An Open Letter to Manuel Contreras-Galdean

Mr. Contreras-Galdean:

On November 15, 2008, you killed Kelly Tracy. Kelly was 16 years old when you decided to get behind the wheel of a car with a blood alcohol level of 0.192 – more than twice the legal limit – at six-thirty in the morning.

This was, according to some reports, the third time you’ve been caught driving under the influence. Lord only knows how many other times you drove drunk and didn’t get caught.

And this time you killed a young, vibrant and incredibly talented young girl.

Here it is, ten months later and you still haven’t gone to trial.

And now according to a story in today’s Arizona Republic, you’re asking prosecutors and the judge for a lighter sentence in your plea bargain negotiations.

You’ve got some nerve.

You say you are sorry “for the pain you’ve caused the Tracy family”.

You can not begin to conceive of the pain you’ve caused the Tracy family. None of us can.

You’ve caused a lot of people a lot of pain Mr. Contreras-Galdean. I was in the room that day when school officials told the 150 or so kids in Kelly’s band that she had been killed. I was at Kelly’s memorial service and her funeral too and trust me, even a low-life piece of shit such as yourself doesn’t deserve to experience what you put those kids through.

And you want a more lenient sentence?

You don’t deserve a more lenient sentence. Hell, the 20 years the prosecutors are proposing isn’t enough. You should rot in prison. You should spend the rest of your natural life behind bars for murdering Kelly. I’m not even considering the three counts of felony forgery you’re also facing for falsifying employment records and using a fake social security number to get a job while you were in this country illegally. Add that to the aggravated assault and Manslaughter charges you face for killing Kelly and the simple fact is, you should never walk free again. Ever.

Yet you have the gall to ask for a more lenient sentence. You make me sick.

Why don’t you man up and for once in your pathetic life and do the right thing? Shut up, quit your crying and go to prison for as long as the courts tell you to. The Tracy’s have agreed to the current plea offer, who the hell are you to argue for less?

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davidgplummer

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

None

Aren't you being a little rough on the guy? Accidents, even tragic ones, happen.

Jay Thompson

When a person convicted of multiple DUIs *choses* to get behind the wheel at 6:30am, knowing damn well he's drunk, I don't consider that an accident.

This guy was a ticking time bomb, that finally went off.

Was I a little rough on him? I don't think so, and if I was, oh well. I can't put in print what I'd do to the guy if given the opportunity.

acemaker

My nephew did two tours of duty in Iraq only to come home and get killed by a drunk driver. He only got 4 years. Sean will never return to us here on earth. People like Manuel do not deserve to roam the streets again for quite a long time.

Jay Thompson

I believe we briefly chatted about Sean in Colorado Springs. Tragic. And 4 years is just ridiculous. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Crystal R0ten

A very sad situation... My prayers are with the Tracy family and friends of the victim!

ashlee07

With being convicted of prior DUI's he deserves everything that comes to him. Obviously a slap on the back doenst mean anything to him.

ozzieramirez

When I was 3 my brother was killed by a drunk driver right outside of Boston, Mass. It was his senior year and he was a genius. He could have been amazing things, but I will never know. Even worse we never got to know eachother. All I have is pictures of me on his shoulders on my birthday. It hurts to write or even think about. My mom believed that God gave me to her because he took Ricky(my brother). I know she was always looking to find him in me. I am so sad to say that she never did find him. He's gone and he never came back.
Even as I have been affected by DUI/DWI I believe in forgiveness, but a multiple offender like him will not learn his lesson until he is forced to pay for the rest of his life.
He should face life in prison or worse and he should be forced to write a check and a hand written letter to the family of the deceased apologizing every month for the rest of his life, until the family allows him to stop.
It's probably pretty easy for some dumbass REALTOR® that has never lost anyone to drunk driving to say something so stupid. Typical idiot REALTOR® to think that Blogs are strictly for business. Even more idiotic to call it unprofessional. Are you really looking for professionalism or leads when you write form how you feel and about passionate topics.
I love real blogs.
I'm glad I met you Mr. Thompson.
Keep it real and don't let idiot REALTORS® or anyone else stop you from speaking your mind.
-Ozzie Ramirez-
"The Original Facebook Gangster"
"Hella house sellin REALTOR® from Houston, TX"
"Social Media Guru"
"HAHAHAHAHAH"

Jay Thompson

Hey Ozzie - I'm so sorry for your loss. There really are no words that can express how much something like this must hurt.

As for the guy that said this post was unprofessional and wouldn't get leads, he clearly doesn't get it. I could care less about what this post does from a traffic and lead point of view -- it wasn't written for that. It was written to help me vent, and to hopefully make a point -- that drunk driving impacts a LOT of people.

IndyAgent

Jay - I'm concerned you won't get leads when you start writing from your heart about the tragedy this family had to face. Someone is too quick to judge your actions, unless, of course, it was their child.

and......... for the record, the passion Jay writes with here is the same passion he brings to his business. I'm not just a REALTOR friend, I chose Jay to sell my Phoenix home because of his passion. Keep telling it like it is, Jay!

rosenbaum

Jay, thank you for sharing this powerful story. You are correct, we have to get tougher on those that repeatedly put us and our loved ones in danger. I don't understand how the anonymous commenter that thinks that you are being too rough and that "accidents happen" can't realize that this wasn't an accident. The driver was not accidentally drunk. He was drunk on purpose. My prayers go out to the friends and family of this tragedy.

gregdove

This goes to show those liberals that do not want to find and throw out illegal aliens. There are consequences to not wanting to follow the law.

davidgplummer

This has nothing to do with "liberals" or fascists or conservatives or the "Party of No." Pointing the fingers at everyone else is the problem. Instead of accepting personal responsibility, it is always the fault of someone else. How many people have been killed by drunk drivers who are legal, native-born citizens of the United States.......tens of thousands over the years. Is that the fault of "liberals" as your say, or the fault of ignorant, irresponsible individuals who choose to get behind the wheel when drunk?

Jay Thompson

Well said David. When someone drives drunk, there is only one person to blame...

I included the fact that this guy was an illegal alien simply because it shows he has zero respect for the law. He came here illegally, go arrested, was deported, came back illegally, and killed someone. He's accused of felony forgery, and a multiple convicted drunk driver. And he's a murderer. He has no respect for the law, and yet has the gall to ask for a lighter sentence. It's absurd.

PatrickMahony

I was at the Parade that day. Every time I drive that road, I think of Kelly. I think of how those parents were destroyed, and forced to continue for their other children. Sentenced to live each day with only memories.

Honestly, I couldn`t do it. I wouldn`t do it.

I have always valued the time I have with my Children, I learned that day just how quick everything could change.

Gilbert is not Chicago or New York, where 7 years for Manslaughter, and out in 4, is a punishment that fits the crime.

Gilbert, thanks you for writing this Jay.

rasharooo

Jay, this is frustrating!!!! So many stupid people in the world that think they deserve a second, third . . . .tenth chance. Put these people where they belong, and for good. The third strike law should apply here (ps - not sure if it does, but guessing from what I hear it doesn't)

Anonymous REALTOR

Dan Mitchell

Being allowed to live the rest of his natural life, even from behind bars, is already a pretty light sentence, based on the fact that this was the third time, as you pointed out, that he was caught.

Probaby too lenient, as far as I'm concerned, based on the way that drunk driving has affected my family.

gdallaire

Jay,

Your open letter to this murderer is not only relevant but it show's the true passion you have for human life. Suprisingly a select few choose to criticise you. I commend you for your strong passionate words.

Blog's aren't just about writing about real estate they are also about your personal life. You'd be suprised I get more traffic and clients from blogs about my personal life then I do from my professional informative blogs. People like to know who they work with on a personal level.

My thoughts and prayers goes out to the family. Hopefully justice will be served.

Jay Thompson

"You'd be suprised I get more traffic and clients from blogs about my personal life then I do from my professional informative blogs. "

Doesn't surprise me in the least. I've had a lot of people tell me their favorite posts are those that show the human behind the keyboard.

Thanks for your kind words, and the thoughts for the family.

Best Savings Account Rates

I do not know when we can save our kids and youngsters from this alcohol monster. This is getting weird; we are loosing lives of many people. We need stronger measures to stop this.

jimgatos

Figured in Arizona, home of Tombstone and "Western Styled Justice", that a scumbag like Manuel Contreras-Galdean wouldn't even be able to think of asking for what he did.. I was wrong.. Jay, if you want to see scum like that on a daily basis and a good amount of them actually getting away with this shit, take a plane and come visit our wonderful Commonwealth of Massachusetts!

Name

THIS IS FOR YOU ! JAY THOMSON !!
HEY IM PART OF MANUELS FAMILY THAT GUY YOU LIKE TO TALK SHIT ABOUT THAT GUY RIGHT THERE MANUEL CONTRERAS GALDEAN IS PART OF MY FAMILY AND HE ALSO HAS PEOPLE THAT LOVE HIM VERY MUCH AND MISS HIM AND MAY YOU KNOW NOT JUST HE USED A SOCIAL TO WORK BUT MANY OF US DO SO WE CAN SURVIVE YOU DO NOT HAVE A HEART WHAT SO EVER YOU MANIAC FREAK WE ARE VERY SORRY FOR THE ACCIDENT YES BUT ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND BY HAVING MANUEL BE SENTENCED FOR A LONG TIME IS NOT JUST GOIN TO BE THAT ONE PERSON THAT WAS KILLED BUT ITS GOIN TO BE MORE THAN ONE BECAUSE OF MANUELS PARENTS THAT ARE OLD AND SICK AND HOPEING TO SEE THERE SONS FACE AGAIN .MANUEL IS A VERY GOOD MAN ALCOHOL WAS JUST AN ADDICTION HE WAS TRYING TO PUT OFF WITH HE WANTED TO QUITE BT WAS SOMETHING THAT HIS FRIENDS WOULD ALWAYS DO AND FRIENDS ARE SOMETIMES WHAT PUT YOU THROUGH THE WRONG PATH .IT WAS NOT MANUELS INTENTIION TO MAKE CRASH THAT ACCIDENT FOR YOUR INFORMATION AS IT HAPPEND IT COULD HAVE HAPPEND TO YOU . KELLY WASNT NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT SHE WASNT RUSHED HOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL SHE COULD OF MADE IT BT THEY DECIDED TO DRIVE HER THERE INSTEAD OF HAVING HER GET QUICKLY BY HELICOPTER IT TOOK MORE TIME & WAS HEADING TO THE WRONG HOSPITAL THERES ALOT OF INFO THAT YOU DIDNT STATE .DONT TRY TO PUT MANUEL TO BAD BECAUSE GOD LOVES EVERYBODY EVEN MANUEL! AND JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS ALCOHOL INVOLVED DOESNT MEAN HE COUSED IT. THIS ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY WETHER DRINKING OR NOT !!!!

*HAVE A HEART DONT GO AGAINST SOMEBODYS HEART YOU NEVER GOT TO MEET.

MANUEL GIVES THANKS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THERE FOR HIM & ARE CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY !