Are You Kidding Me???

The guy that killed my nephew in a drunk driving nightmare is up for parole in June 2010.  After 3 years and 8 months?!  Are you kidding me?  This is a tough stance on drunk driving?!  My sister asked me to write an "impact statement" letter to the parole board.  Here is what I wrote:

To Whom It May Concern:

Jason was just a few months younger than our oldest son, Michael. Since they were toddlers, they were the closest of cousins and spent many, many hours playing together, exploring together and summers finding out what it was like to be a kid living in the country with so much around you yet to be discovered. Since you killed my nephew, we have had to carry on life without Jason. We’ve had to- we’ve had no other choice but to do just that.

In the three years and eight months since you killed Jason…

Our son has graduated from a Technical School with two degrees. Jason never will. My husband and I are so very proud of Michael, my sister and her husband (Mary and Jerry Felts) will never have that chance to be so proud of Jason. You took that away from them.

Our son married a year and a half ago. Jason never will. We watched as Michael cried as his bride walked down the aisle with her father. My sister and her husband never will have the chance to witness that with Jason. You took that away from them.

Our son and his wife are expecting their first child in September 2010. Jason never will. Becoming grandparents for the first time, we are excited beyond words. My sister and her husband will never know that joy of Jason becoming a father or the joy of themselves becoming grandparents for the first time by him. You took that away from them.

We have missed four birthday celebrations with Jason; four Christmas’; four Thanksgivings. We have missed numerous family gatherings where Jason should have been there. We miss his smile; his sense of humor; his love of live; his laughing eyes and his love of family. We have missed the family vacations where he should have been there with us. You took that away from all of us.

Because you decided to drive drunk.

Three years and eight months? We don’t think so.

Why should you be able to return to your life after such a short amount time? Why should you be able to go home? Why should you be able to return to work? Why should you be able to pick up the pieces and carry on? Why should you be able to return to your family’s home and be comforted by their love? Jason never will. You took that away from him.

Because there is a choice in whether or not you receive parole, we sincerely hope that the parole board takes into account your actions, your disregard of life and what have done to our family. We are praying you are not recommended for parole. We hope we can take that from you.