Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday denied clemency for a woman in jail, who is suffering from leukemia, even though the Parole Commission recommended her supervised release and her father said she would die if the doesn’t get the treatment.
Deborah Turner, 34, must serve her remaining three years in jail for a series of burglaries and thefts in St. Johns County. Turner’s father, Jesse Turner, told the panel that his daughter will die if she is not released to get the proper diet and vitamins or treatments she needs for the side-effects from chemotherapy, the miamiherald.com reports.
The Parole Commission recommended that Turner be released, but with supervision, indicating that she might get better care, as her family did agree to pay for it. Her release would also save taxpayers money.
But parole officials said, Turner was getting adequate treatment for her leukemia, so Scott denied the request.
“You grow up as a Christian and your job is to forgive, but you’re responsible for the citizens of the state so you try to be fair,” Scott said.
