Terri Schiavo: Worth Stealing, Killing For?

By Andrew Peerless in News on Mar 25, 2005 2:55PM

Finally! A substantial Illinois link to Terri Schiavo, thanks to Michael W. Mitchell, of Rockford. Mitchell was arrested yesterday in Seminole, Florida, after ransacking and attempting to rob a firearms store as part of a "God-given" mission to "rescue" Terri Schiavo.

Yup, that's right. Fifty-year-old Mitchell purportedly became determined to save Schiavo after visiting the hospice facility that cares for her. He funneled that determination into a no-holds-barred plan that included brandishing a box cutter and revolver, threatening the owner of Seminole's Randall's Firearms and quoting, "If you're not on Terri's side, then you're not on God's side, either." Mitchell evaded police by escaping through the store's rear exit, but was later arrested in a nearby parking lot. He is currently being held on $125,000 bond, and will be charged with attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and having horribly delusional ideas.

Okay, Chicagoist made that last one up. But, regardless of our stance on Ms. Schiavo's condition, we can't imagine she'd advocate people she hasn't met robbing, threatening and potentially planning to kill innocents in an attempt to save her life. That said, she probably doesn't want every moment of her demise broadcast to a worldwide audience, either, but that's a discussion for another time.