December
21st,
2019
Dear
Friends,
With
a heavy heart, we are writing to inform you that the Texas Board of
Pardons and Paroles has decided to release the offender, Brandon
Threet, on parole. While we are clearly disappointed with the Board’s
decision, we could not have gone this far in the parole process
without your strength and support.
On
December 19th, 2019, we received the following notice from the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division:
On 12/19/2019, the Board of Pardons and Paroles approved the offender for parole; the
offender will be tentatively released in May 2020.
The offender will have the following special conditions imposed on his parole supervision:
o The offender shall be released to a high level of supervision.
o The offender shall comply with the Super Intensive Supervision Program.
o The offender shall not enter the following counties: Travis and Williamson counties.
o The offender shall have no contact with any member of the deceased victim's family.
The Board of Pardons and Paroles can impose, withdraw or modify special conditions at
their discretion. You will receive additional notification when the offender's parole
certificate is issued, giving you the telephone number of the supervising District Parole
Office. After the offender's release, you may contact the Victim Services Division for the
supervising parole officer's name; as well as the offender's physical address.
offender will be tentatively released in May 2020.
The offender will have the following special conditions imposed on his parole supervision:
o The offender shall be released to a high level of supervision.
o The offender shall comply with the Super Intensive Supervision Program.
o The offender shall not enter the following counties: Travis and Williamson counties.
o The offender shall have no contact with any member of the deceased victim's family.
The Board of Pardons and Paroles can impose, withdraw or modify special conditions at
their discretion. You will receive additional notification when the offender's parole
certificate is issued, giving you the telephone number of the supervising District Parole
Office. After the offender's release, you may contact the Victim Services Division for the
supervising parole officer's name; as well as the offender's physical address.
We
understand how difficult it was to write a parole protest letter or
to sign a parole protest petition. We appreciate the time, effort,
thought and heart you put in. Since
our first parole protest in 2012, and
our
subsequent protests in
2015, 2017 and 2019, your support for
us increased
each year
and we are grateful.
Every word in your letters and every signed petition had a
significant impact on the Parole Board's decision.
However,
against our wishes, rather than have the offender serve his full
sentence until 7/15/2022, the Parole Board determined that now was
the time to release the offender under parole supervision tentatively
in May 2020, to insure a better outcome for the offender and the
community. The Parole Board also considered the violent “Nature of
the offense” and imposed strict conditions on the offender, Brandon
Threet, including the highest level of supervision, wearing a
monitoring device, not entering Travis or Williamson counties, and
not directly or indirectly contacting us.
We've
been told by TDCJ Victim Services that our protest has been one of
the largest in recent history. To process our protest, TDCJ Victim
Services expedited improvements to their system that ultimately help
other victims, their families and friends in protesting their
offender's parole.
There
are not enough words for us to express our gratitude to you for
helping us over the years. We can only recite Terence's expectation
of life which he wrote in his college essay:
My goal is to reach an old
age and be able to look back on my life and smile,
knowing that others have benefited from me being alive,
and I have impacted their lives in a positive way.
knowing that others have benefited from me being alive,
and I have impacted their lives in a positive way.
Because
of Threet's cruelty and violence, Terence didn't live to an old age
and Terence will never get the chance to look back on his life and
smile. Terence's death has brought us pain and grief forever.
Your
support and friendship along with Terence's words have helped bring
us the courage to live positively. Again, we thank you for standing
with us. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Sincerely,
James,
Chung, and Brendan McArdle
I am saddened to hear about this. I was his neighbor in Anderson Mill, was in the same grade, and knew them both. I just spoke to my son about this story. Such a senseless act, and I felt the “remorse” he showed appeared attention-seeking and selfish. I had hoped he would not be pardoned, and I know this seems late- but, sadly, I had not had a reason until today to think of this awful travesty until today. I knew Terrance to be a nice, kind, and smart young man. I know there had been a petition for Brandon’s release and I cannot understand how any one would sign that- I specially the people that we went to school with, who knew them both, and his behavior and attitude way before this awful event took place. Brandon was never a good person. For all the years I grew up across the street from him- I never saw him being nice to me, my family, or the neighborhood kids that would get together for basketball and such. Just know there are a few of us that are always on the right side, for Terrence.
ReplyDeleteDear Friend,
DeleteYour comments on the website justiceforterencemcardle.com on October 17, 2026, touched our hearts deeply.
Twenty-five years ago, on October 17, 2001, we held a memorial service for Terence so that family and friends could gather to say goodbye to him.
A quarter of a century has passed. Throughout these years, we have done our best to move forward with hope, keeping Terence's spirit alive in our hearts and minds.
Your words brought tears to our eyes. It means so much to us to know that Terence made a positive and lasting impact on his friends. Thank you for reaching out to us and for sharing your thoughts and memories with us.
With heartfelt gratitude,
James and Chung McArdle