To the Tennessee Board of Parole,

I, Daniel Frye, along with my four sisters Sheila Frye Cruz, Christie Frye Troglen, Lisa Frye Betschart and Michelle Frye Spray, grandchildren Jared Hefley, Parker Betschart, Amanda Troglen Briggs and Zoe Cruz are writing this petition to request that you deny parole for Jimmy Ray Cureton (Offender Number 00291142). This petition is personal to us as our father and grandfather, Windham M. (Bill) Frye, was brutally murdered by Cureton on January 26th, 1990.

Our father and grandfather was a loving husband to our mother Jean Frye and a devoted father and grandfather to all of us. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and create a safe and nurturing environment for us. However, on that fateful day in 1990, our lives were forever shattered when Cureton took away our beloved father's life because of an argument over the refusal to sell a pack of cigarettes to then 17-year old Cureton .

Cureton committed the heinous act of felony murder and especially attempted aggravated robbery against Bill Frye. He callously shot him at point-blank range with a 12-gauge, sawed-off shotgun blast that struck him in the face and chest. The pain inflicted upon our family cannot be put into words; it has left an indelible mark on each one of us.

We firmly believe that individuals who commit such violent crimes should be held accountable for their actions throughout their entire sentence. Granting parole to someone like Jimmy Ray Cureton would not only disregard the severity of his crime but also undermine the justice system's responsibility to protect society from dangerous offenders.

While we understand that rehabilitation is an important aspect of incarceration, it is crucial not to overlook the gravity of certain crimes like murder. According to statistics from reputable sources such as the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), recidivism rates among individuals convicted of homicide are alarmingly high compared to other offenses. This highlights the need for continued incarceration to ensure public safety and prevent further harm.

Denying parole for Jimmy Ray Cureton will serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate committing similar acts of violence. It will send a clear message that our society and the State of Tennessee values the lives of innocent victims and their families, and that justice will be served accordingly.

We implore you, members of the Tennessee Board of Parole, to consider the devastating impact this crime has had on our family and deny parole for Jimmy Ray Cureton. We also ask that you set the next parole hearing 6 years from September 5, 2023, the maximum time allowed between hearings. We ask this because my father's murder went unsolved for 6 years and the victim lied to law enforcement upon his initial arrest the night of the murder and said he was innocent. He was released that night and stole 6 years of freedom while my family fought diligently for justice and suffered pain and trauma trying to bring justice and help solve his murder.

Each of us has had our lives greatly altered by this horrific crime. Throughout the 33 years since the crime, I, Daniel Frye have given countless volunteer hours fighting for justice for not only my father's murder, but for the lives of many Knoxvillians' homicide victims. I have attended numerous parole hearings over the years speaking out against parole for despicable crimes since the early 1990s. I was a founding member of the East Tennessee Victims’ Rights Task Force and also a member of Hope for Victims for many years. HOPE was established as group dedicated to victims’ rights for crime victims and survivors of violent crime. I have spoken publicly at various local organizations about violent juvenile offenders and the murder of my father by then 17-year-old Jimmy Ray Cureton. I’m also a board member of the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Murderers (NOVJM), and have heard hundreds of accounts of horrific crimes committed by juveniles.

In 2015 I was honored for my work in victims’ rights by TRICOR, The Tennessee Department of Corrections and The State Board of Parole with the Voice of the Victims Award. Although, I am very humbled and grateful for the time I spent working with victims of crime, I deeply wish it had never been necessary for myself, family and others in our community, state and nation that have been impacted by violent crime.

Each of my sister's lives and relationships were tremendously impacted by our father's violent end. My sister Lisa oversaw domestic violence as a civilian social worker with the Knoxville Police Department and later became a police officer until she was forced to retire due to a work-related injury; Christie has been a life-long bedside nurse in ICU and other departments and has taken care of countless patients, including criminals whom she gave the same high-level of care to as she would any other patient; Sheila with her deep faith grew to minister to many with trauma through healing prayer, and Michelle has worked for many years in the field of Prevention studies helping to alleviate many aspects of our society's problems including drug and alcohol prevention. 

However, the survivor most impacted by my father's murder is no longer alive to speak of her trauma. My mother, Barbara Jean Frye, passed away of Lewy Body Dementia in 2017. She was 56 years old when my father was killed and had to go back to full-time work to make ends meet. His death had a profound impact on her mental health. The onset of Lewy Body Dementia, a horrible disease revealed the deep wounds to her heart and mind. My Daddy's death haunted her through the form of violent delusions that tortured her mentally. Countless times in her confusion, she suffered delusions believing one of her loved ones was being murdered or raped. In my heart I believe the murder of my father had direct implications on my mother’s diagnosis, disease and suffering. That is one of the hardest wounds for me to forgive.

In closing, I and my family and friends who have signed below, ask you to consider if paroling Jimmy Ray Cureton is true justice for the violent loss of life he took with premeditation? We as a family believe he should remain incarcerated. By doing so, you will uphold justice, protect society from potential harm, and provide solace to those affected by his heinous actions.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Daniel Frye
Sheila Frye Cruz
Christie Frye Troglen
Lisa Frye Betschart
Michelle Frye Spray

Grandchildren:
Jared Hefley
Parker Betschart
Amanda Troglen Briggs
Zoe Cruz