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Subscribe to RSSWatch the full two-hour Dateline 'Blind Justice' below and keep the conversation going with its producer.
Hi, my name is: Bob Gilmartin.
I've been a producer for: 35 years, also as an on-air reporter.
My inspirations as a storyteller are: Keith Morrison, Dennis Murphy and the great writers here at NBC mixed in with a little Carl Hiassen and Edna Buchanan, former crime reporters for the Miami Herald who became novelists.
When I first came across this story, I thought to myself: What an amazing set of circumstances, and what an incredible conflict within a family. As I learned more about John Sutton and what he was able to do given his loss of eyesight, I came to the conclusion, that he is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met.
The most impressive human being I met along the way was: John Sutton.
These are the words I'll never forget: John Sutton's victim impact statement, which you can see for yourself here.
The most striking image I saw was: John Sutton in Boston listening to doctors telling him the good news that they were on the verge of finding a cure for his optic nerve disease, but also the bad news - the disappointment in his face when doctors told him that it could be 5, 10, or 15 years down the line before that cure would be available.
When it's time to put it all together, I work best when: Because I work in an open newsroom cubicle environment, I find that in order to write and drown out the chatter around me I find an internet radio station, put on headphones and listen to music, mostly the Grateful Dead or WFUV-FM, Fordham University radio. I also stay at night and write when the office is empty. That's when I unplug the earphones and play the music out loud and write away.
In a word, this is really a Dateline story about: A quest. (But never ask a writer to sum something up in one word. We hate limitations.)
Last but not least, I wish: to find other great stories like this one, which has it all.
Thanks for watching!
Leave a Comment:
I found the Blind Justice Story to be a sad story for all involved. John Sutton is an amazing human being, a lot of people might have chosen to give up hope? Not John.
I am happy that he has his daughter, and maybe in time will be able to re-connect some how with his son?
I enjoyed the show and look forward to this weeks show as well.
I agree. I cannot believe the way people are trashing this man and treating Christopher like he was the victim.
John and Susan tried their best with him; Christopher is a born loser and a sociopath.
Greed - Stupidity - Self Centered - I am so angry at these spoiled stupid kids that only want what they want. I am adopted and lived through the era of children should be seen and NOT HEARD. Yes, my Mom would have been jailed for the treatment I received, but I would never think of killing her for her money. I took care of her for 15 years before her death at 94 - I felt an obligation because it is the right thing to do. I am so sorry for this family and all other families suffering because of their ungrateful kids who want to murder their parents in order to cash in. Mr. Sutton - I hope to Almighty God you get your eyesight back and I am so sorry you lost your wife and your wonderful life with her.
Be blessed, Stacia
I have a brother that went through a very similar program to that in Samoa, Tranquility Bay in Jamaica. The abuse that went on at his camp, as well as many other WWASP sponsored programs is obscene. I think that the truth about these programs should be put in the spotlight so unwitting and uneducated parents do not make the same mistake. These programs are sold as a delightful growing experience for young adults when they are run by unqualified people on the bottom, and ignorant profit seeking people at the top. The fact that they are allowed to continue to operate with no pretty much no regulatory oversight is just wrong. Nothing to take away from this true tragedy the Sutton's endured, much more light needs to be shed on these "behavior modification programs".
This story has touched my soul more than anyone could ever know. I cried at the horror Mr Sutton suffered and his family. Truely he knows what its like to walk through hell or to actually relate to the story of Job from the Bible. Yet through all that has happened Mr. Sutton is an inspiration to the world and instead of curling up in a ball and feeling sorry for his self which would be completely understandable, he has chosen to find justice, go on with his life and make a difference in the world. My teenage daughter's optical nerves have been completely destroyed through steroids deposits that caused glaucoma. It was a tragedy that should never have happened under the care of two doctors but they deny any blame. Too long of a tragic story for a comment page. She has only very little eye sight left and to see Mr Sutton and the hope he has for optic nerve restoration made me for the first time in over a year have hope. He is making donations to research that could maybe someday help my daughter. I plan on sending a more personal letter of admiration and thanks to him . I pray that he will find peace in his heart and that he will live to see this research come to fruition. Thank you date line for this and thank you Mr Sutton, you deserve to have your eye sight restored and many blessings. God Bless. Colleen
This program has touched me to the soul more than anyone can ever know. I cried at the horrible suffering Mr. Sutton had to endure and continues to go through with all the loss he has had to endure. He could have just curled up in a ball and given up, but instead, he has become an inspiration to so many. I am curled up in a ball because my teenage daughter has had her optic nerves destroyed under the care of two doctors. Steroid deposits placed in her eyes caused out of control glaucoma. Its too long of a story for this small space but believe me it should not have happened and we are left trying to go on with really no support. We cant even get an attorney to take the case which I cant even wrap myself around. Its heartbreaking for her. Its hard to get justice in this world we are finding out the hard way. I am glad that Mr. Sutton has finally got justice and some closure to his long suffering ordeal. My daughter has very minimal eye sight left and often says how much her life stinks and she doesnt want to go on. Its a nightmare we live everyday, but Mr Suttons devotion and donations to research may end up helping my daughter. He has given us hope and I plan on sending a more personal letter to his office thanking him for the hope and inspiration he has given us. No one deserves to go through what he suffered and I pray that God blesses him with peace and to see the hope of optic nerve restoration come to fruition. Thank you date line for this story and thank you Mr. Sutton for your inspiration. May God Bless you. Colleen
This guy is obviously not what the story spun him as, an innocent victim. This old man is a wolf. How many lives has he destroyed in his ruthless and ambitious career as a lawyer? Here is a man with a troubled son, so what does he do? He sends him to a third world hell. Then years later his wife and he are shot in a home invasion robbery, he is blinded. The police find that the murderer knows their son, and suddenly they get big eyes and think aha! More meat for our grinder. The police use their intimidation and lies to coerce a false statement from a witness. Then they reduce the sentence for the true murderer in exchange for a lie that will ruin a mans life and stuff money in the pockets of their beloved prison system. From what I saw on this show that lawyer is a wicked man who was shot in his home by another man looking to steal his friends stash of drugs. There is no evidence what so ever linking the attorney's son to the crime. Shame on the Jury for their blood thirsty vindictivenes. This ruling is a travisty of justice! This man clearly hates his son, and delights in the suffering of others. He seems cruel and cold. The son on the other hand seems honest and warm. This verdict should be thrown out and the son released, and the killer sentenced to death. As for the blind bitter old man, I hope they can fix your eyes, too bad they dont put some blind child in your place, but you are rich and powerful and used to getting things your way. You know, you said on the show that your son always wanted things his way, but the way I see it, and perhaps you should take a closer look at your self "figuatively" .... You are the one who gets what he wants.