Victim Incarcerated after Ending His & His Family's Torment
Predators aren't always the ones who end up in jail. In some very sad cases, the victims of the predator stop him the only way they know how. In this case, a teenage boy ended the rampage of his psychopathic grandfather by murdering him in his sleep. However, the murderer was the victim here, and this case would prove to anger thousands of people, including the jury that decided on the verdict.A man has been locked up since the age of 19 in Telfair State Prison in GA. You would think that a child entering prison would be terrified, but he felt safe for one of the first times in his life. He would no longer suffer the abuse that bordered on torture at the hands of his maternal grandfather. In this tiny Georgia town, however, an entire family and a friend would go to prison for the murder of this tyrant of a man who spent his life raping and torturing every member of his immediate family.
Billy Crowder lived among a predator his whole life until he finally ended the life of the predator. He saved himself, his sister, his mother, and his step-father from any further abuse. Sadly, his grandmother had died of cancer and was only saved by God from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband.
I cannot write a wealth of infomation on this case because there are so many sites dedicated to helping Billy Crowder get released. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter on the death of his horrible grandfather, but he made a confession without worry that landed him a life sentence.
If you have any ties to the political community, or even if you are just a regular person like me, you have to learn about this case. My heart aches for this young man who may spend his life in prison for taking the $600 that his grandfather owed him after he killed him. In GA, that is considered armed robbery because Billy had a gun; it did not matter that the "victim" was dead. Life. Life sentence for using his money to feed his family and pay bills.
The jury in this case, after finding Billy guilty of voluntary manslaughter, had to decide on the armed robbery charge. They did not want Billy to stay in prison for any extended length of time, but did their jobs and rendered the guilty verdict due to their legal duties. It was not until Billy got his life sentence for the armed robbery charge (after getting only 5 years for the manslaughter charge) that the jury realized what they'd done.
After the judge sentenced Billy Crowder, 19 years old, to life in prison, the jury pleaded with the judge to reduce his sentence. One juror stated that if they'd known he could get life for that, it would have most likely been a hung jury.
I have to agree with another blogger who stated, "I never met Thurman Martin, but I’m glad he’s dead" (Ramirez, Jean, 2007). Mr. Martin was an abuser, a user, a rapist, a cheater, and a horrible man by accounts of all who knew him. The entire town knew he was violent, and despite denial from Long County authorities, neighbors stated that they'd reported the abuse of Billy Crowder on more than one occasion. I smell a rat in that sherriff's office.
American Justice had an episode about this case. The sherriff of the county was a friend of Martin's. They had known each other for many years, and the sherriff was even a paul bearer at Thurman Martin's funeral. However, he denied this friendship on the witness stand in court. In fact, he claimed that he hardly knew Martin at all.
THIS IS A HUGE INJUSTICE THAT NEEDS PUBLIC ATTENTION. WE CANNOT STOP JUST BECAUSE NOBODY HAS HAD ANY LUCK SO FAR. THIS BOY, NOW A MAN, DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE INCARCERATED FOR ONE MORE DAY. I URGE YOU ALL TO DO SOMETHING. ANYTHING. SEND AN EMAIL, OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH FRIENDS. PLEASE- NOT FOR ME- FOR BILLY- AND FOR HIS BELOVED GRANDMOTHER WHO ONLY ESCAPED THE SAME TORMENTOR WITH HER DEATH
"To date, Billy Crowder has been incarcerated for 3,960 days.
He is currently serving the life sentence handed down by Judge Robert L. Russell III.
Billy's first appearance before the State Board of Pardons and Paroles is in April of 2012.
If parole is denied, he could face up to another 8 years in prison before his case is reconsidered.
A discussion forum regarding Billy's case can be found at http://activeforum.billycrowder.com.
The "In Pursuit of Justice for Billy Crowder" blog can be found at http://billyblog.billycrowder.com.
Please visit the Justice for Billy Crowder MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/justiceforbilly.
Any questions and/or comments are welcomed at JusticeforBilly@BillyCrowder.com
Copyright 2007-2009. Jean Ramirez. All rights reserved."
http://www.billycrowder.com/
Ramirez, Jean, 2007. Life Plus Ten; Injustice in a Small Town. Retrieved on August 28, 2009, from http://billyblog.billycrowder.com/.