Story posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Home At Last
James Willson sits with his wife Jean (right) and daughter Marilyn (top) after returning home from a Moroccan prison just a few days earlier. He had been locked up for 12 months before getting a royal pardon by King Mohammed VI last Wednesday.
After 13 Long Months In Moroccan Prison, Willson Receives Royal Pardon
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
Sitting back in a recliner in his Des Plaines home, James Douglas Willson looked drawn, pale and admitted he was around 35 pounds lighter than his normal weight. His wife of 36 years, Jean, sat across the living room watching and listening to her husband as he talked with a reporter from the Journal & Topics Newspapers Saturday afternoon. Only a few feet away was his daughter, Marilyn Brief. For nearly a year, neither Marilyn nor Jean would take no for an answer. That's why Mr. Willson was back home safely in Des Plaines. Now his focus is on recovery not just survival.
Last Wednesday was a day that James Willson thought would be like any other day he has spent for the last 13 months: locked up in a filthy Moroccan prison surrounded by rats, a whole host of criminals, including murderers, unable to have access to proper medicine, psychologically tortured and always mindful of the fact that he's an innocent man.
That was the day, however, that he would be given his freedom. Moroccan King Mohammed VI granted Willson a royal pardon that day. With the wave of the king's hand, a chain of events was triggered that resulted in Willson touching down at O'Hare Airport at 11 p.m. Friday night. The pardon came following months of unrelenting pressure and pleading from Jean and Marilyn to let their husband and father go. They said his conviction of drug trafficking and illegal entry and sentencing to eight years in prison was a huge mistake and miscarriage of justice. Utilizing the internet and You Tube, working with the media and friends in Morocco and, about a month ago visiting the Moroccan ambassador to the U.S. in Washington, D.C., Jean and Marilyn were able to convince the king to order James' release.
"I'm exhausted," said Willson from his Willow Avenue townhome late Saturday afternoon. "I haven't bathed in 13 months. The rats I saw were as big as cats. When I was told that I was being transferred I was in the infirmary. I didn't know at the time that I was being released. They literally threw me out. I had no passport, nothing. I felt like they were going to shoot me."
"I can't believe I'm sitting here with my dad," said Marilyn. "I can touch him. I'm numb. I can't express my joy. Your stories have been phenomenal."
Since around February, the Journal & Topics Newspapers has published numerous stories, columns and editorials about Willson's plight that began in May of 2008. While traveling first in Portugal then in Spain and preparing to meet his wife in Scotland, Willson met a man who was in the process of delivering a small plane. The man convinced Willson, a retired commercial pilot, to accompany him on a short excursion plane ride in southern Spain. However, once airborne, mechanical trouble forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in a cloud-covered area. The plane landed on a road, but instead of being in Spain, Willson soon learned they were in Morocco. The pilot ran away on foot leaving Willson alone with the aircraft.
"I sat there. I didn't know where to go," said Willson on Saturday. "I was there for about 40 minutes when the Moroccan police arrived.
"I had no idea who they were," Willson explained. For the next two days he was given no water or food. He was charged with illegal entry and drug trafficking and following two trials, was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison. Unable to speak the native language, knowing no one, feeling deserted by the U.S. embassy in Morocco, Willson said he spent the next 13 months basically in isolation unable to talk to anyone. Occasionally he was able to make a telephone call to his wife Jean back home in Des Plaines.
"You'd think I'd be ecstatic to be home," confided James as he continued to describe the terrible prison conditions he was subjected to such as living in a 20-ft. by 20-ft. room with 27 other inmates. All the while, he had to cope with a number of personal medical problems such as diabetes, which left his toes numb. Willson said he was never physically harmed.
"I didn't know if I'd be shot until the end," he continued. "Your mind doesn't function. Only when I landed in New York did I feel reasonably comfortable." After landing at New York's Kennedy Airport having departed from Casablanca, Willson had to wait several more hours before boarding the flight to Chicago.
Mr. Willson was smothered with hugs, kisses and cries of joy from Jean, Marilyn and Marilyn's husband, Joel, at the late night emotional family reunion at O'Hare.
"When I was hugged and in their arms it finally felt like I was back," described Willson, as he momentarily broke down. "I'm not sure that I was conscious."
"He looked like a lost soul coming off the ramp," added Jean. "We couldn't help crossing the security line by just a couple of steps."
Throughout the long ordeal, Willson said the knowledge that his family, friends and many residents of his community, Des Plaines, were working to gain his freedom kept him going.
"I knew my family was working," Willson remarked. He, Jean and Marilyn particularly cited the efforts of members of the Des Plaines Bible Church, and U.S. representatives Mark Kirk (R-10th) and Jan Schakowsky (D-9th), who worked through diplomatic channels to gain his freedom. They also praised the Moroccan ambassador to the U.S. and one of his Moroccan attorneys for having the courage to take his case to King Mohammed VI. The Willsons also praised the Journal & Topics Newspapers and two radio station personalities for keeping the story alive and pushing for results.
Of significant importance to Mr. Willson were letters he received from Des Plaines residents and members of the Bible Church providing him encouragement and hope. Twice during Saturday's interview with the Journal & Topics tears filled his eyes when speaking about the kindness he experienced from these people.
"My mind hasn't grasped this yet," Willson explained. "I was in relatively decent shape. When I left I weighed 164 pounds. Now I'm down to 130. If it wasn't for good friends and family... This whole ordeal has built up a rage in me and that's not me."
This week, Willson plans to visit his doctor to undergo tests and examinations. Then he plans to write letters to the Moroccan ambassador and to the king thanking them.
Marilyn and Jean promised to host a thank you event sometime in the near future where everyone who helped or who had an interest in his plight and well-being can also be thanked.
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