Katharina Buczek
And finally, in January of 2022, Governor Northam of Virginia did grant Vince his clemency petition.
This should have allowed Vince to be released from prison so long as he was transferred to a mental facility.
But, for the past six months, Vince has remained behind bars despite being a free man. He is now wheelchair-bound and battling late-stage Huntington’s disease with little to no mental help.
Meanwhile, his transfer to a Virginia public mental hospital has been halted for unclear reasons.
Benjamin Gilmer has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to push back against the Virginia Department of Corrections and Mental Health and finally get Vince the help he needs.
“Help us get what Vince deserves– justice, freedom, and proper medical treatment after wrongfully suffering nineteen years of prison hell,” he pleaded.
“Vince is not a threat to society; he is mentally and physically ill,” Benjamin continued.
He has since asked the public to raise one hundred thousand dollars to secure Vince’s transfer to a private hospital where he can be treated and live out the rest of his limited days.
And so far, nearly nine hundred and fifty donors have contributed just over seventy-three thousand dollars to the cause.
“This story breaks my heart. I have seen firsthand how hard Huntington’s disease is on people and their families. This man deserves medical treatment. I wish I could donate more,” wrote one contributor.
“I am a criminal defense attorney in North Carolina. I am thankful for the team of lawyers and physicians who secured the commutation but disgusted with the North Carolina Department of Corrections. I am hopeful that he can be released soon!” wrote a second donor.
