UPDATE: Ricky Carter’s request for parole was denied again! Thank you for all your support in this matter. Unfortunately, this process must be repeated each year until he serves his full sentence.
We must act now
KEEP RICKY CARTER IN JAIL
This deadly drunk driver has been scheduled for a parole review. He may be released from jail if we don’t act now to keep him off our streets! Ricky Carter is serving a 20 year sentence for killing four beautiful teenage girls. We urge you to write the parole board expressing your steadfast opposition to Carter’s release.
- Click here to see a sample letter to the Parole Board.
- Click here to read a first-hand account by a Police Officer who was at the crime scene.
- For additional information, go to www.keeprickycarterinjail.com.
- Click here for NBC5 report.
- Click here to view a Weatherford Democrat story.
Filed under: Parker County Issues | Tagged: DRUNK DRIVER, DWI
(Sent this today!)
Dear Angela McCown, Director of Victim Services Division,
The impending review of Ricky (Rickey) Carter by the Texas Board of Pardons and Reviews brings another wave of sadness and grief over our community. In 1998 he murdered 4 lovely young girls and destroyed their families. So many young people in this county fell into a deep despair that has taken many years to overcome. Even now, the pain is palpable and the darkness is easy to remember.
Please DO NOT release Ricky Carter from jail before his short prison term is complete. This man does not deserve to be free.
Thank you for your kind attention on this most important matter.
My best,
Janelle Shepard
(My letter to the Parole Board of Pardons and Reviews)
August 19, 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 respectfully request that you deny parole for Ricky Carter. I believe all Texans expect and deserve justice in this matter. I also believe justice will only be served if Carter serves his entire 20 year sentence. Anything less would be an injustice to not only the family members who have suffered horribly, but also law abiding citizens who expect and deserve the use of highways that are free from the deadly hazards created by drunk drivers.
Ricky Carter is behind bars where he cannot inflict any more destruction on our community, but he left behind wounds that cannot heal as long as the parole review process is ongoing. Even if Carter serves his full 20 year sentence, (five years for each child he killed), he will have left a scar across the heart of our peaceful community that time cannot erase.
I believe that without reading a first-hand account written by one of the Police Officers who was at this indescribable scene of destruction and carnage, it would be impossible to even imagine the magnitude of this crime.
I trust that you will make the best possible decision for not only the victimized families, but for all Texans. Again, I respectfully request that you deny parole for Ricky Carter. I believe justice requires nothing less.
Respectfully,
Lenny Leatherman
RICKY CARTER IS NOT A MURDERER. HE IS A HUMAN BEING WHO MADE A BAD MISTAKE. I AM SURE ALL THE FAMILIES INVOLVED, HAVE OR WILL HAVE, A LOVED ONE THAT CHOOSES TO DRINK AND DRIVE, THEREFORE PUTTING THEIR SELF IN POSITION FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. WOULDN’T THEY WANT MERCY AND GRACE SHOWN TO THEM.. THE STATE OF TX SAYS IF AN OFFENDER MEETS CERTAIN GUIDE LINES HE IS ELIBIBLE FOR PAROLE. IF RICKY HAS, THEN HE SHOULD BE PAROLED. MURDERERS, RAPIST, CHILD MOLESTORS ARE PAROLED ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS NOT INTENTIONAL.
Tammy, I understand your concern for mercy and grace. But I also recognize the importance of justice in a civilized society. Carter was shown mercy by not demanding “an eye for an eye”. He received much more grace and mercy than he extended to his totally innocent victims. Can we not forgive someone and still expect justice to be served! In this case I believe justice demands that Ricky Carter serve his full 20 year sentence!
Sorry, Tammy. Ricky Carter did not bump his fender into a tree. 4 young lives were tragicly ended due to his irresponsible decision. Our fight to keep him in jail reaches thousands every year – a reminder to many about the destruction and grief of his actions.
20 years is not too long to serve for 4 lives.
I am a good friend of Ricky Carter I was put on the stand yes Ricky made a bad choice and that was to drive after drinking. I am sorry for the girls and there loved ones I know it must be hard. Ricky is a good person and I wish this would have never happen. He also lost his wife Angie while in prison an my heart go’s out to him an her sons.There are alot of people out there who open there eyes when this happen I am one of them. To both sides my heart and prayers are with each one of you.
Scott H
Time and time again, drunk drivers made conscious decisions to drink and drive. All the way back to driver education classes, drivers have been taught the deadly consequences of drinking and driving. Rick Carter turned his vehicle into a deadly weapon and killed four innocent girls. He got a bargain with a twenty-year sentence. What I don’t comprehend is why it isn’t longer than that.
I read all these things that have been written about Ricky Carter and then I listen to my daughter, his sister-in-law, about what has happened to the Carter family because of all this and I just wonder where things really are going in this State. I agree that Ricky should not have been drinking and driving and that it is awful that the wreck happened. But, let’s face it, as Bush said, in Texas, beer and pickups go together.
As Scott H. mentioned above, Ricky lost his wife while he was in prison. What Scott did not say, is that she died from a perforated ulcer caused by the stress of the continual stalking and harassment of people wanting to keep Ricky in jail. It’s was like they were trying to punish her and her children for his actions. She was not able to get a place to live or a phone in her name and when she had a job they would show up at her work and harass her there until she lost the job. Now, she is dead and their children are being raised by her parents.
As to Ricky, I agree that he should serve his time. However, as a Texas taxpayer and nurse, I am conserned about the cost of requireing this. Ricky has kidney failure and is on dialysis three times a week. Along with all the health issues and costs that go along with kidney failure. All of which could be accessed much cheaper and at HIS expense if he were released !!!! Even is he is paroled at his next hearing, he’ll still be in jail because of his health issues.
Sarah, you are obviously a caring and compassionate person who tries to see through the haze of opinions and assumption to find the best course of action for everyone impacted by this tragedy. Unfortunately, the consequences of Ricky Carter’s actions will reach far into the future and scar the lives of many people.
Carter is a victim of his own choices. You are a victim also. You, a tax paying citizen, are paying for his incarceration and his medical expenses. I do not believe you should be victimized by making you pay for his incarceration. If justice was truly served, Carter would be required to pay for his imprisonment, including his medical treatment.
You sound as though you are blaming Carter’s victims for the unfortunate death of his wife. Another sad fact is that his family members are also victims of his behavior. It is Carter; not his victims, who must be held totally responsible for this tragedy!
The only thing that we poor souls can count on is that life changes. How we handle that change is what defines each of us.
The research I’ve done on Laci, Mandi, Whitney and Staci tells me that they were kind, compassionate, caring and good Christian girls. Just like there are in every community in our great state. Unfortunately another truth in our state is that EVERY community has lost beautiful children to car wrecks. Sometimes there are others to blame but alot of times there isn’t any one to blame at all.
For the last 10 years we in the Carter family have kept quiet in respect for those girls and their families. First, everyone keeps spelling Rickey’s name incorrectly. Yes, there is an ‘e’ in his name. Second, it is recorded that his blood level was .16 which means that he drank one beer. How many have drank one beer and not considered themselves impaired? Third, there has been mentioned by my mother, Sarah Chapman, that Rickey is in kidney failure. In a good year, which for us means that he doesn’t have to go to the hospital, it is estimated that it costs the state approx. $100,000.00 per year to keep him. Mr. Leatherman suggests that he should have to pay for his own incarceration and medical treatment. How do you suppose that he should do that? By that logic then Rickey would have been dead 3 1/2 years ago. Would you be happy then?
Those darling girls can not be brought back. Angie Carter, who never did anything to anyone, can not be brought back. We that are left behind can only try to do the best we can to move on.
As to the future, I will still do what ever is in my power to help Rickey get paroled. I will not stop until he is or he dies. That is my responsibility to my family.
My heart goes out to all of Rickey Carter’s victims – including you Cyndi Carter. To correct, or at least clarify one comment you made about Mr. Carter’s blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time he killed four completely innocent teenagers. You stated that Mr. Carter’s BAC was .16 which equaled that of someone who had only drank one beer. The indisputable fact is, for Texas drivers age 21 and older, the legal blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08. Rickey Carter’s blood-alcohol concentration was TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT.
We all know inmates cannot, and will never be required to pay for their imprisonment. But that doesn’t keep tax paying citizens all over the state of Texas from being Mr. Carter’s victims also.
You may ask “How long must Ricky Carter pay for his mistake?” My question to you is – “How long must his totally innocent victims pay for Mr. Carter’s mistake?”
Cyndi, I believe compassion and justice must not be considered together. Rickey Carter is being shown compassion each time he receives FREE dialysis treatment. But it is my unwavering belief that justice demands that Rickey Carter serve his full 20 year sentence – five years in prison for each of the four teenage girls he killed.
Iam completely amazed and appalled that anyone would have the nerve to blame this man’s victims families for the death of his wife! Seriously,this man drove a car while intoxicated and killed 4 innocent young girls and then was able to bargain for 20 yrs.What he did was NO different than if he had picked up a gun and shot them to death. He used a vehicle as a gun,and pulled the trigger when he got behind the wheel and hit the ignition switch.Does it really matter if he is sick and who is paying for it? Furthermore who really cares if his name is spelled with or without an E. Can his family spell the names of his VICTIMS. Does his family remember his VICTIMS birthdays. He is the reasonthere are 4 beautiful girls DEAD lying in graves and countless lives affected by this ONE persons IRRESPONIBLE actions. He is the reason he is sick, he is the reason his wife is dead. How dare his family blame an outraged community or his VICTIMS families.And for the record .16 BAC is a lot more than one beer and who cares if it was one or 12 He drank,He drove,He MURDERED 4 beautiful young women,destroyed countless lives including his wife and children. You worry about his medical bills. Did this mans concerned family offer ANY compensation whatsoever to the 4 families that had to not only suffer such a tragic loss but PAY for the funerals because of this mans actions. Please you have nothing credible to stand on. He should have received LIFE and it looks like maybe he did.