Austin Vantrease was transferred to a St. Mary’s Correctional Center (SMCC) last week. It is designed for specific inmates. Namely, “to provide for the custody, control and care of convicted, adult, male felons who have been convicted of severe crimes against man or nature.” Offenders departmentally deemed as geriatric or chronically ill may also be assigned to SMCC. The facility houses 450 felons. [Source: West Virginia Department of Corrections]
I learned of this on August 9th, via email (and telephone):
This e-mail is to inform you that AUSTIN VANTREASE has been transferred from McDowell County Correctional Center as of 8/8/2013. The offender is now in the custody of St. Mary’s Correctional Center. Your registration with VINE has also been transferred. You will continue to receive updates about this offender.
I wonder why he keeps getting his sorry, violent ass moved around? He spent only a week or two in MacDowell County Prision. It just feels like it is too many times to be routine, scheduled transfers. No matter, I will say that this prison seems to be a good fit for him… with his severe crime against man and all.
I would be grateful if the VanTrease’s bought something from the wish list to help Ryan or asked Ken and Sue if there was something they could do to help Ryan. Even if it was a small gesture, anything indicating some kind of genuine concern about what their son did to Ryan would be meaningful. Instead there is this large, hollow void in the atmosphere, in which one young man’s life was devastated with no recompense and paltry “justice.”
Ryan I am so very sorry human beings did this to you and refuse to help you recover your ability to speak, walk, laugh, and realize the dreams you once had. The perpetrators received a relative slap on the hands while you sit in a wheelchair everyday and must depend on your Dad to pick you up and move you from one spot to another. Andy yet you are stronger, more courageous and more inspiring than anyone I know. You have a loving heart that many people deeply respect and admire. The goons who stole so much of life’s possibilities from you will never experience this kind of love and admiration. In spite of what they viciously stole from you, they can never steal your uniquely beautiful spirit – n. e. v. e. r. !!!!!
I hope and pray that no one is on the receiving end of the kind of violence that was perpetuated by the Vantrease’s son! Presumably, they believe in prayer, as we do, and that they and their family and friends pray that Austin is safe and will return to them a reformed man. If they truly care about him, they will be involved in the Prison Reform Movement. This will really keep them busy with letter writing, contacting elected officials, etc. And I mean really, really busy! The Prison Ministry is a blessing to prisoners, although dangerous at times for those visiting prisons. One never knows when violence will break out, sometimes for unknown reasons. That’s just how it is. I admire Jen’s mom for her dedication as well as her bravery , and thank her for her ministry.
I agree with Dianne. My mother worked as a Chaplain in the prison system for awhile and said this happens frequently. Usually against prisoners who have harmed children or women. This is much easier for me than for the Divineys, but I choose to think about Austin Vantrease as little as possible until parole time comes around. My focus remains to keep Ryan relevant and his needs a priority. Much love to you Ken, Ryan, Sue, Kari and the pups!
Sometimes inmates deliver their own form of justice to fellow inmates. If other inmates are upset by this horrifically unjustified crime, AV may get his true comeuppance. It’s been known to happen. Just saying …
From what I looked up on a Prison Path website, McDowell is a Federal Prison and St. Mary’s is a State Prison. West Virginia also has County Prisons. Rhonda makes an excellent point, it could be more about the money. whatever, just so he is in prison, (not jail).
@Anna “not jail” ; )
Glad we don’t have to do any further sparring with the incarceration experts.
Good
2-10? I have thought about it, prayed about, repeated it over and over and shared it with friends. Ten sounds like a good number to us!
My husband, who was a Loudoun County Deputy, said a lot of times they will move them from the one facility to the next holding place to get him in the county until a bed came open in the state run facility and it was a quicker move for the state. He also said it’s about money, if he is in a federal prison but a state felon then the state has to pay the federal government for his stay there and vice versa.
My husband also said that they move prisoners all the time because they become too chummy with other prisoners or guards or to make sure they aren’t going to get too chummy with others. Could be other things like he wasn’t getting along with this one or that one but most likely it is due to money and who is paying for his stay in prison. I think they may get credits too, but I am not sure about that.
It’s probably nothing but money. I am glad he is in a prison for severe crimes against man or nature. Deserves to be there.