Give Gary Finley a Second Chance at Life

Hello, my name is Gary Finley, I am currently incarcerated in a Tucson prison, serving a life sentence. I am seeking assistance with the cost of a lawyer. In hopes of having my sentence reduced. I have already done nearly 30.years, at the time of my incarceration I was 24, I am now 54.

I would like to take this time to share my story and how I ended up in this situation, on the date of February 06, 1994, myself, my little brother Dion (Dee-Dee), and some friends were out at a nightclub enjoying ourselves, when a conflict occurred with myself and another male figure, in which my life was threatened. I ignored the threat and continued to enjoy the night out with my little brother, and friends,

A short moment later, as in a blink of an eye, I found myself stretched out on the ground with blood flowing from my mouth, gasping for air, as death seemed to quickly draw near. While being rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, I fell in and out of consciousness. I had been shot in my mouth with a large caliber that blew out my bottom front teeth, and disfigured my face.

I laid in the hospital, with my face blown up, not looking my natural self. I had to have a trach placed in my throat. I was unable to speak, so I had to write on a piece of paper what I wanted to say. With heavy tears flowing from my eyes, I wrote to my family the words, “Where is Dee-Dee?” My seven-teen year old brother, who was out with me at the club. From his absence I knew something was wrong. But, I wasn’t given an answer.

I didn’t learn of my little brother’s death until his body was already buried six-feet beneath the earth. It was told to my family that it was in the best of my health that I did not know of his passing at that moment. Knowing of my little brother’s death could have worsened my condition, being that I was in critical condition and fighting for my life. I was beyond devastated when I learned of my little brother’s death. I didn’t get to attend his funeral. I didn’t get to tell him that I was sorry for not being able to protect him from death. I didn’t get to view his body for the last time before it was placed beneath the earth. I didn’t get to tell my little brother good-bye.

The loss of my brother was the worst news I could have ever been given. My life was never to be the same. Not only was I to live, if I were to survive my stay in the hospital, followed by my stay in a rehabilitation facility with the physical scars the bullet left upon my face and my mouth. But, I was to live without my little brother. Now, how was I supposed to do that? I questioned myself. For, my little brother was my life, my breath, my reason to live. He was the baby of my siblings. He was my first experience of caring for someone, as a parent would their own child.

Living with the reality of the loss of my brother, I found myself lost in a deep darkness and I couldn’t find the path to any light. At times, I didn’t know if I was coming or going. Every day, I lived with the guilt that I survived my experience of a near death and the precious life of my little brother was taken, at the tender age of seven-teen, for no reason at all! Daily, I blamed myself for my brother’s loss. Because had I not picked him up and taken him to the club, he would have still been here.

As time passed by, it became harder and harder to live, I became extremely paranoid. I was terrified and always feared for my life. Many nights, I awoke from nightmares of being shot and nearly dying, drenched in sweat, and my heart swiftly pounding against my chest.

Daily, the guilt and blame that I bore for my brother’s loss was eating at the core of my soul, slowly breaking my body down, and deteriorating my mind. I was empty! I was only alive physically, mentally, I was dead. I was caged in a deep darkness. I wished for just a brief moment of light, if that was even possible to obtain. I was lost and alone, with nowhere to turn.

On the date of January 01, 1995, I found myself in a situation, in which I would be charged with homicide. I later found myself sentenced to a life term in prison, something that I bore no understanding of. I had no clue of what LIFE IN PRISON meant. I later gained the perception of it from another inmate. The awareness knocked me off my feet, my heart crumbled, tears overfilled my eyes, acknowledging that my mother and my siblings would grow old without me, and my children would grow up to only know of me.

During my stay in prison, I have come to terms with the loss of my little brother. Though the pain is still raw, I find joy knowing that he lives on within me. I have grown up and matured behind these prison bars. Throughout my life I had to fight to overcome many obstacles. I was raised by a single mother in a low-income community. I was told in school during my time in special education that I would never read above 3rd grade level. With determination and an understanding that I wasn’t dumb or ignorant. I just learned things in a different way than others.

I educated myself in a manner in which I could easily comprehend. And in doing so, I received my G.E.D., tutored other inmates who also shared my learning disability, and I was going for my Associate degree. But I was denied the opportunity to do so being that I am serving a life sentence.

I am a reformed person, I strive to be the best that I can be on a positive level. I hope one day to be forgiven for my wrong, and any pain that I caused a person. I pray to have another chance with freedom, another chance to be with my family, my children, and my grandchildren, and to be a law abiding citizen.

Thank you in advance for your help. It is highly appreciated!