Petition to prevent the parole of Bruce W. Walden (ID# 86C1075)

86C1075
WALDEN, BRUCE W JR

In accordance with The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, part of which encourages states to keep murderers, rapists, and child molesters behind bars longer and holds the state financially accountable if they fail to do so (Aimee's Law), there is sufficient justification to continue to deny parole to Bruce Walden.

We are speaking today on behalf of my goddaughter, Sunshine McKendree. There are not enough superlatives to describe the 11-year-old child that we lost. Glorious, intelligent, loving, prodigious, extraordinary. And she was loved. She was so loved that even today, we never forget what a joyous addition she was to our lives.

Sunshine McKendree was born 3 weeks after the death of my mother when I was 18 years old. Her mother gladly let me be a part of Sunshine's life, which helped fill the void left by my loss. I moved in with the family before I was married. After I was married that fall, Sunshine became a frequent visitor to our house, and quickly became like our own child. She learned to walk and talk in front of our eyes and was like a daughter to us. And now with the death of my ex-husband, it further increases the pain. Her death was as acute and wrenching to us as if we'd lost our own and I have spent many years sorely missing her in my life.

Her sister, who was 15 years old at the time, was deeply and severely affected by it and spent time in therapy to try and learn to deal with it. She has had to go through the intervening years with no sister in her life, no aunt for her 3 boys. Her mother has had to bear it throughout her life, having no little girl to bring up and give her possibly more grandchildren. Family reunions are conspicuously absent her happy laughter, her sparkling eyes, her joy of spirit.

The last time I visited them in New York, she ran out the back door and threw herself in my arms. Many arms are empty from that love now. The loss of Sunshine was a horrible tragedy, we have all suffered from her absence in our lives. Her loss is even more acutely painful in the knowledge that Sunshine would be celebrating her 46th birthday come August 24th. Her absence is a glaring and painful reminder of what happened and there is no justification I can find to set her murderer free.

Her mother, who has had to recover from two liver transplants, was absent her comfort and support as she healed. It is hard on her, it is hard on all of us, since he has come up for parole consideration once again. Each date means we have to dredge up the pain and heartbreak of Sunshine's loss once again.

However, we will continue to speak against parole for her murderer at every hearing. The sad part is that it is now every two years. His sentencing resulted in convictions up to life in prison. That is precisely what it should be. Life in prison. No freedom for a child molester, rapist and murderer. Because parole hearings come up so frequently, it drudges it up for us too. It is now a life sentence for us as well, having to deal with this AGAIN. What we know about a child molester is that he does not do it just once, he does it at every opportunity.

We have all paid dearly with the loss of Sunshine in our lives, and it is something we must bear. We can't undo that. But neither can Bruce Walden. What I do know is that he will hurt another little girl in the future, given his freedom. The onus for the weight of that crime would now lay at the table of the parole board if he is released. PLEASE do not let this child murderer... child molester... child rapist... free to have the opportunity to do this again. He is better off in prison, and that is where he needs to stay. Keep the children safe, please. Sunshine, goddaughter and the only child I have ever had since the good fortune I had when she entered my life, deserves better than effectively saying her murderer deserves more liberty than he left for her. Please deny his parole.