The White House Boys Timeline
THE WHITE HOUSE BOYS ----
WHERE DID WE COME FROM – WHO WE ARE --- WHERE DID WE GO --- WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Timeline of Events Concerning the Meeting of the Original “White House Boys" and the political and
legal campaign that brought about the official Florida investigation into the state sponsored child
abuse that took place at the Florida School for Boys at Mariana, it predecessor, the Florida Industrial
School for Boys and at other Florida reformatories throughout the state.
This timeline accurately reflects those events and occasions where there is a public record or shared
informational electronic correspondence.
SEPTEMBER 2007 Note: There were four original members that started this investigation, Roger Kiser,
Dick Colon, Robert Straley and Michael O’McCarthy. Sadly Michael O'McCarthy passed away on April 3,
2010.
1980 - 1981 - "Visit To The White House" - written by Michael O'McCarthy - Originally published by
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE 1980 – anthologized in GROWING UP SOUTHERN, PANTHEON BOOKS, © 1981. This
is the first known victim’s, published account of the beatings and torture that took place over the one
hundred and nine years of state sponsored child abuse at the Florida Industrial School for Boys, the
Florida School for Boys and now known as the Dozier School for Boys.
1989-1990 Many of the stories Roger Kiser had written about his abuse at the Florida School for Boys
had been posted on his web site titled “The Sad (American) Orphan” (Yahoo, then called “Geocities”)
which had been in existence since 1989-1990.
In late 1999 or early 2000 Roger joined a web site called “Classmates.com.” When filling out the
application it asked him to submit his high school’s name. Never having completed high school, he
decided to put in “Florida Industrial School for Boys at Marianna where he had attended some high
school classes. Several weeks later he received notifications that several other men had also signed
up under that same school name. He then began corresponding with several of the men. Shortly
thereafter, Roger began categorizing the stories in various sections on the site and later began
building a White House Boys web page which later Roger turned into the White House Boys’ web site
he now owns and manages today. This was the first original site pertaining to the FSB abuse.
SEPTEMBER 2007 - Around the end of September 2007, Robert Straley got a call from Monica who had
worked for him. They talked that day and somehow the conversation came around to the Martin
Anderson boy who had died in a Florida boot camp. Straley had seen a picture of him around age 12 and
he was smiling so bright his eyes sparkled. Straley hadn't been able to get his face out of his mind for
weeks. He told Monica that he had once been in a place like that where they beat kids with a whip and
told her about Marianna. Straley thinks he had only mentioned it to one other person in his entire life.
She was shocked and said he should do something about it, even if it had been fifty years ago.
To his surprise the next day there was an email link sent from Monica. She had Googled the Florida
School for Boys and came up with Roger Kiser's web site that was put up sometime in 2007.
When Straley opened the web site there at the top was a picture of the "White House" punishment
room, just as it had been years ago. Roger's description of his beating was detailed below.
Straley emailed Kiser and they talked on the phone for the better part of a week. They decided to make
one last stand against this evil, one hundred and eight year old stronghold of hate and misery, even if
the men that had done these things to us were long dead. The world, at least, should know what
happened there.
OCTOBER 2007 - Through the months of October to March of 2007 the two ex-prisoners spent every
night, by phone and on the Internet, searching for evidence, and for every scrap of information they
could find to expose this old nightmare. They searched the Florida Archives, the Florida Correctional
Archives and law libraries.
MARCH 12-17 – 2008 - Straley & Kiser Googled every newspaper, news source, reporters, anyone that
he thought might be interested in the cause. Once he had the contact information he set out to
emailing the release to every source. The release went out to a hundred and fifty sources as far north
as North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and all of Florida on the 12-17th of March. He included
the name of Michael O’McCarthy, the journalist producer who was responsible for the Rosewood
campaign that eventually led to the Florida Legislature granting reparations in the form of a Claim Bill.
He immediately got the attention of Ms. Charlotte Frieson of the People's Voice Weekly News in
Roanoke Alabama who published the article towards the end of March and from four reporters in
Florida that were interested in the story.
April 4 – 2008: Straley received a call from Michael O'McCarthy who had several years earlier broken the
Rosewood Story. This was a small black town in North Florida that had been burned to the ground by a
rampaging mob of white people. After fifty years this was brought into the public eye and eventually
reparations were made to the surviving families. He had asked O’McCarthy, “Can you do for the White
House victims what you did for those in Rosewood?
Incredibly, Michael O'McCarthy had been incarcerated in the Florida School for Boys as a youth and had
received one of the one hundred lash beatings for running away. Straley knew he had found the
needle in the haystack that was needed to break this story. O’McCarthy was stunned when he read the
press release and somewhat emotional. Straley asked him if he would do for the victims of the White
House what he had done for the victims of Rosewood and he said he would do his best to help us.
April – May, 2008 – After taking on the assignment to help the WHB O’McCarthy started the search for a
legal entity by finding an agency in the state that helped kids. He came across the above named
website (www.justiceforkids.org) and saw Gus Barreiro’s name and phone number. Not knowing he was
with DJJ and thinking that he might be familiar with legal assistance for kids he called him. Barreiro did
not identify himself as DJJ in the beginning of the conversation and O’McCarthy began to tell him the
story of the horrors of the WH. Barreiro’s response was shock and horror at the information provided.
He familiarized Barreiro with his work on Rosewood and the claims bill. Barreiro was familiar with that
case.
O’McCarthy directed him to the new website Straley had helped to create and his piece, Visit to the
White House. By the end of the conversation Barreiro promised to do anything and everything he
could to help. That would include both acting as liaison with DJJ and using his experience and contacts
within the Florida legislature. He also offered to help find the proper attorney to facilitate the case. If O’
McCarthy was Straley’s WHB’s angel, Gus was his and WHB’s next.
As for the legislative claims bill process he asked that they be patient: they would have to wait until the
coming November because the claims bill required the support of a newly elected senator. Barreiro
would talk to those legislators whom he knew and would be sympathetic to their cause. In order to
protect his anonymity O’McCarthy kept Barreiro’s name to himself.
(As this process would continue throughout the summer O’McCarthy maintained a wall of anonymity
between those contacts and the other WHB because they, <first Attorney Clay Townsend and Gus
Barreiro,> insisted upon it, and because he feared that the other WHB, would slip and make public very
private discussions and negotiations. As Straley was on the road and unavailable, communications
were brief and a matter of trust.
In the interim, Gus would seek ways to help. He suggested Ben Crump, an African American attorney
who had handled the infamous Martin Anderson killing at a DJJ book camp and got Martin’s family a
compensatory $5M benefit.
(Parenthetically, as noted, it was seeing the Internet picture of Martin Anderson that sparked Straley’s
memory.)
O’McCarthy pursued Crump in April and after considerable tries managed a phone conference with him.
He had perused the applicable law and had problems with the issue of statute of limitations; they did
not discuss the Claims Bill. It became apparent then the Crump did not have the staff to pursue such a
matter.
May 12, 2008 – Crump provided the three White House Boys with a courtesy letter of representation so
that they might have legal representation in Florida if it was needed.
May 15 2008 - September 2008 - Straley had to go out on the road. This ended Straley’s active
involvement during that summer. During this period Michael O'McCarthy continued his campaign to
bring this to national attention and to present a plea to the Governor and the DJJ Staff.
By the time Straley returned five months later, Michael had engaged Carol Marbin Miller of the Miami
Herald. It then went to their affiliate CBS4 who did their own very powerful video.
June, 2008 – O’McCarthy left for Costa Rica and upon returning continued contact with Barreiro. By then
Barreiro had been promoted to a position overseeing all the residential facilities of DJJ. He went to
Dozier where he then informed O’McCarthy that he had been to the WH, and further, that he had found
a history of hand written records dating back to the 1920’s.
Previously upon query in seeking a feature print reporter Barreiro referred O’McCarthy to Miller of the
Miami Herald who showed early enthusiasm for the story, but there was a professional situation that
prevented her from acting on the story immediately. O’McCarthy sought other reporters but couldn’t
find one suitable to the task; unlike that which he had found for Rosewood.
June – July 2008 - Upon returning in late June Miller was ready to proceed and an exclusive print
collaboration agreement was reached between the WHB and Miller. The WHB were still without an
attorney however, but in that it had taken two years to find the right one for Rosewood, O’McCarthy
knew that it would only be a matter of time or exposure. Barreiro and he talked about Miller and he and
Miller held a series of conversations which buoyed up her insight into the story.
August, 2008 – the O’McCarthy family made the decision to move to Costa Rica; O’McCarthy did a long
print and TV interview with Miller and the video component of the Herald; he arranged for all the other
White House Boys to do the same. He stayed in touch with Barreiro and who asked for more time to
position himself in order to help us.
September, 2008 – Barreiro put O’McCarthy in touch with a highly respected lobbyist, Keri Rayborn
whose firm took on the case. She would venture to Mariana for the forthcoming memorial as a witness.
September – October - 2008 - Barreiro informed O’McCarthy that he was talking with the head staff at
DJJ to see if we could find a compromise between ourselves and the agency to “turn a negative into a
positive.”
Another ex-prisoner of the Florida School for Boys came on board, (name withheld at party’s request.)
At or around the same time a maintenance person came to Barreiro at Dozier and told him that he had
orders to “tear down the WH.” Barreiro said that he then went to DJJ heads and told them that tearing
the building down would appear as an admission of guilt and appear as if they were hiding the truth.
DJJ then proposed to Barreiro that the WHB could participate in the building’s destruction and upon
notification to the other WHB, we agreed.
Then DJJ changed their mind and suggested that the building be turned into a “museum-memorial” with
the front cell to memorialize the WHB and the other “rooms” to honor the good things done at the
school. After consultation with the other WHB O’McCarthy told Barreiro in no uncertain terms that it was
an unacceptable concept: that every boy, whether in the kitchen or on a winning football team was
under the threat of the WH … that the labor there was essentially child slave labor. (*)
Barreiro reiterated the concerns to DJJ and the idea was scrapped.
O’McCarthy told Barreiro what the WHB wanted:
A open press conference and memorial; no refutation of any of our allegations, whether about the
beatings or the rape room; a forum to tell the press our stories (the original four White House Boys –
though we would be joined at the occasion by Bill Haynes,); the right to “tour” the WH with the press; to
be led by Straley to the “rape room,” where he was brutalized by Tidwell and a unknown man. Lastly, to
be taken to the “unmarked graves.”
October – 2008 - Barreiro called O’McCarthy and told him that the Chief of Staff of DJJ, Bonnie Rogers,
and others wanted a conference call so that they could be assured that the event would be carried out
responsibly by the WHB if they granted their requests.
OCTOBER 19, 2008 October 19, 2008
Breaking News Article: Reform School Alumni Recount Severe Beatings, Rapes By Carol Marbin Miller
of the Miami Herald: Carole Marbin Miller breaks the Florida School for Boys story with a front page, 1/3
page column and two full pages in the "A" section of the newspaper. There was also an online report
along with her very powerful video. The story was then turned over to her affiliate CBS4 who did a live
news broadcast with their own video.
O’McCarthy participated in the conference with Barreiro, Bonnie Rogers, the assistant PR person,
Samadhi Jones, Christy Dely, another DJJ official. It was clear that Rogers was the lead person. O’
McCarthy told them his WH story and reflected the cause of all those beaten and tortured and raped
and again pressed our request as noted above. They agreed to all of the above.
Rogers told O’McCarthy that the true reason for changing from the destruction of the WH to the idea of
a memorial was because the state feared that other abused residents of state and private facilities
would see this as precedent and would want the injurious edifice in their cases destroyed as well.
She then made a point of pledging to him that the after a decent interval the WH would be demolished
and the deal for the October 21 press conference and memorial was set with one caveat: DJJ pr would
set the press conference.
He objected and said that we were happy to cooperate with Frank Pinella (their PR head,) but that the
WHB would issue a joint press release. She told O’McCarthy to work with Frank. O’McCarthy never
heard from Frank until the day of the event.
October 20, 2008 - In checking with Barreiro en route to event from Miami to Dozier he informed O’
McCarthy that DJJ had no intention of opening up the event as a full press conference; that they had
only sent out an “event notice” later Friday or Saturday; that they wanted to limit it to the “workable”
relationship they had established with Carol Marbin Miller of the Miami Herald.
O’McCarthy notified Straley and the two began calling all their press contacts to make sure the
conference would receive as much attention as possible; that would be the case with the national and
international coverage given by Brendan Farrington of the AP.
October 20, 2008 - The four original White House Boys, Bill Haynes, plus, Barreiro and Rayborn, all met
for dinner at the local Mariana Mexican restaurant. Gus Barreiro and O’McCarthy finally met after
months of phone communications… there were tears in both of their eyes. They greeted each other as
“brothers.” It was the first time Barreiro would meet all four of the founding members of the White
House Boys Organizations.
October 21, 2008 – the WHB gathered together and were transported out to Dozier. The White House
Boys Survivor’s Organization hosted the memorial and press conference: in attendance and
participating in the Memorial are, Roger Kiser, Robert Straley, Michael O’McCarthy, Dick Colon and Bill
Haynes.
All the WHB were more than thankful for his help: without Gus Barreiro, the campaign would still be in
search of a means for redress. Because of Barreiro’s undaunted belief in kids and in truth, (“the truth
will always win out,” is his favorite saying,) the victims of the WH believed they would soon have their
redress and their redemption. In O’McCarthy’s discussions with Barreiro they had laid out the itinerary:
The WHB (4 original and Bill Haynes) would follow an introduction by Barreiro who gave the
introduction. (See Brendan Farrington, AP – Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald for full transcript of the
event,)
The order followed: Kiser, Straley, Colon, Haynes and O’McCarthy. They then took the “tour” of the WH
with press. (See press links on this website for both print and electronic coverage of these events.)
When they exited they went in search of the “rape” room, with Robert and Barreiro in the lead. We
went first to the administration building and into a room in the far back of the underground which
Robert identified that as the “rape” room. Robert was in a state of shock, non-emotive.
They then caravaned to the “colored boy’s side,” where Barreiro had previously told O’McCarthy the
unidentified – but cross marked grave site had been found. After photo ops, they returned to the main
premises. Barreiro led the principles to the record room which several of the boy’s records were
previously been identified by CM Miller (See: 1st Herald story.)
At that juncture the “WHB parted company; two of the four WHB envisioning a different agenda.)
When negotiations broke down with a prospective attorney (Clay Townsend, who was involved in behalf
of Brittany Spears in LA and could never find time enough,) O’McCarthy and Straley of the WHB Survivor’
s Organization sought another counsel.
December – 2008 - Roger Kiser publishes "The White House Boys" An American Tradgey
DECEMBER 2008 Robert Straley & Michael O'McCarthy open their own web site whitehouseboys.com
DECEMBER 2008 Colon and Kiser would act as an organization under the title, thewhitehouseboys.com
Kiser and Colon would be represented by Masterson Law of St. Pete.
December 08, 2008 - In order to further pressure the state to begin to investigate the allegations of the
horrific abuse that had taken place in the White House, and to force them to identify the bodies in the
unidentified graves, and the allegations of the murder and disposal of a large number of other children,
Michael O’McCarthy and Robert Straley of the White House Boys Survivor’s Organization put together a
press conference at the Federal Building in Tallahassee. The request was that the Department of
Justice and Governor of the State of Florida, Charlie Crist, order the state's Attorney General, the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Juvenile Justice to immediately begin
an investigation into the cause of death and identities of the remains believed to be covered in 31
unidentified graves found on what the State called the colored boys side, of then the Florida School for
Boys at Marianna, now known as the Dozier School for Boys.
Attending were Roger Kiser and Dick Colon, along with Michael O’McCarthy, three of the four founding
members of the “White House Boys.” Straley is absent due to illness but was able to do the press
release at his home office, notifying by phone and email all of the press in Florida. A former inmate,
Bryant Middleton was also present.
Brendan Farrington of AP approached O’McCarthy at the conference telling him he was headed to the
Governor’s office on an unrelated matter and would provide the governor with information regarding
the WHB and their press conference. Thus, word of the press conference reached Florida Governor
Charlie Crist that morning.
December 09, 2008 – Governor Crist called for an immediate investigation into the allegations of the
White House Boys Survivor’s Organization by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the
Department Law Enforcement.
December 10, 2008 – Michael O’McCarthy was invited to the Governor’s office to meet with Executive
Staff Counsel to the Governor, Rob Wheeler, and Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor, Lori Rowe, to
discuss the White House Boys cooperation with the investigation and to make known their list of
grievances.
December 15, 2008 Roger Kiser appears on "The Early Show"
January – 2009 - After discussions with other law firms Straley and O’McCarthy would finally hire the firm
of DeLeon and Chavez in Miami.
June --- August 2009 – Robert Straley and Michael O’McCarthy, and the other “white house boys” who
have retained Chavez-DeLeon enter into an agreement to join the Masterson law suit and the
Masterson Claims Bill.
August 2009 --- Masterson law joins with Florida State Senator Arthenia L. Joyner (Democrat,) and a
Claims Bill on behalf of all the White House Boy’s is filed with the Florida State Senate.
September 2009 --- the Florida legislature sets the Claims Bill into abeyance per an administrative rule.
Written & Researched By:
Roger Kiser
Michael O'McCarthy
Robert Straley