Daughter Dying, Dad Can't Leave Prison

Being Denied 30-Day Leave; Mom Says It's Daughter's Last Wish To Have Him With Her

(CBS)  Ten-year-old Jayci Yaeger is dying of brain cancer, and has one final wish -- to have her father spend some time at her bedside before she dies.

She's in a Lincoln, Neb. hospice.

However, her father, Jason Yaeger, is in a federal minimum security prison in South Dakota, serving five-and-a-half years for a drug conviction. He has less than a year left in his sentence, and is set to be released to a halfway house in four months.

Jason and the Yaeger family have appealed many times to the warden for a 30-day supervised release, which could be allowed under "extraordinary circumstances." However, the family says these appeals have been denied, and the prison tells them the circumstances are not "extraordinary."

"She's very scared," Jayci's mother, Vonda Yaeger says, "and I think she's holding on for her father. She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes."

Jason, she says, was always a very good father to Jayci.

The Early Show had an exclusive interview with Vonda on Thursday. Click here to see the interview.

Vonda said "the tumors are growing and hemorrhaging, and right now there's nothing they can do for her, just keep her comfortable," reports CBS News affiliate KMTV in Omaha, Neb. "She's very scared, and I think she's holding on for her father."

KMTV's Michelle Bandur reports that the family says they'll keep fighting to get Jason out to grant his little girl's last wish. "She didn't do anything wrong. He was there for her when she was born. He should be there for her when she goes."

[thisandthat1]

Sheeesh, they sentence murderers to life in prison and then let them out in seven years! Let him go a little early and let him spend time with his daughter!

[extremophil]

"He should be there for her when she goes."

Why?? He apparently wasn''t there for her any other time in her life.

[easeup-2009]

WHO ARE THESE A-HOLES WHO WON''T LET HER SEE HER FATHER BEFORE SHE DIES!!???

It''s not like he''s a serial killer or anything!!

I have a 4 year-old daughter & this story just breaks my heart....

[photogeezer]

This non-violent criminal probably hurt no one but himself. This is cruel and unusual punishment. What else do you expect from the Bible Belt, from corn-fed self-righeousness?

[mike71067]

A guy I knew in California was shot in the head about 10 years ago. Both of the asssholes who shot him are now out of prison. If this guy can''t see his daughter before she dies, that''s horrific. It''s a drug offense - he didn''t hurt anyone. He''s not a danger. This is stupid.

[cfin5]

This leave should be granted immediately for the whole families sake. Yeah, he''s in jail, but not someone that I consider DANGEROUS to be by his dying daughters side. Think about it a sec,.....The odds of this man in appreciation for this kind of mercy is in the publics interest in my opinion. He should make up his full alloted time off though.

[christilley4]

This story touch my heart so badly I sent an email to the warden. Wardens email address: YAN/[e-mail]2

What I wrote to the warden:

My son is in remission after 3 years of battling cancer and I have seen to many kids that didn''t make it. During my sons treatments a number of people did amazing things for us that I can never repay, This email is one of my small way to attempt to repay the debt that I owe. I hope you take this opportunity to do something amazing for Jason and his daughter. Its a debt that he can never repay but hopefully he will try in the little ways that he can.

[lmcq1]

COME ON! This little girl did nothing wrong and she is dying...She just wants to be with her daddy before she goes - can''t imagine how scared she is. As a mother of 2, I am heartbroken over this story...

[forthepeopl1]

IF THIS WAS HAPPEN TO ME, I WOULD TELL YOU NOW..ON TV DONT LET ME SEE HER AND YOU WILL SEE ME SOON,

I WOULD MAKE IT MY LIFE TO MAKE SURE THE ONES THAT HAD DONE THIS WOULD PAY A HORRIBLE PAINFUL PRICE.

AND I WOULD LOOK STRAIGHT IN THE CAMORA AND SAY IT.

THEN THEY WONDER WHY WE GO CRAZY.............

[demslie]

Of course CBS (Communist Broadcast System) is good at printing stories (NEWS) that violate every presept of journalism so that Democrats will have something else to be angry about. In journalism school we are taught to include the who,what,where, when and why of a story. That is natually not included here. Democrats at CBS use the exact same tactic when they print a story about Bush or the Military or the Church. They give the information necessary to make Democrats mad but not enough to make the Liberal Elitist Intellectuals think about it. Its all about the anger.

[cfin5]

Please start feeding this child some dehydrated ground up raspberries and be quick about it. I do not trust the AMA for diddley.

[pamzadi]

This is ridiculous!!!! The father''s sentence is mostly served. I am sure he would go back and finish the rest of the time if he could see his daughter! This is a non-violent offense and my fellow posters are correct...murderers are released and it will be a travesty if this innocent child does not see her father before she dies!

[tomanyt]

Extremophil...Did you read the article?

[azcagirl]

"He should be there for her when she goes."

Why?? He apparently wasn''''t there for her any other time in her life.

Posted by Extremophil at 11:09 AM
He was there for at least half her life in case you can''t do the math. This story isn''t about how he was as a father. His daughter loves him and wants to see him before she dies. So he couldn''t have been all that bad to her. I hope the warden grants him his leave if not for the full 30 days at least for some time period. I am sure the family would be happy for whatever they can get be 24 hours or 30 days. My heart and thoughts go out to the little girl and her family.

[sharki3-2009]

The girl%u2019s mother posted this in a different forum:

Contact the prison information: Phone: [phone] Main switchboard; they''ll ask if it''s in regards to a prisoner; say no and ask for someone the Executive Administrative Staff

email them at: YAN/[e-mail]

Write the Warden personally:
WARDEN WHITEHEAD
FPC YANKTON FEDERAL PRISON CAMP
PO BOX 680
YANKTON SD 57078

Call, write, email. Flood them. I don''t even care if they''re flooded with negative comments towards Jason. The more they have to deal with the public, the better.
Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive. Jayci is still holding on.

[why_ma_raner]

Don''t worry about sending emails. This will be taken care of so fast, otherwise the warden will be fired. If he isn''t then the governor may not get reelected.

How stupid can you get.

[easeup-2009]

Posted by ChrisTilley4 at 11:21 AM : Mar 20, 2008

Good job, Chris....

I had my 7 month-old son at the Cleveland Clinic for 3 days last week for a respiratory virus (he''s ok now) and across the hall was a 3 year-old girl with cancer. I''ll NEVER forget the expressions on her parent''s faces when the girl would scream & moan in pain, calling their names over & over....

I don''t think there is anything worse that can happen to you in life than watching your child die.

I hope your son is doing well.

[braniff77]

demslie: First of all, you went to journalism school and don''t know how to spell "precept"? Second: no one knows what you''re ranting about. It''s a pretty simple, sad story about a dying girl. What more insight do you need?

[magoo2u1]

"Jason, she says, was always a very good father to Jayci."
Maybe she means he cares about her. Spending 50% of your childs life in jail isn''t a good father. However since his crime is not a violent one I would not disagree with a visit. Being eligible for a halfway house in 4 months he must be behaving in prison. I question our nation spending billions to incarcerate drug users.

[tatm06]

The Warden is a monster. Yeah the guy made a mistake but the ex said he was a good father. This is an extraordinary circumstance. She is a 10 year old little girl. For cryin out load. Think of her........

[alexma50085]

However, the family says these appeals have been denied, and the prison tells them the circumstances are not "extraordinary."

How extraordinary to you have to get??

[truthword08]

How incredibly terrible!! Let the child see her father!

[mswolfestock]

If this guy was REALLY a "good father," he wouldn''t have ended up in jail. Most "good parents" are able to stay out of jail in the first place, their kids are the motivation to stay out of trouble. I think this is a great example for others to consider, before they choose to make a mess of their whole families'' lives.

[imspoiled2]

The bottom line is that the man is in JAIL, for drugs. WE don''t know what he did with the drugs. If he cared that much about his family, he should have thought of the consequences before he was arrested and convicted. The child is dying, yes it is sad, but she needs to realize her dad is a loser anyway. The world is cruel, oh well.

[antoniof123]

If this guy was REALLY a "good father," he wouldn''''t have ended up in jail. Most "good parents" are able to stay out of jail in the first place, their kids are the motivation to stay out of trouble. I think this is a great example for others to consider, before they choose to make a mess of their whole families'''' lives.

Posted by mswolfestock at 11:55 AM : Mar 20, 2008

Hope you never make a mistake in your life because if you do don''t ask for mercy because none will be given to you.

[nolalou]

Since he is in a minimum security prison, on a drug possession conviction, I have to assume he is not a violent person. He is almost finished with his sentence. Not to let him out on supervised visits to his dying daughter is beyond cruel.

[dknla]

To whom it may concern,

It was my understanding that penal institutions, especially minimum security ones, were there to not only punish the offender, but to help rehabilitate them as well.

You have have an "extraordinary" opportunity to show some compassion in a compassionless job and ease the fears of a dying child. You will also be relieving her father of tremendous guilt. A guilt he will carry for the entirety of his life.

I''m sure that a 48 to 72 hour window of supervised visitation can be made possible. The family can either cover the security cost by monetary compensation or extend his sentence with work duty to cover it.

I understand you are just doing your job, but there comes a time in every individuals life when they must choose to do the right thing as a part of humanity. A humanity that is less human every day.

[skyhawk761]

Of course CBS (Communist Broadcast System) is good at printing stories (NEWS) that violate every presept of journalism so that Democrats will have something else to be angry about. In journalism school we are taught to include the who,what,where, when and why of a story. That is natually not included here. Democrats at CBS use the exact same tactic when they print a story about Bush or the Military or the Church. They give the information necessary to make Democrats mad but not enough to make the Liberal Elitist Intellectuals think about it. Its all about the anger.


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Posted by demslie at 11:26 AM : Mar 20, 2008


You have just proven that you are a full fledged A S S hole! This isn''t about Dems vs Repubs, it''s about a little girl that is about to die. Get a life you jerk.

[freewillks]

A non violent offender, gets 5 years and a guy who raped his daughter only got 2 years. let the guy out be with his child. I also hope that the warden understands that he will be judged by how he judges others.

[newmark3]

Whether he is in jail or not, everybody makes mistakes we are ALL HUMAN REMEMBER. This is about a dying innocent child wishes to see her father. He is in minimum security. I could see if he were a killer or voilent person. But this just shows how we live in a uncaring heartless world. I see why God is allowing the things to happen to us. People are not caring and loving. Ask the warden if his child was somewhere dying I bet he would stop everything he was doing and be there for his child or love one.

[oscarez]

"I question our nation spending billions to incarcerate drug users."

The state, the Feds, the courts and lawyers make big bucks incarcerating drug users so don''t expect to see this change. It''s all about money.

[inmo-2009]

This is called a mroal dilmena. The man did wrong. I bet he was not stellar parent to end up in FEDERAL prison for drugs charges.
his daughter is dying. The little girl needs her father but what should be done. Help the little girl pass peacefully? I think so but....
her dad is a criminal violent or not. Inmates are in prison for a crime., In prison you lose priveleges and rights.
His daughter had a right to a father who was not a drug dealer/user/maker whatever.
As far as he goes I say let him wait it out in prison but for her sake let him go be with her.

[braniff77]

What the father did or didn''t do is almost irrelevant here. It''s about the wishes of a dying girl. She obviously still loves her Dad and is not asking for him to be released from his sentence, but just to have him visit her one last time. Many of you here are looking at this as a punishment to the father for making a mistake several years ago, but it''s really a punishment to the girl, who already has suffered enough.

[kickinkat-2009]

why not do a petition...that man should be with his child...its not going to hurt the prison to have him gone for a short time...i mean come on, there is something seriously wrong when a parent can''t be with their dying child especially when that child wants him there...this is just terrible

[plplearecrzy]

You break the law...you pay the consequences. Too bad the daughter is the one paying the price now.

[retiredusaf3]

WOW Folks lets see. FEDERAL PRISON for drug charges. That means a whole lot more that taking drugs yourself. More like transporting lots of drugs over state lines or manufacturing. I googled his name and found that he was convicted in FEDERAL COURT of methamphetamine charges. Hey you do the crime you do the time with ALL the consequences.

[cfin5]

Sure am ashamed to read some of these MERCILESS comments. What ever happened to the authorities being called "peace officers"???? If I was in this mans lot, torturing me physically wouldn''t hold a candle to the mental torture in my head. Maybe this trial of life could end with a miracle healing for the child,......and the parents to reconcile. I LOVE to hear stories of how God does that!

[hungry1968]

Don''t go to jail, and this won''t be an issue.

[shawnp20]

He''s in a MINIMUM SECURITY prison for a DRUG CONVICTION... he''s not a rapist, he''s not a murderer, he''s not a child molester, he''s not a violent criminal... he is a drug offender, and while I''m not saying he shouldn''t do the time for his crime, I think th punishment should fit the crime. In this case, he''s 4 months from being released, and he has a child that more than likely won''t live to see that day. Give him a 48-72 supervised leave, he can make up the time on the end of his sentence, and his daughter gets to see her Dad before she dies.
It just doesn''t seem to be that difficult to figure out to me... so why is it always so hard for our elected officials to figure out???

[ralphj53]

March 20, 2008
Hello;
Her mother said that "he was there for her when she was born," and she should have added, "But, he wan''t there for her when he commited that DRUG OFFENSE."

That last "there for her" statement was the most important she should have said. When you have family, like little children, and you have to provide for them, the VERY LAST thing you want to do is EXPOSE yourself to BEING ABSENT, when your children NEED YOU... the MOST. all because of your STUPIDITY.

How about it people? Am I right?

Thanks,
ralphj53

[dknla]

Hey retiredusaf3,
Did you you google the child''s name? Didn''t think so.
It must be easy to sit and judge everyone from such a black and white viewpoint.
Todays world is very grey and very different!
What irony! You served your country to help protect its freedoms yet you so easily deny them.

[chikadelux]

I can''t believe the Warrden. This man will be out in 4 months. He served his time. He even said the let the 30 leave be supervised. How can he do anything bad when his daughter is dying and he is being supervised 24 hours a day. They are not hurting the father, they are hurting the little girl. She doesn''t understand. All she wants is her father. Let him out and add 30 more days in jail at the end of his sentence to make up for the leave. Some people are heartless. What goes around will come around. We will all be judged by the man upstairs one day.

[radiob-2009]

This is a tragedy and people need to form a petition throughout the US to allow this girls last wish. The father is no menace to society and can be restrained from escaping custody and still see his daughter. Oh one act of kindness from America.

[retiredusaf3]

Hey dknLA he lost those rights when he committed the crime. End of story.

[rf35]

Don''t do the crime if you can''t do the time.
Meth is a serious drug and rightly comes with serious consequences. However, I don''t see how this doesn''t qualify as an "extraordinary circumstance." It''s not the girl''s fault her father is a worthless piece of human trash who turns to drugs because he can''t handle reality. Or worse, provides them to others.

[flalady41]

sharki3 thanks for the information!!! I just called, had to leave a message and I plan on e-mailing them. This is so sad! I sure hope they let him out, for his daughter!

[fibonacci_]

Would be curious what kind of drug charges they got against him, sounds pretty serious.

[cmp271]

many criminals are in prison when their family members die. That is why it is called punishment! Don''t do the crime if you can''t do the time.

What other lives did he hurt by selling drugs? He is a danger to society.

It is a shame, however, a criminal is a criminal. Why should he have rights?

[retiredusaf3]

fibonacci He was convicted on Meth charges.

[wango2007-2009]

Posted by radiob
The father is no menace to society and can be restrained from escaping custody and still see his daughter. Oh one act of kindness from America.

-----------------

No threat? Of course he is, that''s why he''s in prison. He should have thought of his family before he did the crime.

Not one act of kindness? Right now we have 14 million illegal Mexicans in out country who should be sent back to their own corrupt country, or should be imprisoned, yet we do nothing. That is a kindness. There are many other examples.

America is far too kind as a nation. At least we don''t chop off heads or hands as acceptable to all in the Middle East. That''s unkindness.