Bryan Ward funeral & legacy to Stop the Violence

Our hearts are broken as we mourn the loss of our brother, uncle, and friend, Bryan Ward.

Bryan was the victim of a brutal attack on Mother's Day. Being the sociable and kind man that he was, he befriended two men who had recently come into the area. As they were hanging out together, Bryan paid a harmless compliment to the lady who lived next door. These men suddenly turned on Bryan and began a violent confrontation. Bryan tried to head for his truck to leave, but the two men wouldn't allow that to happen. They pulled Bryan into the backyard and brutally beat him. Then they dragged him into the house where they continued the cruelty. They were relentless and ignored Bryan's agonizing cries to stop. Witnesses heard these men yell over and over that they were going to kill him as they punched and kicked him continuously. As if that wasn't enough, they stripped him completely naked and drug him to the front yard to make a spectacle of their victim. They even attempted to serve him up to the lady next door, the same one who received the compliment from Bryan, and told her they were doing this for her and she was to "finish him off". She refused to participate and begged them to stop. They didn't. She called a friend, who then contacted the police. Even then, the beating continued mercilessly. One of the men drove Bryan's truck down the street for reasons unknown. When he returned he stated that Bryan had better not be dead yet because he wanted to finish him off himself. He then stated that he was going to drown Bryan in the bathtub and proceeded to drag him back into the house. They beat and tortured Bryan for over an hour.

When police arrived, they found Bryan unconscious, lying on the floor inside the house, bleeding, bruised and broken. Paramedics bundled him up and headed for the hospital. Bryan's heart stopped on the way, but paramedics were able to get it started again. His heart stopped a second time at the hospital, but the medical staff managed to get it going again. Two surgeries were performed that evening to remove Bryan's spleen and other organs that were severely damaged from the beating. His jaws were broken, his nose was broken, and his skull had multiple fractures. His entire body was... shattered. Bryan never regained consciousness.

It was all too much for any human to survive. Bryan was pronounced brain-dead the next morning.

The family was approached by a donor organization and agreed to donate Bryan's organs, which could have saved up to 8 people's lives. At least the family could take solace in knowing some good came out of this horrific event. Unfortunately, because this was now a murder case, the family had to give up Bryan's broken body to the coroner. There would be nothing left for donations, leaving the family heartbroken once again.

Shockingly, one of the men who committed this barbaric crime, was on parole for another, nearly identical, murder. He beat another man to death back in 2018 and received a plea deal that resulted in a slap on the wrist. He was allowed the freedom to do it again. Another blow that has rocked Bryan's family and friends.

These men not only stole Bryan's life, another man's life in 2018, but also the possibility of saving up to 8 other lives. We are beyond devastated. We are sad, we are angry, and we are desperate for something good to come out of this. Bryan was too great of a guy, too kind of a person, to die in vain. All he wanted to do was be everyone's friend, make people laugh, love and be loved.

A friend of Bryan's, an angel, was kind enough to donate a burial plot for Bryan. Unfortunately, the cost of services, coffin, headstone, etc are still weighing heavily on the family. After much consideration, this gofundme will serve two purposes.

The first is to pay for expenses to put Bryan to rest. The second is to support ending violence in Indianapolis. All funds exceeding the cost of a modest funeral will be donated to "Stop The Violence" in Bryan's name. This is an organization driven to empower youth and families through educational workshops, trainings, coaching and events throughout Indianapolis, with a focus on stopping violence and promoting family bonding and relationships.

Please help us make something good come out of Bryan's horrific ending and give the family, and the community, something to remember him by. We hope you will find it in your heart to help support Bryan's celebration of life and his legacy.

Thank you for taking the time to read Bryan's story. We hope, at the very least, that it will encourage us all to be kinder to each other.