Jail finds love affair with high-profile inmates
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Jailers near Portland say defendants in two of Oregon's highest-profile recent crime sprees carried on a clandestine relationship behind bars, devising a complex communication strategy fit for a spy novel.
Columbia County jail officials uncovered the relationship last month when they found a love note written by Andrew Barnett, accused of perpetrating a recent anthrax hoax that targeted a number of Portland law enforcement and commercial centers. The object of his affection was Holly Grigsby, charged in a three-state killing spree.
Barnett's note was found hidden in a law book on a library shelf. Most of the four-page letter was vulgar and sexually explicit, and it included a racist rant against the African American judge presiding over both their cases, Lt. Tony Weaver, a jail supervisor, told The Oregonian.
Barnett devised a complex way to communicate that involved book bindings marked with stars and other symbols, dog-eared pages and a numeric code so Grigsby could find the book where he hid his letters, Weaver said. At least two other inmates also were using books in the library as dead-drops for secret communications.
"They called it their 'email' system," Weaver said.
Authorities moved the jail's law library to a more secure location on Nov. 16, he said, and inmates can still access those books. But to read general fiction and non-fiction books, they must pick them off a cart that rolls cell to cell.
Grigsby is awaiting trial on federal racketeering charges alleging that she and an accomplice, David "Joey" Pederson, killed four people last fall as part of a campaign to "purify" and "preserve" the white race. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Barnett has a long history of challenging authorities from behind bars. He's accused of mailing a parcel in December 2011 with a mysterious white powder to a federal prosecutor, which the government alleges was an attempt to convey that it was anthrax and that a biological attack was occurring. After the first letter sent to the prosecutor, a slew of similar parcels showed up at six other Portland buildings, including the Lloyd Center mall, the downtown Hilton and the Port of Portland's office at the airport.
The letters were all determined to be nontoxic. He's pleaded not guilty.
Barnett was moved from a Portland jail to the Columbia County Jail in St. Helens, where he was issued a pencil with orange lead - the only one of it's kind in the jail - so jailers would know if he was writing threatening or otherwise forbidden notes.
Barnett got permission to use the library so he could prepare to defend himself against his federal charges. Inside the library, he found a ventilation shaft that connected to the women's housing unit in the next room.
By shouting through the vent, he made contact with Grigsby, Weaver said.
Columbia County jail officials uncovered the relationship last month when they found a love note written by Andrew Barnett, accused of perpetrating a recent anthrax hoax that targeted a number of Portland law enforcement and commercial centers. The object of his affection was Holly Grigsby, charged in a three-state killing spree.
Barnett's note was found hidden in a law book on a library shelf. Most of the four-page letter was vulgar and sexually explicit, and it included a racist rant against the African American judge presiding over both their cases, Lt. Tony Weaver, a jail supervisor, told The Oregonian.
Barnett devised a complex way to communicate that involved book bindings marked with stars and other symbols, dog-eared pages and a numeric code so Grigsby could find the book where he hid his letters, Weaver said. At least two other inmates also were using books in the library as dead-drops for secret communications.
"They called it their 'email' system," Weaver said.
Authorities moved the jail's law library to a more secure location on Nov. 16, he said, and inmates can still access those books. But to read general fiction and non-fiction books, they must pick them off a cart that rolls cell to cell.
Grigsby is awaiting trial on federal racketeering charges alleging that she and an accomplice, David "Joey" Pederson, killed four people last fall as part of a campaign to "purify" and "preserve" the white race. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Barnett has a long history of challenging authorities from behind bars. He's accused of mailing a parcel in December 2011 with a mysterious white powder to a federal prosecutor, which the government alleges was an attempt to convey that it was anthrax and that a biological attack was occurring. After the first letter sent to the prosecutor, a slew of similar parcels showed up at six other Portland buildings, including the Lloyd Center mall, the downtown Hilton and the Port of Portland's office at the airport.
The letters were all determined to be nontoxic. He's pleaded not guilty.
Barnett was moved from a Portland jail to the Columbia County Jail in St. Helens, where he was issued a pencil with orange lead - the only one of it's kind in the jail - so jailers would know if he was writing threatening or otherwise forbidden notes.
Barnett got permission to use the library so he could prepare to defend himself against his federal charges. Inside the library, he found a ventilation shaft that connected to the women's housing unit in the next room.
By shouting through the vent, he made contact with Grigsby, Weaver said.
Just because they don't like law enforcement doesn't mean they are stupid of lack the ability to love.
 @contraryjim Are you seriously defending these creeps?
I know of female correction officers who watch male inmates showering. Of course, someone is going to react.
I must admit that I smiled when I read that the judge presiding over these two racist low-life's cases was African American. Justice with a twist of irony.
I know it's difficult to judge from pictures, but doesn't it seem this woman has the IQ of a toadstool?
 @nutz2u I guess you would know.
Why can't we just fry these worthless people and be done with it! Makes no sense at all to keep them alive.
I say stick all of them in a cell together and see what happens. Sterilize the wench first of coarse.
I'm just devastated that Grisby has moved on from Pederson to Bennett. Is there no loyalty among mass murdering couples anymore?
Clever and cute now it's time to change the channel to get some real news
So where's the news in this? Why are we supposed to care about this? This comes as a surprise to the AP and KOMO?
@Zoso lol there Chuckle heads
It's news because the media love to fanaticize about, adore and glorify criminals and thugs.
Considering what the news usually contains, I like a slow news day.
This is news?
 @Tim Lane What would you like to hear about Tim?
She needs to be purified in a tank filled with organic acid
Had to chuckle...'..the letters were determined to be nontoxic...' Â hee hee...never can be sure when the guy that wrote them is in jail for an anthrax hoax. Â Seriously.Â
ahhhh a true Romeo and Jailiette story
Thanks, that made my day
So?
This really isn't news it is just a rule violation issue at the DOC.
What's the big deal? This goes on all the time, often w/ staff. The first 3 years that Twin Rivers Corrections Center was open, no less than 27 female staff members were found to be having relationships with inmates. They ran the gamut from cooks to officers, nurses, counselors etc. Hard facts. I was there.
Yeah, she's everybody's dream girl, alright. Â Belle of the ball right there.
As long as they are not allowed to breed who cares if they exchange sexually explicit letters? Â And what is vulgar to one may be erotic to another. Â I am guessing the scheme is by-passing the traditional route of US Mail which the prison would them be able to review the correspondence?
What's the "scheme" exactly? I'm confused.  Â
 @lakeview sort of a hellter skeller and the man with 20 wives kind of stuff ,leaking out of the prisons. too justify and empower their belief . some where there should be a cut off notice. and a stop to getting stuff IN to prisons. too the prisoners, they seem to be living it up. better then we on the out side r and i bet 3/4% bich-ed about paying taxes themselves . go figure