Editor, Times-Union: After reading Mr. Hoopingarner's letter, I felt so sorry for him and his family. What they must be going through. My goodness, why can't anyone help them?
I'm familiar with the area where that happened, and everyone in town knows the story, and, of course, we can't figure out why no charges were filed either. How would you like it if it was your child?
I wish Mr. Hoopingarner would tell everyone what the boys who left the site did afterwards - I've heard but I'll let him tell it. After you hear it, you'll wonder yourself why on earth no charges were filed, someone needs to be accountable for what happened. Please take another look at this - I think it would be Noble County, right?
God bless you, Mr. and Mrs. Hoopingarner, and I hope something is done on your behalf.
Lee Shepherd Leesburg, via e-mail
Sympathy
Editor, Times-Union: To Tom Hoopingarner Re: "Botched Case," 2/8/96
Dear Tom, I just want to express our deepest sympathy in regards to your son Thomas, whose life was shortened way too soon.
I have wanted to write to you in regards to this but wasn't sure what to say. I myself can not understand what is going on with the prosecutor in this case. How do these boys live with themselves, knowing what happened and that they could have prevented this tragic accident? I even heard that one of them had a cell phone on them and could have called for help even though they did not stick around? What were these kids trying to hide by not coming forward? Just because there was a bottle of alcohol found in the trunk doesn't mean that your son was drinking it.
Your son didn't have the chance to run, the other two did. Does being underaged mean you can leave the scene of a accident and let somebody die? Why shouldn't they be held responsible for their actions, like anybody else? I'm with you, something here does not make any sense.
I can't blame you for being angry and wanting some kind of peace, somehow in all of this, it was just so unnecessary for things to end up like it did.
Somehow, I hope you and your family can find some peace in all of this. I know I am not the only other person whose heart goes out to you all. I have a 13-year-old boy, I don't know what I would do if something like that would happen to my son.
I hope God can give you some peace somehow. Sooner or later this will have to eat away at these boys, maybe God will give them the strength to come forward and tell the real truth about what happened. How anybody could live with themselves with what they did is truly unbelieveable. May God have mercy on their souls.
Susan Biggs Warsaw, via e-mail
Organ
Donation Editor, Times-Union: A woman who was expecting her second child was told by her physician after an emergency C-section that the expected infant could not survive. During the ensuing grief and disappointment, she happened to think of organ donation.
Two years later, she met Jacob, a little boy who was living a normal life because he had her baby's heart. Her son's liver, eyes, kidneys and skin were transplanted in other infants' bodies who needed such. She writes how knowing this helped her cope with the loss of her son.
It is estimated 80,000 Americans are waiting for organs. It is sad that in spite of increased knowledge and success in transplanting, as a nation we are lagging in committing our organs for others to use at our death.
