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 Terry
Lynn Nichols (born April 1, 1955) was a U.S. Army veteran who was convicted of
being an accomplice to Timothy McVeigh, the man convicted of murder in the
bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S,
April 19, 1995), which claimed 168 lives. Nichols was convicted of eight counts
of manslaughter in a United States District Court and was sentenced to life
imprisonment in ADX Florence, a super max prison in Florence, Colorado. The
state of Oklahoma then charged him with capital murder. The McAlester, Oklahoma
trial started March 1, 2004. The jury selection and the testimony phase began on
March 22 and he was convicted on August 9, of 161 counts of first-degree murder.
As in the Federal trial, the jury spared him the death penalty and he was
sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Nichols since then has alleged
that a high-ranking FBI official was directing Timothy McVeigh in the plot to
blow up a government building and that plans may have changed the original
target of the attack, according to a new affidavit filed in U.S. District Court
in Utah on February 9, 2007.
Somewhere around 27 October 2000,
while working as a Lieutenant Jail Commander for the Oklahoma County Jail
facility, I was temporarily re-assigned to guard Terry Nichols. My duties were
to insure that he did not escape, would eat three meals a day, receive his
one-hour exercise period three times a week, did not communicate with any
unauthorized person, that he received his proper cleaning supplies daily to
clean his cell, to monitor anything or anyone having access to his living
quarters area. Sight checks were made unannounced to monitor his activity.
Normally, Terry spent a majority of his time preparing for his court case or
going over paperwork for either his defense or for other reasons. His
medications were always given in a timely manner. The main door leading into his
living area was behind two steel jail doors that remained locked at all times.
Location of his holding area cannot be disclosed for security reasons.
Terry and his daily actions were
supervised twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week by a deputy sheriff or
by myself. During his time in the County jail, Terry was never mistreated by
anyone working the jail or who came into contact with him to my knowledge.
Terry was a quiet person who only spoke when needing something or asking a
question, he appeared highly intelligent and acted respectively at all times. He
would not say
 anything
else nor was he asked by anyone to elaborate about his alleged involvement in
the Murrell building bombing.
He had a sense of humor now and
then. When I was finally transferred back to jail operations again Terry
managed to leave a written letter for me. I am not a judge or the executioner
I was a detention officer doing my job regardless of who the prisoner was, being
a detention officer is never easy. You are always required to treat prisoners
fairly, respectively, and honestly regardless of their crimes. I am writing
this short story as to what occurred during the time I was watching over him.
He was a prisoner under my care as any other prisoner I was required to
supervise, no special treatment was given to him. The bombing was a major
tragedy and that I had participated in the recovery of some remains, property
items and in security operations for the United States Marshals Office. I have
no opinions or statements concerning Terry Nichols other than what I have
already written.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Heitmeyer was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in
Paradise Valley. Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and completed his
service to our country. Jim later joined the Oklahoma Army National Guards 745
Military Police Company. Jim served during the Just Cause war in Panama and
Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Jim Heitmeyer attained the rank of
sergeant (E5).
Jim Hietmeyer is a retired lieutenant from the Oklahoma
County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma). After his retirement from the Oklahoma
County Sheriffs Office he worked as a police officer for the Arcadia Police
Department from 2001 through 2004. During his career, he worked as a jailer,
deputy sheriff, CLEET instructor, American Red Cross Instructor, and biohazards
instructor. He is the author of two books under the pen name of Jim Daly:
Lockdown Madness and Behind Steel Doors.
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