by Sean Aylward

 Over the last few months I’ve come to realize, victims are being left behind,  while their offender becomes the focus. Headlines scream their names and shine a spotlight on what they’ve done, and hide the victim deep within the story.

​In recent weeks, I’ve asked news reporters to recognize the victim in their coverage of a high profile case. Simply using a (#)hashtag with her name would help commemorate her. We must remember the innocent, we owe it to her and her family. This simple action reminds readers that there is a victim here amidst the horrific details of the case, and she must never be forgotten.
Earlier this month I attended a support group meeting, a potluck holiday celebration. The group is called P.O.M.C. parents of murdered children. How sad it is to attend these meetings, the requirement of membership is the last thing on earth anyone wants to experience. Even more sad, this is a national group.

 I was seated next to a chaplain who works at a local correctional facility. Ironic right? I thought so too, to say I was skeptical would be an understatement. Clearly we’d have different opinions, but I was respectful and cordial. Naturally I quickly steered our conversation to victims, not inmates. After a few minutes, he made a statement that has lingered in my thoughts since. He said “victims are often forgotten by the state because the crime is viewed as a crime against the state, not a crime against a victim”. So they simply broke the law, all they are is lawbreakers. When really, they’re predators, master manipulators and killers. I must remind you, this is not his opinion, just his observation from his position as a state employee. He followed this statement with “ it’s up to you to remind them of the victim, be their voice, bring them back to the conversation”. This statement couldn't be more true.

  I’ve found, when I tell Beth’s story face to face, the impact is much greater. It’s no longer words on a page. It’s a real story with a real victim and real survivors. High profile cases should commemorate the victim, and shun the offender. We must not lose sight of the innocent victims. Remember, they did not chose to be a victim.

               Recently I watched a mini series on Sam Adams. There were numerous scenes that still seem relevant almost 250 years later. Are we still fighting some of these same battles? Or are we busy trying to challenge the rules created by leaders of the day.

                One scene hangs in my head and prompted this blog entry. A crime had been committed, a crime that warranted punishment, public punishment. The offender was tied to a whipping post and whipped nearly to death. Did it fit the crime? Debatable ! Was it harsh? Yes ! Was it effective? YES !

                People in the crowd, young and old alike were horrified. Adults turned and walked away with children in tow. What they had witnessed will burn images into their memories. They witnessed the consequences of breaking the law. The lesson learned here was clear, you will be punished, and severely.  This horrific exhibition was meant as a deterrent and it worked.

                Here and now, society is hell bent on criminal rights, leaving victims and potential victims at greater risk. Victims never forgotten by those closest to them, but, quickly forgotten by society. Criminal advocates turn offenders into victims by sharing stories of mistreatment of prisoners. These stories most often exclude or minimize the victim and the crime that put them in prison in the first place. How about the stories of how victims were mistreated?

                The innocent victims continue to be mistreated when justice is removed. Victims didn’t get the fair trial, appeals, FREE food, room and board, clothing, medical insurance, dental coverage, college education…..etc.  I call these, “benefits of being an inmate”. Wouldn’t these benefits better serve the homeless or veterans or simply people that can’t afford them? Instead, we award these benefits to those who have no respect for law, or those who enforce it. In some cases, life in prison is better than the life they led outside. Remember when prison meant, bread and water in a cold dark cell? Now some inmates have internet access !

                If sentencing continues to minimize breaking the law, the rate at which it’s broken will rise. For various reasons our nation’s youth is becoming more and more violent, and things need to change. Deter them, let them know the seriousness of their actions and that there will be consequences…harsh consequences. If you hand down a punishment, you must uphold it. The minute you ease up, they take advantage of you and justice is gone. Justice that had once been served…….gone! 

                Victim’s rights and justice must prevail, advocate for the innocent, not the guilty.

                I know my fight will never bring Beth back, but, it will keep her in my thoughts and in my heart.    

 



Author: Big brother to Beth Brodie, Sean Aylward is a regular everyday guy trying to right a wrong. Bringing victim’s voices back to a world hell bent on criminal rights    

by Sean Aylward

We were all celebrating with family, preparing for the big day. Looking ahead to the new year, wondering what it will bring. Making resolutions, back on my diet, quit that bad habit….again and so on.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was making a decision that would derail any plans my family would have had.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided Beth’s killer deserved a chance at parole. Perhaps they  were erroneously signing papers, all the while wishing they were somewhere else celebrating the holiday. In retrospect, I too wish they had something else to do.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that “mandatory life without parole” sentences for juvenile killers are unconstitutional. Key word “mandatory”

The Massachusetts SJC decided that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling wasn’t enough. Not only removing “mandatory” from the new law, but making LWOP for juvenile killers illegal. This interpretation takes Supreme Court judges out of the decision. Today a Supreme Court judge cannot sentence a first degree murderer to LWOP because he isn’t eighteen years old. This sentence should be an option available for judges to reserve for the worst crime of all…..premeditated murder.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not instruct any State court to act retroactively.  However, Massachusetts did act retroactively.  This means killers already serving LWOP, will now be immediately eligible for parole.

Our worst nightmare was now coming true. Memories of the worst days of our lives came rushing back. The emotional roller coaster was heading up that first big hill, with no idea what was to come on the other side. The ups and downs over this year were extreme, lows so low you want to give up, and highs so high you want to tell the world. My world had changed again. I had no idea I would spend nearly every free minute this year doing my “Beth work” So many emotional hours spent writing emails, letters to newspapers, radio and television programs, telling our side of the story to anyone and everyone.

My circle of friends has grown exponentially this year. My old friends have had our backs since the start. New friends have poured in with support. Quite a team we’ve built. For this I’m thankful. We’d be nowhere without family and friends. On the tough days I think to myself  “ Beth would do the same for me” so I push on.

When you gather this holiday season, and get that little chill, know that Beth is there and say “wish you were here”

Merry Christmas

Author: Big brother to Beth Brodie, Sean Aylward is a regular everyday guy trying to right a wrong. Bringing victim’s voices back to a world hell bent on criminal rights

Today, November 18th is the 22nd anniversary of Beth’s murder. I remember almost every horrifying detail from that day. There are some I have buried deep down in order to survive.

I also remember how pure and beautiful Beth was. She was kind, funny and so smart. Beth was innocently goofy, always laughing. Beth and I were best friends. I still think about her every day.

These past 11 months since the SJC ruling have been challenging to say the least. Life has been a roller coaster with more downs than ups. My family is fighting a fight we never imagined we would have to. Since December of 2013, my family has been sharing Beth’s story to everyone who will listen. From State Representatives to TV stations, radio stations and people on the streets. In April I was invited by the DA’s office to speak at the Victim’s Rights conference. Writing my speech made me finally deal with losing Beth. I have always spoken about Beth’s death like it happened to someone else’s family. In May, my brother Sean shared our story to the Judiciary Committee Board, trying to shed light on what it has been like for our family since losing Beth, explaining why reducing life sentences for juvenile murderers convicted to life is a mistake, reminding them of the innocent lives lost and who we lost.

Newly elected politicians will take office in January. We are counting on them to right this wrong. We are fighting for change. We are fighting to make a difference. We are fighting to have Beth’s voice heard. This fight is not over and we still need help.

Thank you everyone who has supported our family this far.  We can’t thank you enough. All the letters you have written, phone calls you have made, all the planning and stories you have shared. We are so grateful for you.


Author: Dawn is Beth Brodie's passionate and loving, older sister.  Standing along side Beth's family and friends, Dawn is determined to make Beth's voice heard.

    This fall, I brought Beth's story to people that I hope will help raise awareness of this injustice. There have been some strong contacts, such as the new Governor, and many others that fit well within our network of good people just trying to help.

     The idea was to get Beth’s story in their heads, and when this issue crosses their desk, they’ll remember where it came from.

    I’ve learned that most folks have no idea what this is all about. It’s easy to think a killer may or may not be rehabilitated if it has no impact on your immediate life. When I explain to them how an innocent life had been taken, they start to see, they imagine their own family, they picture their children and how they would feel.

I see it in their face, in their eyes, the look they give me tells all. When they imagine such a tragedy striking them, their eyes well up, they don’t know what to do with their hands, and they start shifting their weight from one leg to the other. It clearly makes them upset and uncomfortable. Then they realize, what I’m talking about happened decades ago, yet here I am telling the story of the worst days of my life, re-telling, over and over again. I’m sharing feelings that had been hidden away safely for so many years. They all ask, “Why would anyone want to change a law like that? What were they thinking?” I have no answer……

          In 1994 a promise was made. The system promised to keep Beth’s killer in prison for life.  Forever! On Christmas Eve 2013, the same system broke that promise by giving her killer and others exactly like him a “meaningful chance at parole.”

     A close friend of Beth’s asked, “what can we do?” and a team was born. The accomplishments of this team are far too lengthy and will be another entry of its own.

    In January 2014 we rallied legislators to act quickly and patch this hole and uphold the sentence of Life With Out Parole. Though some stayed committed, others turned their backs on victims and their families and voted against a bill that would keep juvenile killers in prison.

The New Year will bring new faces to Government and a renewed hope that changes can happen. If there is a sliver of an opening, I’ll use it to make things right again. Common sense, everyone has it, and we must exercise our right to force them to use it.


Author: Big brother to Beth Brodie, Sean Aylward is a regular everyday guy trying to right a wrong. Bringing victim’s voices back to a world hell bent on criminal rights