August 22, 2005
Attn: Raven
Kazen, Director
Victim Services Division
8712 Shoal Creek Blvd. Ste. 265
P.O. Box 13401
Austin, TX 78711-3401
Offender: Ricky/Rickey Carter
State ID: 06227942
TDCJ ID: 01009150
Placed in parole review on 7/5/05
Dear Raven,
You have an obligation to our
society to not allow Ricky Carter out of prison until
he has served every last second of his sentence.
This is not the first time that I have had to
make this statement.
I lost my brother to a drunk driver in Parker
County on Christmas Day 2001 and have to write to the
parole board every year just like the families of
these four girls have to.
I have to walk to the mail box and find a
letter from the parole board telling me that Robert
Ray Smith, the man that killed my brother is eligible
for parole every year just like these four families
have to. I
have to rehash terrible memories that I would prefer
to try to put behind me every year just like these
four families have to.
Where is the justice when I have to be punished
just like the persons that murdered my brother and
these four young girls have? Shouldn’t a measure of
justice for us include not having to rekindle great
sadness annually so we can keep murderers in prison?
Would not some measure of peace for families
such as ours include the knowledge that the
perpetrators of crimes against innocent people fulfill
their entire sentence without victims pleading for
justice yearly? There
is no peace for families of victims such as us. What
most people don’t realize is that Ricky Carter has
been sentenced to 20 years but the families of these
four girls will have to deal with grief for the rest
of their lives. To lose someone in the hands of a murderer, and have all
choices and options taken away from you is not an easy
thing to deal with everyday.
You tell me where the justice is in that.
It is time that as a society we stand up and
protest. Texas
law should be changed.
If you kill another human being with a vehicle
because you chose to drink and drive you should be
punished as if you walked up to that person and shot
them with a gun.
It is murder any way you look at it.
It is not an accident if you drink and drive
and take another human life.
The outcome is the same.
There is a family left without a loved one.
It doesn’t make the hurt any different.
This is a battle that we must win.
Why have another child taken away and die in
vain. Help
stop the killing.
Help the world hear the voices of Mandi
McWhorter, Whitney Welch, Staci Lee, Lacey Osina and
Jason Walter names I know, and all the other victims
of drunk driving.
Help lesson the pain for all families
victimized by drunk drivers.
End this painful annual reminder of the loss of
our loved ones. It
is an old cliché, yet very appropriate…Ricky Carter
did the crime (he murdered four beautiful and innocent
children), now he MUST do the time…ALL the time.
Ricky Carter should see the outside the
penitentiary ONLY when he has served his entire
sentence. No
early release or parole for murderers.
In memory of my only brother and these four
young girls who will never have a chance to grow old
and have families of their own, those responsible for
this injustice should not even be able to petition for
parole. Then
there would be some measure of justice in our state.
May God bless the families of
Mandi, Whitney, Staci, and Lacey.
I truly can relate to the pain and anguish you
are feeling now.
I plea to the parole board to not make these
families suffer more than they already have.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Lanaya Walter
Mineral Wells, Texas
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