I am writing to express outrage and disgust at the recent decision by Lewis County Superior Court to vacate Tommy Ragan's guilty plea and conviction for the heinous murder of 11-year-old Bruce Allen Kim in 1977.
This ruling is a travesty of justice and a slap in the face to the victim's family.
Ragan's crimes are monstrous. He brutally murdered a child, beheading him and mutilating his body, before burying him in a shallow grave.
What's even more disturbing is that Ragan's victims all suffered sexual assault at his hands. The brutality and depravity of his crimes are unfathomable.
Ragan's history of violence is not limited to this one crime. He has a long history of violent behavior, including convictions for second-degree kidnapping, second-degree burglary and taking a motor vehicle without permission.
Furthermore, he is currently serving an additional life sentence for a sexual assault unrelated to this case.
Some may argue that Ragan's advanced age of 81 is a factor in his potential rehabilitation. However, age does not rehabilitate a person capable of such violence and carnage. The passage of time does not erase the brutality of his crimes, and it does not diminish the threat he poses to society.
I urge the people of Lewis County to stand up and demand justice for Bruce Allen Kim and his family. We must hold our elected officials and our justice system accountable for ensuring that violent criminals like Tommy Ragan are held accountable for their actions. Ragan will kill again if given the chance.
The court's decision is a failure of justice, and it is our duty to demand better. We owe it to Bruce Kim, his family, and our community to ensure that justice is served. This case is arguably one of the most dark and heinous that ever occurred in Lewis County history.
Bo D. Rupert
Centralia
