https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/covid-19-hits-missouri-s-controversial-program-for-sexually-violent-predators/article_de126a66-115d-5c35-90e8-9015b66b55bb.html

Donald D. Peckham, RIP.  86 years old and still locked up in the Show Me (Missouri) state’s sex offense civil commitment facility.  He had already completed a 15 year prison sentence and then three years in jail waiting for a court hearing that sealed his fate – indefinite confinement on the state’s hunch he might do something wrong in the future.

Bearing witness:  Gary Almquist, chaplain at the jail, said he got to know Peckman well. He said Peckman has the support of grown children, grandchildren and a wife of more than 60 years.  “He has a very deep heart for God,” Almquist said. “We know he did some terrible things, but he did his time for his crimes.”

Callous:  “While in the hospital, Don’s wife was not allowed to have contact with him, and had to go through a third-party staff member to get information on him,” Almquist said. “That person was off for the weekend when Don passed.” 

More callousness:  Debra Walker, a spokeswoman for the Department of Mental Health, didn’t provide an update on the situation at SORTS, which also has a facility in Fulton. The Post-Dispatch first asked for information Tuesday afternoon.  On Wednesday, Walker wrote: “I’m sure you understand that our staff are working very hard and doing everything possible to keep our team members and the people we serve safe from the coronavirus. The individuals who can answer your questions simply cannot get to this request right now.”  Asked if she would contact Cynthia Hackathorn, who oversees the SORTS program, by phone, for a basic update, Walker said Hackathorn wasn’t in the office Wednesday. Walker didn’t respond to an email asking to confirm the two deaths.

-Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire