Crimebstr: From Near-Death To A New Life

Yesterday, we ran a classic interview with major crime scene detective John Frascello (a.k.a. Gamesviller Crimebstr) of Orange Park, Florida. Today, six years later, we're following up with John. How did be bounce back from a near-death experience? And does he still have time for online games? Read on…

GV: John, it's good to talk with you again.
JF: Same here!

Tell us how life's been since we last spoke.
Well, remember when I told you about the worst injury I ever suffered on the job? That's changed. In 2004, while attempting to arrest a man in a Dodge Dorango, I was severely injured.

What happened?
The driver panicked, hit the accelerator, and ran me over, in reverse. My body got hung up under the vehicle, and he dragged me 60 feet. When the driver stopped to put the vehicle in drive, my (thankfully, unconscious) body rolled out from under the vehicle and the left-rear wheel ran over my abdomenal area. I was life-flighted to the Trauma One unit of the local hospital and I came-to about three hours later with them still working on me.

That's horrifying…
Since I was a member of the CSI unit of the police department, I knew a lot of the doctors and nurses in the Trauma Unit. When I came-to, I tried to joke with one of the nurses I knew and she told me that they'd "lost me" three times on the operating table–so I really needed to just shut up and let them concetrate on saving my life.

What kind of injuries did you suffer?
Right femur (upper leg bone) broken in five places. Pelvis broken in six places. I had broken ribs, a laceration over my left eye, and severe road-rash (abrasions) all down my left side. I am now the proud owner of a titanium rod with pins holding my femur together, and a large bolt in my hip.

That was four years ago. How are you getting around now?
I was run over on September 11, 2004 and was told I'd be in a wheelchair for at least a year. Around mid November of 2004, I hopped on my motorcycle and went for a ride with my crutches strapped to the back seat.

Now that's self-determination, right there.
You got it. I walked into the orthopedic surgeon's office on December 1, 2004, without even so much as a cane! The surgeon was totally shocked and said he was going to call me a "miracle man" because he'd never seen anyone busted up as bad as I was walking so soon. I didn't like "being down" so I made myself walk again.

You mentioned your motorcycle; what kind of motorcycle do you own?
I'm the proud owner of a 2002 Honda Gold Wing. I've had mine for six years now. I love riding it.

Where have you gone on your Gold Wing?
I've traveled to Canada, Nebraska, Dallas, the mountains of North Carolina, Washington D.C., New York state, the Florida keys, and many other places. Riding on a Gold Wing is like riding on a sofa with two wheels! And traveling by motorcycle is very different from traveling by car; you get to see so much more.

Are you still working CSI?
No, I retired in January 2005–that's right, all that trauma happened just a few months before I was set to retire–and now I spend most of my time fishing in the lake behind my house and working part-time at a sporting goods store. It's a whole new life, and I'm enjoying it to the fullest.

One thing that's changed since we last spoke is the rise of TV crime dramas, such as CSI. Do you ever watch those shows?
I love watching them–not the show actually called "CSI" but the ones like Forensic Files and The Investigators. The equipment used on those shows is the same stuff I used: Alternate Light Source, chemicals like Ninhydron, Amido Black, and Luminol. Now, the show called CSI is so fake, I can't stand watching it. I know they only have an hour but you just can't run DNA tests, run fingerprint comparisons, and "catch the bad guy" in an hour!

You mentioned once before that you were a big fan of bingo. I'll let you in on a secret: We're working on a new version of the Bingo Zone, complete with realtime cash prizes and a few other cool features…
I can't wait to check it out! To be honest with you, after what I went through, I'd forgotten all about playing online games. Thanks for reminding me…

Is there anything you want to say to all the other Gamesville members out there?
I died three times in the Trauma Unit, but I don't remember seeing the "bright light" we always hear about. I don't know if I went up to heaven or down somewhere else but–whichever way I went–neither of them wanted me!  So my best advice is to enjoy each and every day because you have no idea if it may be your last.