Posted: Friday, May 2, 2008 12:00 am
Editor:
Open letter to Kirk Ledbetter:
Dearest Mr. Ledbetter, I was so thankful to see a letter in the paper April 27 from you. I truly believe you've hit a chord finally, since Becky Taylor wrote the letter to you. Thank you so much for continuing to search for answers. I don't feel she has the right to speak for the "community of Gillette," but it is apparent she has never lost a love one under any circumstance, or she has something to hide.
I have found there have been law enforcement officers removed from Casper and sent to other places, Gillette being one of them. I have not yet seen a letter written by you "bashing" anyone.
I lost two daughters. I have lost a grandson to suicide at 20 after his mother died from diabetes. My last grandson to die at 19 was a year ago May 12th. He was on a motorcycle with a car ahead of him and he proceeded to the light, which was green, a car turned in front of him, causing him to broadside it.
It was said my grandson was going a lot faster than possible since it was 10:30 on a Saturday, with a lot of traffic. It was also said in the police report he tested positive for pot; he never used drugs. The state test came out negative on all drugs - the second county test did, too.
In all the news reports it said he clipped the car, he broadsided it as the car turned in front of him. As if that wasn't enough, his body lay on the pavement from 10:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m., with no reason why. The coroner said he tried to remove his body before that and they wouldn't let him.
There was more than 200 people at his funeral. He was loved by everyone who knew him. My grandson and several other teenagers and young adults were always being harassed daily when they road their 4x4s. After he died, most stopped riding.
I will never forget how my grandson's death was handled, or how a lot of other deaths that are reported are handled. I have been called and told to "forget it" I will never. I don't sleep much, but do lay awake wondering how the people that condone this and other things can live smiling.
Please do keep writing, you will learn the truth I'm sure. I have the truth. I've just been waiting for an "I'm sorry," which I'm sure I'll never get. Good luck to you and God bless. The pain will never go away, but it will help to know.
STELLA McMASTERS, Casper