A reader brought to our attention the name of Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist on the faculty of UCLA who has weighed in on Michael Schiavo.

In communicating with Dr. Lieberman, she has sent us the following items which are below. The first is a press release from March 19, 2005. The second is her thoughts on Michael as well as other observations from a professional psychological point of view made in July, 2004.

Dr. Lieberman is also the psychiatrist who instigated the investigation into Michael Jackson’s accuser.

Our thanks to Dr. Lieberman for her kindness in allowing us to post this. And thanks to our reader. It is compelling stuff.

The Press Release:

TERRI SCHIAVO’S HUSBAND FITS PROFILE OF WIFE ABUSER, PER PSYCHIATRIST

(Los Angeles, California) “As Terri Schiavo starves to death, it is
time to alert more lawmakers to the truth: the wrong person is being
‘punished’ for Terri Schiavo’s current state,” says Carole Lieberman,
M.D. a Board Certified Psychiatrist on the Clinical Faculty of UCLA.
Having interviewed Terri’s father on her radio show (“Dr. Carole’s
Couch” on voiceamerica.com), Dr. Lieberman uncovered the fact that
Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, fits the profile of a wife-abuser –
the same profile that fit O.J. Simpson and Scott Peterson. At Terri’s
father’s request, Dr. Lieberman put her opinion in writing (see below)
so that the family could provide it to their attorneys, Governor Jeb
Bush and Florida DCFS – who subsequently have begun investigating the
possibility (supported by medical records and witnesses…emphasis mine) that Michael Schiavo may well be the one responsible for the collapse that Terri
suffered 15 years ago. Even offers of $1 million were not enough for
Michael to take the risk of Terri being around ‘to talk’. “Since
writing my preliminary opinion, further information has come to light
that continues to support this position. Unless this travesty of
justice is stopped, the answer will truly lie where the bones are
buried,” warns Dr. Lieberman.

Thoughts and Observations:

July 12, 2004
PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ON HOW TERRI SCHIAVO’S HUSBAND, MICHAEL, FITS THE
PROFILE OF A WIFE ABUSER
Based upon my interviews of Terri’s father, Robert Schindler, and my
research into media accounts of her case, I can provide the following
preliminary opinions at this time:
–As the author of the book, Bad Boys: Why We Love Them, How to Live
with Them and When to Leave Them, I have studied men who exhibit
pathology in their relationships with women. Profiles of the twelve
different types of bad boys are explained. Michael Schiavo fits the
profile, described in the book as the Prince of Darkness (see chapter
13). O.J. Simpson was cited as a classic example of this type, and
there are indeed similarities between the two men. It is especially
significant to note that O.J. flew into a homicidal rage when he
realized that Nicole was totally abandoning him, as is characteristic
of these impulsive men who most dread being abandoned by their woman.
Similarly, Michael Schiavo was likely to have known that Terri had
begun making plans to divorce him, since she had told a coworker and
family member. Stalking is characteristic of this type of man, as well.
And a girlfriend of Michael’s, Cindy, accused him of stalking her in
2001.
–Terri’s personality fits that of a woman who would have been
attracted (and attractive) to such a man. She was a loner as a child.
In high school she was overweight and not popular with boys. She had
low self-esteem. She was extremely compassionate, nurturing and
subservient. They met when Terri was 20 years old, and married by the
time she was 21. Such whirlwind courtships are typical of these men,
who are able to spot a vulnerable woman they can dominate, and eager to
seal her commitment to him.
Terri was frightened to object to Michael’s pathologically controlling
behavior. For example, he would monitor her odometer to control where
she went. He tried to isolate her from her friends and family. She had
to account for every penny, though they often lived on her income,
since he would be fired, sometimes only after two weeks. He would
splurge on $400 suits for himself, while she had to economize. He
called her at work 3-4 times a day, often complaining of hating his job
because no one appreciated him. He was often observed scolding her.
–Terri’s family observed black and blue marks on her before the
incident that plunged her into her current state. Medical records
and/or experts have revealed that her neck injury was consistent with
strangulation. A bone scan revealed multiple fractures occurring within
1-2 months before or after the incident, which has been described as
equivalent to her being “hit by a mach truck”. Michael has given three
different explanations of how he found Terri after the incident.
–Michael has had Terri’s jewelry re-set into a ring for himself. Terri
had two beloved cats that she adopted from an animal shelter, where
they’d landed after being mistreated. When he moved in with his
girlfriend, Cindy, he had Terri’s cats euthanized. Psychologically,
this is symbolic of what he is trying to do now to Terri.
–Michael has been under psychiatric care, including being prescribed
several psychotropic medications. One of his treating therapists, Dr.
Peter Kaplan, told Terri’s father that he should have called the police
after Michael argued with Terri’s sister, Susanne, and Michael tried to
attack her. This occurred right after Terri’s collapse, when they were
all in a house together. Terri’s father told Susanne to lock her door
and keep a hammer nearby.
–As a psychiatric expert witness, I have had experience performing
psychiatric examinations of men like Michael Schiavo, and testifying in
court about similar cases. The above is simply meant to illustrate some
of the indications that Michael fits the profile of an abusive husband.
He should most definitely be investigated as the perpetrator of the
‘incident’ that caused Terri’s collapse and her current condition. If
Terri were to be allowed to die, as Michael has been desperately
struggling to achieve for years, it could help him escape detection.
This would be a grave miscarriage of justice.