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No evidence suggests Robert Wideman actually shot Nichola Morena, a used-car salesman, in 1975. But Morena was shot during a criminal scheme gone bad, one Wideman participated in. That made Wideman an accomplice to a felony in which a homicide occurred; under Pennsylvania law, that made him guilty of second-degree murder. The charge carries a mandatory life sentence.
Prisons are full of such stories, but Wideman’s is better known than most. His brother, John Edgar Wideman, is a nationally renowned author. The elder brother wrote a book about Robert’s struggles, Brothers and Keepers, which won a 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award in 1984.
Wideman’s crime occurred late at night on Nov. 15, 1975. According to trial testimony, Wideman and two accomplices — Michael Dukes and Cecil Rice — agreed to sell Morena a truck full of stolen television sets. When they met on Morena’s Saw Mill Run Boulevard car lot, it turned out there were no TVs. Instead, Wideman and his accomplices demanded that Morena turn over whatever money he had. When Morena ran, Dukes shot him in the shoulder. Morena kept running and eventually collapsed a few blocks away. He eventually bled to death.
Later, evidence emerged suggesting that Morena had gone without medical treatment for hours due to an overworked hospital staff. The Morena family won a wrongful-death lawsuit against the hospital. Upon hearing those developments, Wideman appealed his conviction, arguing that if a civil court deemed medical staff responsibile for Morena’s death, Wideman’s charges should be reduced. He recruited a key ally: former Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht, who argued that in light of the new information, Wideman should have been charged with homicide — not murder.
A judge granted Wideman a new trial in 1998. But Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. opposed the retrial, and a three-judge Superior Court panel eventually disallowed it.
Wideman’s chances for release now are slim. He is seeking a pardon from Gov. Ed Rendell, but only four such commutations have been granted in the past 15 years.
In the State Correctional Institution-Pittsburgh, Wideman lives in a small cell outfitted with a sink and a toilet, books, a typewriter, and an electric piano-keyboard and a television. He works 40 hours a week at SCIP’s gym. He has been married twice, the second time in 1996, when he married a woman he met during an NAACP meeting held at SCIP. One of Wideman’s sons was killed following a bar fight in 1993.
I am a reporter with the Innocence Institute of Point Park University, which reports on claims of wrongful conviction involving Pennsylvania inmates. In order for the Institute to investigate a claim, an inmate must claim “actual innocence” — meaning that the conviction was for a crime in which he or she did not participate in any way. Since Wideman was involved in the stolen-TV scheme, he does not qualify for the Institute’s help. I conducted this interview as a freelance journalist.
This interview was conducted over, and condensed from, several visits to SCIP during late 2009, and through several letters.
Do you think back to the night of the crime often?
You gotta remember, this happened 35 years ago. I thought about it for a long time — about the people I had hurt and how I got into this situation. But day to day, you gotta live your life.
When I think about it, I think about how oblivious we were to what had gone on. We were running a con. We showed up with this empty U-Haul truck in a parking lot. Mike told Nick to give us the money, and Nick was angry. He thought we had a deal. He and Mike were yelling and saying all kinda shit, and Nick eventually dropped the money on the ground. It wasn’t bound into piles in a briefcase like it is on TV: It was just a wad of $800. And it was windy, so I went to grab all the money before it blew away. Nick started running fast toward the road. I yelled “get him” — not “shoot him” — and Mike fired a shot. We saw Nick stumble, but then he got right back up and started running again. We just let him go. I didn’t think Mike had even hit him.
What’d you do after that?
We went out drinking. I remember I got this feeling later on, though. I passed it off to the wine, but it was something more.
We were driving around downtown Pittsburgh. I started to get the shivers. I felt sick. I felt weak and fearful. I can’t even describe it. And I remember Mike lookin’ over at me like, “What’s wrong?” I didn’t say anything at the time, but I was horrified. I wanted to hide. I didn’t know what to do, so I just wanted to go get plastered. I wouldn’t find out until months later — after we had been apprehended by cops — but that shaking feeling, that fear, happened right around the time Nick died.
What’s the most difficult part of being in prison?
I always thought the death of my mother would be the one thing I could not take. She died two years ago. She and I always promised each other that when I finally went free, she would be there to greet me when I got home.
Everything has changed in the last five years. My father passed, then my [two aunts], then my mother. When you’re young, you don’t think about all the things you’ll miss behind bars. The worst of it is not really losing the freedom: The worst is knowing how much of your life — and the life of everyone around you — you are going to lose.
In 1993, when my son died, they let me go to the funeral home. But then I came right back here. I called home from time to time after that, but I just felt inadequate. I felt like I was just one more thing for them to suffer about. Not only am I in jail, but the whole family [is] in prison, too.
I have this huge family of educated people. My brothers used to give me books. My sister used to give me books. And when I started reading, I wanted to change the world. I remember I was in 10th grade when I read Malcolm X. I read Marcus Garvey, Ralph Ellison. The books impressed me. But my culture tore me away from all that.
What culture do you mean?
My family moved from Shadyside to Homewood. That’s when I took a turn for the worse. I remember my mother saying, “I’m concerned about Robbie.” She knew how rebellious I was — always attracted to kids who were “always looking for trouble.”
Maintaining a house in Shadyside in the ’60s began to be more than [my parents] could handle. And my grandfather had a house on the edge of Homewood. He was willing to let us live there for little or nothing. My two oldest brothers, John and Otis, were grown and living on their own. So Mom and Dad and their three youngest moved into Grandpa’s house, on Tokay Street in Homewood.
See, you had Shadyside, with all these white people around and book stores. People had money and the schools were good. Then you move over to Homewood: Everyone’s black, no one has money and the schools ain’t so good.
Not like that mattered to me. I was tired of being the only black face on the block. I was excited to be in an all-black neighborhood. And my mother was right: As soon as we moved to Homewood I got caught in the wrong mentality.
It was the ’60s, and I wanted to do my own thing. The counterculture of the late ’50s through the early ’70s influenced me profoundly. I love the positives that era produced, but I got lost in the negative aspects of that idealism.
School and good grades were my brothers’ and sister’s way, not mine. In my mind, there was always some easy way out, some way to reject the system. It wasn’t any sort of real idealism. I was irresponsible and did not want to work hard.
I didn’t have to do this. I have abilities. I am intelligent. I just threw it all away. And it hurts. I wonder how I could’ve been so foolish.
What were you like when you first came here?
I was young, mid-twenties. I was so immature and caught up in my own images of who I thought I was and how people saw me. I thought I was making all the right moves and was out-thinking everyone.
But deep inside, in that alone place we all inhabit, I was in fear of what tomorrow would bring. I was angry and confused, unable to fathom how my life had turned out as it had. I never saw myself as a violent person. I had carried a gun at times, but I always thought it was for show. I rationalized if push came to shove, pulling the gun out would get me by. My ideas were not thought out very well.
I used [drugs] for a lot of years. When I came to prison, you could not even file for commutation until you had eight years, and no one made it the first time. At 25 years old, eight years seemed a long, long way away. I just about ruined myself with drugs and alcohol. And, man, drugs make me do dumb things.
So what changed?
Change for me came when I began to search within. I joined the Muslims, and then I moved on to other religions, but did not find the peace I was searching for. I had been trying to make deals with God: If I followed the words of whatever book, God would let me out of prison. I discovered God don’t make no deals.
My studying of religion — especially Eastern philosophy and its focus on karma and God’s all-inclusiveness — has given me a strong moral compass. It has also given me a certain connectedness to all people.
Nobody should get out of prison until they have done something to be a productive citizen. I think school — or vo-tech, college — instills this in people. … It should be mandatory that each inmate should increase their level of education.
I’ve heard people say, “Why should we give inmates a free education?” You’re spending the money anyway — as much as $35,000 per year to house and care for inmates. Education would save money in the long run. You need to encourage these guys to learn something new. A lot of these kids come to prison and can barely read — some can’t read at all.
As it stands now, prison does not deter. In many cases, just being here is a badge of honor. If you reform the institution so people can — and are, in fact, forced — to learn and grow, I think you’re going to have a much better, less violent society.
So why doesn’t that happen?
The prison system is a political farce. It’s perpetrated on citizens by politicians with blind participation from the media and popular culture. The American taxpayer is experiencing cuts in essential services like schools, hospitals and bridges while prison budgets skyrocket.
The public accepts these huge tax levies out of fear and a need for safety. But does it keep the public safer? What does the use of so much money for prisons say about us?
Don’t get me wrong: Society needs prisons. I do not advocate for anarchy. What I advocate for is a smarter system based on the need, not on political gamesmanship.
You said the media is to blame, too. How so?
You see it every day, I’m sure: The 24-hour news cycle that reports the most heinous, most sensational, most disturbing crime over and over. This fear and need for change and justice puts a demand on the politicians to correct the problem. Typical solution? Spend more money and put more people in prison. America now has more people in prison per capita than any other country in the world. Has that made these senseless, heinous crimes go away? No.
People might suspect you have an ulterior motive for wanting to convince them of that.
Fine, don’t believe me. I’m a prisoner who wants out of prison. That’s fair. [But] nobody wants to talk about prison reform. We live in a time when so many pressing issues exist that people suffer apathy of partisan distortions. This leaves the old boys’ network in place, and prison is the great gravy train that never runs out of money — money that is passed around to constituents and cousins. The need to change becomes secondary to the need to hold control.
Is the justice system institutionally racist?
I don’t want to alienate people. The politics of racism are so contentious and full of blind-spots that I shy away from the topic.
So, institutionally racist? I don’t know that there was any grand plan to make it this way. But what can you expect? Most judges are white and affluent: How are they going to treat a black kid and a white kid when they come in on identical charges? In the white kid, the judge is going to see an element of himself, or his son or his grandson, and have a deeper empathy. He’s gonna give the white kid a chance. Maybe he’ll give the black kid a chance, too. But the numbers show he probably won’t.
Things have changed: Obama’s election said as much. Election night, I was joyous, just laughing and crying nonstop. But racism still exists. Disparities remain, in average lifespan, in education, in everything.
Has prison itself changed since you’ve been here?
When I came into prison in 1976, everybody used to carry knives, just to protect themselves. You would not look at anyone unless there was an invitation to do so. Even the slightest thing could get you beaten or killed. Men were meaner then. And there were fewer guards.
Back then, you had actual criminals in prison. [Now] we’ve incarcerated more and more people, hired more guards who’ll write you up or throw you in the hole for doing nothing — for talking back, for not getting out of bed in time. Until the influx of cocaine and crack offenders in the ’80s, this was a place to incarcerate bad men. Now it’s more like an institution — much more populated, certainly softer, but no more humane or closer to solving the ills of society.
Do guards or other prisoners treat you differently because of Brothers and Keepers, and your brother’s fame?
Around 1984, when the book was released, I was featured on 60 Minutes. Ed Bradley showed up and I took him on a tour of the prison. I was in newspapers and magazines. I would get tons of mail. Out of nowhere, it seemed like I was important. But that faded away.
Today, most people don’t know anything about the book. It’s in the library here, but it’s very rare that it’ll get mentioned. The other day at chow hall, someone yelled over, “Hey, Wideman! I liked the book.” But nothing more than that.
Did the book harm you at all?
Some prisoners — and some guards even — wanted to bask in that light with me. Others took it as an invitation to hate me. But no one acted out in any really obtrusive way. I’m over 6’1″ — if someone was against me or the attention I attracted, it’s not like they could just pick on me. Nick’s mother has been in a lot of newspapers, on television, talking about how I should never be released from prison for what I did. I think that has played a great role in the numerous denials of my commutation appeals. But I’ve never had animosity toward her. I lost a son, too.
So why should you get a new trial now?
I’m not innocent of a crime, but I’m innocent of [second-degree murder]. In my [criminal trial], Wecht testified that the only evidence concerning cause of death was a gunshot wound. Twenty-three years later, Dr. Wecht testified that had he known of the [kind of medical care Morena received], he would have given different testimony. Dr. Wecht testified that he believed the testimony he gave at the trial was false and incomplete. So how can I be guilty of second-degree homicide when the essential element of causation was [based on] false testimony?
Well, you can argue Morena died because doctors didn’t treat his wounds properly. But Morena wouldn’t have needed a doctor if Dukes hadn’t shot him.
If that’s the way a jury feels, then so be it. But that doesn’t change the fact that a jury has not heard the true evidence of causation.
In my opinion — not that I suppose it matters — but to me, 34 years has been long enough for the crime I committed. Especially considering that a jury had no opportunity to hear the true evidence of cause of death.
Ultimately, though, I need to live my life apart from the grievances I have with the justice system. To concentrate on nothing but appeals and court proceedings and whatever else would render me insane.
I am not sure if we grow because of or in spite of our circumstances. I guess it could be argued prison afforded me the time to look hard and deep for answers to those ultimate questions most folks rarely have time to pursue. Those endeavors sustained me over these years. Without them, who knows where I’d be?
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2010.
When Matt Stroud writes a story that is going to be featured on the front page of a newspaper, he really should find out if everything that he is being told is the truth and if he is getting the full story. Especially when it is coming from a man that is in prison for life and once again, after several failures is going to try to be freed!
Why would Wideman have any Animosity toward Mrs.Morena,she didn’t kill his son,Wideman killed her son.The Widemans are bred with violence.Did Wideman tell everybody about his nephew(son of John Edgar Wideman)who stabbed to death an innocent young boy at the age of 15 at a camp in Flagstaff?
how can wideman say “34 years is long enough for the crime i committed” ?? is he serious? YOU TOOK AN INNOCENT LIFE! A SON, A BROTHER, AN UNCLE, A COUSIN! And you think you should be out here living your life like nothing ever happened? if life is your punishment, then you should just take it! there’s no get out of jail free card! you took a family member away from the Morena’s and you’re family must suffer in the same type of way….because you’re behind bars for life. at least they can still hear your voice! you can pick up the phone and call them and talk….sadly the morena’s cant do that!
how can wideman say “34 years is long enough for the crime i committed” ?? is he serious? YOU TOOK AN INNOCENT LIFE! A SON, A BROTHER, AN UNCLE, A COUSIN! And you think you should be out here living your life like nothing ever happened? if life is your punishment, then you should just take it! there’s no get out of jail free card! you took a family member away from the Morena’s and you’re family must suffer in the same type of way….because you’re behind bars for life. at least they can still hear your voice! you can pick up the phone and call them and talk….sadly the morena’s cant do that!
The fact that he received negligent medical care is irrelevant for a felony murder charge- hence the reason that Robert has lost on his appeals, you cannot use this as a defense to felony murder. Nick would have never needed medical care if he was not shot. I love that Robert is being portrayed as a stand up citizen in prison with a murder conviction. Give me a break…. He’s had several trials and each time the outcome was the same—-give up Robert!!! He made the conscious decision to be involed in a robbery with guns therefore he knew there would be a chance something could go wrong. In this case someones life was taken. He is at fault just as much as Michael Duke and Cecil Rice are and he is where he belongs.
How does Mr. Weidman feel towards the murderer of his son? Im sure he would want him to pay for the crime that was committed and not be granted a second chance. Mr. Morena or Mr. Weidman’s son will never get their second chance in life, Why should Mr. Weidman? Mr. Weidman made the choice to commit a crime which led to the death of an innocent man, now he should pay the price! Maybe the person who wrote this article should get ALL the facts prior to upsetting the families involved in this tragedy.
THANK YOU!! thats what i’m sayin!
Robert Wideman fails to say that Nick Morena was only 24 years old at the time. How many 24 years old own their own car lot? He had a future ahead of him! Unlike his son, who was killed when somebody came in his house and shot him! And that was because of drugs!!! Robert Wideman does not deserve to live let alone walk the streets!!! He is not the victim!!!! The Morena family are the victims! They have to live without Nick everyday! For 35 years, they have visited a grave! For 35 years they have had to imagine his voice, not be able to hear it! What does he not only want us to feel sorry for him because he is the victim of a bad sentence but to also feel sorry for him because he lost his son? PLEASE!!!! THERE IS NO PITY FOR HIM!!!!!!!!
I agree that the Morena received insufficient medical treatment is insignificant to the sentence given. I do however agree with what Wideman points out as the flaws of the correctional facility as it is. A prison needs to become more of an institute to rehabilitate the incarcerated. Monitoring the inmates to make certain they receive a better education they were unable to receive on there own do to whatever circumstance be it the home environment they came from, the school they attended, or just their own lack of motivation. If more of an effort is made to better educate the inmates, and train them in skills and trades that are needed in the world today the crime rate over time significantly decrease.
Ok, so….why does Robert Wideman think he can get out of prison after being there for “34” years? FOR COMMITING A MURDER to an innocient man. He really thinks PEOPLE should feel sorry for him, especially after him losing his “mom, dad, his 2 aunts, his son (that got SHOT over DRUGS)”. THEY SAY KARMA COMES TWICE AS HARD!! Maybe after HIM killing an innocinet man, he deserves for all those bad things to happen to him. Come on now. Why should he get to see the streets again when all the Morena family has to live with is faded away memories of there lose? Wideman gets to hear his family members voices, he can get visits from his family, he can write letters and recieve them, he can recieve holiday greeting cards from HIS family! Im sure the Morena family would give up ANYTHING for Nick Morena to be alive today. Wideman should just be happy he is ALIVE!
Remember, Nick Morena’s mother will ALWAYS have to live with the fact that she made dinner and was waiting for them to return home and she got a CALL saying her son has been shot.
Im sure WIdemans MOTHER got to live with a better memory of her son. She didnt have to cook dinner everyday and live with that memory in the back of her head. What about Nick Morenas father, who used to work on cars with Nick? He has to suffer twice as hard for the fact that he STILL continued to work on cars after his sons murder..how do you think he feels every time he could of used an extra hand but nooo..his son was nowhere around. BECAUSE WIDEMAN MUDERED HIM!
Or what about Nick Morenas siblings? His littlest sister was only 12 years old when he was murdered. How can a mother of 4 even begin to explain her sons murder to her children?!!?!
IT WAS WRONG FOR HIM TO MURDER AN INNOCIENT MAN!! WIDEMAN SHOULD PAY FOR THE ACTIONS HE CHOOSE TO TAKE! NOBODY FORCED HIM TO DO THE THINGS HE DID!
WIDEMAN DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!
LET HIM ROT!!!!
Ok, so….why does Robert Wideman think he can get out of prison after being there for “34” years? FOR COMMITING A MURDER to an innocient man. He really thinks PEOPLE should feel sorry for him, especially after him losing his “mom, dad, his 2 aunts, his son (that got SHOT over DRUGS)”. THEY SAY KARMA COMES TWICE AS HARD!! Maybe after HIM killing an innocinet man, he deserves for all those bad things to happen to him. Come on now. Why should he get to see the streets again when all the Morena family has to live with is faded away memories of there lose? Wideman gets to hear his family members voices, he can get visits from his family, he can write letters and recieve them, he can recieve holiday greeting cards from HIS family! Im sure the Morena family would give up ANYTHING for Nick Morena to be alive today. Wideman should just be happy he is ALIVE!
Remember, Nick Morena’s mother will ALWAYS have to live with the fact that she made dinner and was waiting for them to return home and she got a CALL saying her son has been shot.
Im sure WIdemans MOTHER got to live with a better memory of her son. She didnt have to cook dinner everyday and live with that memory in the back of her head. What about Nick Morenas father, who used to work on cars with Nick? He has to suffer twice as hard for the fact that he STILL continues to work on cars after his sons murder..how do you think he feels every time he could of used an extra hand but nooo..his son was nowhere around. BECAUSE WIDEMAN MUDERED HIM!
Or what about Nick Morenas siblings? His littlest sister was only 12 years old when he was murdered. How can a mother of 4 even begin to explain her sons murder to her children?!!?!
IT WAS WRONG FOR HIM TO MURDER AN INNOCIENT MAN!! WIDEMAN SHOULD PAY FOR THE ACTIONS HE CHOOSE TO TAKE! NOBODY FORCED HIM TO DO THE THINGS HE DID!
WIDEMAN DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!
LET HIM ROT!!!!
Widemans quote in the article “God doesn’t do deals”.
God does deals alight,he just doesn’t do them murderers!!Widemans prision sentence was a slap on the hand as far as I am concerned..
Why don’t you do us all a favor and go hang yourself,you dont even deserve the treatment you are getting Behind Bars
34 years may have passed,but our memories of our Beloved Nicky will never ever leave our thoughts.Wideman has no idea what he has done to our family.We have been enduring this tragedy for 34 years now,and everytime we turn around,Wideman has to refresh our tragedy.
Widemans quote “god doesnt do deal.
god does deals alright,he just doesnt do them for murderers.
Widemans treatment Behind Bars is a slap in the face as far as I am concerned.
Wideman will never ever know what he has done to this family.We endure this tragedy everyday of our lives,and everytime we turn around,Wideman has to refresh our memory of that tragic cold night in Nov.
34 years have passed and we are still grieving for our beloved Nicky.
he deserves to die in that prison…leave him in there, dont free him….he’s not good enough to see the outside ever again.
i’m reading the article in the cp and wideman says, “nick’s mother has been in a lot of newspapers,and on tv, talking about how i should never be released from prison for what i did. but i’ve never had animosity toward her, i lost a son too.” WOW I CANT EVEN BELIEVE THEY POSTED THAT! REALLY?? YOU LOST YOUR SON BECAUSE HE WAS INVOLVED WITH DRUGS! THE MORENA’S LOST A SON BECAUSE OF A LOW LIFE ADDICT LIKE YOU! I’M SURE YOU HAVE ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE GUY WHO KILLED UR SON, EVEN IF U SAY YOU DONT. YOU MURDERED AN INNOCENT PERSON AND NOW YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES!
An innocent life? Depends on how you define “innocent.” Moreno was at the scene to pick up a truckload of stolen televisions, a transaction that he had arranged with Wideman beforehand.
RW didn’t shoot anybody. And even if he had been the one who pulled the trigger, according to Cyril Wecht, the GSW was not a mortal injury. The main reason Moreno died was the neglect of the ER staff at the hospital.
They are still mourning his loss? Well at least the family still has the multimillion dollar settlement they got from the hospital to comfort themselves. And they were saved the embarrassment of watching their brother go to prison for criminal conspiracy.
Robert has MORE THAN paid his debt to society, he has obviously been rehabilitated, and had it not been for political gamesmanship w/respect to his application for a new trial, he would have been released many years ago.
The family is apparently not very interested in the facts that they find uncomfortable or embarrassing.
Actually DGS49 I’m not sure you know what you are talking about. I wouldn’t go posting information on here without making sure it’s correct before doing so. As far as the settlement went it was FAR from a multimillion dollar settlement. Remember this was back in the 70’s. The MORENA’s barely got anything from the hospital’s negligence nor did they care. They did it to prove a point. Furthermore do you even know where that money went? I bet you don’t!!! They kept nothing…. Robert didn’t have to “pull the trigger” he was still there and participated in the action to rob and murder a person regardless of whether or not they were there to buy stolen property which in fact was never even proven because their was never any televisions. Which is why he remains in prison and will continue to do so. One thing that has been pretty consistant is that no matter how many times he appeals or takes it to supreme HE LOSES!!! I’m guessing that’s probably because he’s GUILTY and many people believe that he is obviously not rehabilitated. And Mr. Morena was in fact shot in the back with a 357 magnum not the shoulder. There are a lot of false statements in this article but then again I guess that’s the kind of information and lies you get from a criminal. All you have to do is read the book HIM and his Brother wrote………………
And furthermore, Mr Schwartz or DGS49 my brother didn’t approach them with the offer, the drug pushing junkies approached him!!! All because they needed money so they could go back to Detroit and get more heroin to sell on the streets since the heroin they had previously drove to Detroit to get went bad because RW got ratted out by a friend of his ex-girlfriend! My brother worked for a living, not pushing drugs to make his money!
The cause of him having to go the hospital was the gunshot wound from a 357 magnum that Michael Dukes shot when RW told him to. And not only did he shoot that gun once, he shot it three times!!! AND AGAIN IN THE BACK, NOT THE SHOULDER!!! THROUGH THE BACK AND OUT THE CHEST WITH A 357 MAGNUM!!!!!DO YOU HEAR THAT????
And as I told you in court, my family GOT A GRAVE!!!! A GRAVE TO GO TO THAT’S WHAT WE GOT!!!! And you know the amount of money that my brothers estate received, so why do you have to lie and say it was a multimillion dollar settlement? HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE THE WIDEMANS RECEIVED FROM THE BOOK THAT BECAUSE OF MY BROTHERS DEATH!!!!!! Come on Mr Schwartz, lets talk dollar amounts now! POST ON HERE HOW MUCH MONEY!!! Why don’t you make it public knowledge how much you have made from the Widemans?
You really have the nerve to say that we are still mourning his loss! Apparently you have never been in any victims shoes and I can’t wait until the day that you are! KARMA!
Yes, I would rather see my brother in prison for criminal conspiracy than have to go to a damn grave to visit his tombstone! And no I wouldn’t be embarrassed if he was in prison! At least he would still be alive!! I would have the chance to see him!
And you want to talk about games? RW was hoping that since McGregor awarded him a new trial that the state wouldn’t even make him go to trial again because it would cost too much money! The only games that were being played there were the games that were being played on RWs behalf. Not on the DAs behalf. The DA did the right thing!
Maybe you need to read the definition of Second Degree Murder! IT WAS PROVEN BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT NICK’S DEATH WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE GUNSHOT WOUND IN HIS BACK FROM A 357 MAGNUM! HAD HE NOT BEEN SHOT, HE WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT!!!! RW AND DUKES WENT THERE INTENTIONALLY WITH THE LOADED GUNS TO ROB HIM! AND THE MURDER HAPPENED DURING THE ROBBERY!
THEREFORE, THE RW AND DUKES WERE SENTENCED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER!!
Apparently, as Bravo23 stated, you haven’t read the book, Brothers and Keepers. As for myself, I have. And if you remember, it was entered into evidence at RWs “new found evidence hearing”.
And last but not least, how can RW be rehabilitated when even from inside the prison walls, he continues to lie and try conning people?
This goes on to more crap!!! He’s guilty… Why should we as tax payers pay for them to continue education to give them a chance, they had there chance n messed up!!! OH sorry they found GOD!! I found god years ago n did not commet a crime or kill someone in cold blood…THEY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE FOR KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!! He needs to stay were he is, so he never forgets what he did.. You should of got the DEATH PENALTY!!!! I have children, if it were them, I would still feel the same way.. I strongly belive a life for a life, or an eye for an eye!! If you can hurt another person then that is what should be done to you!!!!!!!!!!
Most of you comments show a remarkable lack of perspective. You say the punishment of life in prison is intended for the prisoner to suffer, but when he explains the losses he has experienced while behind bars, you say “he hasn’t suffered.” You will get you wish he more than likely will never be released. It is as if you think just being a cell will magically make a person change. Change requires learning new things, having a chance to grasp the gravity of your actions, and accepting you role. I believe he has done all of those things. Don’t worry you will get you way he will suffer until he dies their, but remember karma wishing ill to the already suffering is not an quality likely to be rewarded with grace. Stop with the innocent stuff a man going to receive stolen property is not an innocent. It is sad no doubt, but crime is a dirty game when you involve yourself in it what comes to you, came on your invitation.
wow, dgs49….the morena’s didnt recieve a ‘multimillion dollar settlement’ i have no idea where u got that figure from. and another thing is you say the wideman family had to go thru the embarassment of watching robert go to jail. well, if he wasnt such a low life, he wouldnt have been addicted to drugs and trying to con somebody out of their money so he can get his next fix! really. honestly. nick had a good thing going for him…he had is OWN car lot, he was going places…where as robert was destined to be in jail, sooner or later.
A man receiving stolen property does not deserve to die for his actions!! Yet, a man that takes another mans’ life does! He shouldn’t even have the opportunity to live a life of leisure in prison where the taxpayers are supporting him! As a matter of fact, Nick Morena never received any stolen goods from Robert Wideman. The only thing he received was a fatal gunshot in his back from a 357 Magnum! Robert Wideman has not changed because he still continues to lie and con from behind bars! He stated on his website that Nick was shot in the shoulder and the hospital didn’t properly bandage his wound! That is a LIE! You also need to read the book him and his brother wrote…..you will learn a lot! And as for wishing ill to the already suffering, he deserves all of the suffering he gets! The Morena family are the true suffering people here. Everytime you turn around they have to be publicly reminded of the day that Nick was killed, the day he was laid out and the day he was buried. The days of the 3 trials they had to sit through and listen as these men were tried for the robbery and murder of Nick Morena. And all because Robert Wideman thinks he should be a free man! He deserves to rot in jail just as one of the other people posted here!
Just because ROBERT WIDEMANS brother is a famous author, he is constantly in the publics eyes wanting pity saying they should free HIM! There is a lot of other people in prison that committed the SAME type of crime and they got the same sentencing…they are accepting it. so why cant he??!!!! WHY does he have to keep reminding the Morena family of their lose???
according to the CP Wideman “LIVES” in a small cell outfitted with a sink, a toilet, books, a typewriter, electric piano-keyboard and a television. He works 40 hours a week at SCIP’s gym. He has been married twice, the second time in 1996, when he married a woman he met during an NAACP meeting. What? Meetings?
WOW this convict has a hole hell of alot, hes even been married 2 times? what the f***! They say he works, and Rightly so ALL persons that are incarcerated should have mandatory work. What happened to the good old chain gang?
While this CONVICT has been LIVING in these CONDITIONS, NICK MORENA is DEAD 35 YEARS his family, and loved ones had to endure what this piece of work and his accomplice’s did “MURDER NICK !” they have been and are without there loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, etc for LIFE.
Due to the actions of Wideman and associates. NICKS Family has endured some of the most awful things,REPEATEDLY every memory of that horrible night brought back every time this “Wideman” thinks “he” should be released. as if NICKS DEATH wasn’t enough,for the last 35 years they endured every loving memory of Nick, on his BIRTHDAYS and EVERY HOLIDAY, every one of his siblings birthdays, MOTHERS DAY, FATHERS DAY, FAMILY REUNIONS, and EVERY aspect of his LIFE “he would a of had if not for Wideman”, that is gone, due to the actions of wideman and pals.
Does wideman deserve to get out of jail? “HELL NO” how many times is this guy going to attempt this “con” he hasn’t changed much, has he? still working cons I see!!
The Morena Family would probably be relieved if they could say their son was LIVING like Wideman in a cell and amenities that Wideman has. But Unfortunately they can not say this because Wideman and his buddies Murdered NICK MORENA Shooting him in the back as he ran for his LIFE.
this was a Cowardly act and he should be in prison for the term of his sentence which was LIFE in Prison!
I have lived this story throughout the years. I remember when I first heard of the book “Brothers and Keepers” by John Edgar Wideman. I saw the interview with Robert Wideman on the Patrice King Brown show. I rushed to buy the book and read it. I figured that John wrote this book hoping that it would free his brother from prison.
When I saw this article in the City Paper, I again read the book and did some searching on the internet. Through doing this, I myself have proven that Robert Wideman, as people have commented here, is still trying to con people as he serves his life sentence.
Robert states here that he went bad when they moved from Shadyside to Homewood, he took a turn for the worse then, Contradictory to that are his words in the book. They moved from Shadyside, (where he didn’t feel comfortable with all the white people), to his grandfathers’ house in Homewood just when he was entering high school. He was happy about the move. Happy to be away from all the white folks. He had already found Garfield, where the black folks were, along about junior high. Partying, drinking wine and trying anything they could get their hands on.
In this article and on Robert Wideman’s website, he states that Nick Morena was shot in the shoulder by his accomplice.
This definitely contradicts the true facts. The man was shot in the back with a 357 Magnum. That is public knowledge and can be found several places.
More contradiction can be found in the book that he co-authored with his brother. In the book it states that Robert yelled “get em” to Michael Dukes. He fired a warning shot into the air. Nick stumbled or was just plain scared shitless and his feet gave out from under him. Within 3 or 4 seconds the second shot was fired. He was sure that Nick was going for a gun. Mike said “I’m not going to wait till I wake up in heaven or hell to find out for sure if he had a gun!” He was sure enough to pull the trigger! These are the words from HIS BOOK!
Robert during this time, was busy gathering up the money that was blowing around on the ground on the other side of the truck. He didn’t know that Nick was running until Dukes told him. He then yells to an armed man to “get em”! So what do you think an armed man is going to do? Drop his gun and run after Nick? I HIGHLY DOUBT IT!
Robert also states in this paper that they got $800. In the book he states, “And the money aint half what it ought to be. Not even half of half, it turned out.” The money was exactly what it was supposed to be, $800!
He states here that he didn’t even think that Mike hit him. Another contradiction from Robert Wideman. He states in the book that “one dude was shot and running for the cops”, And then, once again contradicts himself in the book that he didn’t even think he was hit !
I just had to add this comment to let people know that this man, Robert Wideman, is trying to claim that he is a changed man but it seems like the only thing that continues to change are his stories! Doing so in hopes that people will feel sorry for him and free him from prison!
If the settlement the Morena family recieved was not for the death of their loved one, then there would be no debate. In our criminal justice system it states that the manner of death must be homicide for a person to be charged with murder. This is after the Coroner is given the truth of all the facts to make this determination. This was not done by the prosecution and a resonable person must ask why? If they felt that Nick’s death was a homicide why not let the person who makes this determination have all the truthful facts so he can make the appropriate decision.
Nick Morena Died from a GUN SHOT WOUND to his back!!!! Wideman is trying to say that because lack of medical treatment is why he died. That’s Bull S***!! Just Because the hospital was found to be negligent in his initial treatment does that mean Nick Morena would have lived even though he received treatment, come on you have to remember it was 35 years ago, and hospitals could not treat Victims of gunshot wounds like they can today. with a lack of technology and all.
If Nick Morena wasn’t shot by some conman in the first place, he would be alive and well today.
If your intention was just to rob him and steal his money why shoot him in the back? and why put the other two witnesses in the back of the truck? what were you planning for them? I believe your every intention was to ROB and KILL the car lot salesman, and his Friends. Besides who would be left to identify you? after all of that? NO ONE.
The one thing that remains is the fact that Wideman and associates shot an UNARMED Nick Morena In the Back while he ran for his life.
Wideman and his associates should remain in jail for the life of Nick Morena!!! why isn’t the third actor still incarcerated at this time? maybe because he cooperated with putting the others behind bars??
HHHMMMMM!!!!
All these perfect people who comment on what goes on in someones eles life should be ahamed of themselves. Thats whats wrong with society. God forbid your loved one does anything he/she should be locked up for. Does that mean they should have NO hope. Yes he was wrong but his debt to society has been paid!!!!! 35 years!!!!! He didnt pull the trigger….He didnt kill anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope is something we all should have….Who should be faulted for that!!!!! Forgiveness is a trait we all should possess. We are all sinners according to GOD he doesnt measure sin….sin is sin…..Does that mean we all should be locked up for 35 years………NO AT ALL!!!!!!! As far as his story being in the press….to GOD be the glory…obviously something is wrong with his conviction and the time he has spent in jail is ridiculous for his role in his crime. Rotting in jail is funny to me because the hatred you would have in your heart to even make a statement like that shows that you are a Hateful people and may God be with you all!!!!!!! My god is a forgiving God…..This my prayer Please let Robert Wideman be free forgive him of his sins…..In Jesus name I pray this prayer AMEN!!!!
WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOCIETY IS THE CRIMINALS THAT THEY LET BACK ON THE STREETS TO REPEAT THE CRIMES THAT THEY COMMITTED OR POSSIBLY DO WORSE!
A good example of this is your poor Robert Wideman! If Robert had been incarcerated when he was caught with some of the drugs that he was pushing at the time, instead of letting him go back out on the streets to sell more, him and his accomplices wouldn’t have been out robbing used car dealers and gas stations! NICK MORENA WAS ROBBED AND KILLED AROUND A MONTH AFTER WIDEMAN BEING BUSTED FOR SELLING DRUGS AND RELEASED!
As far as God goes, if you remember here, Robert stated that he tried different religions and making deals with God, but GOD DON’T MAKE NO DEALS! Especially with the devil! Our God has made sure that he is placed where he is so that he can’t be out on the streets, selling his drugs, robbing people and possibly taking another persons life!
As for Wideman’s story being in the paper, if it wasn’t for the fact that he had a brother that was a famous author, it wouldn’t be! Other people are in prison, who committed the same type of crime, and they aren’t getting the publicity like Robert is. They aren’t crying innocent after robbing and killing a man! They aren’t trying to put the blame on the doctors. And again, the Superior court agrees that NICK WOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT HAD HE NOT BEEN SHOT IN THE BACK BY MICHAEL DUKES WHEN ROBERT TOLD HIM TO “GET HIM”!
Obviously NOTHING is wrong with his conviction, because he lost everyone of his appeals including his appeal for a new trial! He deserves the sentence he received! He deserves LIFE IN PRISON!
As far as being hating people, yes we do hate drug pushers and junkies and murderers! They all need to be locked up! Nick wasn’t any of the above and he didn’t get a second chance! ROBERT WIDEMAN DESERVES TO ROT IN JAIL!!
I am shocked and amazed at the EXTREME ignorance of a lot of these posters. Let me correct some of the falsehoods. As per Judge James McGregor, there were SIX men involved in a FELONY on that fateful November evening. Nick Morena and the SLABY (ONEOF THE POSTERS) BROTHERS. There was also RW, Mike Dukes and Cecil Rice. Rice has served his time and been freed. Wideman and Dukes are still incarcerated. The Slaby brothers recieved zero jail time. Intertesting. Yes, Dukes should have been sentenced per the then PA criminal laws as he was the shooter. Wideman and Rice WERE NOT THE PRINCIPALS. On that basis, per PA law, Wideman should have recieved a sentence similar to Rice’s. The poster TinaLyn ADMITS that Morena is HER BROTHER, obvious bias in her statements as well as direct lies. In one court transcript, which I have read at length, the Morena family has already BEEN ADMONISHED BY JUDGE MCGREGOR FOR MAKING BLATANTLY FALSE STATEMENTS REGARDING THE CASE; clearly truth is not one of their strong points. I guess TinaLyn and the Slaby poster has decided to make up their own reality, regardless of truth and FACTS. So-called innocient people DO NOT agree to purchase stolen goods. That says it all. After 34 years in prison, for simply being present during a commission of a crime, is ridiculous. Any fool knows that. In any other state, Wideman would have been free long ago. He is now educated, drug free, alcohol free, in short, reformed. What else do people want. He is very remoseful. No one should be in prison for the rest of their life for simply being present at a crime. WIDEMAN DID NOT COMMIT MURDER- HE DID NOT SHOOT ANYONE. It cannot be more clear; more sophmoric. While Wideman’s actions were controlled by no one but himself; THE FACT REMAINS, AND CANNOT BE CHANGED, THAT HE DID NOT SHOOT ANYONE. It is sad to me that this point must again be brought to public view for the few ignorants that permeate our society. In addition, whether it is a popular statement or not, Wideman’s trial was at the height of POLITICAL POSTURING AND AN ELECTION. Clearly political. If anything, the publicity that surrounded his case has hurt him, not helped him. Wideman has already paid for the actions he chose to take. To address TinaLyn and another ignorant poster, for all we know Morena, since he was clearly criminally minded, wound have met a similar fate, just with different people. There is NOTHING on Wideman’s website that is a lie, it is all TRUTH-ALONG WITH COURT TRANCRIPTS. WHETHER ANYONE LIKES IT OR NOT. If the Coroner testifies, and HE DID, that Morena’s wounds WERE NOT FATAL, and the family won a wrongful death lawsuit, then THE WOUNDS WERE NOT FATAL-PERIOD. Yelling and shouting WILL NOT change the facts of the case. In any other State, Wideman would have been free a long time ago. Only the State of Pennsylvania seems to thrive on barbaric laws and judicial systems. Trial testimony confirms that Morena was shot in the SHOULDER-NOT THE BACK. Per trial testimony from Coroner Wecht, even in 1976,the treatment required for Morena was ‘common knowledge and readily available, just not used by the hospital’. If anyone feels Wideman “deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life”, then why not Cecil Rice, another accomplice? The differences in the sentences defy logic-as do most of the comments made on these postings. Why did the Slaby Brothers escape sentencing at all? Let us not forget, they were also present during the commission of a Felony. To the Morena family member poster plhappe27, I pity you for your evil heart, same with all of the other Morena family and Slaby family members that posted. Maybe your family’s would not be so hateful if you learned forgiveness. Free yourselves! DGS49, thank you for the enlightened, intelligent comments.
“Death Penalty”, “A Life for a Life”, That would be fair. Nick was shot in the back as he ran for his life to escape these low life pieces of trash murderers. Wideman gets to go on living, even participate in some of the pleasures of life, while the Morena family mourns the loss of Nick forever. Although Nick was my cousin, I never got the chance to meet him because of this man and his friends reckless reguard for life but I for the last 35 years have seen the pain in the eyes of my family members when they tell me stories and there is not any words that can describe the anguish this has caused, “Forgiveness” That is for God to provide and Wideman doesn’t even show remorse for what he did, he’s moved on, he says that is what HELL is for. Everyone has their own opinions and can say whatever they feel, but the truth always prevails. Wideman is where he belongs, the system worked! Gov. Rendell is a very well educated, and fair man and will not be swayed by this “Conman”. His brother being a famous writer doesn’t make him any less Guilty,it just gives him more press time, the court already proved that.
I would like all readers of these comments to note that ALL of the negative comments are coming from either the Morena family or the Slaby family. Everyone else, clear minded and intelligent, advocate for Wideman’s release. Whether they like it or not, Robert Wideman DID NOT shoot their brother/cousin. No of us are the same people that we were at the age of 25. Common sense should prevail, not stupidity, hatred and ignorance. ROBERT WIDEMAN SHOULD BE FREED FROM PRISON. He is not the same man he was 34 years ago.
I personally think that none of you, not one person can say a damn word about Robert Wideman. What gives you the right to open your mouth and judge a man if you don’t even know him. Its PROVEN FACT that the GSW wasnt the reason Morena died. It was the hospitals fault. Further more Wideman didn’t even pull the trigger! If Morena had not died he would have been caught and put in jail along with everyone else so how can he be anymore “right” then Wideman. Someone asked about how does Wideman view the people who murdered his son? Well Im pretty damn sure I am the only person who can answer that. He forgives them, plain and simple. Everyone makes mistakes just as Wideman did. All you people want to say Wideman is the devil and God should punish him, by saying these things im guessing you are all very religious? If thats the case then doesn’t God say to forgive thy brother? I know Wideman has forgiven the men who killed his son yet you people can’t even forgive the man who didnt even pull the trigger, wasn’t his fault that Morena died, and has served 35+ in prison? Looks to me like Wideman is the one doing right by God. Another thing I saw was someone said that even if it hadn’t been for this that Wideman would have been in jail sooner or later; do you know how ignorant of a comment that is? Morena’s whole purpose of being there that night was ILLEGAL!!!! hes just as much of a criminal as everyone else. To say that Widemans are bred for violence is complete trash. Jake Wideman suffered from a mental problem and beyond Jake and Robert being in jail no other Wideman is beyond bars. You want to point out one bad point from the Widemans but you your damn self regrets to mention the 3 published authors, 2 lawyers, 4 college students,church members, working contributive members of society, devoted mothers and fathers, & dozens of nieces,nephews,cousins with sweaky clean police records! Go look it up if you dont believe me. All you people sit on your high horse and look down on Robert Wideman as if nobody in your family has ever made a small or huge mistake. Did your families mistake make you a bad person? did your family member deserve to NEVER be forgiven? To the Morena family; forgive Robert Wideman, “When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.”…if you really want to move on you have to forgive
freerobertwideman.org – OBVIOUSLY you’re for wideman. all of widemans accomplices should have been given the death penalty. they were all in on it, they should all be suffering as my family has done for the last 34 years! everytime wideman tries to get out of jail my family has to relive horrible memories of that night, the phone call, the funeral, everything! why cant he just accept his punishment. if they hadn’t planned on killing my uncle then they wouldnt have brought the fully loaded guns. they had no real reason to shoot and kill him. my uncle dropped the money on the ground and tried to run for his life. being the lowlife scumbags that wideman, dukes, and rice felt that he should die. why? if they would have just let him go, none of this would be going on right now. wideman brought it all on himself. and another thing is you said that wideman is now “educated, drug free, alcohol free and reformed” THE ONLY REASON WHY HE IS DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE IS BECAUSE HE’S IN JAIL….THEY DONT PROVIDE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN THERE, OTHERWISE HE WOULD STILL BE A JUNKIE! IF HE WERE TO GET OUT, HE WOULD PROBABLY FALL RIGHT BACK INTO OLD HABITS!
and to cwideman – i was the one that said he was going to end up in jail sooner or later! i NEVER said anything about him being “bred for violence” . I MEANT THAT HE WAS A JUNKIE, A DEALER, A ROBBER, A CON ARTIST…SO YES HE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHIND BARS SOON ENOUGH. AT LEAST YOU CAN STILL ANSWER THE PHONE AND HEAR ROBERTS VOICE! MY FAMILY WILL NEVER HEAR MY UNCLES VOICE EVER AGAIN. ROBERT CAN CELEBRATE EVERY MORNING HE WAKES UP AND SEE’S THE DAYLIGHT…MY UNCLE CANNOT. HE NEEDS TO ACCEPT THE PUNISHMENT HE WAS GIVEN.
i agree….AAALLLLL of ROBERT WIDEMANS accomplishes should rot in jail as well as WIDEMAN!! If RW has a problem with them..take it up with them. Dont KEEEPPPP trying to hurt the Morena family by trying to get out of YOUR SENTENCE!!!
DEAL WITH IT!!!
He should have thought about what the consequences would have been BEFORE HE went along with the plan!!! POINT BLANK.
And, for allllll of the PEOPLE that think Tinalynn is doing the wrong thing…for fighting/arguing her point for the lose of her brother …she deserves an award! SHE has a lot of guts to FACE her BROTHERS MURDER!!!
Dont yah think?????????!!!!!!!!!!????????????
I THINK EVERYBODY ON WIDEMANS SIDE SHOULD DO A MOVIE NIGHT AND WATCH “LAW ABIDING CITIZEN”
Its a really good movie..its about a mans family getting murderd and HEE fights to no end for the MURDERERS to SERVE their SENTENCE!
MAYBE you will understand the whole situation better! UNTIL then mind YOUR business! WIDEMAN NEEDS TO SERVE HIS SENTENCE!!!
Wideman was convicted by a jury,I suppose you are calling them uneducated and ignorant too!Just another pathetic attempt to get me out of jail free card because I am now reformed.I’m sure the system has heard this over and over,and over again,sooo old!!
I am far from evil,I wouldn’t kill a bee,to even think about killing a human being is beyond my comprehension.
I am not the one sitting behind bars,due to my evil actions.
And yes,our family is a loving and forgiving family,so who do think you are to judge us,you don’t know us either.You tell us about being judgemental,and yet you are doing the same thing,what a contradiction!!
I’m sorry that my ignorance proves facts
Robert admits to yelling to Michael Dukes to “get him” as Nick being unarmed, was running from 3 armed men!
Robert and his accomplices were heroin addicts, drug dealers, con artists and armed robbers! It tells all about that in Brothers and Keepers!
Nick was going to purchase televisions from these junkies, and it was a crime, but there were no televisions!! He didn’t deserve to lose his life! And as for the Slabys, they weren’t convicted of anything because there were no televisions!! Had Nick not been SHOT IN HIS BACK, neither him nor the Slabys could have been convicted of something that wasn’t there!
Nick was shot around 7:15 and died 2 hours later at the second hospital, not several hours later as the Widemans are stating……That proof can be found on Widemans website under the court transcripts. (Even though it is shocking that they did put something true on there, it can be found there!)
And furthermore you should really look back at the court transcripts from the Superior Court if you are going to look at anything!
The superior court panel wrote that it is undisputed that Wideman and his companions shot the victim. Thereby setting into motion the chain of events culminating in the victims death. Had the victim not received prompt treatment, he would have died as a result to the gunshot wound to his lung
DID YOU READ THAT????
LUNG NOT SHOULDER (as the Widemans are trying to make people believe) right from the SUPERIOR COURT???
ONCE AGAIN PROVEN FREEROBERTWIDEMAN.ORG IS FULL OF LIES!!!
ROBERT WIDEMAN DESERVES A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE MURDER OF NICK MORENA!!
Yea,it was the the hospitals fault that Nick had a bullet in his lung from a 357 magnum,the most powerful handgun in the world.
That was by far,the most ignorant comment on this post from the well educated widemans!!!
yea, it was the hospitals fault my uncle died. they planned it all out to rob and kill him! NO!! IF HE HADNT BEEN SHOT IN THE BACK BY WIDEMAN AND HIS ACCOMPLICES…HE WOULDNT HAVE NEEDED ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT! HELLO! I GUESS THE WIDEMAN FAMILY IS JUST GOING TO KEEP ON IGNORING THAT FACT!
I would like all readers of these comments to note that ALL of the negative comments are coming from either the Morena family or the Slaby family. Everyone else, clear minded and intelligent, advocate for Wideman’s release. Whether they like it or not, Robert Wideman DID NOT shoot their brother/cousin. No of us are the same people that we were at the age of 25. Common sense should prevail, not stupidity, hatred and ignorance. ROBERT WIDEMAN SHOULD BE FREED FROM PRISON. He is not the same man he was 34 years ago.
It sounds like the Morena’s are ranting and raving and looking for any target to absorb the hate and anger and blame of which they cannot let go (see: borderline personality disorder). That kind of seething anger will only damage their own health and their own mental stability.
Typing in all CAPS and repeated punctuation marks (!!!!!!! ??????) is an expression of irrational anger looking for a target. Its akin to someone screaming at the top of their lungs seeking any attention they can get.
They continually say Robert Wideman killed their family member, when he did not! But he has become the target of their anger, of their need to find someone or something to hate. This man has already served over 30 years. Morena was involved in a criminal act as well, therefore he is not blameless (buying stolen property?). Robert has served his time, set him free.
Apparently NY SWOLE has NEVER HAD A LOVED ONE MURDERED!!!!
Because if you had, you wouldn’t expect the family not to have HATRED and ANGER towards the murderers!!!
(Oops, so sorry, ALL CAPS AGAIN!!!!! I don’t want to scare you with my personality disorder, doc)
BUT ONCE AGAIN:
The superior court panel wrote that it is undisputed that Wideman and his companions shot the victim. Thereby setting into motion the chain of events culminating in the victims death. Had the victim not received prompt treatment, he would have died as a result to the gunshot wound to his lung
DID YOU READ THAT????
LUNG NOT SHOULDER (as the Widemans are trying to make people believe) right from the SUPERIOR COURT???
ONCE AGAIN PROVEN FREEROBERTWIDEMAN.ORG IS FULL OF LIES!!!
ROBERT WIDEMAN DESERVES A LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE MURDER OF NICK MORENA!!
tinalynn writes:
“APPARENTLY NY SWOLE has NEVER HAD A LOVED ONE MURDERED!!!!” (How would u know?? Or are you simply trying to demagogue the discussion as u have done repeatedly??)
30 years of spewing hatred and repeating talking points (“Wideman and his companions shot the victim”) which distort reality, since Wideman did not personally shoot the victim makes no sense. Others involved in this altercation walked free, yet Wideman is source illogical focal point of all your anger. He’s already served over 30 years for his involvement while others walk free?? Where is your anger for them???
Wideman has simply become the lightning rod for their hatred over the individual who actually pulled the trigger simply for the publicity he has generated. Had the triggerman gotten the attention that Wideman has, all the vitriol and demagoguery would have been directed towards them.
I’m going to step in as editor and wind this discussion up. Things get ugly once the comments start to be more about each other than about the story itself; experience has shown that people will go on making personal attacks that will get progressively nastier. And we’re already at the point where people are accusing a grieving family of suffering from psychological problems. So I will delete any further comments on this story.
I’ll just add a note of my own here, since I’m the guy who decided to publish the story. I think it’s pretty clear that Mr. Morena’s family wishes I hadn’t done that. I can understand why they feel that way, and I’m sorry for the grief they still carry.
But for what it’s worth, I didn’t publish this story because I thought it would get Mr. Wideman out of prison. (As our story makes clear in its sixth paragraph, that seems unlikely to happen in any case.) I published it because I thought Mr. Wideman had some things to say, things that were worth thinking about.
Probably the most important is: What do we as a society expect from our prisoners? Should they have the chance to try improving themselves? Or should they expect to do nothing but suffer, as the families of their victims do in cases like this one? Is there ever a way of atoning for a crime as serious as this? And if not, what does that cost us?
Mr. Morena’s loved ones have made their position on these and other points very clear. So have the people who disagree with them. I think there’s little more to say, and I really don’t want this discussion to be a referendum on what people think of the Morena family.
If anyone has further thoughts they’d like to add, please e-mail me at cpotter@steelcitymedia.com.
Just so people are aware — since my previous comment, I’ve deleted three other posts, representing perspectives from both sides of the debate. It’s nothing personal; it’s just that like I said before, we’re long past the point of saying anything new.
I am glad this store was wrote. I have read the book Brothers and Keepers and now this story told by Wideman. I would like to say he has grown up form what he said in the book to what he is saying now. 30 yrs for a robbery going bad is a long time. I don’t think Wideman should still be behind bars where he did not pull the trigger. I hope there will be more stories posted of what happens to Wideman.
He doesn’t deserve a life sentence. He. Good man i did 5 years with him. So dnt make comments onsome u dnt knw
Wow. There are some real unforginving, judgemental haters posting on here.