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Christina Holt's Story
- Letters To The Editor
The following links take you to various letters to the editor in Christina's
story as it appeared in the
South Florida media.
PLEASE DO NOT COPY THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE BEFORE ASKING.
Thank you!
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In Loving Memory Of May 23, 1987 - September 16, 1994 "Beautiful Child who has found love from the angels...RIP..." |
 (Not her actual headstone) |
This
page contains all of the letters to the editor from the Palm Beach
Post and The Sun-Sentinel throughout the years. |
|
1994
Outrage Smolders For Hurt
Children (11/3/94)
A Wish For Christina That She Has Peace (11/3/94)
An Epidemic Of Abuse (11/3/94)
Why Grant Immunity? (11/3/94)
System Failed Miserably In Neglect Of Christina (11/5/94)
There Are Too Many Places The Next Christina Could Appear
(11/7/94)
Thanks For The Editorial On Christina Holt (11/8/94)
Death To Killers Of Innocent Children (11/8/94)
Is Our System Incapable of Justice For Christina? (11/8/94)
Make An Example of Child Abusers (11/8/94)
Kudos To Police In Christina Case (11/9/94)
We Demand Justice For The Children (11/10/94)
Let's Keep Fighting To Save Children (11/10/94)
Thousands Would've Adopted Christina (11/11/94)
Demand Child Protection (11/12/94)
Mother, 4-Year-Old Boy Were Heartwarming Sight (11/13/94)
Stories On Christina Tragedy Excellent (11/14/94)
Why Did Ziles Want Poor Christina? (11/15/94)
Ziles Seeking Custody A Travesty (11/17/94)
Forget The Trial... Hang Murderer In Town Square (11/20/94)
Rubin Wrong: Low Opinion of Zile Based On Her Lies (11/21/94)
Who Needs To Get To Know Zile? (12/1/94)
Angry Over Child Abuse? Volunteer (12/2/94)
Christina's 'Behavior' Has No Place in The Story (12/27/94)
1995
Past Excuse is No Excuse
(1/24/95)
Christina Holt Might Have Preferred An Orphanage (2/5/95)
Indeed, It Is Too Easy To Indict HRS (2/13/95)
Don't Blame The Abused For Their Batterers' Behavior (2/26/95)
Discuss Cruelty To Children After They Are Born (4/14/95)
Double Standard In Murder Charges? (4/22/95)
Lawyer's Remark on Verdict an Outrage (4/22/95)
Abused Kids Would've Taken Adoption (4/30/95)
Abortion As Cure For Abuse? That's Sad (4/30/95)
How Much Proof Does Rubin Need? (5/2/95)
Indict Those Who Abandoned Christina (6/22/95)
1996/1998
Christina Didn't Have Zile's
Experts (8/31/96)
Death Penalty Is Revenge, But Still Just (11/29/96)
Story Helped Anti-Child Abuse Campaign (5/28/98)
OUTRAGE SMOLDERS
FOR HURT CHILDREN
Sun-Sentinel
November 3, 1994
It should be an automatic death sentence for anyone taking the innocence
or life of a child.
I have a major problem with feeding, defending and maintaining the life of child abusers, rapists and murderers.
I agree with the punishment of the guillotine or hanging. Certainly, this would deter many criminals.
Some people would say that this is barbaric, but isn't it completely barbaric to rape a 3-month-old or beat a child to death? I was so overwhelmed with Christina Holt, I decided to get involved in an organization to help our children. I wonder how many others out there feel the same way.
GINA SCHEITERLE
Tamarac
A WISH FOR CHRISTINA THAT SHE HAS PEACE
Miami Herald, The (FL)
November 3, 1994
Author: Herald Staff
As watched the Disney on Ice perform Aladdin, I shed a quiet tear of
sadness for Christina Holt. She was safe until June, when her mother
took her in. God only knows why that was allowed to happen.
I still see the angelic face, smiling at me through the newspaper headlines.
Christina is dead, allegedly killed by her stepfather. People are looking
to blame someone. Whom do we hang first? The evil stepfather? The mother
who did nothing to stop the death? How about all of us? We sit back
enjoying our own lives without thinking how our neighbor is living.
If you see signs of child abuse, stop your neighbor and express your love for him/her and the family. Let them know that we are all responsible for the lives of each other.
Now God has little Christina to light up heaven. She has touched many lives without the benefit of being touched by love herself. God help us all to keep Christina in our memories to give us strength.
Joe A. Ramirez
Miami
First it was Amanda, now it's Christina. What is wrong with us? Has our society become so ruthless, so cold-hearted that we vent our anger, our rage on our own children? What kind of person would hurt an innocent child? A child whose only guilt is being brought into this crazy world we all live in!
People wake up! Parents show your children love, compassion, and guidance, for the children of the world are our future. What kind of future can we expect if our children have us as examples? May God bless you, Amanda and Christina.
Greta M. Valladares
Miami
Floridians want to know why the prosecutors who represent the people feel free to grant immunity to Pauline Ziles to elicit her testimony. Why not begin with charging her with accessory to murder, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and continue from there?
The fact that the police or others feel that her husband has "a psychological grip" on her is no excuse for murder or the continued conspiracy to cover up that murder of a child.
Amanda Johnson
Miami
SYSTEM FAILED MISERABLY IN NEGLECT
OF CHRISTINA
Sun-Sentinel
November 5, 1994
The innocent face of Christina, with the glitter in her eyes, keeps
flashing in my mind. She had such a perfect smile, she could have been
anyone's darling child. The much-feared news of her murder upset me
beyond words. The story becomes more tragic as we learn how she landed
in Florida with a mother who had given her up at 3 months and a stepfather
who had a criminal record.
Our system has failed miserably. Where were Christina's
rights? A 7-year-old can verbalize very well. Did anyone check on her
after her arrival in Florida? What about her weeks of absence from school?
Were a couple of phone calls adequate? Social services and home evaluation
should have been initiated. What about her other relatives? They could
have remained anonymous, yet helped her by a call to HRS.
This also includes the neighbors who had not seen her outside for weeks.
Yes, everyone failed, and this unfortunate child continued to live in
terror.
I shudder to think what her days would have been like, especially the last moments. If only someone had stretched out a helping hand. As a mother and a pediatrician, but mostly as a compassionate human being, I beg of the community to save future "Christinas."An anonymous call is all that is required to alert the authorities.
Christina's murderer or murderers should be given the most torturous punishment every day of their lives for as long as they live.
ATIAH HUSSAIN, M.D
Fort Lauderdale
THERE ARE TOO MANY PLACES NEXT CHRISTINA COULD APPEAR
The Palm Beach Post
November 7, 1994
In response to Randy Schultz's recent column ``Where is the next Christina?''
(about the child-abuse death of 7-year-old Christina Holt) - I would
say:
Where there is no responsible mother and father;
Where there is no real understanding of parenthood;
Where teenage sex and out-of-wedlock pregnancy are considered acceptable;
Where there is no serious approach to sex education;
Where there is the misguided attempt to halt family planning, birth control and abortion where rightfully essential;
Where there is emphasis on the fetus, not the child already born to horror;
Where millions of children throughout the world live lives of unmitigated cruelty, murder and abandonment.
William Newell
Lake Worth
THANKS FOR EDITORIAL ON CHRISTINA HOLT
The Palm Beach Post
November 8, 1994
Your front-page editorial regarding the death of Christina Holt (``For
Christina, don't look away again'') was not only very insightful and
timely, but it reminded us that if we are to prevent child abuse, the
whole community must get involved on a positive level. Thank you, thank
you, thank you.
Betty J. Fox
Jupiter
Back To Top
DEATH TO KILLERS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN
The Palm Beach Post
November 8, 1994
Amanda Dougherty, Andrew ``A.J.'' Schwarz, Christina Holt - where is
the justice? Their right to live was taken away from them!
I am outraged!! My God, somebody has to change the law to protect the innocent little victims, who have nobody to turn to for help. Whoever becomes governor this year should make this his first priority - the death penalty should be enforced for such horrific crimes!
Hulda Ward
West Palm Beach
IS OUR SYSTEM INCAPABLE OF JUSTICE FOR CHRISTINA?
The Palm Beach Post
November 8, 1994
I recently listened to a talk-radio host soliciting support for a tree
to be planted at the site where Christina Holt's body was found. This
is a nice gesture and worthy of support, but let us recognize that this
is only symbolism that will have no meaning to people capable of commiting
this type of crime.
Most of the calls were from people who blamed this terrible
crime on society's ills. Unfortunately, that philosophy has permeated
our society and spilled over into our judicial system so that individuals
are no longer held accountable for their actions. This psycho-balderdash
has resulted in not-guilty verdicts or mistrials in several notorious
cases. We undoubtedly will hear this nonsense from defense attorneys
for as long as juries are willing to swallow it.
If the perpetrators of this crime do not receive the punishment they
deserve, we should consider abolishing the current legal system and
switching to Singapore-style justice.
Tom Chappell
Jupiter
MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF CHILD ABUSERS
The Palm Beach Post
November 8, 1994
Christina Holt was a child. Her stepfather told police he hit her, she
convulsed and then, mercifully, she died.
In this society when so much of
this child abuse exists - sexual molestation, beatings, starvation,
unspeakable punishments - why do we give these individuals light punishment?
Recently, the news told of a woman who inflicted upon her son such cruel
punishment as cutting the lawn with a pair of scissors!
Perhaps if we brought swift judgment and executed the death penalty upon these fiends, others out there would think twice!
Nina Gilson
Port St. Lucie
KUDOS TO POLICE IN CHRISTINA CASE
The Palm Beach Post
November 9, 1994
Let us give the Riviera Beach Police Department and the other law enforcement
officers a loud round of applause for their training, honesty, perseverance
and commitment to a job well done, in the case of God's little angel
- Christina Holt.
We so often criticize police and say they are derelict
in their duties and label them falsely, not knowing the truth and circumstances
of their actions and decisions.
Again, we are very proud of all of them, and we share their honest concern.
Thelma Wall
West Palm Beach
WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE CHILDREN
The Palm Beach Post
November 10, 1994
It seems as though a week doesn't pass that a child isn't beaten to
death by a parent. I, for one, can no longer accept this. Unless something
is done to protect these children, it will continue. Let's get the kids
off milk cartons and out of our mailboxes: Parents who will steal children
over custody rights should pay dearly for their crimes.
The thug who beat Christina Holt to death should be
put into a room with a few linebackers and given the same treatment,
with hope of the same results, which he never gave any thought to.
It's crazy, when you think that it wasn't that long ago when a man could
be hanged for stealing another man's horse. Today, men and women abuse,
molest and kill children and are back on our streets in just a few years.
Nothing can be done to help Christina Holt now, but seeing to it that her killer and others like him are never again allowed to walk our streets would go a long way to protect the Christinas of the future.
Jim Grimes
West Palm Beach
LET'S KEEP FIGHTING TO SAVE CHILDREN
The Palm Beach Post
November 10, 1994
It is with sheer outrage that those of us who are advocates for children
have read the recent accounts of the murders of Christina Holt and the
two infants from Royal Palm Beach.
Child welfare is the primary concern
of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches. We can only hope that, through
our volunteer efforts, the children of Palm Beach County might be safe,
healthy and free from harm. Sadly, no one heard the muffled cries of
these innocent children. The battle goes on.
Robert H. Freeman, president
Junior League of the Palm
Beaches
West Palm Beach
THOUSANDS WOULD'VE ADOPTED CHRISTINA
The Palm Beach Post
November 11, 1994
As our community mourns the death of Christina Holt, we should be asking
why so many children are harmed or killed in our advanced society. Surely
we ought to be able to care for our children better than this.
Parents, if you can't care for
your children, fear you will harm them or would rather go off with a
boyfriend, find someone who will love and care for them. Call the Florida
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services or another agency and
let someone else help you get rid of your ``burden.'' Thousands of childless
couples in this country would have given anything for the opportunity
to love and raise a Christina Holt.
Eleanor Mitchell
West Palm Beach
DEMAND CHILD PROTECTION
Sun-Sentinel
November 12, 1994
The whole nation was shocked by the murder of Christina Holt. It is
time we, the people, demand a law to protect children like Christina.
The penalty for murdering children should be the electric chair.
ANNE FRANCK
Hollywood
Back To Top
MOTHER, 4-YEAR-OLD BOY WERE HEARTWARMING SIGHT
Sun-Sentinel
November 13, 1994
The other day in the waiting room of a local automobile dealership I
read with a shudder of revulsion the Sun-Sentinel account of the unspeakably
brutal murder of 7-year-old Christina Holt.
I looked up when a young woman entered with a 4-year-old
boy and I sat transfixed, watching the obvious delight they had in each
other. My heart was warmed by the love that flowed from mother to child
and from child to mother.
Our society is infected by a virulent virus that is being vented on
helpless children. Born out of anger and frustration and triggered by
omnipresent violence, it has become the norm. It is difficult to comprehend
how such unspeakable acts can be perpetrated on the Almighty's most
precious gifts of all, our innocent children.
The crime is so contemptible that it deserves special attention. No matter what punishment results, it will not fit the crime.
MARTIN KARPEL
Boynton Beach
STORIES ON CHRISTINA TRAGEDY EXCELLENT
The Palm Beach Post
November 14, 1994
Thank you to Post writers William Cooper Jr. and Steve Gushee for their
wonderful articles regarding Christina Holt. They helped to ease the
pain of this madness.
Joan Stepp
West Palm Beach
WHY DID ZILES WANT POOR CHRISTINA?
The Palm Beach Post
November 15, 1994
Why did Pauline and John Zile want Christina Holt? Pauline was pregnant
with a baby she gave up for adoption. It doesn't make sense. What was
their motive? It certainly wasn't love.
Gail Ennis
Delray Beach
ZILES SEEKING CUSTODY IS A TRAVESTY
The Palm Beach Post
November 17, 1994
I read the recent article ``Pauline Zile says she will fight to keep
her two sons.'' I think that would be a travesty. If she is acquitted
of the first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges against
her, and she meets another man, would she remain silent if he abused
them?
I believe she gave up all rights
to her children when her 7-year-old daughter, Christina Holt, took her
last breath.
The Rev. Demetrius Alchermes
Hobe Sound
FORGET THE TRIAL ... HANG MURDERER
IN TOWN SQUARE
Sun-Sentinel
November 20, 1994
You report the state will receive millions of tax dollars for crime,
presumably for more police. Haven't you learned you can't solve problems
by throwing money at them? Will that stop wife beatings, baby bashings
and murders? You also report that crime drastically increased in 1993.
There's only one way to correct our sick society. Take the Christina Holt case, for example. The liberals who cry and place flowers on graves should make their weak-kneed politicians rid our country of crooked judges, unethical lawyers and illiterate jurors.
It has reached a point where we almost have to take the law into our own hands. Save the state money. Eliminate a trial and hang Christina's murderer in the town square. Watch how fast crime will be reduced.
ED SUTHERLAND
Fort Lauderdale
RUBIN WRONG: LOW OPINION OF ZILE
BASED ON HER LIES
The Palm Beach Post
November 21, 1994
My, what little credit attorney Ellis Rubin gives the public. He claims
that public opinion regarding Pauline Zile, who is charged with murder
in the death of her 7-year-old daughter, Christina Holt, has to do with
the influence of the prosecution.
Then came the horrifying change of events, and again she stood before
us and asked us to believe that she had been abused by her husband and
was afraid of him, and so did not contact authorities about Christina's
alleged abuse. The public would not be duped a second time. We still
had the love in our hearts, we still were concerned, caring people,
but it was she who changed our opinions. These feelings now were for
poor Christina, who had been beaten to death.
So, go ahead and have the prosecutor removed from this case, because I believe a first-year law student could win the justice due this child.
Janet Giddis
Lake Worth
WHO NEEDS TO GET TO KNOW ZILE?
The Palm Beach Post
December 1, 1994
In the recent front-page article ``Zile, wife indicted on murder charges,''
Pauline Zile's lawyer, Ellis Rubin, was quoted as saying that ``prosecutors
have whipped up the public to the point where they hate this lady before
knowing anything about her.''
Christina Holt spent the last few months of her short life trying to get to know her mother. What did she get for it but a tarp for a coffin and a rose bush for a headstone?
Sue Wagner
Atlantis
ANGRY OVER CHILD ABUSE? VOLUNTEER
The Palm Beach Post
December 2, 1994
As the agency sponsor for Parent Support Network, we are delighted with
Ron Wiggins' touching and insightful article on one of our groups (``Reining
in your rage''). His portrayal of his experience in the group has resulted
in numerous phone calls from parents talking about difficulties and
seeking help.
Our agency has had an unwavering commitment to child
abuse-and-neglect prevention since The Children's Place opened its door
in 1979. We remain the only agency sponsor of Parent Support Network
in Palm Beach County, though we are eager to collaborate with both individuals
and agencies to expand the network.
Many have expressed their rage and frustration over the tragic death
of Christina Holt and wanted to be able to do something. Parent Support
Network is a volunteer, community-based service that clearly prevents
the abuse of children and enhances families, and we welcome any assistance
from the community.
Nancy Albano Lambrecht, executive
director
The Children's Place and
Connor's Nursery
West Palm Beach
CHRISTINA'S `BEHAVIOR' HAS NO PLACE IN THE STORY
Sun-Sentinel
December 27, 1994
I have just read with anger and disgust your article entitled: "Records:
Christina had behavior problem" (in reference to the tragic death
of Christina Holt).
Adding to the disgust with all the senseless deaths we have every day,
especially those involving defenseless children, we now have an article
which almost states to a reader that "it was understandable that
Christina was killed because she was an incorrigible child!" There
are many of those throughout the world. Should one believe that death
is the solution to the problem? Your article could possibly cause some
deranged and "frustrated" parent to think so.
When a state is still mourning the deaths of Christina, Amanda Dougherty and the Smith children in South Carolina, it is unconscionable to allow allegations from teachers that she was "out of control" seem to make light of her death and, in essence, seem to justify what was done to her.
The accused, I am sure, are grasping at straws to find some sort of justification for the crime. For your newspaper to give so much space to such an article is inappropriate and disgraceful to Christina's memory.
JANINE LORRAINE
Boca Raton
PAST ABUSE IS NO EXCUSE
The Palm Beach Post
January 24, 1995
Maybe it's time to really think about how to prevent abuse. But who
will take the blame? Nobody seems to want to. Susan Smith, the woman
accused of drowning her two sons because her boyfriend would leave her,
excused her actions by saying that when she was 16, her father had molested
her. John Zile, stepfather and accused murdered of Christina Holt, said
that his father had abused him as a child. Can't adults take responsibility
for their behavior? Even lawyers are contributing to this lack of responsibility.
They use past abuse as their greatest defense.
Faith McClean, 13
CHRISTINA HOLT MIGHT HAVE PREFERRED AN ORPHANAGE
The Palm Beach Post
February 5, 1995
In response to the recent letter ``A Newt is a very insensitive animal,''
citing George McEvoy's column on Newt Gingrich's proposal of orphanages:
It seems to me that the letter writer along with President Clinton have
their heads stuck so far in the sand and cherry blossoms, respectively,
that they are wholly unaware of today's realities.
I would suggest to the writer
that she ask Christina Holt whether she might prefer an orphanage to
her ``loving'' family. Oh, I forgot. She's dead. Well, maybe we should
ask Clover Boykin's baby? Oh, he was too young to talk when his own
mother suffocated him.
When are people going to get real about the notion of loving families?
Unless and until those who criticize the notion doing something are
willing to take these children into their own homes, how else do they
propose that we keep these kids safe from harm, separated from their
mothers or not?
I suggest to the letter writer that she stop believing the Hallmark cards about families and open her eyes to the harsh realities all around us: Sometimes, an orphanage is better than a slow, painful death, where heaven is the only refuge.
Randi S. Barnett
West Palm Beach
INDEED, IT IS TOO EASY TO INDICT
HRS
The Palm Beach Post
February 13, 1995
In the recent editorial ``Indicting performance of HRS is just too easy,''
it should be pointed out that the editor and the grand jury overlooked
the fact that three of the four children who met tragic deaths, Christina
Holt, the Boykin baby and another infant in Clover Boykin's care, were
not under the supervision of the Department of Health and Rehabilitative
Services.
It should also be noted that the
bottom line is that parents should be held responsible first and foremost
for the care and treatment of their children before HRS is castigated.
Your final sentence, ``We can change agencies all we want, but we won't
make real progress until we change ourselves,'' says it all.
Marion A. Rutledge
Jupiter
DON'T BLAME THE ABUSED FOR THEIR BATTERERS' BEHAVIOR
Sun-Sentinel
February 26, 1995
In response to the letter writer who is offended by a billboard displaying
a woman with a black eye and who suggests the woman "modify her
behavior ... if she doesn't enjoy the black eye": Too bad the Nicole
Brown Simpsons of the world didn't heed his advice and alter their behavior.
They might still be around to explain the impact of spousal abuse.
Next topic: "How children
can modify their behavior so they don't end up like Christina Holt."
KEVIN AND DESIREE TANKE
Sunrise
DISCUSS CRUELTY TO CHILDREN AFTER THEY ARE BORN
The Palm Beach Post
April 14, 1995
Regarding the recent letter ``New abortion method needs reporting'':
I'm certain that had Christina
Holt or A.J. Schwarz had the choice of being born or suffering the years
of life they lived, they would have chosen abortion, no matter what
form.
Newspapers, magazines and TV should go into graphic detail, as the letter-writer
did about abortion methods, of the torture, maiming, bone breaking,
fractured skulls, drownings, scaldings, cigarette burns, sexual abuse
in every perverted form done to thousands of unwanted children daily.
Newborn babies are discarded in Dumpsters, garbage cans, toilets, fireplaces - all abandoned because they weren't wanted and can't be cared for.
Dee Adkins
West Palm Beach
DOUBLE STANDARD IN MURDER CHARGES?
The Palm Beach Post
April 22, 1995
Pauline Zile has been convicted of first-degree murder of her daughter,
Christina Holt, even though her husband (who is not Christina's father)
is charged with the actual killing.
Why is it that the father of A.J.
Schwarz (the 10-year-old boy who was killed by his stepmother), who
must have known about A.J.'s abuse by his wife, Jessica, since all the
neighbors testified about it, has not been charged with anything?
Why was David ``Bear'' Schwarz not there to protect his child A.J.?
This was the same standard to which Pauline Zile was held.
Maureen Quinlan
North Palm Beach
Editor's note: Mr. Schwarz is a truck driver and was rarely home. According to reporter Jenny Staletovich, neighbors said they'd never seen him hit A.J.
LAWYER'S REMARK ON VERDICT AN OUTRAGE
The Palm Beach Post
April 22, 1995
It is horrifying to see mothers killing their children. There are no
words that can describe the anger I feel. The life and comfort of one's
child should come above all else.
But what I find most contemptible
is the comment of Pauline Zile's attorney, Ellis Rubin, that the verdict
of first-degree murder was too harsh. How dare he?
Pauline Zile watched her child, Christina Holt, being killed and let
it happen. We don't even want to hear about extenuating circumstances.
No punishment is strong enough for this woman - or Jessica Schwarz, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of her stepson, A.J.
Genia Zwirn
Delray Beach
ABUSED KIDS WOULD'VE TAKEN ADOPTION
The Palm Beach Post
April 30, 1995
A recent letter writer said she was ``certain'' Christina Holt and A.J.
Schwarz would have chosen the torture of abortion over the torture of
child abuse.
I believe they would have preferred
a third option - adoption - over either of these cruel and inhumane
choices.
Linda Warlick
Boca Raton
ABORTION AS CURE FOR ABUSE? THAT'S SAD
The Palm Beach Post
April 30, 1995
In response to the letter ``Discuss cruelty to children after they are
born'': Abortion is not the answer to this society's ills.
Yes, Christina Holt and A.J. Schwarz
lived and died tragically after being abused; however, to suggest abortion
as the better alternative is even more tragic. The cure for immorality
is not mortality.
It's sad to think that we live in a society where abortion is offered
as a solution to child abuse. I submit that we need to deal with those
deep-seated problems that lead to people emotionally and physically
abusing others. Abortion is not the cure.
Gayle W. Harper
West Palm Beach
HOW MUCH PROOF DOES RUBIN NEED?
The Palm Beach Post
May 2, 1995
I am writing in response to the article by attorney Ellis Rubin concerning
Pauline Zile (``Same crime, two punishments''). Mr. Rubin claims that
Pauline was convicted by pretrial publicity. Does it really matter?
The important thing is that Pauline was proven a murderer.
How much evidence does Mr. Rubin
need? This woman did nothing while her husband allegedly beat her 7-year-old
daughter, Christina Holt, to death. Pauline wasn't bullied by her husband,
she wasn't afraid of him. Pauline chose to stand by and do nothing to
help Christina.
The simple fact is, Pauline didn't care, except for herself. In her
mind, Christina was nothing.
Paula Wilburn
West Palm Beach
INDICT THOSE WHO ABANDONED CHRISTINA
The Palm Beach Post
June 22, 1995
Christina Holt was a beautiful child, and when I read about what had
happened to her at the hands of her mother and stepfather, I was horrified
and felt that they both deserved the death penalty.
Upon more information and reflection,
I feel that the people who brought a 7-year-old child to Pauline Zile
- when she had married, had two sons and was pregnant with a third child,
and had a husband who earned a meager salary as a cook in a restaurant
on Singer Island - bear a substantial responsibility for what happened
to Christina.
I would be more inclined to put those people who brought Christina to
Florida in prison for 25 years, not Pauline. I feel that Pauline was
an abused and intimidated woman.
Jeanne Ford Wood
Palm Beach
Christina didn't have Zile's experts
Sun-Sentinel
August 31, 1996
What a way to start the day. Opening the Sun-Sentinel to find a front page photo of a smiling and well-groomed John Zile, chatting with his "jury selection expert" as another jury pool is dismissed. I wonder who compensates such an expert? Perhaps someone should have provided for a "victim expert" to stand beside little Christina Holt as she was being brutally murdered. God help us.
ROBERT E. STEINKAMP
Pompano Beach
DEATH PENALTY IS REVENGE, BUT STILL JUST
The Palm Beach Post
November 29, 1996
Congratulations to Frank Cerabino on his column "Forget about what
I used to believe, Zile should die," in which he said that the
case against John Zile, who killed his stepdaughter Christina Holt,
7, made him reverse his position on capital punishment. He cites the
old saws of the cost involved in imposing the death penalty and the
non-deterrent factor as reasons for his previous opposition.
It is obvious to all of us "right-thinking"
conservatives that the cost of carrying out the death penalty is due
to the outrageously long appeals. The non-deterrent factor is a non-issue.
Life imprisonment is also a non-deterrent, so why do death penalty objectors
advocate that instead?
To all those objectors who will have a candlelight ceremony outside
the prison walls on the eve of what I hope will be the execution of
my son's murderer, I issue an open invitation to them to place a flower
on my son's grave on the following day in recognition of that fact that
I do not consider revenge to be a dirty word. I prefer to call it justice.
Tom Chappell
Jupiter
Editor's note: Tom Chappell is the father of Brian Chappell, a West Palm Beach police officer killed while on duty Aug. 22, 1988. Norberto Pietri was convicted of the murder in 1990 and sentenced to death.
STORY HELPED ANTI-CHILD ABUSE
CAMPAIGN
The Palm Beach Post
May 28, 1998
We thank The Post and William B. Cooper Jr. for keeping the community
well-informed in recent weeks on the issue of child abuse and neglect.
In response to his recent article about me, "Mom struggles to sustain
kids' abuse campaign," many members of the community have come
forward with a variety of offers of help.
One local songwriter offered tapes
of her songs about A.J. Schwarz, Christina Holt and other children who
died in our community. We have also been approached by the foundation
of a prominent local family to submit a request for money.
A very special thanks to the staff of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
for coordinating assembly, delivery and providing the storage for more
than 13,000 new mothers' parenting packets, a total of 91,000 booklets
and magnets.
The public and many nonprofit organizations continue to be very supportive of our child abuse prevention efforts, and we thank all of them for their support.
Kathy McGuire Forrester, executive
director
Our Community, Our Children
Palm Beach Gardens