Dear Honorable Judge Weimer,

I’ve had a long time to reflect on all the suffered that I caused by choices that I made. I hope Danny’s family knows just how sorry I am and how ashamed I am of myself. I know I caused them immense pain that will never heal and I do think about all the things that Danny and his family missed out on. Danny was a good person and didn’t deserve to die that way. He never got to start a family of his own. He never got to meet his nieces and nephews. I’ve thought about all the birthdays, anniversaries and weddings Danny missed out on. His parents won’t have grandkids by their firstborn because of me.

When I look back and think about the person that I was, I just can’t believe that I got to a point where I could’ve done something like that. I’m sure a lot of people wish they could go back in time and talk to their younger self, but none more than me. I just wish I could talk some sense into myself and help me see clearly the destructive path that I was going down and the ripple effects that my choices have. I had a family that loved me but I somehow let drugs overtake the person I was and make me become someone that I should not have been. I was too young and immature to recognize the destructiveness of my choices and actions. Even though I now see that using drugs changed who I was, I don’t blame drugs because no one made me use them. I made the stupid choice to start smoking weed and later using ecstasy and cocaine. My life after high school and before jail is blurred by the cocaine I used to keep going. I made a lot of money selling marijuana and I spent a lot of it getting high.

For a long time, I was in total denial about what I had done and believed that admitting it would hurt the ones who love me and support me. I knew I would let them down and I hated hurting my family and friends. I thought maybe they won’t love me or support me if I admitted what I did. Once I started lyig, the truth became harder and harder for me to see or admit. I felt like a fraud, but I didn’t see a way out. I was wrong. They still do love and support me even with acknowledging this terrible thing that I did. Because of what I did and because I admitted it I will now forever be labeled a murderer by my family and society. Now I will be going back to prison and will be a felon for the rest of my life and on probation when I get out. I understand and accept those things because I did help kill Danny and I would rather tell the truth and be punished than continue to feel like a fraud. My family deserves the truth. More than anyone, Danny’s family deserved the truth. I really wish that there was something I could do to fix all this or take it back. Because I can’t, I will do all I can. Moving forward to become a better man. 15 years ago, it’s as if I didn’t fully understand death and what it meant. Being on death row, I’ve seen plenty of death and the pain it causes everyone. I’ve seen the look in many men’s eyes as they walked off to be killed knowing what was coming. I’ve seen the look in my family’s eyes even when someone else was executed because they knew that I was in line for that too. I will never in my life cause that kind of suffering ever again. I had a lot of problems when I was young and immature. I let drugs overtake my values, overtake the person that I want to be. I will do everything in my power to try and redeem myself. I’ve met so many good people through all this and learned so much from them. While I may be the same human being, I’m not the same person. I have grown up a lot and will continue to grow and deepen myself. I hope to help people in prison and when I get out. I hope to find a way or a job where I can make a difference to better this world.

I am sorry for what I did even though I know that is not enough. I am sorry to my family. I am sorry to my friends and the people who have supported me. Most of all I am sorry to Danny’s parents who have suffered from losing their son.

Thank you for considering this,

Justin Wolfe