was found guilty.

Salvi's conviction was ultimately overturned by the sentencing judge. Judge Barbara Dortch-Okara invoked the legal principle that a conviction may not stand if the accused dies before his appeals are exhausted.^[8]

External links

• The Washington Post - Salvi Convicted of Murder in Shootings
• The Public Eye - Conspiracy Theories in the John Salvi Case
• John Salvi Papers a collection of documents assembled by Associated Press Reporter Marcia Scott Harrison, is available at the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Boston, MA.

References

1. ^ Wrath of angels By James Risen p368
2. ^ Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/aron/salvi021996.htm
3. ^ Alleged killer seen as hero by activists outside Va. jailhttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-8310720.html
4. ^ Dennen L. Brown (September 27, 1998). "Deborah's Choice. A Gunman Stopped Her Abortion. And Gave Her a Burden She Can't Bear" (html). Washington Post. http://www.childtort.com/pages/articles/deborah.html. Retrieved 2007-01-21.  
5. ^ PBS Frontline. (1995). Salvi's Hearing Transcripts. Retrieved February 7, 2007.
6. ^ PBS Frontline. (1996). Murder on "Abortion Row" - Transcript. Retrieved February 7, 2007.
7. ^ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/salvi/salvihearing/salvihearing4.html
8. ^ The New York Times. (1997). Conviction in Killings at Clinics Is Overturned. Retrieved February 7, 2007.