Activist Parent, Veteran, Refuses Food and Water, Moved to Jail With Medical Facilities

John Murtari, divorced father to 13-year-old Domenic and founder of AKidsRight. org is on his fourth day of noncooperation while incarcerated for failure to pay child support. (Click here for background information. ) Murtari is refusing food and water to protest what he says is unjust treatment of noncustodial parents.
“Our civil rights aren’t respected. Family rights need to be established and protected,” he said. Murtari, in a call this morning from his new location, the Onondaga County Justice Center, says he understands why some people who go on hunger strikes change their minds. “This is scary stuff,” he said, “you’re alone in your cell feeling your body break down and nobody gives a hoot. ” “You wonder if it’s really worth it,” he continued, “but I’m a philosophical guy and I have resolve. ”
He was moved to the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse when officials at the Jamesville Correctional Facility realized he might need medical care. Dehydration can lead to swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure, coma or death. Murtari’s blood sugar and blood pressure are being monitored.
Murtari, a ex-Air Force pilot, had been a highly-paid consultant for a division of Lockheed. His duties included making sure the patrol system software for submarines was adequate. He learned that not only did tests show it wasn’t working, but the company was sending false reports to the Navy. He went through normal channels within the company, but no one was willing to correct this so he blew the whistle on them. Murtari was fired the next day. Unfortunately, his actions made getting a job in the same industry difficult. The judge in his case put that fact aside and imputed his income at the highest level. This was the second time he’d had to blow the whistle on unethical companies. At that point he decided to focus on his existing small internet company.
Murtari is a quiet, thoughtful, peaceful man. At one time he planned on being a priest. He was in pre-seminary training when he realized he couldn’t give up the experience of having a family.