New parents of premature twins, Brent & Julie Jones, left their home one evening to attend a Christmas party with friends. Brent would never again return home to help raise his new twins.  Traveling on a busy high way, the young couple opted for what was believed to be the safer route that would go thru downtown. Instead, they were met by a wrong way driver traveling at a high speed. The last sentence Julie ever heard from her husband was, “Ju, that car”.  Knowing they were going to be hit, the young mother did her best so that the impact would occur at the back of the car. But, he was traveling too fast & hit the passenger’s front side. Brent died upon impact of the two vehicles. Witnesses that approached the cars said the other driver stated his first words as “I gotta get out of here”.

Upon investigation, officers determined the other vehicle was being driven by Jake Strickland. a 3 time DUI offender driving on a suspended license. Being a multiple DUI offender with a blood alcohol concentration of .20, 2 1/2 times the legal limit, prosecutors elevated the charge to felony murder. A jury of his peers sentenced him to 35 years in prison. Having served 17 of the required 17.5 years, Strickland is now up for review for possible parole in June of this year.

The twins, now seventeen have lived all but nine months of their lives without a father to love & guide them. Julie, also injured in the wreck, became chronically ill when the twins were in 4th grade. Now on an IV to stay alive, the family has been faced with many challenges. With the kids soon leaving for college, Julie will become an empty nester, a time she & Brent should be enjoying together. Having been robbed of this joyful period in a couple’s life, Julie will now be spending this time alone. It is not the time when Brent’s killer should be considered for release from prison. Please support this family’s belief that the TDCJ Board of Paroles & Pardons should deny Jake Strickland’s parole consideration by signing this petition.