Friday, November 05, 2010

Another Letter from Terrence Sampson

Ms. Ronni,

I pray that my words find you to be blessed and doing well in life. I received some blog entries from my Wife today that have truly piqued my interest, and I wanted to write you a response in hopes that you will respond back to me.
I must admit that I laughed when I read Drivers response that said that:"His letter to you sounds like something worked over with an Attorney. Just the language."

Well I guess one of the First things I would like for you to know about Terrence the Adult is that I am a budding writer. I will receive my Masters degree from the University of Houston-Clear Lake(at the end of this Fall semester) with a degree in Literature. The Masters program on this Unit offers a strong writing program, and I have been blessed with the money to be able to further my education while being in prison. I had received my Bachelors degree in Psychlogy from Sam Houston State University in 2003. The Professors from the campus come to teach us, in case you are wondering how it works in prison.

I have also written A Prisoners Family Handbook for a non-profit organization called Community Solutions of Elpaso. an organization founded by Ms Carolyn Esparza, a remarkable woman who is like a second Mother to me. She was my very first caseworker when I had arrived at Giddings State Home and School, and we have maintained contact for 20 years now. No one knows me like Ms. Esparza, and God blessed me to eet her, for it was her that helped fix all the hings that was broken with a young Terrence. She even volunterred her time after her work hours to do family counseling with me and my Parents for about two years. If you really want o know about my growth and development over the years, Ms. Esparza is someone to talk to, for she has watched me grow from a boy to a Man in prison.

Ms. Ronni what really appealed to me was your comment about coming to visit me. I would very much like to have the opportunity to visit with you si that you can see for yourself the type of man I have become. More importantly I would be grateful for the opportunity to apologize to someone who was directly impacted as a result of my actions. I can't change my visiting list until February, but that would give us a few months to correspond before you actually come to visit,IF thats something you would like to do.

Just for the record, I had wrote that letter to you after I received another denial for parole. When I wrote you I already knew I wouldnt be up fpr parole again until April of 2013. I received a three year set off in April of this year.

Before I let you go, I just wanted to comment on one more thing. I am in no position to try and say what is fact or what is fiction as it relates to the things said about me After December of 1989, but I do want to say that over the years people took opportunities to dump on me to try to make me look the worst that they could, especially while I was at Giddings State Home and School. I've NEVER made a death threat to anybody, but before I went back to court when I was 18to determine wheather to send me to prison or parole me, something negative had to be said about a young man who had no violent outbursts or physical altercations while at TYC, a young man with an exemplary disciplinary record who graduated valedictorian of his highschool class and was President of the student council. Something negative had to be said.When I saw TYC in the news a few years back, exposed for the corruptions that has lasted for years, I couldnt help but to think about the saying of, "Everything that happens in the dark will eventually come to the light."

Ms. Ronni I am guilty of doing some bad things in my life, but I am not guilty of making a death threat towards Ms. Judy Brumbelow. I dont like to sound like I am assuming a victim stance,but the truth is the truth. Ive never blamed Ms. Brumbelow for anything. I am indebted to Ms. Brumbelow and I wish I had the opportunity to express my remorse and regret for what Ive done to her. I almost had that opportunity once, but I blew it because I made the choice to lose myself in this prison life, but that is another story for another time.

I've traveled more than a few paths while being in prison, but now, today, I am finally fulfilling the potential of the man that God wants me to be, and doors of opportunity are coming open for me to make a positive difference in the lives of others, through my writing. My first self-help book will be published next year, only it will never bear my name, and I'll never receive a cent for it, all proceeds will go to Community Solutions. My focus now is just on having a positive difference, and once you hear my story you will understand why. I have almost died in prison on a few occasions because of foolish choices that I made during my early years of incarceration, and one choice I made just three years ago that left me with 29 stitches. I believe I am still alive because I have a purpose, and I intend on fulfilling my potential in a way that will benefit others. I really do put forth an effort every day of my life to try to use my experiences to bring some good out of a terrible situation.

I will let you go Ms. Ronni. May God bless you with peace and prosperity.

Terrence Sampson

Feel free to email my Wife I believe you have the email address.

39 comments:

  1. No offense intended, but I think a "budding writer" would take a class in spelling, punctuation and sentence construction.

    A fisk will follow, when Real Life allows time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. a) I am 61 years old and don't appreciate being yelled at, which is how your "all caps" post reads.

    b) I am English. I grew up in an era when people cared about such arcane knowledge as spelling, punctuation and sentence construction.

    c) I am an actor, a speaker and a blogger. Communication is my life. I find that communication goes better when people take the time and trouble to used language correctly, or at least, correctly to a high school level.

    d) I would think that a person who has a degree in psychology would know how to spell it.

    e) Everyone makes typos.

    f) I am not "thrilled" by "trying to make [Terrence] look stupid." In fact, I am impressed with his writing ability, given the circumstances of his education. I think he must have worked hard.

    g) I would like to see proof of his educational achievements. I am a total skeptic, and I do not apologize for that.

    h) Do you seriously expect me to just take the word of a convicted murderer? You act as if he was busted stealing CDs or something.

    ReplyDelete
  6. An email from a friend:

    For someone who is a writer, he should concentrate on grammar...
    I believe that young people do not have fully formed brains, they do things adults wouldn't do. They lack the judgement to consider the ramifications their actions. But what Mr. Sampson did was so far beyond the scope of normal behavior that it could be termed monstrous. Every time I go to CD Fulkes, I am reminded of Kelly and the loss of her bright life. I tend to dwell on the 'might have been'. Where would she be now and what would she be doing? While nothing in life is certain, I'm sure her parents would be enjoying grandchildren now, as I am. It makes me mourn for her anew every time I see her memorial. I grieve most for her family, their loss is unending. I grieve as well for the Sampson family, they lost a life as well. The hopes and dreams of two families were shattered by a horrible, senseless act. I still want to know why.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am most interested in corresponding with Terrence, and in visiting him.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Was there a post deleted? I am confused as to why Mrs. Sampson went from reasonable to bat ass crazy in 2 hours.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think she may have read one of my other entries about him. Don't know, really. I probably ticked her off. I tick off a lot of people, you know.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is because you are a crybabypoopiepants.

    But seriously. Wow with the change of tone.

    ReplyDelete
  11. In that case, I need a new T-shirt. I have one that says "whineybabypeepeepants."

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks again to Terri for that!

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOL, sorry, forgot the correct terminoligy of your latest nickname.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, poop. I thought I had a new one!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ronni, Im anxious to find out what the reason behind this murder was too. How he was able to go that far with his concious kicking in is just beyond me. Mrs.Sampson, Im lost for words. How can you be so quick to take up for this man when hes clearly wrong. And to argue with people online like they are the oes who did something wrong. Hes told all about his acheivements, etc. We dont care about his personal life, we care about the life that was taken. We want and deserve to know why......Lets see how good he accomplishes that.

    ReplyDelete
  16. "Without his consious kicking in"

    ReplyDelete
  17. Actually, it's "conscience." The noun form os "conscious" is "consciousness," and has an entirely different meaning.

    That said, I don't understand, either. I can understand the impulse to kill, but I can't comprehend following through. 97 wounds!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I find your reference to slaves offensive. Any further racist comments will be deleted.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would like to appoligize for that I shouldnt have said it the way that I did. I will keep my opion about Mr. Sampson to my self but he doesnt deserve to have any sympathy from me. He is the reason why my family is Racist. How would you feel if it was some one you loved that was brutally murdered. Come on now!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would hope that I could see it as a crime perpetrated on one person by another, and not bring the killer's entire ethnic group into the equation. If your family chooses to be racist, that's their affair, but you can't expect me to feel that way. Many of my friends are African American, and many of them read here. Terrance is the criminal here, not all African Americans.

    ReplyDelete
  22. and i agree with you My fiance is african american but because i chose to pick a man of god. Terrance made my family racist agaist all people for KILLING MY SISTER.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is the last thing im going to say and then im going to wait for people to comment on my post. I dont descriminate on peoples opinions, I dont care who you are or how you feel about different Races. Im not prejidist against any one Just TERRANCE. Hes a cold blooded heartless murderer and HE DESERVES TO BE IN PRISION indefently. 97 stab wounds deserves 97 years in prison, if i had my way i would sentance him to prison for life with out the posibility of parole but he should be great ful im not incharge. I would have him put to death.

    ReplyDelete
  24. OK. I've been pretty easy on you, because of what you have gone through. I want you to know that I can't really understand what you live with every day...all I can do is imagine how I would feel in similar circumstances.

    First, this is not Facebook, where everyone who has ever left a comment here gets a notification that there is a new comment. I have no way to let commenters know that.

    You made a comment, which I deleted, to the effect that you'd like to see him suffer what they used to do to slaves. I had very carefully not mentioned the fact that Terrance is African American, just because I wanted to discuss the case as victim and killer, without the added factors. You said, in a subsequent comment, that (and I quote) "he's the reason my family is Racist." You then asked me how I would feel if it were someone I loved who had been brutally murdered. The implication was that it would cause anyone to become a racist. I don't think so. I think I could focus my anger where it belonged, and not spread it over an entire ethnic group.

    In your most recent comment, you say you are not prejudiced against anyone but Terrance, which leads me to wonder if you actually know what the word means. "Prejudice" is composed of two elements: "pre," meaning "before," and "judice," having to do with judging. A dictionary says,

    "preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge"

    There are other definitions, but this is the one that pertains to our present discussion.

    Therefore, this cannot apply to Terrance. At least, not in the sense that your feelings are caused my his murder of Kelly. Kelly's murder had caused youj to pre-judge others, according to your comment.

    Or are you saying that your family is prejudiced, but you are not?

    And, finally, who was your English teacher at C. D. Fulkes?

    ReplyDelete
  25. I didnt not go to CD FULKS I was at a different Junior High in a different state. Just because I dont spell good or get the proper facts of correct terms for words doesnt make ME HATE TERRANCE. I do hate him. Well thank you for responding my feelings will never change about him.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am sorry. I assumed that, as Kelly's sister, you would have grown up with her, here. A different school explains a lot. You see, I know most of the English teachers there, as all three of my kids went there. I have trouble understanding your comments, at times. This:

    Just because I dont spell good or get the proper facts of correct terms for words doesnt make ME HATE TERRANCE. I do hate him.

    makes no sense to me at all. Please explain, when you have a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Our parents were divorced at the time of her murder she lived with my mom and i lived with our dad. That is the reason why I was not with kelly when she was killed or I wouldnt have let her go. I would have stopped her from going to his house. I hate my self every time i think about it. I could have saved her life if i would have been there with her.

    ReplyDelete
  28. You could not help being where you were. You were a child. It is not fair for you to blame yourself. There is no reason to assume you could have done something, had you been here. Please try to stop beating yourself up...from what I know of Kelly, she would hate that. Life goes on. theh only person responsible for Kelly's death is Terrance Sampson. No other.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Then try telling that to my grandmother she blames me for splitting my parents up, she blames me for kellys death, saying that she wishes it would have been me instead of kelly and yes at times I do feel that it should have been me. Maybe every ones life would have been alot happier if it would have been me. I cant help but wonder why he did it I want to know why. I have tried to stop beating my self up over this but Kelly is Gone and there was nothing i could do to stop it. She was my bestfriend. I knew her better than any one. She didnt deserve this, I should have been in her place.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm guessing that your grandmother is dealing with her own demons. Either that, or she is a toxic person, and, if I were yu, I would avoid her as much as possible.

    I know how hard it is to get over hearing something hurtful from someone from whom you expect nothing but love. It's as if you have been hurt twice over by Kelly's death.

    Seriously, stay away from people who hurt you. Get some counselling, if you can afford it. I am sorry if I have caused you further pain. I can't help blogging about crimes such as Kelly's murder...it's the way I work through my own demons.

    It should not have been you. This is not an either/or situation. It should not have been Kelly, either. It should not be anybody.

    Somehow, we must find a way to stop raising boys and men that are capable of doing such a thing. And we must learn how to protect ourselves and our daughters. I don't know how. I hope I live long enough to find out.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Well i have prepared my self for if he desides to come after me! I dont think he will be stupid enough to hurt two Brumbelows! thanks for all the kind words. But i really kick my self in the butt for her death cause i should have done something about it.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Seriously, D. You were a child. There was nothing you could have done. He might have killed both of you at that time...I think he was out of control with rage. However, I'm pretty sure he will not come after anyone. His killing of Kelly was not planned, and he has no reason to come after any of you.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Well he is a killer regarless if it was when i was a child or not, he acted on his rage and you cant garentee that he wont get out and come after me. You cant be possitive that he wont come after me cause your not him. I dont care how many times hes been through theropy he doesnt deserve to be out he deserves to be locked up for life IMO he deserves to die for what he did to my sister. IM not saying that cause hes black in this instance any one could have done it any race at all, Im just saying He better thank God it wasnt me cause Im the size of a linebacker and meaner then Charles Manson

    ReplyDelete
  34. For some strange reason I am not notified to this link only the other one. Every time someone posts on the other link I am emailed. That is the reason for the late response.

    First, I would like to say to Roni in no way was I yelling at you just stating my feelings, and I can't control how you perceive my posts.I can only share with you my intentions. You say yourself that you tick a lot of people off, but as for me I try not to let other people control my actions. In no way am I upset with anyone, because everyone has an opinion. The truth is I am the only one on your blog that knows Terrence today. Everyone else only knows what they hear,or him as a 12 year old boy,If they knew him then.

    In your other link a lady by the name of Renee wrote a letter to Terrence posing some of the same questions that are on this link and here is his response to those that care to know why. Although, Terrence offers no excuses for his actions hopefully you will better understand Terrence (the child)and see that Terrence (the adult) is truly remorseful for what he has done.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  38. The fact that he wasn't sentenced to death...as he should have been...is God's forgiveness for his crime...if truly sorry for his crime, he should request to not be paroled as he is blessed to be alive. Any consideration to parole this man is
    as terrible as his crime.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I went to prison when I was 18 years old, I made some terrible mistakes. I was released when I was 38, 6 months ago. I was a young white kid, scared of the environment and scared of TIME. But, I deserved it. Prison is a breeding ground for hate and I quickly got associated w/ the wrong crowd. I joined a white power prison gang. I didn't have their beliefs prior to incarceration, but things happened to make me hate all other races. before I go any further I do want to say that I don't feel this way at all anymore. the point of me sharing this is because I ended up being a cellmate to Terrance Sampson for two years. At first I didn't know what his crime was, and when I found out I felt some of my old beliefs surface. Not only the crime but the black on white issue. I kept my distance, but was forced to live in a cell (5x9) with him. Now I'm about to switch gears.. this dude, Terrance, actually helped me in so many ways. He helped me grasp the concept of "change", and really steered me in a direction of success. Not only me, but he was a teacher's aide to help gang members change their lifestyles and belief systems. I know he made a horrific choice when he was 12 years old, and I have no explanation for that. He mourns daily for his action, and knows he will have to live with the demons of his past for the rest of his life. In sum, I know Terrance for the man he is today, and he's nothing like the 12 year old kid he was. He will get out one day and I believe he will be successful and help anyone who crosses his path. Mark 11:25

    ReplyDelete