Pharmacist Convicted Of Murder Sends Exclusive Letter To News 9

Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It has been almost five months since a jury found Pharmacist Jerome Ersland guilty of murder, and sentenced him to a life behind bars. Tuesday evening, we get an exclusive look at a letter he sent to News 9 from prison.

We went to Southwest Oklahoma City to pick up the letter addressed to News 9 by Jerome Ersland.

It was sent to his friend Karen Monahan who is spearheading his petition drive.

5/27/2011 Related Story: Friends Start Petition To Free Jerome Ersland

"It's handwritten out. It's handwritten out and it's signed Lt. Col. Jerome Ersland," Monahan said.

The letter itself is short and to the point. Two paragraphs in fact, where Jerome goes to thank us for airing the story of Senator Ralph Shorty and Karen Monahan visiting him in prison, and as he said "voice their opinion that armed robbers must bear the responsibility for the outcome of an armed conflict they initiate."

9/15/2011 Related Story: Friend, State Senator Visit Jerome Ersland In Prison

Ersland goes on to write about "righting the wrong of his unfortunate incarceration" and how the "Free Jerome Ersland Petition Drive was instrumental in giving him hope in his precarious situation."

Now the letter is dated October 13, but we had to wait and make sure it did not violate the prison terms set by the Warden. It did not and that is why we are sharing it with our viewers.

The Ersland Petition Drive has already collected more than 30,000 signatures from around the world.

Organizers also have stops planned around the state in Guthrie, Stillwater, Enid and eventually Tulsa.

More:

7/12/2011 Related Story: Jerome Ersland Sentenced To Life In Prison By OKC Judge

5/26/2011 Related Story: Jerome Ersland Guilty Verdict Stuns Courtroom

5/30/2011 Related Story: Ersland Supporters Hold Petition Drive Tuesday