September 1, 2009

 

To: Texas Parole Board of Pardons and Reviews

RE: Parole Review

Offender: Ricky Carter

State ID: 06227942

TDCJ ID: 01009150

Placed in parole review on 07/07/09

 

Dear Angela McCown, Director of Victim Services Division,

I was a freshman at Bridgeport High School when Mandi, Whitney, Staci, and Lacey were killed in a tragic drunk driving accident.  The girl that I knew of out of the four was Mandi.  I am only 17 days older than Mandi would have been if she had not been slaughtered at the hands of an irresponsible and reckless human being.  I’m now 26 years old.  I ran cross country, played basketball, softball and ran track all four years of high school.  I went on to the University of Texas, where I played an NCAA sport my freshman year and earned my degree in Business.  Since graduation I have found a great job in Austin, the city I love to live in.  I’m still close to all of my friends from Bridgeport and I see my mom and dad all the time, I talk to them on the phone every day.  They are excited for this time in my life where I will hopefully come into my own and start a family—they are looking forward to grandkids.

I say that to say this.  All the things I have lived, those four girls should have had a chance at the same.  Ricky Carter took this away from them.  If he had not made the choice to drink and drive, those four girls would be doing the same thing I’m doing.  They would be living their lives, loving their families, experiencing the world.

Take a look at your own life, everything you have and all of the people around you.  This could easily all be taken away from you by a drunk driver.  Please consider this when you review Ricky Carter for parole.  I think 20 years is a cheap price to pay for taking the lives of 4 wonderful girls—your daughters and granddaughters, my best friends.  Life in prison sounds more like justice to me.

Respectfully,

 

Ashlin Gunter
Bridgeport, TX