On a cool, crisp day in November of 1975, sixteen year old Ricky Dale Mire was found bludgeoned to death in an irrigation canal south of Crowley, Louisiana.
Dead for almost 34 years, yet so alive to those of us from Crowley, who grew up with the story of Ricky's death in our minds.
Ricky was a friend to my family, he "babysat" me and my brother, that is how I knew him, I was six years old when he died yet thirty-four years later his memory remains and his death saddens.
Reconciliation? Closure? Or reverence to Ricky's memory? I believe it is in combinaton...all of these things that give rise to this "blog". It is preservation too, the preservation of those memories we ponder from the innocent crevices of our childhood minds.
Whatever information I have about his death now (made public through trial transcripts, witness affidavits, polygraph results and Tommy Spell’s pardon submission), I will attempt to share here.
Anything that is learned or failed to be learned will not bring Ricky back. This exercise is for understanding alone.
Understanding for why death, lost youth, injustice and all those larger than life issues we think we know – make us dwell so long and so hard.
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I have so many great memories of Ricky. Look at the pictures of him as a young child...so sweet; so innocent. He grew up to be a caring, loving person that had my mom's heart wrapped around his finger. His death almost killed her. The depression she suffered is still with her today. It tore my family apart. Our lives were never the same, again. The two years before the trial were filled with terror for my two younger sisters; not knowing who or why. He was buried in the birthday gift I gave him. He worked to make money to spend on everyone else. He enjoyed giving to other people more than he enjoyed getting. People never focused on this part of him but instead focused on the homosexual aspect of the case. He was a person...a living, caring, loving human being...a child, a brother and a proud new uncle to my children. I was lucky to have him as a brother and I will forever hold the memories of him within my heart.
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