August 17, 2005

Raven Kazen, Director

Victim Services Division

8712 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 265

PO Box 13401

Austin, TX 78711-3401 

TO: Texas Parole Board of Pardon and Reviews
RE: Parole Review
Offender: Ricky Carter
State ID: 06227942
TDCJ ID: 01009150 

Dear Raven, 

We recently received notification of the pending parole review of offender, Ricky Carter. Our hearts literally sank to think that a man convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of 4 young individuals would be in line for parole. Bad decisions are made, and sadly, good people sometimes make them. Ricky Carter may well fall within this category, but this is just a mere slap on the hand for the FACT that he took not 1, 2, or 3, but 4 lives in the midst of his "bad decision." He changed the lives of 4 families forever. They will never be the same as a result of their loss. Where in The United States of America would a person serve a little over a year for the intoxication manslaughter death of another individual? Yet that is what Ricky Carter will have done in connection with the deaths of Staci Lee (16), Mandi McWhorter (15), Whitney Welch (16), and Lacey Osina (17) if he is paroled at this time. A little over a year for each young lady’s untimely death. That would be so unjust and unfair. That would be a disgrace! 

Raven, I am asking you, as the victim services director, to stand in the gap for these families! I am pleading with you to make all of our voices heard. There was already a plea bargain during the trial, and the four 20-year sentences were assigned to run concurrently; much less than what it could have been. This man must be held accountable for what he has done. These families must know that he has learned a VALUABLE lesson at the expense of their daughters’ lives! They've already hurt enough in their great loss. Let’s not submit them to more! 

Thank you for your obvious concern for this case. Thank you for standing in the gap! 

Many blessings, 
 

Bob and Kelli Hoffman