Michael Schiavo and George Felos: NO MERCY

Transcript: Exclusive! Terri Schiavo's Siblings Speak Out

Suzanne Vitadamo and Bobby Schindler appeared on Hannity and Colmes on April 7, 2005. Their accounts of the events surrounding Terri's death differ dramatically from the story George Felos was peddling.

(Excerpts)

HANNITY: Let's go back to the day that Terri died. Both of you were with her up until about 10 minutes before she died. I want to first address this idea that she was peaceful, that this was a calm and a gentle death, as Michael's attorney, Mr. Felos, said. Is that the case? Is that true?

BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: Absolutely not, Mr. Hannity. You I don't want to get too graphic. But what my sister and I saw was absolutely horrific.

For any family to have to experience what our family experienced the last two weeks, and particularly the last 72 hours was just barbaric. This whole death with dignity is an absolute lie. To see my sister suffering the way she was suffering before she died, is — I'm telling you, it's something I will never forget. And it's an image that will last with me forever.
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ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: It's Alan. Thank you both very much for coming back on the show. And to pick up on what we were just talking about, you know what they are saying on the other side is that, you know, in the interest of peace, and to make it as peaceful in that room as possible, that's why it was decided that you were asked to leave at that point.

Is that not an accurate reflection of what happened?

SCHINDLER: I disagree with that. This whole thing was staged. I believe it was two or three days prior to my sister passing away. There was already an obituary that was written. CBS report — "CBS news" reported this. And it came out portraying Michael Schiavo as a loving caring husband, being there at the last moment, cradling his wife.

So the minute they threw us out of the room, we knew it was happening. And that's why we were begging the police officer to please allow us back in the room so we could be with Terri. We didn't care if Michael was there.

And they told us that Michael Schiavo does not want you in the room, any family in the room, and they ushered us out of the building. It was absolutely disgraceful for us not to be allowed in there, and it was all staged so Michael could tell the media that he was there cradling his wife when she expired. And we're just awfully upset about this.
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VITADAMO: Mr. Colmes, I can tell you that Terri would have wanted her family by her side upon her death. I can tell you that.

COLMES: That would have included Michael, too, I guess?

VITADAMO: Maybe it would. But, you know, she definitely would have wanted us there, too.
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SCHINDLER: The last hours of Terri's death, we were treated horribly. In fact, once Terri passed away and our family was told that we can go back in the room and be with her, after she had died.

There was three police officers in the room with us, would not leave the room. And we were told that they were ordered to be in the room with us, at which point my father became very upset, asking for five minutes of privacy, and the policemen refused to leave the room. I believe they were scared that we were going to take pictures of Terri after she had died, which again was absolutely disgraceful.
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COLMES: All right. Bobby, let me go to you on this. An aid to Senator Mel Martinez from Florida, Brian Darling acknowledged writing a memo saying Terri's case was good for the Republican Party and Tom DeLay said he told the Family Research Council that God brought to us this tragedy.

Does it disturb you at all that a political party would try to take advantage of this or try to gain anything because of what you've gone through?

SCHINDLER: Well, you know, I don't know, Alan. You know, what I saw in Washington when I was there, I saw people working very hard. They seemed very genuine and authentic that they wanted to help my sister.

They were very concerned that Terri was not being afforded the same rights as a common criminal or someone that was on death row. And from the people I worked with — even — I met Mr. Darling, and he was exceptionally genuine, was working very hard, and I was received so well. And I believe it was in their best interests and in their hearts that they wanted to do something to help Terri.

COLMES: Suzanne, let me go to you on this, because it was described as a great political issue in that memo. Do you see it that way? And do you think that a political party — do you see them as trying to get advantage on this politically?

VITADAMO: Of course, I don't. I actually admire them for taking the initiative and stepping in where you have a disabled person whose — you know, these supposed wishes, there's a point of contention there. And, you know, she obviously was — had a court ordered starvation, very inhumane. And I admire them for stepping in and taking action.
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HANNITY: Suzanne, there were issues remaining. I know the family didn't want cremation of your sister. It happened anyway. Michael went against your wishes. There was talk that he wouldn't tell you where the remains of the ashes were to be put. Is there any — has that issue been resolved?

VITADAMO: No, it hasn't. We have yet to hear anything regarding a memorial that he had planned for Terri that I think we were supposed to be notified about or where her ashes are being laid to rest. So we have not heard from him at all.
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Schiavo and Felos didn't do something merciful by having Terri killed. They were merciless.

COLD-BLOODED.