In 1983 15-year-old (William) Wayne Thompson (#135088) was convicted and sentenced to death for killing his ex-brother-in-law who abused his sister, Vickie Mann, and beat him when he tried to protect her. His case made national headlines because he was sentenced to death at such a young age. His case went before the United States Supreme Court and after five years on death row, his sentence was reduced to a life sentence.He is now 48 years old and has served 32 years.

Since being in prison Wayne:

• has matured and now understands the consequences of his actions and is sorry for the life he took.

• hasn't had any write-ups for more than 16 years and never for a violent act.

• has voluntarily completed nearly every class the Oklahoma Department of Corrections offers.

• has voluntarily shared his story with troubled children and adults.

• has received a college degree and many other educational and work certifications.

• has never affiliated with gangs.

• attends church regularly, even helping the elderly and handicapped prisoners to service.

• started his own AA group.

• has always been recommended for parole by a parole investigator.

• has support of prison staff members.

In 2003, after 20 years in prison, Wayne was finally granted parole and was working his way out. For seven months Wayne was able to see the outside world he had only last seen as a teenager. But in Oklahoma, the Governor has the last say on parole and later denied him and Wayne was forced to return to prison. According to Wayne, it was worse on him than going to prison the first time.

As hard as it was for him, Wayne stayed the course and has remained an exemplary prisoner.Wayne has served more years than the average prisoner in the United States for a life sentence. Studies have proven juveniles are not capable of understanding the full consequences of their behavior. Studies have also proven that based on his age, education and length of time spent in prison, his chances of returning to prison are minuscule. In 1983, Wayne was called a child killer but in 2015 he would be classified a victim of domestic violence.  He has now spent two-thirds of his life behind bars and is coming up for parole again in October 2015.

We as his supporters, ask the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and Governor Mary Fallin to commute his sentence to time served and give him a chance to prove himself.