Hi all, I wanted to let you know that we now have 687 signatures on this petition. Thank you so much for your support!

A new execution date has been set for June 26th, 2024 which is so fitting as this is Bridget's birthday.  All we can hope for is closure with this new date.  

I am posting an update not only as a grieving family member but as a concerned citizen, puzzled by the decision of media stations to offer a platform to Ramiro Gonzales. This man, convicted of the heinous crime of raping and murdering my sister, Bridget Townsend, has left an indelible scar on our lives and the community of Bandera County, nestled in the Texas Hill Country. His actions have not only devastated my family but have also shaken the foundation of this small town, causing a ripple effect of pain and loss.  We no longer live in Bandera, as the pain is too great.

Over two decades ago, our lives were irrevocably altered when Bridget, a vibrant and much-loved member of our family, vanished under terrifying circumstances. After a harrowing search and years of agonizing uncertainty, it was Ramiro Gonzales who came forward with a confession that led authorities to Bridget's remains. His subsequent conviction for this crime, coupled with another conviction for a separate case of rape and kidnapping, should, one would think, relegate him to a position of obscurity, his voice forfeited by the gravity of his actions.

Yet, as his execution date approaches—a sentence rendered by the justice system as a consequence of his unforgivable acts—we find ourselves confronting not only the resurgence of our own trauma but the perplexing reality that Gonzales is being provided with media attention. This pattern of gaining visibility has historically facilitated a series of execution delays through increased legal intervention, a cycle that has caused my family immeasurable anguish.

The narrative of Ramiro Gonzales is not one that warrants the spotlight. Each interview, each article that casts him in a role other than that of a convicted murderer, inadvertently detracts from the memory of the victims and the ongoing suffering of their families. It raises a significant question: Why should a man who has inflicted such irreversible harm upon others be given a voice, especially when that voice has been used as a tool to manipulate the justice system and delay the closure that my family, and particularly my mother, so desperately needs?

The small community of Bandera and the broader society must not glamorize or romanticize individuals who commit such egregious acts. Instead, our focus should be on remembering the victims, supporting their families, and fostering a culture that vehemently opposes violence in all its forms. By giving Gonzales a platform, are we not, in some way, complicit in undermining these values?

I urge you to reconsider the implications of providing Ramiro Gonzales with this media attention. Consider the message it sends to the victims' families and to society at large about the value we place on human life and the pursuit of justice. Our family seeks not revenge, but closure and a measure of peace after years of heartache—a quest that is hindered, not helped, by decisions that allow the perpetrator of our pain to remain in the public eye.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope that moving forward, we can all strive to ensure that our actions and decisions honor the memory of the victims and the ongoing struggle of their families rather than those who have caused such unfathomable loss.

Sincerely, David Townsend

#justiceforbridget #bridgettownsend #bridget

Would you help me get more signatures by sharing this petition with ten other people on social media? Facebook groups, SMS chats, Twitter, email and WhatsApp all work great. If more of us sign, we can’t be ignored!

Thanks again for supporting this cause.