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"I tell him I tried. I tried to keep memory alive; I tried to fight those who would forget. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. There is so much injustice & suffering crying out for our attention. We must take sides. We must interfere. -E.W.

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Vantrease Parole Hearing Tomorrow

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Austin Vantrease Mug Shot

Austin Issac Vantrease (Convicted, Felony): Currently serving 2 – 10 years for Malicious Assault.

Tomorrow, at 10AM, Austin Vantrease will sit before the West Virginia Parole Board and plead for his release. First, it sickens me that he is even asking to be let out. I’m not at all surprised though. He’s been trying to get out for the past two years. If he is released then he will have served just four years for his brutal crime… malicious assault. He will walk away from the punishment imposed upon him for what he did to my son.

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…”

I just can’t believe anyone would see justice in his release. When it all comes down to it, this decision rests in the hands of three individuals. It’s up to the Parole Board panel. They use several factors in making the determination and I really don’t know if any take precedence over others. There are at least three of these factors that will certainly not play in his favor:

  • I can tell you that he will not get sympathy from me and my family.
  • I also know that society clearly doesn’t want him out. An astonishing 160,000 people put their signatures on the petition requesting he serves the maximum time allowable under law! Somewhere around 20,000 signatures are from citizens of West Virginia; and that should be a powerful statement.
  • Further, I assert — without reservation — that he does not have a viable support system (i.e., family and friends) to be released into.

The hearing is at St. Mary’s Correction Center in a remote part of West Virginia. It is to the extreme west of the state; near both the Ohio River and Ohio state line. From my home this is an estimated six-hour drive… one-way. I promise you, I will be there unless something happens. I have a few thing I want to say to that violent felon and his family.

Like past years, I will post the outcome — be it good or bad — on Ryan’s Facebook Fan Page as soon as possible. I have done this from the parking lot of the prison the past two times, but I can not assure I’ll even get a signal at this new prison.

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Comments

  1. Dear Diviney family, another heartache in this seemingly endless nightmare, I am so sorry to hear of the convicted felons’ parole. There are two things to remember here, first of all; once a thug; always a thug. Once he is released into society, he will slip up, hopefully, he will do time again. And secondly, he will have to answer for his actions, on judgement day, I know alot of people have put that in their comments, and it is true. I believe that wholeheartedly. Please know that you have the love and support of so many people! Praying for you, Diviney family, each and every day.

  2. We have such a screwed up justice system, but I’m praying he doesn’t get released. He deserves to rot for what he did.

  7. I pray to God that this low life piece of shit isn’t given parole. It’ll look GREAT on him and his disgusting, heartless family when he’s denied.

  8. Four years for Vantrease? A smack on the wrist! We all know this and are confident the Parole Board knows it, too.
    Always here with faith, hope, love and prayers.

  13. I am getting ready to go to bed . I am going to turn off the light and lay in the dark and talk to Jesus about ryan and your family . I pray that tomorrow you are able to find some peace . . I will pray for your wonderful wife and daughter . I know that Jesus will help you . God bless

  14. Praying he doesn’t get out and I live in st. Mary’s very close to the correctional center.

  15. Praying for another year of no parole. Ryan just underwent another head surgery for goodness sakes… when will it end? Austin and his partners in crime including Jonathan May should all be unable to live a “normal” life while Ryan and his family are suffering. I wonder if the kids who were there that night watching the fight and did nothing to stop the brutal attack are thinking about Ryan tonite… is Jonathan May thinking about Ryan tonite or are they waiting for their friend Austin to get home?
    I faxed a letter to the parole board asking for denial, hope they continue to protect the good people of West Virginia from this criminal.

  17. He does not deserve a life. Of any kind. He should have worried about his before he took the one that your brother( and you all knew). You are all in our prayers. Praying for justice.

  20. If he gets out he won’t last long. Karma will get him if someone else don’t

  21. If he gets out he won’t last long. Karma will get him if someone else don’t

  22. His ass needs to stay in jail!!! He put Ryan in a prison with no chance of release!!!

  23. His ass needs to stay in jail!!! He put Ryan in a prison with no chance of release!!!

  24. Sharing and praying they do not let this monster out !!

  26. Does the judge not understand that the folks who are in prison are Ryan n your family?? I hope Vantrease rots in hell.

  27. Will you know the decision the same day as the hearing?

  28. I hope they fry his ass! Parole?! He thinks he deserves to be amongst others in society..?Unbelievable. People who act like animals belong behind bars, he is a danger & a threat. Point blank. Period. Personally to me, 10 years isn’t long enough…keep this piece of shit exactly where he belongs.

    Sorry if that’s direct & blunt, but that’s how I feel..he’s a thug.. No parole for this monster!!!

  29. I just wrote a long message and it went bye when I was trying to post. Long story short, the felon should stay in for another 6 years if not longer. My prayers, support and love are with you, Ry, Sue and Kari, tomorrow and everyday! I will be waiting to hear.

  37. I am trusting that the Parole Board of the state of West Virginia will recognize that releasing Austin VanTrease from prison is a bad idea because (a) He has demonstrated no remorse whatsoever; (b) The profound impact the viscious assault has had on Ryan’s quality of life as well as your family’s quality of life is enormous; (c) Many of us are fearful of what Austin VanTrease is capable of — he has already demonstrated he is willing to perpetrate a horrific random act of violence on an innocent young man and then hide and lie about it; (d) The VanTrease family has continued to spread negative, false information about Ryan, such as continuing to make statements to the public that Ryan was high or drunk when Austin attacked him, that Ryan started the fight, that Austin is the victim, etc. This is in spite of the fact that a jury found Austin guilty as charged. Thank God for the video that captured the nightmare Austin VanTrease deliberately inflicted upon Ryan and your family.

    There is much more I could say, but I will stand by along with the rest of Team Diviney to learn the decision of the board. They have made the right decision to keep Austin VanTrease in jail in the past – we can only hope and pray they will understand the enormity of what’s at stake here and do the right thing.

    In the meantime, I have you all in my heart and you’re never far from my thoughts.

    Sending love, hugs, prayers, faith and hope.
    Paula

  39. I’ve signed every petition to keep that scumbag in prison. Hoping and praying justice is served!

  40. And as he’s being DENIED he should HAVE to look Ryan in the face personally and be forced to apologize but then again. … Why would we ever want to put Ryan through the waste of time. Praying for Ryan and NO parole! !

  42. Praying for you all , my thoughts and prayers will be with you. Keep this POS in jail forever.

  44. Ken, St. Mary’s is a small town, but it is a suburb of Parkersburg- whose size is comparable to Morgantown-so you shouldn’t have any problems with reception. I hate that you have to make that drive, it is my least favorite route in the whole state. Please be mindful & watch for deer because they are particularly bad in that area. You have a lot of supporters here in Elkins, WV, we will be thinking of your family & wishing you safe travels.

  46. I went to prison for dui and I know this guy he got beat up alot in there he was someones punk and its his first time up for parole he will be denied 9 times out of 10 but there are thoes 1in a million chance he will get out. But yea to be honest he has had the worst time imageinable believe me he had a had time and it only gets worse

  48. Best of luck Ken. Wishing and praying for a great outcome for Ryan and the whole Diviney family.

  49. This is so stressful and difficult. I hope your trip goes well and has the outcome you hope for.

  52. This is a no-brainer. Should never get out for the evil he bestowed on the entire Diviney Family. Make sure you sign the online petition to keep him there the rest of his sentence. Praying you show us a miracle, Ryan. Wish you could go to the parole hearing for this idiot. Thinking of you and praying for you daily .

  53. It really is so sad that he has no guilt for his malicious attack. The idea of parole is dumbfounding and shouldn’t even be an avenue that is up for debate. I can’t even imagine what your family has gone through and continues to go through on a daily basis. In all honesty, I don’t think Vantrease’s sentencing verdict was strong enough to begin with! He gets his life back at the end of all this and by his and his family’s actions, it’s unfortunately crystal clear that he has learned nothing from his time in prison.

  54. What bothers me now, almost as much as what Vantrease did in the first place, is the lack of remorse from him and his entire family. I do hope that is taken into consideration…The lack of any real attempt at any type of true “restitution” or open SINCERE apology says more to me than anything.

  56. Maybe I am the only one who does not do Facebook, but I hope you will use this vehicle when you can to update us. Thanks. Praying

  57. Will keep your family in my thoughts tomorrow with hopes that these three individuals will see the wrongness of what this young man did not only to your son but to your whole family. His rightful place is in prison where he can pay for his crimes along with not being allowed to hurt anyone else.

  58. he dam sure needs to be locked up for life even his max years in prison dont mean he learned his lesson if and when he does get out who will be his next victim ……. cause he will do it again …… he needs to rot in HELL ….. sorry bastard !!!!

  62. He should have to sit in there forever! He’s a monster and deserves to rot! How can anyone believe he would be innocent! He sickens me! I signed that petition from here in Kentucky, I’ve been following this case since the beginning and I’m always hopeful that I’ll see a post of Ryan back to his old self! – prayers sent to the Diviney family as always!

  63. You are amazing and no matter what happens you’re ALWAYS trying your best for your precious son. Your family is in my thoughts daily. God bless you.

  65. Have been praying every night for the last month that the parole board panel do their job and keep him where he belongs. I can’t believe he still trying to get out early when Ryan is suffering everyday because of those two thugs.

  67. There’s no way that piece of s@#$ gets out. No. Way. If he does I hope every day of the rest of his life is miserable and that he struggles to know any kind of happiness. Or peace. That WV Parole Board HAS to know that he is in no way worthy of any type of freedom. I’ll be praying for his continued imprisonment and for Ryan and the family. Stay strong Diviney clan!!

  68. Prayers that he does not receive parole. I sign the petition every time.

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Ryan's Rally, ℅ Ken Diviney
21092 Carthagena Ct.
Ashburn, VA 20147
kdiviney@ryansrally.org