One week.
Just one week!
This is when violent felon, Austin Vantrease (of Newark, Delaware), could realistically be granted parole and released back into society. His total time in prison for beating my son into oblivion for life? Four years. There’s no way this would be fair and just by any measure.
Click on this picture to join the other 158,000 people who believe he should not be released.
Really, it just makes me sick to know he will ever get out at all, let alone in a mere seven days… possibly.
It seems to me that Vantrease is right where he belongs. Securely locked-up in a West Virginia state penitentiary. Removed from a society that wants nothing to do with him. Yes, here is there for good reason. He kicked an unresponsive and defenseless man in the head with such force as to cause permanent and irreversible traumatic brain damage.
Austin Vantrease, criminally convicted of felonious Malicious Assault, is currently imprisoned at the St. Mary’s Correctional Center for the incarceration of felons who have been convicted of severe crimes against man…”
Since that tragic night on November 7, 2009, he has given no reason for anyone to show mercy. Not me. Not you. Certainly not Ryan. Austin Vantrease hid behind a dumpster (with co-attacker Jonathan Matthew May) and watched my son cling to life on a cold, gravel parking lot. He ran and hid from police as the came on the scene. He slithered off the next day, never stepping forward. He laid low back in his hometown of Newark, Delaware and the Morgantown police had to conduct a manhunt to find him.
Then he is able to post $75,000 bail (which was returned to him upon his appearance at trial), but somehow can’t seem to do so to pay his court-ordered restitution. Even worse, Vantrease thought he was entitled to the full value of all donations made to Ryan to offset any civil judgement. It kid you not, he actually filed this motion (i.e., claiming the collateral source rule) in Federal Court , but it was denied. What a scumbag move!
Let’s face it, he has shown Ryan no mercy. Not on the night of the attack. Not now. He kicked a man when he was down. Deplorable even among low-life thugs, it is.
Yeah, I really just don’t like him.
Hi Ken, I want to believe that the parole board will make the just decision and keep Austin VanTrease incarcerated for nearly murdering Ryan. In fact, I am still bewildered that he and accomplice, Jonathon May, were not charged with attempted murder (???). Justice is not easily won when you’re not a celebrity or a millionaire. I also don’t understand why other cases in which an innocent victim was so viciously attacked the perpetrators were given long sentences. The very least the parole board could do is keep VanTrease locked up. God not only does he scare me, his family does too. Ugh I see how he got to be so remorseless – he appears to have been taught it’s perfectly fine to wreak destruction on others and not be held accountable. This is so frightening – I fear for all who may cross paths with this remorseless violent felon. I pray the parole board cares about the fears we have about the possibility of this disturbed soul being released. Frankly the thought terrifies me!! Look what he and his accomplice did to Ryan!! Can the extent of their wicked violence on Ryan be lost on the parole board? In my opinion the loss of justice and total unfairness in this case began with the extremely light sentences given to both VanTrease and May – what kind of message did this send to other violent miscreants? Is it okay in West Va to inflict horrific damage upon an innocent person and serve a a mere few years in jail, while the victim and victim’s family have lost practically everything? This is not justice!!! The very very least that should be done is to keep VanTrease behind bars where he belongs for as long as possible. After all – that measly scrap of “justice” is all our dear Ryan will ever get here on this earth – meager and pitiful though it is. It’s heartbreaking, discouraging and adds up to one stark and sickening reality – there is no justice. All there is now is to protect the public to the degree the court is willing – how willing are they? My God, if they are not – if they release this seemingly unrepentant man – I will have something to say about it – and I hope you will help me say it, Ken – for Ryan, and for every person who has had their life so wickedly stolen from them. We cannot be silent, we must find it within ourselves to speak up – because someday Austin VanTrease will be freely walking the streets again while Ryan lays silent, and it is up to all of us to tell the terrible story so that the agony inflicted upon Ryan by VanTrease and May will not be forgotten. This is the only justice we can find for Ryan –
Most definitely signed the petition-as Austin Vantrease lack of remorse from the get go and STILL, is over the to, no words for it, appalling.
Praying for Ryan’s peace and his healing AND praying for your continued strength, your peace and your healing.
ALWAYS FOREVER AND UNTIL,
With love and in prayer,
Keri, MY FRANKIE and Family
Signed
Signed!! Hope is ass stays in prison where he belongs. Whatta piece of $#!t!!
His ass I meant
Signed…Prayers!
Praying for your comfort, Diviney family. I haven’t looked at their social sites as it would upset me too much to see the lies. 🙁 Will continue to share for signatures. In the interim, sending love and light your way!
Love carla
What bothers me the most, is this family (Austin’s) thinks at any level what he did to Ryan is justified. Accident? This statement shows that even if he serves maximum, he’ll always feel like the “victim”. That’s so disturbing. He really deserves a longer sentence.
I know you’re not religious, so I don’t want to offend you. But I want you to know I often pray about Ryan and your family. I don’t personally know you or Ryan, but I carry your story with me. Ryan and I are the same age, I’m the oldest of 3 siblings, I don’t take one moment of time with them for granted. I hope Vantrease isn’t released, and i’ll pray for everyone on this. Love always, Abbey.
SIGNED!
I am on your brother-in-laws Als team, i have saved every West Virginia newspaper clipping, and give them to him.I think of your son, and find myself thinking, your son would have been a great person in society, unlike the boys that beat him , they will always be bullies , you can never change the way they were raised, it all starts from how they must have lived growing up,
The two boys should have gotten the death penalty, just like Ryan.
Signed the petition
Thinking of you and your family
Nancy Baily
Signed and shared. God bless you dear Family.
Signed!
Signed and shared!
Sighed…
Signed and shared!!
Sighed.
Signed!
I have been following this from the time it first air on Facebook… I have signed the first one and will continue to sign all that may come ahead! He will not and will never get out!!! Prayers for You and Your Family <3 ((Hugs))
Signed and Shared I have been following this from the time it first was shared in Facebook… I signed the first one and will continue to sign all that may come ahead! He will not and will never get out!! Prayers for You, Your Brother and Family <3 ((Hugs))
Signed
Team Diviney
Will sign ASAP
The vantrease family makes me so sick read a comment saying “Andy, wonderful to finally hear some truth. The lies that continue on other web sites are very pathetic and emotionless. I will continue to support Austin and your family. You all have exhibited love and character throughout this devastating event. The Vantrease clan is what a family is all about.” Bullcrap I agree with the above comment maybe they should visit Ryan and see what their precious Austin did to poor Ryan ! Sickening I hope he rots in jail …he has no remorse … He’ll just go do it again
I signed it (:
“Deplorable even among low-life thugs” is well said and accurate. Signed.
Trying to sign petition and it wont let me
Signed and shared !!! You guys got this.
Signed and passed along to several other friends for their signatures.
Shared, signed
Signed! Piece of garbage better not get parole.
Should we fax a letter to the board? I also signed last year, but do want the parole board to know I do not want Austin released early. He was given a light sentence in comparison to the harm he caused society, so I do feel he should serve the entire sentence. This was inhumane behavior he displayed, he shows no remorse, and has made minimal restitution….. unacceptable in a civil society.
Signed and shared, praying for your family and for this scum bag to stay in jail
Signed and shared!
Signed
Signed and shared!!! God Bless Ryan and his family.
Signed.
I had never bothered to visit the website that they have set up for Austin until now- man, can that family spin a story! I especially like the part where they call what happened an “accident” and state that Ryan started it all while he was drunk and high (both of which are completely untrue, and there are medical records to suport it!) and that Austin was somehow the victim! Good grief! I have signed the petition yet again this year, and I pray he is forced to continue to serve out his sentence!
I did a facebook search for Andy Vantrease to see what stupid comments she has this year. Seems all she is concerned with is the great beer that is available at their new baseball stadium and making sure that none of it goes to waste. I am speechless, wow!!
I signed:)
Signed
signed !!!!!
Signed and shared! Prayers always!
Signed and shared prayers sent your way.
This monster should never see the light of day again
Done and shared!!
Signed and shared.
I think he should have gotten the Death Penalty, he deliberately took Ryan’s life from him. Although Ryan is still alive he will never enjoy the many fruits of life that every man, woman, and child are entitled too. My prayer would be that he never see the light of day but I know his sentence was much lighter, so I pray he never gets out until his sentence is fully served. I signed the petition a few days ago.
Signed shared and sending lots of love and prayers
Ken: I am so sorry that you and your family have to go through this process again every year. I spent some time in the law firm environment, and I can tell you; that the vast majority of sentences are never filled to completion. The money and space is just not there to hold the number of prisoners truly deserving of their punishments. The temporary sentences that Vantrease and May received are already far too little for the permanent sentence that they gave to Ryan.
What I am trying to say is that one of these years, he is likely to be paroled. Only the most notorious criminals are kept for their full sentences. He may have already been paroled, as his partner in crime has already been released, but for your keeping him notorious; your unceasing support for Ryan; and your annual appeals to the parole board.
You need to gird yourself for that day my old friend, do not be afraid to seek assistance wherever you need it; and do not go it alone.
Your strength is an inspiration to many people. You need to remain strong for Ryan.
Signed and try to leave comment but my far thumbs hit the wrong thing so it was signed before I could. He deserves to have a life sentence of not being able to do all the things in life that he wanted todo just like he took away from Ryan. Team Diviney all the way!!!!
He looks mean and without remorse. I pray for Justice to prevail for your family.
Signed and shared!!! Prayers to you and your family then, now and always!!!!!
I signed and shared. Will be keeping u in my thoughts and prayers
I signed! Let’s keep him in prison.
Thinking of Ryan’s family..this absolutely breaks my heart as a parent. He should never be allowed back into society!
Prayers and I have signed!
Ken, Asking and sharing.! His punishment doesn’t begin to compare
for what he did to Ryan And showing no remorse is another sign of what kind of person he is and obviously his family too. DENIAL is the only way his petition should read
I’m just curious, since last year he made a pitiful “attempt” (laughable!) at making restitution, has he paid anything more in the last year? Has he gone to any anger management classes? Has he done anything but learn to be a more hardened criminal since he has been in prison? Has he done any single thing to make himself worthy of being paroled? Because from the information I can research, he hasn’t. He does not deserve to be let out not only because of what he did to be put behind bars, but also because he has not done one single thing to show his remorse, his understanding, nothing. Keep him there until he can show some sort of rehabilitation and desire to be a productive member of society, then in my opinion, keep him there a couple of years more just to be sure he really gets it.
How in the world can this Vantrease family sleep!!! I hate to wish bad on anybody but I can promise you one thing this idiot along with his idiot family will PAY whether he stays in jail or not! It’s going to come back on them 10 times worse!!!!
I did share this on my page so more people can sign. Praying and thinking of Ryan and your family.
Prayers that thousands will sign this petition this week! This evil person should NOT be released into society! Keep the faith!!
Fingers crossed, Ken.
I signed. I am simply amazed that parole could even be a consideration given Vantrease has still not held the accountability for his deplorable actions that night. In my opinion his family is partly to blame by not counseling him to begin to make amends. He could start by apologizing to Ryan and Ryan’s famiiy, but he has not. He could get a job in prison and donate any proceeds to the Ryan’s Rally fund for Ryans care, but he has not. His family chooses to make excuses for Austin as evidenced in the many court transcripts which I, again, see as part of the problem that lead to Austin’s actions that night. As a mother of 5 kids, you will never hear me make excuses for the actions of my kids even for the smallest offense – I hold them accountable and have them make amends even if it only requires an apology. They can ALL start with that.
<3 Prayers <3
Those comments by this criminals family is sickening. Maybe they need to come visit Ryan so they can personally see what their “precious” son has done to another life.
Prayers
He needs to be done the same way he done this boy, put him in gp an let karma do it’s magic
Praying for you and your family, and that he does not get out.
Diviney!
http://www.family-prayer.org/healing-prayer.html
Take a life? Behind prison bars for life! This is the price Vantrease or anyone else must pay! Nothing less. Sign me, Standing My Ground.
Keep the faith! He WILL NOT be released! Praying for your family! <3