ButterBoy

  Impact statement                                                                                                       Olivia Brown In the last year, I have considered driving to Chase Jones's home dozens of times. I have wanted to ask him questions. I have wondered what is he like and what does he feel? Is he remorseful? Or does he just regret his choice on March 19th for its costs on himself?  For the rest of my life, I will not know how to answer when someone asks me how many siblings I have. I will never play fiddle songs with my brother again, or bike around the neighborhood with him, or wash dishes while he loads them into the dishwasher. For the rest of my mom’s life, she will mourn the boy she can no longer raise and...

 Last Friday, the long anticipated, long awaited day of Chase Daniel Jones' sentencing took place.  Everyone of our kids came, accept for Nora, who Cat Stabio lovingly came and picked up for me and entertained all day.  Kelly, Jared, and Brig who had come for Easter and the trial were also there. Momma Debbie, Chelice, Amber, Tia, and Aly flew in for it.  Annette, Scott, and Suzie were there waiting to give us hugs extra early as we walked in. Meg and Brad Singley came too, as did my dear friend Linda Sterling. I know many others zoomed in and were supporting from afar. It was so good to have them there.  Abe and his family were there, and the Wilcoxon's with all of their children. It was a court room filled with love and support.   As I walked in the courtroom I felt a sense of nervousness, and that grew and grew until I began to have a little shortness of breath.  I felt hot. My pencil skirt felt tight, and I just felt like I could hardly breath...

  Honorable Judge, The actions of Chase Daniel Jones have greatly impacted mine and my family's life. Since he committed this crime, I feel like I lost not only Buster, but myself. I used to be a reliable, active participant who showed up with a willing heart and cheery disposition in my various communities that I was a part of, now what I have to offer feels like an empty shell of a person, who has no bandwidth to spare.  I have had trouble sleeping since the crash, often being woken up by the sound of racers in the valley, which brings immense feelings of anger and pain to the forefront and makes it hard to fall back asleep.  My view of the vulnerability of life and anxiety for my children’s welfare has gone up ten fold. When my teenagers say goodbye and drive away, I worry every time now that they might get hit like Buster, Eloise, Matilda, and Andrea did.  When they have been driving somewhere and call my phone, a part of me wonders if this is the moment where th...

The day before the crash, March 18th, I was driving out of my neighborhood, when I saw Buster and Eloise hop a fence and run joyfully after each other. It felt like a scene out of the Sound of Music. The sun was shining. Everything was green, and bursting with the colors and sounds of spring. We had held PBL that day and it had been a good but full day.  Buster and Eloise had both gotten permission from Rivka and I to go for a run after PBL was over, and that's exactly where I ran into them, on their run.  The spot where I found them is on the south side of 186th just before you go up the hill.  On the other side of the street (north side) is Jessie Woodwards house. She is a stranger who plants the most beautiful flowers in a garden bed facing the street.  After the crash I told Rivka the beautiful memory I had of the two of our kids running together that day in the sunshine, and I told her that's how I still like to envision them- full of laughter, friendship, and l...

  Washington State Senate Overwhelmingly Passes New Legislation to Combat Reckless Speeding and Save Lives This is the third state legislature to pass Stop Super Speeders legislation this year.  House Bill 1596 is named for a mother and three children killed in a horrific speeding-related crash.  Olympia, WA – Today the Washington State Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1596 (40-8), known as the BEAM Act, which aims to reduce reckless speeding and enhance road safety across the state. The bill, named after four people who were tragically killed in a speeding-related crash, will now proceed to the governor's desk for final approval. This marks the third legislature this year to pass similar #StopSuperSpeeders legislation, in addition to the District of Columbia which enacted the first bill in 2024. New York, California, Arizona, and Maryland also have bills progressing through their state legislatures.  In March 2024, 38-year-old Andrea Hudson, was driving a...

  A Single Prayer Written by Jessica Brown for Buster on his 11 th birthday, (based on a true story he told at family night of a time when Heavenly Father answered his prayer)   One night as he lay alone in his bed A little boy was filled with dread His brother in the bed above Snoozed on snuggly like a sleepy dove.   This boy had been taught that God was real So faithfully he decided to kneel. He bowed his head and closed his eyes And pleaded for God to hear his cries.   “I’m here” said his Father, “What do you need”? The boy whispered back “I can’t fall asleep” In that same minute, God filled him with peace And the boy drifted off with nary a peep.    As he awoke the next day the boy now knew what he had been taught about God was true! God surely listens when his children pray And that boy couldn’t wait to tell his family that day.   The day will come, where that boy gets to lead His own little b...

  Good Morning Jessica and Jaron, The HOA board would like to do something to memorialize Buster. I have heard from so many people how much he loved spending time in the small toy park and in the greenbelt behind your house. With your approval, we would like to rename our small toy park after him and name it the Buster Brown Memorial Park. Also, I am also the PTSA President at Carriage Crest, and my older son (Luke) used to run track with Buster at both Carriage Crest and Northwood; and my youngest son is now on the CC track team. The Carriage Crest team wanted to do something for Buster this season, so they have added a few of his track pictures to their team sign (pics below), and the team have the initials "BB" written on their team shirts this season. The boys (Sully, Declan, Luke, and Aiden) are all helping out this year with the track team and took the pic below yesterday. Please let me know if we can do anything for you. I will be in touch with you o...

Today was the plea hearing for Chase Jones. I wore my grandma Popes black jacket, and Buster's bracelet to feel their strength.  I texted Mom and Kell a picture and said "I wear Grandma popes jacket today and I think it means she is with me" Kell's response was: "I think so, too. Can that jacket just represent me and Mom both wrapping their arms around you for as long as you have it on?" My Mom said "Yes Jessica. We are so with you in heart and mind. And that's Grandma Hoopes' mirror reflecting love and strength to you". The support and love from my family over the last year has been amazing.  When we got to the parking of the Maleng Regional Court House I saw the Wilcoxsons. They were there with all of their kids and they all looked so dapper and handsome.  I really noticed the hole in their family though without Tilly and Lou there.  Abe decided not to come, which was kind of sad, but I understood.   When we walked in the building and up ...

 Some time ago, Olivia felt passionately about trying to influence her peers to slow down and drive safe. She asked the administration at Kentridge high school if she could do an assembly.  They didn't do an assembly, but the leadership team at Kentdridge helped Liv make a video of her story for the whole school to see, and it was played on March 19th. They also passed out bracelets that said "Speed kills" in an orange color.  She did a great job on the video and we were very proud of her for trying to make beauty from ashes so to speak, and have some good come from this terrible situation.  A few weeks ago her old AP English teacher wrote her the following email:  Hey, Liv,   In our classes today we got to watch the video you helped create about Speed Kills. I wanted to take a moment to reach out and thank you for both your willingness to share your experiences and the impact it will have for those who are able to watch it. You have continued to amaze me w...