Pretty in Prison: Cross-Dressing Wife-Killer Wants Smooth Legs

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS/AP)

Robert Kosilek following his arraignment in 1990, R: Kosilek, now known as Michelle, is seen in 1993.

BOSTON (CBS/AP) Hair ye, hair ye! A convicted killer who wants a sex change operation will settle for more hair removal treatments for the time being – if a judge will allow it.

Michelle Kosilek, who was born as Robert, has been waiting for years for a judge in Boston to rule on a request for a sex-change operation, and is now asking for electrolysis.

Kosilek has been living as a woman in an all-male prison in Norfolk, Mass., after being sentenced to life for the murder of his wife, Cheryl, in 1990.

Prison officials oppose Kosilek's request for surgery, saying the sex change would pose security problems.

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled in 2002 that Kosilek was entitled to treatment for gender identity disorder, but stopped short of ordering surgery.

On Tuesday, Wolf will hear a request from Kosilek to get additional electrolysis treatments.

Michelle Kosilek was an addiction counselor named Robert Kosilek, when he was convicted of killing of his wife. Kosilek dumped the body in a car outside a local shopping mall. Kosilek went missing after the murder, but ultimately was captured in New Rochelle, NY.

In 1993, while in prison, he legally changed his name to Michelle. Since then, Kosilek has been fighting with prison officials to complete his transformation into a woman.

Kosilek wanted the Massachusetts Department of Correction to pay for the sex-change operation.

Kosilek sued for the second time in 2005, even though he had been receiving hormones at the prison. The prisoner said hormones and other treatments have not been enough to relieve his suffering, and said he would likely commit suicide if he does not get the surgery.

During Kosilek's trial, Massachusetts Correction Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy said that if Kosilek has the surgery, prison officials believe Kosilek could end up being a target of sexual assault in prison.

"The safety and security concerns are enormous," Dennehy testified.

The case has become fodder for radio talk shows, where the topic of whether the state should pay for a sex-change operation for a convicted murderer often attracts outraged callers.

In addition to the cost — estimates for sex-change operations are in the $10,000 to $20,000 range — prison officials cite the safety risks of housing a male inmate who has been transformed into a female.

Sen. Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, Mass., has filed legislation barring the state from paying for the "sex reassignment" surgeries.

(AP Photo)

Michelle Kosilek

Courts in several states have ordered prison systems to allow transgender inmates to receive psychotherapy and, in some cases, hormone shots. Some states allow inmates to continue hormone treatments if they are already on hormones when they begin their sentences.

But most do not allow inmates to initiate hormone therapy while in prison, and many states do not have any written policy for the treatment of transgender inmates.

After judge Wolf's 2002 ruling, the corrections department allowed Kosilek to receive female hormones and laser hair removal. He was also given access to female undergarments and some makeup.

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by shamrocker6 September 13, 2009 5:23 PM EDT: Charles "Tex" Watson of the Manson Family became an ordained minister and has produced four children during his incarceration. Watson stabbed four people, including Tate, to death and fatally shot two others. Since taxpayers are forced to foot the bill on these outlaw country clubs, I feel we are entitled to vote on how they are operated. Many Americans are screaming for the Death Penalty; it is time to get down and dirty with the scum of society.; Reply to this comment


by Ace22257 August 22, 2009 12:39 PM EDT: I agree....if he's threatening suicide deny him any further "unnecessary" health treatments (like hair removal) and let this piece of trash kill himself. It would be crazy to have the taxpayers foot the bill regarding this mans demands. I dont think this idiot realizes he's in no position to be making demands of ANY kind. Any judge that would grant any of this should have their mental stability questioned......; Reply to this comment


by legaleagle70 August 15, 2009 11:27 PM EDT: This is so stupid that I have no idea where to begin. All I could think was, "What? Huh? Seriously? Okay, where are the cameras?"; Reply to this comment


by govtguy August 11, 2009 7:57 AM EDT: Fast and easy fix to the problem; strap the bum to a gurney, read him his last rights; push the plunger on the lethal drugs, say goodbye. Why does this have to be so hard and drawn out? As long as the courts acquiese to his "demands", he will continue to harm the public. He's laughing his male-female wannabee but off and the local boards and courts are wriggling in their shoes. Enough already.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 August 11, 2009 12:35 AM EDT: He sure makes an ugly woman. I'm for giving him "electrolosis". In SC here we call it the electric chair.; Reply to this comment


by bcpats August 11, 2009 12:24 AM EDT: He/she/it may WANT a sex change. The person he killed WANTED to live......... she did not get that priviledge, neither should this mentally deranged excuse for a human being.; Reply to this comment


by pvperson3 August 10, 2009 8:18 PM EDT: "said he would likely commit suicide if he does not get the surgery", there ya go, the answer to everybody's problem.; Reply to this comment


by pw08-2009 August 10, 2009 7:43 PM EDT: It's being bogged down in this crap and the Political Correctness that is killing America. This guy is lucky he even has a roof over his head.; Reply to this comment

by jetranger7 August 10, 2009 6:12 PM EDT

The American people need to demand this kind of stuff STOP, if you have to write letters, phone calls whatever, otherwise this kind of Silly Ridlicious stuff will continue to go on . Our Prision System has become a Joke and its pathetic, Thanks to those Special Interest Groups and their dim-witted attorneys, thats why Crime has gone up, because the Punishment no longer fits the Crime, these sick degenerate low lifes, can go to prision and have it way to easy, and enjoy having fun, they get to workout, get tattoos, watch TV, read books & magazines, have visitors,,,, hell we've made Prision like going to College or some University - and its time it - STOP ~!!! But it'll take the public outcry and their going to have to DEMAND it STOP, if it doesn't then its time to remove some Judges and lawyers and others, if need be, and I'm not talking about voting them out of office either , that does NOT work, I mean throw them out of the office they hold, do whatever, but our Politicians, and Judges and Lawyers and Special Interest groups are to blame for this !!! Bring Back the "CHAIN-GANGS" - and the Death Penality !!!!

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by docpeter1953 August 11, 2009 8:55 AM EDT: And I was under the impression that crime had gone up because of the Second Amendment.


by platteman August 10, 2009 6:00 PM EDT: Only in America. If they had the death penality, they would have all this baloney.; Reply to this comment