Many thanks to Lorraine Ahearn for her Aug. 7 column ("Class of '75 and the murder that time forgot") about the release of the monster responsible for the brutal murder of Joanne Bomar.
When District Attorney Stuart Albright checked the files and realized what a horrendous crime this was and what a dangerous man Dan T. Brown can be, he immediately notified Trudy Bomar, the mother of the victim. Trudy called me, and I contacted the Parole Commission, expressing my objection to Brown's release. I also contacted friends and asked them to do the same. So the Parole Commission received more than 50 letters and e-mails of protest.
When Trudy Bomar called the Parole Commission to protest, she was told that the release was inevitable. When asked why, they said: "Because we need the bed."
Baloney. What a poor excuse. Other dangerous prisoners have been released early, only to rob and kill again once they were free. We all need to remind our legislators that it is their responsibility to protect the public as well as punish the guilty.
You may think that, after all, this happened almost 29 years ago. But to Trudy Bomar it was yesterday. Joanne Bomar is still dead, and her killer walks free.
Chet Hodgin
Jamestown
Comments (5)
What a tragedy. I read Ahearn's article and my heart just bleeds for the family of Joanne Bomar. What an awful, awful thing to happen to an innocent young girl.
It's hard to feel much sympathy for the person responsible for that crime. But I still do. If it is true that he was whacked out on PCP and only 17, I do feel sympathy for him and his family that he ruined his life and someone else's on that night.
It is definitely tragic all around.
Posted by truth | August 17, 2005 10:34 AM
I would as the writer is he has ever spoken to Dan Brown. I would as him is he has taken the time to discover what type of person Dan Brown has become in his 29 years of incarceration. I would ask him if he knows anything of Dan Brown other than what he has read in the paper and been told by the family of the victim. If he has not, then I would suggest he withhold judgment of Dan Brown.
I believe his original sentence was 20 to life and he has served 29 years. My memory could be faulty on the term of the sentence but I do believe that at the time of trail that a life term with no conditions was understood to include the provision of parole in 20 years. A later law was passed that removed this and made the sentence what it is. If it is life, then it is life, 20yrs means 20 yrs. etc.
Recidivism rate for individuals committing the crime of murder or as this was classified, a crime of passion, is around 1% or less contrary to the writers statement that many are released only to commit the same crime.
Posted by mrproduce | August 17, 2005 11:01 AM
I was friends with Dan Browns younger sister, and even though I was in my young teens, I remember this tragedy vividly. Dan was a heavy drug user at the time. Not that that is an excuse to murder someone, but I agree with MrP that the life sentence didn't necessarily mean without parole as we have today. Thus Dan Brown must have reformed significantly in 29 years to be parolled and the law was followed. Not any consolation to Mrs. Bomar, I do feel very sorry for her loss.
Posted by Dan | August 17, 2005 11:43 AM
Dan, mrproduce, I hope you won't be too astonished, but I must agree with you. No matter what he did, or why he did it, the man has served his sentence. The sentence he received was in accordance with sentencing guidlines in effect at the time of his conviction.
Yes, it is very, very sad that Joanne Bomar was killed. And it is understandable that Ms. Bomar might feel some bitterness still; I think it would be almost superhuman to not feel bitter.
But that doesn't change the fact that the man has served his sentence.
With highest regards,
Tony
Posted by Tony Ledford | August 17, 2005 4:56 PM
Astonished? Not at all Tony. I have always found that we can disagree without being disagreeable for the most part.
Yes, Dan served his time and yes there was a great change in the man.
Posted by mrproduce | August 18, 2005 10:47 AM