I am a mother who has experienced the unimaginable pain of burying her own son. My son's killer, Ryson Kelly, let me live in anguish, not turning himself in for 17 long months despite having a lawyer. The wound grows deeper knowing that he is facing an assault charge instead of one for murder, all thanks to his lawyer's tactics. Now, after serving just two years of his sentence, talk of parole begins.

Ryson only served two years for a crime as heinous as ending a life. His premature release only serves to teach him - and others - that it's possible to evade the long arm of the law. This voids the essence of the justice system and enables criminals to believe they can get away with murder. Paroling him so soon doesn't just make a mockery of the legal system, but also devalues the life of my son, the love and life he was to the people around him.

As the grieving mother, I cannot stand by and watch. My son deserves justice - a word that seems to become abstract with every passing day. Today, I implore you, not just as a citizen but as a heartbroken mother, to help us deny parole to Ryson Kelly. We need to send a clear message, not just to him, but to any potential offender that we will not tolerate such inhumane disregard for life and justice.

This petition comes not only from a place of personal agony but from a place of wanting to safeguard our communities. Let's ensure that our justice system serves its purpose. Please sign this petition to deny parole to Ryson Kelly for my son, for us, and for justice.