LIVORNO. «I am not asking for what happened to be forgotten nor for him to be freed. I only believe that a society should question the possibility of punishing without resorting to inflicting death». This story is told by Eleonora Battistini, 36 years old, from Livorno, operations manager for an Australian e-commerce company.
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After seven years living in Krakow and four in Lucca, she returned to Livorno two years ago and lives with her partner, her 12-year-old son, and the cat Dora. For two years she has been writing to William Silvia, 61 years old, inmate on death row at Florida State Prison in Raiford. Four hundred letters between photographs, memories, and everyday life stories have transformed an exchange born thousands of kilometers away into a human bond capable of crossing the most difficult distance: that between those who live free and those awaiting a death sentence.
The execution date is set for next August 18 for Silvia by lethal injection. The man was convicted for the murder of his wife, which occurred in 2006. Battistini does not hide the seriousness of the case: «It is a terrible crime, with no justification. The victims and their families deserve respect. I am not saying he should not pay; he must answer for his act before justice».
However, her reflection arises from another question: should a person convicted of a very serious crime also lose the right to still be considered a human being? The correspondence began almost by chance. Eleonora was looking for a “pen pal” and, after some research, found the “Write to a Death Row Inmate” project by the Community of Sant’Egidio: «It was not a religious choice. It simply seemed like a beautiful initiative».
After contacting the association, she only received the necessary information to start: name, surname, date of birth, and inmate identification number. The rest she discovered through words. The first letter was sent on October 18, 2024. Then the messages increased until they became almost daily. «At first, I thought I was writing to someone who needed to be heard. I imagined a different relationship, but over time, it became an equal exchange».
Communication takes place through Securus, an electronic system used in US prisons via tablet. Sending each message requires a virtual stamp, purchasable in packages ranging from 10 units for $4.40 to 70 for $25. «I always tried to include an extra one, so William could reply without having to buy it. For those without family or financial support, even maintaining contact can become difficult».
Over time, the letters became a way to share stories. Silvia talks about his passions, from Rush’s music to video games, from science fiction to the years spent as a truck driver in the United States. Battistini sends him photographs of her family, the sea, the places she frequents, and concerts: «If I went to a concert, he asked for a photo of the stage. Through those images, he could see something of the outside world». They talked about everything except the crime for which he was convicted. Battistini left it to him to choose whether to talk about it: «He told me about his trip to Europe, the moves he experienced as a child, and the people he met in his life. I told him about my family, my days, the good things, and the difficulties».
Before starting the correspondence, Battistini informed herself about Silvia’s judicial history: «I went looking for information because I wanted to know who I was talking to. What happened is terrible. There is no justification». But she adds: «A person does not entirely coincide with the worst act they have ever committed. William is also a person with a past, with passions and vulnerabilities». Battistini also believes that the inmate has undergone a process of reflection, through the poems he shared with her, written during the years of detention.
After almost twenty years in prison comes the moment that changes everything: the governor of Florida signs the execution warrant and the correspondence stops. «I didn’t even manage to say goodbye. When I sent him the last message, he no longer had the possibility to reply. I tried to contact the prison to see if it was possible to at least send him a farewell».
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For Battistini, this is the hardest part: «A person waits for a date for twenty years. Then, when it arrives, they remain alone waiting for that moment».
Today her commitment is to support the petition promoted by Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, which requests the commutation of Silvia’s sentence to life imprisonment. To support it, click on “Stay the Execution of William Silvia” and select “Sign the Petition”. To learn about the “Write to a Death Row Inmate” project by the Community of Sant’Egidio: s.tallei@citiesforlife.net.
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