The lady that was frightened by Daniel who jumped out the window

[MONDOALMIGHTY]

I recently hired a artist at my tattoo studio who I just found out was the grandson of the poor lady that jumped out the window running away from Daniel as he tried to cast out her "demons"...

I'm sad to say that because of the situation, Daniel will not be played at the shop anymore and I am seriously considering having my Daniel frog tattoo covered up out of respect... for the record the ladies family are STILL quite pissed, I cant help but to wonder how I would feel if it were my Grandmother

It's a real dilemma when a name and details are added to the story..

the lady who has since passed away NEVER recovered from the injury.. and never walked again... After hearing that side of the story I'm kind of curious as to why the incident was seemingly downplayed in the documentary and online..

anyway I am fully aware that Daniel is mentally ill, and am not trying to start a debate on if Daniel is to blame or not, I'm just shocked at how ironic it is that I am a fan and have crossed paths with my new friend/artist (whos name I am leaving out of this because I'm not sure if he wants it to be known here)

for the record this is a good Christian family who suffered a great loss, I am just wondering if Daniel has ever admitted to wrongdoing and at least said he was sorry... it seems in what I've read and seen in the documentary he accepts no responsibility and blames "demons"

I dunno, after learning more about this it seems to me that the Johnstons should do something, if not donate some artwork or some procedes to the ladies family(which they probably wouldn't accept anyway), at least publicly apologize .. just my opinion

[K1r0ft]

This was a very unfortunate, regrettable incident. We all have to handle stuff in our own way.

[Henry Long]

I'm not certain, but wasn't Daniel institutionalized for a long time following this terrible incident?

I would imagine having your freedoms taken away, being heavily medicated and sedated, and being kept locked up with a police record always associated with your name would be a just punishment. Again, I'm not certain, but I am inclined to believe Daniel knows full well the consequences of his actions in this matter, and has to live with that painful knowledge of himself everyday.

If I were to not separate the person from their art, it would be awfully difficult to participate in any cultural experiences whatsoever. Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Roman Polanski, Pablo Picasso... the list is endless. Creative individuals who have done very nasty, hateful, hurtful and illegal things to others, all without being labeled crazy or getting locked away. Some facts are just more public knowledge than others. Should I trash my Beatles collection cuz Saint John Lennon beat his wife? Burn my Miles cuz he treated Cicely Tyson like a punching bag? I don't know. Can you separate the art from the artist?

Humans are more complex than black and white, good and bad. Do what you need to do, Mondo. It's a slippery slope is all I'm saying, and I think Daniel has paid for his crimes and accepted his responsibilities for the pain and suffering he has caused.

[gina164]

Hi there, Mondo~

Having a sister with severe manic depression has made me acutely aware of the impact of her behaviors on others...thank God there has been nothing like this, directly...but who knows if her strange behaviors may have distracted someone in some odd way, along the way, and caused them to have an accident, or simply become fearful?

All I know is this - the family is not responsible, and...and, unfortunately, Daniel was not responsible at the time...this is why there is the 'not guilty by reason of insanity' ruling in courts...although I often thiink it should be changed to 'guilty by reason of insanity'...

The sad reality is that mental illness is exactly that...illness...no one 'in their right mind' would do the things the mentally ill do when unstable...

I've met Dan, and spent about 4 days total with him - he is one of the kindest souls alive...I know this is hard to understand, but he truly must have believed he was going to help her...help her soul...

What happened is the combo of severe mental illness with extreme religious indoctrination from his family of origin...not a good recipe...

Have you thought of perhaps having a memorial in honor of this young man's grandmother?

Also, how about allowing him to add a rose into the hand of the frog image? Perhaps symbolizing the truly good soul that lies within Dan...and the part of him I know 100% in my heart is true blue...and would hand a rose to her today if he could...

If he could, he would take back what he did...I am 100% certain...

Perhaps you have crossed paths with this man to help him forgive...and to help us all see what the mentally ill and their families go through...or, at least, you can make something positive out of this.

You see, when I saw the film, I knew instantly that Daniel and his family now carry that tragedy inside of them, and are destined to live with it...that is part of their burden...

This grandson now needs to let go of his burden...that of not being able to forgive fully.

I do not think, though, that you should play Dan's music in the shop, out of empathy...

...but, I also do not think it calls for destroying the tattoo... changing it into one that fits the full reality of your new feelings about Dan and the mentally ill is perhaps a better path??? That is, if you are able to come to a loving place in your heart now about this...

My heart knows that Dan is a good man...ill, yes...good, yes...
This is life....
This is reality.

Wishing you and the grandson healing, and loving understanding ~  Gina

[notdaniel]

I am just wondering if Daniel has ever admitted to wrongdoing and at least said he was sorry... it seems in what I've read and seen in the documentary he accepts no responsibility and blames "demons"

Remember, the film's director chose to use as little current commentary from Dan as possible throughout the movie; what is heard therein are the words of a still-dazed Daniel who was not anywhere near as coherent as he is today.

That said, I have never heard him mention the incident, and I don't know if he even remembers it happening, though in an interview I did with him for ME-TV, he spoke of how much safer the world seems today, and all of the tragic things he spoke of comparatively regarding the past were terrible things that HE had done. I'm sure regrets a lot of things that have happened throughout his life, even if they occurred at a time when he was unable to control his own thoughts and actions.

He certainly doesn't boast about what happened that day -- sadly, there are people who actually take pride in destroying lives, you know.

  - NotDan

[Judgemental Jones]

Well frankly, this lady - now deceased needed to get on with life. Holding on to a grudge like that is unhealthy and disgusting. Moreover, the very IDEA that her mincing little family feel they have anything to say about it is a joke. It was a bad thing, but not done out of malice or for personal reasons. But hey, they're a good Christian family, right? Forgiveness anyone?

[dk_3712]

yeah,
  that whole situation was weird....the thing I thought about was: what did the lady say to Daniel to make him do that to her.....was it like "hey! get out of my trash cans you bum!!" or was it "excuse me, I'm really tired and trying to sleep, is there something I could help you with"......or it could have been somewhere in between....I don't know...I'm not Daniel.....one thing I do know is that it's a NICE thing that your not going to play Daniel's music in your shop anymore....because if the grandson says the families still shook up about it, it's good that your sensitive enough to understand that playing Daniel's music in your shop might make the grandson bummed out or even mad......

[wickedwill]

Daniel was instutionalized for 5 years over this incident. I asked him point blank about it and he seemed very bummed out about it. Said he hoped she was alright. I even have it on tape.

Ryan are you sure this guy is legit? He may be a great guy but he also may just be talking out his ass.
I have a friend I love dearly who insist he seen the Ramones and SexPistols on the same bill. I know it never happened, you know it never happened.....but in this guys mind it happened! The thing is is he is a honest guy and not prone to lying so I just want to believe he is mistaken.

You are a great guy and it just seems kinda.............out of character of you to just kinda push Dan aside (I know for a fact you are a big fan) because of what some guy said.

If I told you that Johnny Thunders introduced my brother who later dies of a heroin overdose (none of this is true BTW) would you not be a J.Thunders fan?!?!?!Would you stop listening to his music??
Not playing the music kinda makes sense but covering up a tattoo makes absolutely none. AND you know more about the sacred-ness of a tattoo then I do.

I think Daniel did his time and all he owes the family is a apology. How is giving them money going to help? Daniel dont boast or brag about it and if he was to meet this guy and this guy was to tell him his story then I am sure DJ would be very generous with his apologies and they would be sincere.

I really hope you dont cover up the tatt!

[notdaniel]

for the record this is a good Christian family who suffered a great loss, I am just wondering if Daniel has ever admitted to wrongdoing and at least said he was sorry... it seems in what I've read and seen in the documentary he accepts no responsibility and blames "demons"

I dunno, after learning more about this it seems to me that the Johnstons should do something, if not donate some artwork or some procedes to the ladies family(which they probably wouldn't accept anyway), at least publicly apologize .. just my opinion

Just as when people say they don't "get" Dan's music after watching the doc -- remember, the movie was made to tell a very specific story as chosen by the director, NOT to cover EVERY possible Q&A about Daniel, mental illness, the music industry, Mountain Dew, etc. If it would help, I can make a phone call to the Johnston house and get a quote from the family and/or Dan himself (I can record it on tape for you, and even upload it to my imeem.com account, if necessary.)

As far as the donation thing -- when a family has a member killed or injured by a drunk driver, they often start a foundation to help stop DWI in the victim's name. Perhaps this family might do well to start a mental illness-awareness fund in the woman's memory. I can't imagine that the Johnstons, who are also "victims" of mental illness, would decline a donation request!

  - NotDan

[fractalmom]

I don't know who the alleged tattoo artist is.  What I DO  know is this.

My husband's grandmother was Amanda Nalley.  Daniel Johnston broke into her apt in a senior citizen's building in Chester WV by breaking the door in. He was armed with a knife.  He was quite psychotic. He chased her around attacking her  repeatedly and she finally jumped out the window to escape him.

She fell two stories to the ground, severely injuring both legs. She did, in fact, walk again, however, she lived in excruciating pain the remainder of her life. She walked literally on the side of one foot, and the other leg didn't work very well either.

After she was released from hospital, she lived with one of her daughters while she recovered and learned to walk again. She later moved to Atlanta Georgia where she passed away about 10 years ago. She was brought home to be buried and happens to be buried in the cemetery across the street from where we now live.

My husband went to school with Daniel. He is NOT well thought of here.  He is being invited to the high school reunion, most of the class is hoping he won't bother.

While the family has, in fact, recognized that Daniel was in a psychotic episode and  therefore not responsible for his actions, it did not help my grandmother in law one bit.  Forgiveness doesn't really matter.  It is what it is.

Amanda had five children, two boys and three girls.  The oldest boy has passed. Three of the remaining four children, as well as their descendants all live in the Atlanta GA area. The other daughter still lives in the home town in WV.

If that tattoo artist was not in WV or Georgia, he was probably lying.  I personally do not know of ANY cousins who are tattoo artists.

Daniel's artwork is still displayed in some places at the high school.  Most people around here don't give two ****s either way.

His family left the area. Can't blame them. 

I read the book about 5 years ago.  The incident was not reported on truthfully. Odd that no one bothered to come and ask the FAMILY of the victim what actually happened or to check the articles in the local paper, the East Liverpool Evening Review.

And art?  I suppose he is extremely talented and gifted. Someone compared him to Roman Polanski, a coward.  Good comparison.

[fractalmom]

Well frankly, this lady - now deceased needed to get on with life. Holding on to a grudge like that is unhealthy and disgusting. Moreover, the very IDEA that her mincing little family feel they have anything to say about it is a joke. It was a bad thing, but not done out of malice or for personal reasons. But hey, they're a good Christian family, right? Forgiveness anyone?

hey!! have someone attack you and jump out a window and break both YOUR legs when you are in your sixties and see how it feels? Okay?  And get on with YOUR life after that.

[Rusted Square]

Well see I see both sides cus I myself have my illnesses and I have done somethings that didnt make much sense and yes it did effect people I didnt even know and yes I paid for it! Daniel paid for his mistake and Im very sure he feels horrible about it cus I know I feel horrible about what I have done (and always will) in the past cus of my illnesses.But they still shouldnt dwell on it for the rest of their lifes cus they are not going to be happy that way and everytime they think of her they are only going to have bad memorys and hatred and thats not what they want Im sure.Im not saying forget about what happened though just dont dwell on that one moment in time for the rest of your life.I think the replys to the original post by some of the fellows above have some good points also!

[fractalmom]

thanks Rusted. we don't dwell on it. we have moved on. she has passed away. but, we don't forget it either.

[PaulTMA]

How mean-spirited and unpleasant to write him off as a "coward" and to make those scathing remarks, although I'm sure people round here don't give two ****s about them

[fractalmom]

thanks. the coward part?  not taking the time to contact the family after he was regulated on the meds to say, hey! I'm really sorry I tossed your granny out a two story window. I wasn't in my right mind and would never have done it if I was.

Adults own up to their actions.  Even when they are wrong.  We didn't ever expect him to make it all better, but he has been back a number of times, his family does know how to get ahold of us, the one daughter has never moved.

Everyone knows someone who suffers from mental illness. It is not a crime to be mentally ill. Danny is very talented. The whole thing was a tragedy.

It just would have been nice to have had ANYONE say, Gosh!! We are really sorry.