Whinin’ Ryan

Former Governor and now-convicted felon, George Ryan, lost his appeal for a new trial today. The Supreme Court refused to hear arguments that his trial was unfair because the judge replaced two of the jurors with alternates during deliberation. Alternates, mind you, that sat during the entire trial and had to make their decisions based on the evidence presented.

Ryan was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison. He may wind up only serving half that time, if his influential friends have anything to say about it.

Six years. One year for every child that Rev. Duane Scott Willis and his wife Janet lost in that tragic auto accident in 1994. The same accident that triggered the corruption investigation that led to Ryan’s conviction.

Ryan is 74 years old. For 74 years, he’s been able to live his life, see his children and grandchildren grow. If he’s lucky, he’ll still walk out of prison and have some viable years left before he dies to be with his family.

Scott and Janet Willis lost 6 children who won’t grow up, won’t get to go to school and graduate, won’t have families of their own.

Ryan has never apologized for his actions or to the family. The Willis’ don’t expect one.

Ryan and his supporters are whining. The Willis family is moving on.

If there were true justice, Ryan would have been sentenced for the rest of life in prison to answer for the deaths of the six Willis children. Instead, he got a slap on the wrist. Ryan and his supporters should shut up, go away and be thankful that he may get a few more years with his family.

The Willis family never will.

In Him,

Donna