Handicapped Inmate Tells His Story
Matthew Yeater, who was serving a six-year prison sentence for the possession of methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals and currently the only blind inmate incarcerated with the Illinois Department of Corrections, recently accompanied Illinois Correctional Officer Bill Lemme and Sheriff Wayne Youell to several Mason County schools and talked to the students about the consequences he has faced due to his addiction to methamphetamine. This is his story.
At age 18, Matt Yeater was gainfully employed for a satellite company and was making anywhere between $450 to $750 a week. Not a bad income for a youth in a small town of rural Pike County and he was on top of the world until the day when he was introduced to methamphetamine. “I was hooked the first time I tried it,” said Matt. In a matter of months, Matt’s addiction to meth caused him to lose his job and sell everything he owned to support his habit. I was living in abandoned buildings and heavily addicted to meth, said Matt. I couldn’t afford to buy it anymore and knew I needed to learn how to make it. I learned quickly and soon was able to supply my habit and those of other addicts of our community.” Within two years, Matt was using the needle for his fix and his whole world revolved around the manufacture and use of meth.
On a crisp December day, Matt was preparing to make some dope and planned to show his future father-in-law the tricks of his new trade. “We had stolen some anhydrous earlier and was storing it in an igloo thermos”, said Matt. I crouched down, brushed the snow from the top of the thermos and was getting ready to open it when the pressure that built up inside the container caused it to explode”. Matt was immediately overcome by the anhydrous and soon fluid and pieces from his mouth and lungs began to spill out onto his shirt and pants. Matt’s breaths were becoming shallower and he was quickly losing his vision. Matt ran into the bathroom to wash the anhydrous ammonia from his face. I looked in the mirror and saw that my face was melting”, said Matt. “There was no way I was going to wash my face away.” The next thing Matt remembers is being in the emergency room and listening to the doctor order a tube to be inserted in his lungs. Matt recalls stating to the doctor, “You better hurry doc, you don’t have much time.” Matt then blacks out.
When Matt regains consciousness, he finds himself completely blind and in a hospital bed. For the next month, Matt is subjected daily to an excruciating procedure where the doctor inserted a glass rod up under his eyelids and scraped the eyelid to prevent it from attaching and healing to the eye. “That is the worst pain you can ever imagine,” said Matt. Against his doctor’s advice, Matt discharged himself from the hospital and the first thing on his mind was to make some dope. “Looking back, I was totally out of my mind,” said Matt. “I was now blind because of this drug and all I thought about was making meth and getting high. That is how much this dope had control over my life.”
Although more challenging now that he is blind, Matt continued to manufacture meth to support his addiction. In April 2000, Matt was notified that a cornea donor became available and was asked if he wanted to undergo a cornea transplant on his right eye in an attempt to regain some of his sight. Matt was ecstatic with the possibility to see again. The surgery was a complete success. When the patch was removed from his right eye, Matt’s world became alive once again. “I was able see shapes and colors and didn’t need my walking cane anymore,” said Matt. “I left the hospital and the first thing I thought was that I could really make some meth now.” To celebrate, Matt immediately went on a meth binge and stayed awake for seven straight days using and manufacturing the drug. As a result, Matt’s right eye became infected. Matt was hospitalized and all efforts to fight the infection to save his sight a second time proved unsuccessful. Matt left the hospital blind, depressed and still addicted.
Continuing where he left off, Matt’s addiction became more and more out of control. “My days consisted of making dope, shooting it up, vomiting and staying high for as long as I could,” said Matt.
Seeing that her son was on a self-destructive path, Matt’s mother contacted and turned him into to the authorities. Police caught Matt with methamphetamine manufacturing chemicals and Matt faced up to 45 years in prison. Matt said, “The State’s Attorney told me that if I would just stop making and using the dope, he wouldn’t put me in prison. I remember thinking, “I am blind; he isn’t going to put me in prison”. Despite losing his eyesight twice and the warning of a prison sentence, Matt was not able to stop and in late 2000, Matt was sentenced to six years in the Department of Corrections. Matt said, “I just couldn’t believe it. I am not only blind but now I am locked in prison. I really hated my mom.”
Looking back, Matt now realizes that his mom saved his life. “I would probably be dead by now”, said Matt. “I couldn’t keep going at that pace. I was out of control.” Today, Matt is 23 years old and is incarcerated in the Department of Corrections Peoria Transition Center. The Transition Center allows Matt to visit schools and tell students about his story and the perils he has faced with his addiction to methamphetamine. When I speak to the students, I tell them that I am not looking for their sympathy,” said Matt. “I’ve done this to myself through the choices I have made. I accept and will live with that everyday for the rest of my life. I do want them to know that after they see me and hear my story, there are no longer ignorant to the dangers of this very addictive and evil drug."
Mason County Sheriff Wayne Youell reports that within the past month, two clandestine methamphetamine labs were foiled by the cooperative efforts of involved citizens and aggressive law enforcement.
Return to Press Releases