Mother of murder victim seeks justice reforms

The mother of a murder victim whose killer was paroled after nearly 30 years in prison, said the criminal justice system let her down.

Peggy Brockway, mother of Douglas Brockway, who was murdered by Ransford Bryan III in 1987, is disappointed.

“Disappointed in our justice system,” she said.

Bryan had been friends with Douglas Brockway when the two went squirrel hunting in the woods. Bryan returned, but Brockway did not. During the search for Douglas, Bryan lived at the Brockway’s home. Douglas Brockway’s body was found two weeks later, dead of a gunshot wound to the head.

Bryan pleaded guilty to shooting Brockway and was originally sentenced to life without possibility of parole. On appeal, Delaware Supreme Court ordered a new trial because Bryan did not have a lawyer present when questioned by police. Bryan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. His first parole hearing was in 2004 and Bryan had parole hearings annually starting in 2014.

Brockway said she had a feeling Bryan would be paroled this time, despite objections from her, members of the community and the Delaware Department of Justice.

Brockway said the state changed sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder in 1990; Bryan would have gone to prison for only 13 years under the new guideline, she said.

“I’m not angry. I think our judicial system needs a lot of work. I think we have too many liberal people that are more for the criminal than for the victims. I think it’s time that the public has more say in what goes on in our communities,” she said.

Brockway said communities should decide through a vote whether violent offenders get let out and back into the community.

“I’ve had many phone calls where they are very disappointed, very angry as a matter of fact,” she said.

Brockway said petitions seeking denial of parole for Bryan, which she has circulated every year he has been eligible, had more signatures than ever this year.

“I’m sorry the system let us down. But we need to keep fighting to change the system,” she said. “Anything I can do to fight these violent criminals right now, I’m going to do.”

Bryan’s attorney, Andrew Rosen, said Bryan has put together an impressive record of rehabilitation during his time in prison and looks forward to continuing those efforts on the outside.

Brockway said she was not convinced Bryan has been rehabilitated.

“It’s been lie after lie after lie. My son told us, ‘Don’t trust him, he steals and he lies.’ But he felt sorry for him - he wanted him to get on his feet. Obviously, that’s the thanks we got. I think he’s very deceitful. He’s learned how to talk and what to say and what to do in prison so he can get what he just got.”

Rosen said he understood the anguish the Brockways are going through and that Bryan would not try to contact the family unless they want to contact him through an agency like Victim’s Voices Heard.

Brockway said she was looking to move on with her life and not be controlled by anger at Bryan.

“He had enough control when he did this and throughout the years. I refuse to let him have that control anymore,” she said.

Bryan will be on work release under strict supervision at first before moving into monitored probation.

Peggy Brockway’s home salon contains an old chair Doug had given her, and she spoke of the impression he left on people despite his short life.

“He was a good kid,” she said. “He loved to play jokes. He was a very interesting person. He loved older people, but he loved little babies too. He was a family person. I just can’t imagine why somebody like that loses their life as opposed to somebody harsh and cold like Randy.”