Color Me Butterfly

I am not a domestic violence survivor but my boyfriend, Billy Crowder, is. From the age of 6 he was repeatedly, brutally and mercilessly beaten by his grandfather, the man who raised him. After 13 years of enduring his own abuse as well as witnessing the abuse of grandmother and younger sister, Billy shot and killed his grandfather as he slept.

His story has been the subject of both A&E and Dateline episodes due to the controversial outcome of his trial. He is currently in a Georgia state prison serving a life sentence. We have been advocating for the past year for his release and attempting to spread his story to as many people as we can in the hopes of reaching someone who might be able to help us.

For more information on Billy's suffering please visit www.billycrowder.com.

An article I have written on his case can be found at http://www.alongstoryshort.net/lifeplusten.html.

The jurists nor the judge most likely had not been continuously abused as well as watching helplesslly as their family members were being brutalized. I think in the south they must believe that whatever the head of the household doles out is perfectly OK!!!!!The sheriff who lied under oath should be without a job. Its unconscienable, this case. Let Billy out of prison, please!!!!!!

I am from the south,raised by a father that had been abused as a child. He would rule the family with fear. Spare the rod spoil the child mentality. I have seen my mother lay over my brother ,when he was getting whipped,and take the blows,because it was so harsh of a whipping.My brother went to the bedroom with a gun when he became a teenager and was going to shoot my father,just like Billy he had ,had enough. My mother stopped him and got hin calmed down,he then left home @ age 16,never to return. Our childhood was steeped in fear and religion,whippings until u bleed,and noone outside our home never knew,it was just the norm for us.It was our family secret.That judge should go to hell for giving that poor child a life sentence,for armed robbery,probably he was a member of the southern good ole boy society too. Justice WAS NOT served,justice would have been that lying sheriff taking action when the neighbor made him aware of what that family was enduring. I hope with all of my heart that someone will help Billy,,and at least let that poor boy have a normal life,for once.

I was severely and continuously abused by my alcoholic, rageaholic father who actually seemed to take great pleasure in abusing me. It makes me ill that Billy went to prison. They should have considered that he'd already lived a life sentence in prison his whole life. That old shit got what he deserved, and I understand getting to that point of enough is enough and someone's got to die, and it ain't going to be me. I too, was going to blow my dad's brains out with his own .38 revolver. I didn't know alot of things at the time. I didn't know I was adopted (possibly stolen), and I didn't know I had a twin brother. I knew someone seemed to connect to me, telepathically, my whole life. That person was my twin brother, unknown to me until early 2005 when he found me. That angel brother of mine connected to me at the moment of truth, when I was about to pull the trigger on the old monster. He implored me to take all the money I had hidden (I had to hide my own money because the old man would steal everything of mine). That level of connection is a twin thing. I'm so grateful to God for my brother. My bro told me to take the money, run, and never look back. My twin brother, my hero, is the only reason I'm not in prison today for murder, as well. God bless Billy and his sister, and you, too. xo

Great article...

I just finished watching Billy's story on Discovery ID and I literally dropped my jaw when the Judge (or so called) said life in prison for armed robbery!! After seeing Casey Anthony get off for murder and this pour kid going to prison for life for his crime, I have no faith in the justice system!! I truly hope this young man gets some compassion in his upcoming parole hearing!! Let him go!!

I also just watched Billy's story. I am from the south and do not agree with Ann's comments. And neither does anyone else I know. The jury found him guilty but DID plead with the judge to give him a light sentence. I do beleive the young man did the only thing he thought he could. I hope he gets out on parole this year.

Billy Crowder CERTAINLY has my sympathy. As others have posted, my Dad abused my Mother and siblings too. Back then, it was hard to understand why my Dad was so mean, but as the years past, we THINK we understand. Of course, there isn’t ANY excuse to abuse someone, but thankfully my Dad finally ceased his rage against us.
Nonetheless, I believe Mr. Crowder was not only a victim of his grandfather’s abuse, but now (currently) he is UNFAIRLY a victim of injustice. In my opinion, that judge wanted young Billy Crowder to pay for ending the life of one of his crooked cronies. Who in this life deserves life in prison for “stealing” a few measly bucks?!?! Besides, Billy Crowder didn’t spend the money frivolously; hosting a house party. No, he said he paid some bills and to me, that does not sound like a coldhearted killer, but more like someone who removed an oppressor from their life. (They needed the money the grandfather would have spent on the three of them [anyway], so I can hardly consider that stealing.)
WOW! It’s so sad. Not so amazing that an injustice is dealt by our legal system, but that this poor little kid is STILL a victim.
May God have Mercy!

i want to help you'i have the resources to do so.

My name is Tonia, and as of the upcoming date of Oct 8th Billy and I will be married.Please let me say that I commend his ex-girlfriend for all the help years ago that she tried to get for Billy. I also, had watched Billy's case on A&E, and it touched my heart because I also grew up in an unstable ,and abusive home.My grandmother was my guardian angel ,and I just felt Billy and I connected in many ways. I didn't write him for a hook up like many have and I'm sorry to correct the above info, but I'm not ashamed of how Billy and I met that I have to say I knew him as a teenager.I honestly hope that didn't sound to harsh ,but along the way as I have tried to help Billy I can't tell you of the people that say they want to help,and that's about as far as it goes.Billy has suffered so much in which it's down to 7 months till his parole. I met Billy in 2004, and we stayed in touch for a while and the way life turned out we drifted apart.I believe God has a perfect plan for our lives he brought us together then ,and now by his grace we found each other at another time in our lives that was more perfect for us.. I firmly believe it's his call not ours. Billy, if released in 2012 will finally be able to have a real home, and family that loves him. I have a daughter that is 11 that Billy adores and she has helped him grow so much interacting with her and actually feeling like he has a reason to go on. He will also be blessed by my other two children which is 21 and 19. He has so much to look forward too.
As Billy and I grew and became closer with one another I can see the damage that place has done,and has taken so much from him. He is a wonderful, caring,and strong man he does not deserve this punishment not one day past his parole.We have prayed that with the help of his faithful friends that believe in him will help with making his dream finally come true ,so hopefully he can pick up and live life like he never has.
This is written by me to let you all know where he stands now ,and with no intentions to go against anyone Billy and I will forever be grateful for all that was done for him.I put my e-mail up ,and if their is anyone that will help us in writing the parole board will you plz contact me I have a P.O. BOX that you can mail the letters to. The reason for this is he would like to know who his supporters are, and to see just how many did this to actually help him. If you want to not let us know that's fine to he would just like to have a general idea.
Thank you all so much and for all your prayers. Plz help us he deserves this and so much more.
Billy and I we're both so excited and looking forward to our life together no matter what the outcome. Billy is also very grateful for anything that you can do to help. Thanks again so much if you have taken the time to read this.
I'm only one person and with your help I believe Billy can finally get the Justice that he does deserve.
God Bless,
Tonia

For some reason it didn't post me e-mail it is beautifulsin1969@yahoo.com plz feel free to contact me Billy and I would love to see the letters coming in ,and how much support he still has.
Thanks again,
Tonia

Just watched this story, it broke my heart & I cried.

I also just watch Billy's story on ID. What an outrage! This judge should not be in a robe, he is a disgrace to the justice system. There has got to be a way to get Billy a new trial with a new judge. I am in no way educated in the judicial system, or have a law degree but common sense says this was WRONG! I pray that someone with connections sees this story and justice will FINALLY be served.

Someone needs to go to the Innocent Project with the guy that got Simpson off. It wasn't robbery. He just wanted to take care of the family and pay the bills. What was with that jury.

hat judge who sentnced
Billy Crowder life in prison should be thrown off the bench and spit on.

What kind of a justice syste4m do we have

Just like some of the other Readers of this Post, I've followed this case intently, by viewing the related T.V. Programs shown on American Justice and Dateline. I've also studied many similar cases in comparison to the Billy Crowder Case in Court Records and Case Law. And I can find no other Judicial Sentence anywhere in America that has been awarded based solely on the same set of circumstances as that of Billy Crowder.

My personal feelings are that some Judges feel as if they've got to prove some point in their Sentencing, if for no other reason than to show the World they are in charge as long as they are wearing the Black Dress behind the Big Desk of Law & Justice. Unfortunately, this is not Justice as we know it to be, or Justice as it should be. And I'm also proud to state that I never have and I never will share or act upon those gutless feelings.

Although my Judicial Authority doesn't allow me to over rule the Presiding Judges Order and Sentence of Billy Crowder, I pray that one day soon a Justice of Higher Authority will do just that.

It is so obvious that the Presiding Judge reached deep within the walls of Lady Justice to award Billy a Life Sentence. A Life Sentence Billy certainly did not deserve. A Life Sentence the Jurors did not want or count on. But a Life Sentence regarding nothing less than showing off his Authority and probably a very ugly Statement such as, "Because I Can."

I would love to assist Billy Crowder, his family, and friends in having this entire case over ruled and his Original Sentence commutted to Time Served, however, the area is much outside of my jurisdiction, and I can not Rule on this particular case for lack of Authority over another Judge.

But I do have some strong advise and although it will take awhile to accomplish, there is still a possibility of success.

First, I would have Billy's Attorneys gather the Original Trial Transcript, along with all the Defense and Prosecution evidence, and records of testimony, then present them to the Georgia Board of Pardons, Parole, & Probation Services with a request that the Original Sentence be overturned. And then second, if that doesn't work I would do the same and request a Special Meeting with the Governor of Georia, and request that he overturn the Original Sentence. Then finally, if that won't result in immediate Judicial Relief for Billy, I would then send the Package on to the President of the United States for consideration of a Presidential Executive Pardon.

I realize all of this advice will created alot of work and foot work for several people. But what's more important here? Do we wish to let Billy Crowder remain in Prison for vertually no reason, or do we want to work just hard enough to take a chance on him getting out of Prison?

Respectfully ~
The Honorable Charles E. Rogers

First of all, please don't bring Casey Anthony into this. Conflating criminal cases is a bad idea, and she also was wrongly tried for murder.

Secondly, I have never been physically abused, but you don't have to be in order to understand that this kid had no choice but to take out the SOB grandfather.

Also, the statutory definition of "armed robbery" ought to be revised in Georgia. It should reflect holding someone at force with the purpose of stealing from them. The jury already stipulated he did not kill for any purpose but self-defense, and since his victim was the breadwinner of the family, it's not hard to reason why he would need money.

I want to first thank the Honorable Charles E. Rogers. I could never express in words how much your comment means to me,and I definitely will start on this right away. We both have discussed what to do,but your advise just has helped so much.I appreciate your time to write this to help us out.I can promise I will NOT stop till he is home and justice is served for him. I'm praying that someone has sense enough on the parole board to see that this judge did just as you said.
Thank you again,God Bless......
Tonia

I went to school with Billy and his sister and knew them both well. Watching what they had to endure was hell enough. Billy was only doing what he felt he had to do to save the lives of the rest of his family. Justice wasn't served here and he was unjustly sentenced. He was found not guilty for the murder but found guilty of armed robbery....he recieved life in prison for a crime that wasn't commited...but in the courts eyes they felt that a crime was commited. He paid bills and put food in the house with that money to keep his family going. The grandfather wasn't killed for the money he was killed for the safety of Billy and his family. Billy and his sister and mother and step-father had endured alot and no one can ever know how badly but those who were actually there. So for those of you on here who say you can and wanna help the proof is in the putting. Put up or shut up because we are actually trying to get this man set free. 14 years is long enough for one man to serve for a crime that he really didn't commit. If those who say they wanna help then help if you don't then stop saying you will because you are only slowing the ones that are and that do wanna help down. Tonia hun let me know what I can do because we talked and I am here for you and Billy. And if his sister Katie Crowder is reading this you should be ashamed of yourself to turn your back on your own family!!

This is for Charles E Rogers if there is any way you would contact me it would be such a great help to speak with you.You can e-mail me if you would like thanks so much....beautifulsin1969@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Tonia