Wright: Troubled, Self-Cutter, Suicide Attempt
Wright portrayed as troubled student who cut herself, was kicked out of school
By Josh Verges
jverges@argusleader.com
Published: April 17, 2007
Daphne Wright excelled in high school sports, but acted out and got poor grades, defense witnesses said this afternoon as her lawyers made the case for life in prison.
She starred in track and basketball at a North Carolina deaf school, but was expelled for poor behavior during her senior year.
Psychologists said she had the mental capacity to do well, but she under-achieved due, perhaps, to personal problems and poor social skills.
Dr. Mike McGrath said Wright has a “fairly impaired†ability to solve problems, learn to deal with new situations.
Wright sometimes cut herself in high school and once swallowed 22 pills.
Steve Witchey, a deaf educator from North Carolina, said there were few resources available in 1980 for deaf students with psychiatric problems.
Wright has been convicted of kidnapping and murder for the slaying of Darlene VanderGiesen, and the same jurors who convicted her are now considering whether to give her a death sentence or life in prison.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Argus Leader.
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS/70417025
MZ: Several people testified how Wright’s mental health needs went unheeded during her years in NCSD. Despite operating three state schools, NCSD didn’t provide mental health services back then and, in fact, was sued in 1990 for this failure to meet the emotional and mental needs of its students. One cannot help wondering if Wright would be facing the death sentence trial today if NCSD did provide the services required legally back then. Would her life, including her relationships, be any different? Perhaps, perhaps not, seeing that other factors were involved.
LaVigne, a law professor at U of Wisc gave a blistering review of NCSD’s systematic failures, including educational, regarding Daphne’s case. Even though she doesn’t possess formal linguistic or psychological credentials, she seems extremely acknowledgeable about Deaf people and ASL. This makes me curious to find out more about this person. Check out her testimony at Chuck’s blog: http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/ According to Chuck, the testimony phase is over.
My biggest question is why hasn’t any of the lawyers use Deaf experts? We have Deaf psychologists, Deaf educators, and Deaf linguists. They live in the Deaf Community 24/7 and use ASL everyday. Of all the people, only they are the best to know how Daphne ticks. After all, they all are Deaf, something no hearing expert will ever understand.  This should be obvious to anybody. Do the hearing people underestimate the intelligence of educated Deaf professionals? Audism?
Or is it the lack of access to these Deaf professional people? Are the Deaf professionals too ‘invisible’ to the hearing people? Any ideas?Â
More articles:Â VanderGiesen’s parents testify in Wright’s death penalty hearingÂ
e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
copyright mishkazena (TM) 2007
Wright portrayed as troubled student who cut herself, was kicked out of school
By Josh Verges
jverges@argusleader.com
Published: April 17, 2007
Daphne Wright excelled in high school sports, but acted out and got poor grades, defense witnesses said this afternoon as her lawyers made the case for life in prison.
She starred in track and basketball at a North Carolina deaf school, but was expelled for poor behavior during her senior year.
Psychologists said she had the mental capacity to do well, but she under-achieved due, perhaps, to personal problems and poor social skills.
Dr. Mike McGrath said Wright has a “fairly impaired†ability to solve problems, learn to deal with new situations.
Wright sometimes cut herself in high school and once swallowed 22 pills.
Steve Witchey, a deaf educator from North Carolina, said there were few resources available in 1980 for deaf students with psychiatric problems.
Wright has been convicted of kidnapping and murder for the slaying of Darlene VanderGiesen, and the same jurors who convicted her are now considering whether to give her a death sentence or life in prison.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Argus Leader.
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS/70417025
MZ: Several people testified how Wright’s mental health needs went unheeded during her years in NCSD. Despite operating three state schools, NCSD didn’t provide mental health services back then and, in fact, was sued in 1990 for this failure to meet the emotional and mental needs of its students. One cannot help wondering if Wright would be facing the death sentence trial today if NCSD did provide the services required legally back then. Would her life, including her relationships, be any different? Perhaps, perhaps not, seeing that other factors were involved.
LaVigne, a law professor at U of Wisc gave a blistering review of NCSD’s systematic failures, including educational, regarding Daphne’s case. Even though she doesn’t possess formal linguistic or psychological credentials, she seems extremely acknowledgeable about Deaf people and ASL. This makes me curious to find out more about this person. Check out her testimony at Chuck’s blog: http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/ According to Chuck, the testimony phase is over.
My biggest question is why hasn’t any of the lawyers use Deaf experts? We have Deaf psychologists, Deaf educators, and Deaf linguists. They live in the Deaf Community 24/7 and use ASL everyday. Of all the people, only they are the best to know how Daphne ticks. After all, they all are Deaf, something no hearing expert will ever understand.  This should be obvious to anybody. Do the hearing people underestimate the intelligence of educated Deaf professionals? Audism?
Or is it the lack of access to these Deaf professional people? Are the Deaf professionals too ‘invisible’ to the hearing people? Any ideas?Â
More articles:Â VanderGiesen’s parents testify in Wright’s death penalty hearingÂ
e-mail contact: mishkazena@aol.com
copyright mishkazena (TM) 2007
April 17th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
when was the last attempt to take her life and what was the information that they threw out from a restraining order and a death threat? Why didnt any of her other siblings testify for her? Only her mother and she seemed to be in the dark about Daphne’s life and the fact that she is a lesbian and has been since she was 18. She is in her 40’s for god’s sake where has she been?
April 17th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
How can this professor from University of Wiscosin states that she has expert observation on ASL? How does she know about ASL? Does she involve with deaf, took deaf studies at particular college?
If not, I would must say.. This may be very blunt:
How dare this person act like she knows about ASL if she don’t have any knowledge such as social deaf, deaf culture, took classes, deaf stuides, and many many things.
I resent on what the professor have been saying. I know hearing people may be acting like they know about deaf and the culture but they don’t.
Question: Why didn’t a deaf or CODA psychologist or psycharist have a examination on Daphne? Since they have better understanding on Deaf not hearing.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
They can only use charges that were formally filed and completed through
SH, I wonder the same thing. According to Chuck, this law professor has ‘conversational’ ASL. And they use her as an expert when there are many Deaf professionals better qualified to make these assessment. This doesn’t leave a good taste in my mouth. Does this mean hearing people have such a low opinion of Deaf people?
April 17th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
when were they filed and were they true or what was the deal?
April 17th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
MZ:
I undestand the point as what you said. I remember about the pre-trial. McCay Vernon had testified. I still disagreed with him in some way but I felt he is more qualified because he has more knowledge about deaf becuase of his wife is deaf, he took courses at college related with Deaf, he signs, and social with deaf.
But I felt he should take deaf culture and studies.. I’ll approve him in half way.
But this professor? I would not approve that completely becauses she is not qualified - I don’t think she is an appropriate witness.
I remember the story: At my old job, the human resource told deaf people she know/understands about deaf and its culutre. BUT, she don’t learn or never took class or social with deaf. She treated us differently, gave us no respect, etc. How can she tell us like that? To impress us or try to get us feel better about this person? If she actually have knowledge, then she wouldn’t behave like that.
So that why I felt this professor reminds me of my old job human resource person. I felt they have no right doing that.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I think the PD was looking for anyone they could to try and explain that she did have a full grasp of understanding… but her rage and outrage of jealousy and revenge was a clear portrait of how understanding and coherant she really is. She understood perfectly that Sallie didnt want to have anything to do with her and she didnt like it. If she were so remedial she wouldnt have ever got the hint/message that the relationship was over or ever reacted in such an outragious manner. She understands perfectly. She is no representation at all for black, deaf or lesbian women and that is why none of these groups are coming forward in her defense!!
April 17th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
sh,
McCay Vernon is old timer now.. We have many many Deaf professionals out in the field that could be use. Just because he married a Deaf woman doesn’t mean he is the expert in OUR LIVES!! He just married her and had children and whatsnot with her. Doesn’t make him God of Deaf!!!
April 17th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
KBJ:
That’s true.. I just give my point of view and an opinion but I didn’t say he was God of Deaf.
Yes, We would want CODA or Deaf psychologist or Psycharist to do asseessment on Daphne not those hearing people. I know one psychologist was very involve with deaf community - She signs almsot like deaf person. Will you accept this person to testify? Maybe not.. Maybe yes..
One thing bothers me: Why didn’t they hire a deaf or CODA psychologist and professionals? Why didn’t the defense? That shows Defense has ingroance about deafness and the professional that Deaf people are involved.
One thing - I felt that the trial was WAY OFF THE POINT because it is nothing relate with deafness, how mental level, troubles and many things on Daphne. What the point for those?
It may because she come from dysfunctional families? That excuse to give a life without prison? NO! Many of us, deaf people, come from difficult or dysfunctional familes.
So, I have question: What the point for these? I have heard from my friend told me how they felt about what happened today at trial. Pointless! Maybe there are few points, let me know if there are few.. I’ll be glad to hear.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
and for that so call expert from U of Wis… She isn’t an expert just because she worked with Wis School for the Deaf on a mock trail doesn’t mean she KNOWS it all. She barely signs ASL… I am so sick of those kind of people who claims they are an expert when they don’t hang out with the Deaf community she DOESN’T THAT I KNOW OF. I used to live in Wisconsin worked for the state of Wisc., She is nice and all but heck I wouldn’t call her an expert on Deafness. Just someone who happened to enjoy our Deaf company.. comprehend???
April 17th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
KBJ:
Excellent, that how I felt. What the point for her to testify at trial? Pointless - So you think it’s off the point? I hate it when hearing do that to us.
One thing we may wonder: We gave education and respect to hearing and they donesn’t respect back? It’s hard to find those hearing people would treat us equally. Sighs.. What wrong with them, hearing people, why put so hard on deaf than other religious or other disabilties. I may be wrong - I have seen it too often with deaf than others.. If you have knowledge that deaf are not ones. Let me know.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Perhaps the lawyer doesn’t realize that this law professor isn’t qualified to make these assessment.
How do the clueless hearing people know when other hearing people profess that they are qualified? We should alert the lawyers that these hearing people are being dishonest and are not qualified as ‘experts’. It is disquieting to hear this ASL “expert” doesn’t sign ASL yet she testified on a death penalty sentencing trial where a deaf woman’s life is at stake. It is downright unethical and scary, imo. I am starting to get the sickening feeling this may not be so unusual, from reading the other comments here…..
April 17th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I know SH you didn’t say that Vernon is God.. But people hearing and Deaf yes Deaf too treats him like he is one.. Makes me sick sick sick.. He just like the rest of us.
My best friend is hearing and he acts like he is Deaf he could fool you and you would never suspect that he was hearing until he tells you himself so yes I would accept the person who signs and “pass” as a Deaf person
a big :)… It is the attitude I am sick of that is what I am trying to say.
These hearing people are playing Gods with our lives and making decisions for us. They have this Messiah complex. It is 2007 and geez whiz…
Yes we are being picked on every minutes by how low our reading level is what about other people who comes inthe country Heck we are a better speller than hearing people at times. We are picked on because we used our facial expression to make a point… They say we are angry.. not always true…
ohh my favorite one, OHHH you can adopt or drive ohhh I didn’t know that YOU CAN GO TO CHINA!! WOW… Yes I am a mother of two adopted Deaf Daughters and Yes my husband and I are going to China etc etc… Ignorance (spelled that right I hope)
April 17th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
MZ:
I’m not sure what you mean when you say “I am starting to get the sickening feeling this may not be so unusual, from reading the other comments here…”
Is it because what we had share the comment on this? It’s just a express of feeling and opinions.
I’ll let others to make comment on this.. Let me know if I’m wrong.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
SH, the idea that many hearing people are claiming themselves ‘experts’ when they aren’t, claiming that they understand ASL when they don’t even use ASL, and hearing interpreters claiming they sign ASL when they don’t, etc etc. I am starting to see a pattern here and I don’t like it because this is dishonest to clueless hearing people and deaf people are being hurt here.
April 17th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
oh it is I would be believe called a hunch and she might be right… because I was involved in another trial in Wisconsin late 90s and no Deaf experts were called in but we were able to get CDI for the person who committed the crime and this is where in WISCONSIN… ohh where was that U of Wis person we were just talking about?? hummmm
April 17th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Re. Dr. McCay Vernon: although Hearing, he has been immersed in the Deaf community in many areas and spent most of his professional life as an educator and psychologist doing evaluations on Deaf people. I met him as a student in the Gallaudet Graduate program and feel he was qualified to evaluate Darlene.
What must be said is that courts have limited budgets and time requirements that may not fit with the schedules of current qualified expert witnesses.
Our Deaf psychologists, educational planners, and social workers have fulltime jobs and very busy lives and may not have been able to come at this time.
Paying for their fees and travel needs may have been beyond court ability. That they are relatively few and hard to find can be a reason, too. They don’t advertise their services on websites. They may not have a strong presence in the literature like Dr. Vernon does.
This situation is one that many corners have been cut, like in asking current expert witnesses to testify outside their fields just because they were available.
Plenty of reasons here for appeal if the death sentence is imposed. I guess that door is well-propped open.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
As a law student, I feel compelled to respond to people who are outrageous that a hearing person testified as an “expert”. I partly agree and partly disagree with this being objective. First, a background on criminal law - to say someone is competent in the eyes of the court may not mean the same thing in real life. LaVigne, I feel, is necessary to the defense’s case to explain competence from the legal point of view. It is sad, but true, that there are no deaf experts that I know of who have both a legal degree and experience with deaf and the legal system. I believe she is the most knowledgable person when it comes to how the legal system is unfair to deaf people because of the language, educational, etc etc barriers.
However, I feel that the defense should have an ADDITIONAL expert - someone who has more expertise in the psycho-linguistic field - a deaf expert of course (or at least deaf-at-heart). It is an inevitable fact that defense teams (especially those on public retainer) do not have all the money in the world to hire unlimited # of experts. So it is a strategic decision to pick an expert who can say the most, and I believe LaVigne was this person. She has the legal knowledge, the credibility (in the HEARING jurors’ eyes) and she at least can testify to her derivative knowledge of linguistics and psychology which she has to rely to make an accurate assessment of the fairness of the justice system for deaf people anyway.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
It is sad that no deaf experts were called, including CDIs, at any time.
How is it possible for Daphne to get a fair trial or verdict when the system has failed or set her up to fail from the beginning?
I made no judgement from the start because I didn’t feel the whole thing was done impartially.
P.S. I am remorseful about what happened to Darlene and how it has affected those who loved her.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Wright may not be too comfortable to be examined by a hearing psycharist with an interpreter.
Wish that NAD and other deaf organization could write federal grants to have more deaf psycharists for disturbed deaf children and people.
Hearing people would not be comfortable with deaf psycharists with interpreters, it is the same thing.
You all know if one of you happened to have a therapy with an interpreter who knows your family or friends. You would have remained in the shell.
If Wright was provided a deaf psycharist during her youth, would this help her from being a maniac? I wonder….
April 17th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Having read your blog above, I have drawn to a conclusion that the Wright case should be declared a mistrial. She has not been observed mentally by Galladuet’s experts:: psychologists, Dr. Vernon McCay, Dr. Allen Sussman, Jeff Lewis, and others. To be linguistically observed by top-notch linguists such as Gallaudet’s Dr. MJ Bienvenu, Dr. Dirksen-H. Bauman, Dr. Robert E. Johnson, Dr. Arlene Kelley (or Kelly). Perhaps you would ask them for their opinion. I have watched the Va. Tech. shooting rampagne on TV. Anchors from eacgh TV networks interviewed college pscyhologists, so I hope that — out of a Good Samritan Act
– Gallaudet experts should jump in to offer their opinion to some deaf people like Wright.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
There are a few deaf psychiarists out there. One of them is from Boston area. The other one is from Rochestor. Umm a Fair trial? A big question mark here. Not too impressed after reading the Argusleader blog today.
Where is NAD? and the rest?
April 17th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
do not get me wrong I do respect McCay Vernon. Dianerez I really do and enjoy his presentations when I am able to go to them.
Jean I do respect those people but it is time to let the some of the Deaf professionals who has graduated and been out in the field not in Gallaudet for the last 20 years to be the ones to do this. Those who are on the front line knows what is like and those who are in Gallaudet are in Gallaudet. I have nothing but respects for them do not get me wrong.
I have been out on the front line ever since I graduated from Gallaudet BA level then return later to get my MA just to get myself ahead now I am considering Ph.D but I will not go back to Gallaudet to teach because I belong out in the world on the front line.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
When will NAD get involved? When will South Dakota Association for the Deaf really watch and not make stupid comment.. Wright may have done the crime but still deserves to understand what is going on.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Why is it NAD’s responsibility to get involved?! Why is it South Dakota Association for the Deaf’s responsibility?? If you are so concerned, why didn’t you go to South Dakota and fight for Wright’s rights?
Daphne does not deserve anything. She did the crime, as the jury determined. Let the jury decide the punishment. That’s how much we can give Darlene. Please keep the victim in mind!!! Don’t forget Darlene! Come on…
April 18th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Any time a deaf person’s rights to a fair trial are suspected to be violated, NAD should check into it. NAD has a law center that protects the civil rights of deaf people
It doesn’t matter who the deaf person is. It can be any deaf person. Guilty. Innocent. What if it happens to you?
April 18th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Again, I have to implore you to seek the help of the ACLU. They give Defense to the indefensible in the Name of Justice.
It doesn’t matter if Wright is Guilty or not. Her right to a FAIR trial was badly breeched.
Had ACLU lawyers prosecuted this case instead of hack local Public Defenders, it would bring up so many issues, issues that would make the Justice system fairer to ALL Deaf people. Win or Lose.
Having high profile ACLU attorneys in this case would do so much to promote Justice for the Deaf. It would instruct courts HOW to deal with cases against the Deaf. A big, high-profile ACLU defense for Wright would make every judge of a Deaf defendant think twice about dismissing competent interpreters. If they knew the ACLU would come down on them!
media@aclu.org
April 18th, 2007 at 6:12 am
I am surprised about this. I have no words to say about this except that there should be better services for deaf criminals to get professional mental evaluations by people who are expert in deaf culture/ASL. Hopefully this will wake up people and maybe encourage Gallaudet to set up courses in forensic psychology, criminal justice and all that so when there is a trial for deaf client, they can contact Gallaudet directly.
April 18th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Ken, you have suggested this before and again I recommend that YOU contact ACLU. Is there a reason why you cannot contact ACLU yourself, if you feel so strongly about this? I am trying to understand
About the public defender, she tried her best with the interpreters. Personally I think she covered many interpreting issues that most lawyers may not have gone this far. It wasn’t her fault that the judge turned down her requests. The judge may have done the same with ACLU lawyers, who knows? For a public defender, she exhibited deep sensitivity to Daphne’s linguistic needs, in my honest opinion.
Smith was acknowledgable enough to appoint McKay Vernon, one of the top expert national wide in deaf forsenic science. Heck, I’ve used his work many times in my studies and have a very high respect for him. He really knows his stuff. However, he was injured in a fall and unabe to provide testimony so LaVigne was the back-up. She may be a very strong advocate for the Deaf, etc, but I feel that wasn’t a wise move due to her lack of professional credentials in deaf education and ASL. The jurors may be quick to dismiss her statements. We will see.
McKay is fine, but seriously I will feel better if they did use some Deaf professionals. Does anyone know why they didn’t?
April 18th, 2007 at 9:49 am
I’m not sure if I can understand what you mean about SD Asscoiate for Deaf said some comment that may be upset you? I haven’t seen that part on news but only saw little on the video online.
That make me thinking hard.. Why didn’t NAD or other organization involve? Try to help out? That something we would might not understand.
MZ:
I undestood what you have said about PD did her best. I was wondering why didn’t the PD being informed that there are RID.ORG that there are many interpreter opportunities? Too cheap? I read one artcile on blog from Chuck talked about - A person left a comment about State and PD seem like too cheap to hire deaf professional or experts? Why use hearing? What does they think they know about us as deaf?
I will leave the website for you to read about the person had made comment. I think it may be worth to read.
http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/voices/
Look at the topic “Trial handled badly” and “What about deaf expert?” Thought it would be good for you to read about this part.
I think I may know someone that might give answer with these.. I will find out if I can.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Oh by the way:
What about ADA law? Do you think it may be voilated or ADA is separated from deaf right of fair trial?
April 18th, 2007 at 11:14 am
SDAD could advocate for communication accessiblity that is all I am saying.. As well as NAD… Daphane did the crime I agree with that but she still has communication accessiblity to deal with… Darlene is still the main focus… \
Heck O.J. was acquitted for double murder…
April 18th, 2007 at 11:19 am
KBJ:
I’m not sure if you have followed with news and I have no idea where you from. Sound like you are a person with a great discussion.
Anyway.. How does NAD different with SDAD? I’ve been to SDAD before, and I understand that there was comment that few Sioux Falls deaf don’t like what SDAD president said..
So, Why didn’t SDAD do something with communication issue with interpreter stuff. I also wonder about CSD.. I did not see any CSD come in the trial to observe and do report. I once saw one CSD at pre-trial.
Sure, Some people cares that the justice is served no matter what. I understand that..
April 18th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I can’t remember where I found it but it was either in the South Dakota newspaper or a blog… It was the President’s comment just made me sick that is all.
CSD is also at fault for not providing some educational training or SD Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing if they have one…
Now we can’t point fingers anymore… We need to move on and learn from this.. IMPROVE SERVICES FOR ALL DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING VICTIMS AND CRIMINALS…
April 18th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
KBJ:
I understand what you mean. I am curious what kind comment which diguest you?
What will it make any difference if CSD did their action?
April 18th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Maybe if CSD wasn’t too busy trying too look good with Gallaudet and focus on the real issues in their home state like this… State and Defender maybe would have gotten Deaf 101 from CSD and lo and behold we wouldn’t have this blog.