Yesterday, Ellen Melchiondo reported on a visit to the Restricted Housing Unit in SCI-Muncy, a women’s prison in Pennsylvania. She noted, “In one of the pods is confined Miriam White, who in 1999, at the age of 11, stabbed a complete stranger to death in Philadelphia. Miriam was sent to various institutions before landing in Muncy. I could barely see Miriam through her window, because on it, she was finger painting with her feces, slowly, deliberately and trance-like.” Here is Miriam White’s story.
On August 20, 1999, eleven-year-old Miriam White argued with a cousin. Miriam then grabbed a knife and ran out of her South Philadelphia foster home. She ran down the street, passing some children, turned the corner, and saw Rosemary Knight, fifty-five years old. Miriam ran up to Rosemary Knight and stabbed her in the chest. Rosemary Knight died on the spot.
Rosemary Knight was a hairdresser and the principal wage earner in her household. August 20, 1999, was the twenty-seventh wedding anniversary of Rosemary and Jerome Knight. Miriam did not know Rosemary Knight.
Miriam White was a young “troubled” Black girl. Her infancy and earlier childhood was one of violence and abandonment, followed by a succession of institutionalization and foster homes. In February 1995, Michelle White Stevens took in the then-seven-year-old Miriam and her two younger siblings. In 1999, Stevens adopted the children. By all accounts, the house was a loving household.
Miriam White progressed and crashed, progressed and crashed. She has been diagnosed with severe mental illness and severe intellectual disability.
According to Miriam White, she wanted to hurt someone so that she would be sent back to a juvenile institution. She was careful not to attack children. After she stabbed Rosemary Knight, she ran to nearby hair salon, “trembling and begging for help because she had just stabbed someone.”
Up to this point, the story of Miriam White and Rosemary Knight, and all those around them, is tragic. Then it gets worse.
Pennsylvania is one of the few states in which anyone charged with first-degree murder must be tried as an adult. That includes eleven-year-old Miriam White. So Miriam White was placed in solitary in an adult jail while the adults tried and failed to figure something out. The judge tried and failed to find a compromise. The defense attorneys tried and failed to argue for reason. As her attorney argued, “Who, judge, at Muncy is going to take young Miriam through her first menstrual cycle. . . . The older, nurturing inmates?”
And so, in August 2007, Miriam White, eighteen years old, pleaded guilty in adult court to third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime, and was sentenced to 18 to 40 years. According to some legal scholars, it’s doubtful that Miriam White is competent to take a plea or anything else in court.
Miriam White’s “case” is littered with fine language. She “haunts” the criminal justice system. The initial judge’s ruling concluded, “I cannot exonerate Miriam just because I feel sorry for her. I cannot return Miriam to juvenile court just because her life story makes my heart weep. My oath as a judge requires that I decide this case on the basis of the proofs in court. The decertification petition is denied.” Miriam White’s case is “tragic” as it is “heartbreaking.”
That’s how the story is told, but not how the life is lived. Today, sixteen years and two months later, where is Miriam White? “I could barely see Miriam through her window, because on it, she was finger painting with her feces, slowly, deliberately and trance-like.” Justice is served, humanity denied.
(Image Credit: Martin Vargas / Solitary Watch)
Miriam did spend some of her teen years at the San Marcos Treatment Center in Texas- I knew her when she was there. She lived in a unit with other girls and attended school most days. I personally bought her lunch from McDonalds and ate with her in my office. When properly medicated, Miriam was a sweet girl, but she could be very different from one day to the next.
It’s a shame. I worked with Alexis (aka Miriam) when she was in one of the child psychiatric facilities. I used to pick her up as part of my job from her weekend visits with the foster parents who later adopted her. Everytime she came back starving and much thinner in just one weekend. It would take days just to get her to function appropriately after these visits and though we would report this to the State they still related her back to this family and later allowed them to adopt her. When she was in the program, though she had difficulties they were nothing that anyone would have thought would lead her to stabbing someone. I wonder what was happening in the home that drove her to this behavior?
Miriam at the time of the crime was held in Phillys Detention Center, the most heartbreaking story of any inmate I’d ever known during 17 years as a C/O at the PPS, the Warden authorized dolls on the unit for this child which was the only normal thing she experienced while confined as the only child (11 years old) on an adult female unit, I’m sure her custody officers felt as bad as I did but inside a guard is judged weak if any emotion is shown toward any inmate, her story and the events that followed really ripped me.
I was a residential counselor at the Bucks County treatment facility where Alexis resided. It was a low paying job for a BSW working 3-11:30. She spat on me and took a handheld shower faucet to soak me with water. She showed absolutely no remorse. I absolutely do not believe she received the treatment she needed. I do not believe in the death penalty but I don’t believe she is a lost cause. After those incidents I adamantly refused to work in that particular house. The irony is that those in charge of the program had A.A. degrees and those caring for the children had Bachelor’s. The program was poorly run with a high turnover rate. Why did Alexis go back home? The state thought it was cheaper. No one feels sorry for Rose Marie. I believe most of the staff who worked with Alexis feel incredibly guilty. I did drive the 10 passenger van 20 years ago to drop her off. Her foster family was always standing outside waiting to greet her. I believe they loved her. In all of my life I have never met a child more disturbed as this. Jerome Knight should sue the state of Pennsylvania, Woods Services, and Horsham Clinic. What will happen when she is one day set free mad at everyone on earth? 75% of inmates are mentally ill. Could someone please get this 30 year old woman some help before she is released?
Ok I see all these comments saying that she did not get the treatment that she needed and blah blah blah. But how about this my Aunt Rosemary. the woman who she killed was minding her own business walking her dog. My aunt was the most loving woman in all of the world. She would have done anything to help that little girl and the girl plunged a knife into her chest. She need to stay in prison because there are too many people getting away with murder on these streets we dont need a non-caring sociopath running free
She should be in a residential facility for the mentally Ill and get the treatment she obviously needs and not confined to a prison.
I was In placement with her in taxes same unit but I never knew why she was there until someone told me why she was there and how come I’m not scared of her or to be alone with her so that same day I asked her why was she here to see if she would tell mii and she did I asked her how come you didn’t hurt me like you do everyone else on this unit her words was that I’m scared of you I’m looked at her in disbelief because I was only a fighter and only 15 at the time she also stated that I keep her normal she feels regularly around me then she laughed and say I wish you was around before all this happened to me I don’t believe I be here she said she would be leaving taxes soon and can she continue to be her friend and keep her in a good mood for the rest of her stay I told her yes I pray one day the judge will let her out she just need that one person to believe in her and she will pull though I’m not saying what she did was right because it wasn’t at all but if I had a chance to see her face to face to see how she’s doing and to help her though her days there I would go as much as can keep your head up girl
Thank you for this response, and stay strong.
The fact that anyone who worked with this person when she was a juvenile in any residential treatment setting have broken all kinds of ethical boundries by discussing her. Not to mention the confidentiality agreements you signed your name to when accepting your positions. She was obviously surrounded by unethical people with no regard for her boundries. How in earth could you question why she didn’t get help when you were supposed to be the help and your oblivious to patients rights.
Former SCI Muncy inmate alleges sexual assault https://www.sungazette.com/news/2022/12/former-sci-muncy-inmate-alleges-sexual-assault/
Former SCI-Muncy inmate sues correctional officer over alleged sexual abuse https://www.northcentralpa.com/news/crime/former-sci-muncy-inmate-sues-correctional-officer-over-alleged-sexual-abuse/article_c6c61b34-9148-11ed-a62d-9f1433c43f40.html