Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Letter from Terrence Sampson

I just don't know what to say about this. I would SO like to believe you, Terrence. So many years...

Ms. Ronni,

I would like to begin this letter by telling you that I am sorry for the pain and grief I have caused you, your family, and the community that I once lived in.
I have never had the opportunity to speak directly to someone who knew me from my life in. Round Rock. I feel awkward because my guilt and shame are at the forefront of my mind as I write this, because I know I had a direct impact in a negative way on your life.
I deeply regret the actions of my childhood, and I’ll never fully forgive myself for my actions. I committed a violent and heinous act against Kelly, and I take full responsibility for my actions and offer no excuses or justifications for what I’ve done. My biggest regret in life is that I can’t take it back.

As I read your comments in your blog, I was forced to accept the reality that most people will always look at me and judge me for the 12 year old boy I had been and not the man I have become. I believe this will be the case because no one knows anything about the man that I have become. People see me in the media as only the child I had been, there has been a lot of growth and development over the last 20 ½ years , while I’ve grown from a boy to man in the system, and with that growth has come maturity and an understanding of the power of choice, as it relates to living a responsible and productive life. Absolutely nothing is the same about the man that I am as compared to the child that I had been.
People have the right o their opinion about me, but you made a strong comment about my wife ending up dead at my hands, and I couldn’t help but to wonder if that opinion came as a result of your thoughts of the mentality that I have now as a 33 year old educated and mature man, or if that opinion came as a result of your thoughts of the mentality I had as a 12 year old boy? Either way, you have a right to your opinion. People usually try to see the worst in me, but those who know me see the best in me.
Isaac Asimov once said that, “Violence is the last Refuge of the incompetent”, and during my years of childhood I didn’t know how to express my anger and frustration at my life and what was going on in my household. I made choices based on the irrationality of a 12 year old mentality, and I deeply regret those choices. However, I no longer make choices based on a 12 year old mentality. I think, act, and live like the enlightened man I have grown into being.
It is my prayer that this letter is received with the sincerity of my intentions. I deeply regret the harm that I’ve done to your life from an emotional standpoint. I can never take back what I’ve done, and I’m sorry for that. I can only live my life with a sense of purpose, and my purpose is to try to have a positive impact on as many people as I can in life. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to do that in more than a couple of ways, and certain positive aspects of my life will never be seen in the media, but I wanted you to know that I put forth a effort every day of my life to try to use my experiences to bring some good out of a terrible situation.

May God bless you with peace and prosperity, Terrence Sampson

40 comments:

  1. I dunno. In the stratified and regulated atmosphere of a prison, he may have developed an adaptive persona. In the real world, who knows?

    His letter to you sounds like something worked over with an attorney. Just the language.

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  2. I think he's coming up for parole soon, or else his sentence will soon be over.

    I hope he is sincere, and I hope he can go on to live a productive life. He probably should not come back here, though...

    I would like to visit him in prison.

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  3. I dont want to start this again, but 12 is SO young. If you are able can you visit him?

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  4. I will find out. I would probably have to get myself on a list. Maybe Mrs Sampson can help me.

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  5. Okay, so I've obviously missed something; who is this guy?

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  6. Read this entry: http://ronnisrants.blogspot.com/2009/10/kelly-elaine-brumbelow.html

    He killed her. It happened in 1989, shortly before Christmas.

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  7. Okay like I don't know what Google is.

    Twelve is very young. That was a really brutal murder.

    Talking to him in person, you'll know if he's for real.

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  8. I'm guessing parole and if anyone googles his name, his supporters sure don't want anyone landing here; when the crime was committed, Al Gore hadn't invented the internet yet.

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  9. It's the crime that got me interested in murders. Chandra was never the same, after. As she said, she had not known your neighbour could kill you.

    I just think that a 12-year-old who could do that HAS to be messed up to begin with, and now he's been incarcerated for 20 years! He made death threats against Kelly's mother, blaming her for his troubles. That, too, was a long time ago, but one wonders if death threats have a statute of limitations...

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  10. I was in reading class with Terrance and kelly. I remember this day all to well. We all sat together and we were working on the the 3 little pigs in class. I remember Terrance always making passes at me and making me feel uncomfortable. He had also invited me to his house to play basketball, however my parents would not allow it. That night is when it all happend. I will never forget this. I am now 33 and knowing he will be out someday makes me uneasy.

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  11. Anonymous, when were the three of you in the same reading class? did you attend Robertson elementary, as Kelly and terrance did? Because, in middle school, there is no longer a "reading" class, it's Language Arts, and Kelly was in TAG and Terrance was not.

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  14. I have no email address for Mrs Sampson. However, she can email me from the "email me" link in my profile.

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  15. By the way, a commenter who posts as FirstLady left a couple of comments here:

    http://ronnisrants.blogspot.com/2009/10/anecdotal-evidence.html

    She had the wrong post, and reposted one of her comments on the "Kelly Brumbelow" entry.

    I will not put up with that sort of crap. Just sayin'.

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  16. Ms. Ronni
    I would like to start off by responding to some of your comments on your blog "Some notes on Terrence's letter" I had not seen this until today. Terrence is in fact married. I would not state that if it were not indeed true. I'm judged everyday because of my decision to marry him, in most cases the reaction to our marriage is most like yours. People believe I should be afraid of Terrence, but I believe he is not that angry boy anymore. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm saying this to say that I would not just fabricate the fact that I am married to Terrence Sampson.
    Terrence does not have access to the internet or else he would have posted his letter himself, however he can receive emails the mailroom(at the facility) prints them out and then they are delivered to the Men and Women who are incarcerated. They have to respond back in the form of a letter so, it takes time for the family members to get a response back. This is why I have to post for him. I have the original letters also if you would like me to scan them and send them to you. I can not give a response to the rest of your comments he will have to answer you,but I will scan it and send you the letter directly, and if you choose to post it then that is fine.
    The last thing I wanted to tell you is that I can not control other peoples actions/comments only my own. I don't know why you are telling me what you will and won't tolerate on your blog when I feel I have been very respectful towards you and your bloggers despite all the negative comments that have been directed my way. Although, I understand your concern all I can do is suggest you block the person/persons you have a issue with. I will be in touch. Mrs. Stephanie Sampson

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  17. Stephanie, my comment was to the person who posted that my spirit was evil. That is the sort of thing I will not tolerate. I just linked the comment for you so you could see what others are saying.

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  18. I am witting on this blog in hopes that this really reaches Terrence . My name is Renee I went to school with you and was friends with Kelly you had even played football at the park with my brother a few times . I have always wanted to know why and what caused the range that you had in side of you . I will be honest I fear the day you get out cause I don't believe in my heart that you have changed some one with range like that it never fully leaves them from past knowledge. Terrence I do want to tell u I have forgiven u but haven't forgotten and would never want to run in to you or be friends with u . I also believe that on that day you made that choice for Kelly that wasn't fair so there for you shouldn't have the choice to have a life that she should of had . You shouldn't be a loud to have a wife or a degree in anything. You should have the three square meals a day and an hour of sun light a day no visits from anyone and you should feel grateful for just having three square meals and an hour of sun light everyday cause that is more than Kelly will ever have cause of your choices . I am sorry if I sound mad i know it doesn't sound like i have forgiven u but i have but that doesn't mean that think u deserve the things u have been able to have or do . The day u took her away was the worst day in every ones lives. I have had a lot of bad things happen to me in my life but this was the one thing that was the scariest and the most hurtful thing that has ever happened . I would tell u what it was like that at school that first day back at school after it all happened and I would tell u want it was like at the funeral but you really don't deserve to know . Terrence you need to understand us who went to school with you and knew u know who u were and that it wasn't the media that made us to say the things that we have been saying over the years . Also to your wife I know you wont to believe that he is good and not that boy who he use to be but from experience i do know that people in prison will say what ever want ever when they are in there and then when they get out none of it is true I know cause I had a boyfriend that was in prison of and on for three years and every time he was released he would go back to the way he was before . So just watch your back and be very careful . I have said all I want to say and I would say to I hope you have a good life but I wouldn't mean it if I did .

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  19. Im sorry i miss wrote in my last blog what was trying to say was to Terrence's wife was that people in prison will say one thing while in prison and do another once there are out .

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  22. I have always remembered what happened on December 2, 1989!! We lived in Mesa Ridge the same community as Kelly and Terrence. I went to her funeral and I remember her chair in her classroom that was kept untouched as a memorial for her and the flower memorial that Mrs. Brown (reading teacher) did for her with the help of a bunch of students. In my opinion, I've never done anything as terrible as Terrance had done in the past but I do know that I made a bunch of mistakes in my youth and I am nothing like I was 20 years ago. In this life you have to forgive and move on but you are not obligated to forget. Terrance was tried as a man when he was barely even a teenager. No telling what was going on in his household. Of course I'm not making any excuses for him but please 30 years? I was only 11 at the time and now I am going to be 33 next month. Humans are something else, who are we to judge?

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  23. I won't pretend to know Kelly or Terrance well because I did not. However I attended the same middle school at the time of the murder and had art class with both of them. I still think about what happened from time to time because it was such a brutal act. There is no rehabilitation for animals like Terrance. The mind just does not work like that. He is just not hard wired correctly. He will kill again. Hopefully the parole officer will do his or her job, because he needs to be watched like a hawk for the rest of his life. He was 12 yo. My 6 yo son knows that difference between right and wrong. Terrence Sampson should have been executed a long time ago. He is a waste of space who will kill again.

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  24. I am someone who knows Terrence today as a man, but I did not know him as a child. What I know of Terrence today is that he is sorry for what he has done. When I first interacted with him I was very skeptical of even dealing with him, since I have a wife and two daughter of my own and not really knowing his mind frame. I asked him straight forward if he felt sorry for what he did and if he even attempted to reach out to the victim’s family. After constantly pushing Terrence’s buttons to get a reaction from the “child “Terrence, I must say he does have a different thought process (I am a person who used to be from the streets so I know how to push buttons). Terrence is having to pay for his crime mentally and physically every day, which he should. Praise is to Jesus that Terrence didn’t go into prison holding all of that evilness for 20 years; instead he made the decision to do something different with his life. I must say, no one can say what Terrence is going to do when he gets out, but as a believer in Jesus the Christ I know that if we pray for him and we as Christians follow Jesus’ word, Jesus will answer our prayers. Let’s pray that after he gets out that he can be a productive member of our society. Once he does his time, then he has paid his debt. No excuse can be made for Terrence and none shall be giving. I will say this:
    The definition of Christian is to be Christ like. Jesus was beating, bruised, spat on, crucified, and stabbed in his side. What did Jesus say: “father forgive them for they know not what they do”. If any of those people who went against Jesus would have asked for forgiveness and accepted him as their savior they would have been eligible to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
    Let’s continue to put Kelly’s family in our prayers as well as Terrence and his family.
    May God continue bless everyone!

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  25. Like some others who have commented on this post, I too went to CD Fulkes at the time this happened. I remember the grip this horrible situation had on those of us that went to school at CD Fulkes, and the community in general. While Terrance's letter sounds heart felt and sincere, we must all remember that he has been in prison for 20+ years. While he may have become a very "honorable" person behind bars, looking for ways to occupy his time by trying to give back to society, he has no idea what he'll do or how to act outside of the restrictions of his confinement. Confinement is all he knows because he has been confined since the age of 12. Of course he feels remorse now, but is it a legitimate remorse or is it based on the fact that he isn't free to do what he wants? No one will know until he is released from prison, and unfortunately it would take another horrible act to discover that he wasn't ready for release.

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  26. My name is Charleston White and I was incarcerated with Terrance in Giddings State School. Terrance was nothing like myself and some of the guys who were incarcerated with us. I spent six and a half years in Giddings for murder. I was 14yrs old at the time of the crime. I was considered one of the worst of the worst while in Giddings. I personally knew Terrance, slept on the same dorm with Terrance for years. He was a good hearted kid amonst true cold hearted youthful offenders. We were violent while in TYC. Terrance was the total opposite. He was smart, giving, atheletic, caring, and inspirational. He was a model kid!!! We all were troubled kids. There were teens in Giddings who had killed both their mother and father. There were kids in Giddings for raping 2 month olds. We all had child hood anger and most of us took someone life, but Giddings provided us with AUTHENTIC and TRUE rehabilitation. I know the programs Terrance went through impacted him in all positive and remorseful aspects of his soul. I know Ms. Esporza she knows me!!! Because of the programs at Giddings my life has been a success. I am a Prelaw student at Texas Wesleyan. I just started my own outreach program with former "child murders" who were at Giddings. Outreach (HYPE) Helping Young People Excell. Ive thought about Terrance for years because he was truly a good kid. I was considered a hard core juvenile offender and Terrance heart was not near as cold as my heart was as a kid. When Terrance left i had the pleasure to hear Ms. Brumbelow speak to our capital offender group. We all were in tears because we could empathize with her a pain and hurt, but we knew Terrance and we didnt see the monster she sees. He was one of the most positive kids in Giddings during our era. And i spent four years with him. My heart aches for him, just as well as it aches for Ms. Brumbelow. May God will be done in the life of Terrance and Ms. Brumbelow

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  27. I knew Terrance as a kid and as an adult.....to make a long story short I'd feel comfortable with him now as I first did when I met him he truly deserves to be freed I would never wish death to anyone and I damn sure would not wish what he has endured in life to my worst enemy Free T Sampson......I am Mankyne and I approve this message!!!

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  28. Thought you guys might find this link interesting: http://imgur.com/a/kMqGF

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  29. Ronni. I stumbled on this site. I went to school at CD Fulkes and lived on the street before Terrance and Kelly. I was completely shocked when we found out Terrance had murdered Kelly. The few times they rode the bus, she would make fun of me and laugh at me and he would say something nice. I did not want to believe he was capable of such evil. I do know he had a good. I remember being in the choir that sang at her funeral and crying due to the utter confusion of feelings I felt. I do think he can change. Having access to counseling to help deal with whatever caused the rage to begin with makes a HUGE difference. Jesus makes an even bigger difference. My question for you is, why does this consume so much of your life? His actions all those years ago should not hold you in such emotional captivity and turmoil. I pray you find the help you need to be able to let this go and lead a more healthy life. Kelly's family and close friends will never be the same and may never be able to forgive and certainly won't forget. However, the rest of us have our own lives to lead. We remember, but do not spend hours of our lives discussing the crime, the murderer, his sentence, or his true rehabilitation. I pray all involved find peace and comfort even as they honor Kelly's life and memory.

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  30. OK. I spend quite a bit of my life discussing murder in general and murder committed by spouses, mothers, friends and others on those closest to them. It's not just this one, for me. I can't speak for anyone else on the thread. I have several other entries on this blog about Terrence. If you put his name in the search box in the side bar, they will all come up, including a photocopy of a letter he wrote and had published on another site.

    I developed an interest in crimes of this nature when Terrence killed Kelly, but it has spread to other crimes over the years.

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  31. To the entry from "Anonymous on June 25, 2013" you make the comment, "I knew Terrance as a kid and as an adult.....to make a long story short I'd feel comfortable with him now as I first did when I met him." To be clear, do you mean the same way that Kelly Brumbelow felt comfortable with him? Because it didn't work out so well for her, did it? She trusted him also.

    Forgiveness is one thing and I pray all who knew Kelly will find it in their hearts to forgive Terrence at some point for the unimaginable pain and fear he caused Kelly and her family. But lack of common sense and due justice are other issues quite all together.

    I don't care how old he was at the time of the murder, the point is, he stabbed this young lady 97 TIMES! (That's a 9 and a 7!) 3 stabs short of 100 in case anyone is unclear. IN THE HEAD! He had to look her in the eyes, see her fear, hear her screams for mercy and continue to place that blade in her head and face. Let that sink in. He had multiple chances to STOP but he consciously CHOSE to continue mercilessly attacking this defenseless young girl. My five year old knows better. Don't tell me that a 12 year old doesn't! I don't care how pleasant he is to talk with now or how many degrees he has earned at the expense of taxpayers, his crime was beyond heinous and proper justice dictates that he will not be able to enjoy the same privileges he so violently and cruelly stole from his victim.

    Kelly will never receive a free education or the privilege of earning ANY kind of degree at all. She will never fall in love or be walked down the aisle on her wedding day. Kelly will never have children or the joy of being a mother. She never even enjoyed the privilege of graduating from high school or going to prom or growing up. Kelly's childhood and ENTIRE LIFE were brutally stolen from her. Kelly is no longer able to simply breathe air. Torrence has continued to breathe air every day since his attack on her. I wonder if he understands what a gift that truly is? Continuing to breathe air IS HIS mercy. That is more mercy than Kelly was afforded.

    I sincerely don't care either way how badly Torrence feels for his unspeakable crime because he SHOULD feel badly! That's the LEAST he can do. His remorse is welcome but it doesn't take away from the fact that there are still consequences for his monstrous actions. Even if he IS different now, he still must pay the consequences. He could spend the rest of his life in prison and it wouldn't be justice enough for Kelly's death. So please don't tell me that this young man should be released because he's "different now." Kelly is different now too. She is dead. There is no justice if he is allowed to be released. The time should mirror the crime. Forgiveness is one matter, justice is another.

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    1. Read this: http://72.10.54.216/viewmedia.php/prmMID/6591/prmID/1652

      Yes, he will pay for the rest of his life, but he was 12 at the time of the killing. Surely redemption is possible? After he has paid his debt, I'm willing to give him a hand up, as he has worked very hard for what he has. Yes, Kelly is dead, and yes, her family will be without her for the rest of their lives, but Terrence's family has been without him, too. I believe that, after 30 years, it will be time to move on, and I hope (for their sakes) that Kelly's family can, if not forgive, at least let go of the bitterness you express. If you are not a member of Kelly's family, you do not have a dog in this hunt.

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    2. I find what you have said to be true and logical. I was actually in prison with terrance. He is living on the cleveland unit. He is in a program called pep. He has tons of privileges compared to a normal inmate. In fact he sits in front of a computer 5 days a week. He won the business plan compition for the class of fall 17. I remember hearing his pitch. It was a reform for violent youth. He had the whole room feeling sorry for him that he never drove a car or been on a cell phone. I so badly wanted to stand up after his pitch and ask him what about his victim who never had those things either. But i would have been separated from the program and it was graduation day. I have seen terrance in the last year manipulate and coherse many people. He had a man removed off the unit by saying that he was a homosexual and all sorts of things just to get his position of leadership in the program. He actually admitted to me, that he "plays for keeps" refering to the man and situation. He will discharge his sentance in a short period of time. 30 full years. Which means no parole or supervision upon release. I don't believe he's genuinely changed. He is highly intelligent and witty and cunning. I could never take that from him but when you get him in a heated conversation that 12 year old boy comes out. I know first hand. I caught terrance in a lie and confronted him with the individual he included in the lie. He lost control of himself with an outbust. I could see the killer in his eyes as he became enraged that i caught him in the lie. There have been other incidents as well. He has violently hurt plenty of inmates durring his incarseration as well. But the fact of the matter is that this man should not be able to have a life. He should be in a cell with no human contact. Just as you said its more than what kelley has gotten. I will not be surprised to turn on the tv one day and see that he has done it again. To be honest he is descret about his case with other inmates. So i wanted to know the truth and looked him up once i got out. I truely believe that there is more to this case than just murder. Im curious as to why he did it. He is hidding something. You just don't kill someone like that. I have committed multiple crimes. Im a four time felon and have lived a life of criminality for 26 years of my life. I could never wake up and decide to kill someone like that. It just intrigues me that he did, in the sense of what drove him to it? What pushed him over the edge and why her? I would like to know the real story but the truth is only known by him and kelly.

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    3. He is a liar and a danger. You need to tell everyone who was around him that they are in danger too.

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  32. Unfortunately Terrance is now free and a danger to everyone who is around him. He has a new wife named Lisa Mills with a daughter and I am terrified for this woman and her daughter. He is now living with them at the following address:
    4006 Gabi Ave
    Heartland TX 75126
    The people in that community need to know that this dangerous man is among them. This woman needs to know that her husband is a manipulative ticking timebomb.
    uralisamills@gmail.com

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  33. https://www.facebook.com/td.sampson.39

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  34. Well he is back in jail

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  35. Back in jail?? When did he get out of prison? The TDCJ website shows his release date as December 2, 2019 (which would be his full 30 year sentence). And why is he now back in jail? The horror and heartbreak for both the Brumbelow and Sampson families.

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  36. I also went the CD Fulkes with Terrance and Kelly. This crime forever changed all of us. I was not close with either of them but I remember the details and rumors that followed. I remember that he buried her under a wood pile after he stabbed her 97 times about the face and neck. I remember the funeral and sobbing when Valerie Babicki sang "Friends" by Michael W Smith. That song still bring tears to my eyes. I remember the rumors that he did it because she wouldn't "go out" with him. I also remember that his father, who found her body, was missing from his court dates along with his mother.
    As an 12 year old kid, I remember wondering where his parents were and how they could not care? I have since read that his homelife was the reason he killed her. I have also read his Acknowledgement section in his book about hope where he thanks his supportive parents.
    Like I said before this changed all of us. It influenced my decision to major in Criminal Justice and Psychology and the work I do today, at 42. At 42 though, I can't help but wonder what chance he has when he gets out? Someone posted above that he was out and went right back in, I don't know how accurate that is. I do know that his release date is coming in December, regardless. He's served his time. He not only robbed Kelly of a life but HIMSELF. He's now used to having to ask for permission to eat, sleep and have bodily functions. He has no idea how to drive, pump gas, use Netflix, develop trusting and meaningful relationships, etc. All stuff we take for granted having not spent the majority of our life locked up. Couple this with parents who abandoned him and a community who hasn't forgotten; he's got a rocky road ahead for sure. I hope and pray he has forgiven himself and asked his maker for forgiveness. That's the only chance he's got.

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    1. After reading your post, it's safe to say we know each other. Dave Babicki is one of my closest friends.

      I am a little shocked at your sympathy for Terrance, but respect your right to share your opinions. However, I could care less about him not knowing how to pump gas or use Netflix. He took Kelly's life and she will never experience any of those things.

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