The prison allows Jason daily phone contact with his daughter, but her condition has left her too weak to talk. According to Jayci's mother, Vonda Yaeger, her daughter's voice has been replaced with tears that roll down her face whenever she hears her father's voice.
"Jason always tells her and her sister how proud of them he is and that he loves them," Vonda told a reporter from the Yankton Press & Dakotan. "His favorite saying is, 'You are my heart.' He actually has that tattooed on his arm with both of their names in it. ... He's been a really good dad to them and they miss him very much."
Jason's family has asked for help from their state representatives and from the governor of South Dakota. However, in each instance the family has been told that the state has no authority over the prison. All decisions regarding federal prisons are left to federal officials. As a result, Jason's family is now asking President George W. Bush for clemency. As of this writing, the White House has yet to release an official statement regarding the family’s request.
I am often sickened by the callousness of persons who commit atrocious crimes against innocent members of our society; however I am equally appalled by the lack of compassion shown by Warden J. D. Whitehead.
I urge everyone to take a moment to contact Whitehead and let him know your own thoughts on this case. His telephone number is (605) 665-3262, his fax number is (605) 668-1113 and his e-mail address is yan/execassistant@bop.gov. Snail mail letters should be addressed to: Warden Whitehead FPC, Yankton Federal Prison Camp, P.O. Box 680, Yankton, SD 57078.
In addition to contacting the Warden, you can also help the Yaeger family with medical expenses by sending donations to: Jayci Yaeger Fund, c/o Wells Fargo, 1248 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.
