Thoughts from prison

Letters to his sister illustrate Dail's fears, hopes

In his dimly lit prison cell, Dwayne Dail would turn to pen and paper to express the fear he didn't dare admit aloud.

Usually, he wrote to his sister Dianna Davis. Two years apart, they were lifelong confidants.

The letters sustained Davis through an 18-year crusade to free her brother.

Last month, Davis opened the shoebox and revisited her brother's agony. Some excerpts:

* April 25, 1989, Polk Youth Institute, one month into Dail's life sentence:

"I'm scared of these places they are talking of sending me. I mean, I could get raped or killed. That's just facts. Of course, it bothers me. Sometimes, I'm scared to death. A person my size really has a hard time, and then I have my charges over my head. I stay up late at night and cry while everyone else sleeps."

* May 27, 1989, Blanch Youth Institution, solitary confinement:

"I'm having a little problem. Maybe you can help me with. By reading my letters, do I sound like I'm losing my mind? I just wonder sometimes if talking to yourself is normal when you are almost always alone."

* July 24, 1989, Blanch Youth Institution, two days after Dail's 21st birthday:

"I am really sorry about all those 'self-pity' letters I've sent the past few weeks. 'Only the strong survive,' and I was pretty weak then. VERY Strong now! They were all real selfish."

* Oct. 12, 2001, Avery/Mitchell Correctional Institution:

"Let me rant and rave for a page or so about a case that has truly gotten my attention. Albert Brown has done 18 years for a murder he did not commit. ... I feel for Albert Brown. He'll probably be back in prison -- if they ever let him out -- in no time. He, as is everyone, is a product of his society. He was 21 when he came to prison. Young, impressionable, scared to death & innocent. Now, he's 39, jaded & pissed at the world. There's no telling what horrors he has suffered and witnessed."

* April 14, 2002, Avery/Mitchell Correctional Institution, a few days after seeing his son Chris Michaels for Easter:

"I didn't really have time to catch up with everybody, but Chris seemed to be doing well & mom looked as sweet and chipper as ever. ... I had all but forgotten how good it is to see real people. I miss my visits."

* July 21, 2003, Mountain View Correctional Institution, a few days after Dail thinks the Center on Actual Innocence will take up his case:

"When I get my millions, we'll sure enough go shopping, sug. ... Can you imagine ... in a mall with a million bucks?! I can see us now, in a jewelry store, 'yes, that's a nice watch. Oh, $20,000, huh? Do you have 8 of them.' "

* Jan. 5, 2006, Nash Correctional Institution, 21 months shy of his release and reunification with his son Chris:

"I do love Chris, don't get me wrong. But as long as I know that he is alive and well, I'm content. Any relationship that Chris & I may have will have to be when I get out."