In 2004, Ryan Joseph Holle was sentenced to life in prison under Florida's felony murder law. His crime? Lending his car to his roommate and some friends who then used that vehicle to commit a burglary during which a young girl was tragically murdered. At the time of that crime, however, Ryan was at home in his bed asleep. 

The prosecutor in this case contended that without a car to commit the burglary there never would have been a crime in the first place. Despite the fact that Ryan had no idea that a murder would be committed that night when he lent his car to his roommate as he had done countless times before, he was charged and found to be as culpable of premeditated murder as the person who actually committed the crime itself. The roommate, William Allen, is on record stating that all Ryan did that night was say "Use the car." He did not plan a murder or a burglary. All he did was provide a vehicle to friends with no real idea what they would use the car to do. Ryan had no previous criminal record. 

At this time, Ryan has served more than what he should be held legally culpable for in conjunction with this crime. He has been imprisoned for over 10 years. At this time, we, the signers of this petition, plead you to commute Ryan Holle's sentence allowing it to be reduced to time served so that he may go home to his family.