Frank Forgot!

A fugitive who managed to avoid authorities for 40 years has been caught and is back behind bars thanks to the diligent work of a relative of the victim.

Clem Pellett, who's grandfather Clarence Pellett was shot six times in the back by Frank Dryman in 1951, spent a year tracking down the killer of his grandfather. Clem, whose family never talked about the murder because of lingering pain, says he was driven by an intense curiosity.

Frank Dryman has lived 40 years as honored citizen Victor Houston. He is now 79 years old and will most likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. Though the articles comments are mixed as to whether Frank should be kept in jail or released, most expressed their good'ol "Eye-For-An-Eye" philosophy in saying Frank should die in jail.

I felt compelled to write something in defense of Frank, hoping to awaken some compassion in the commentors. But after much thought about this changed senior citizen, and re-reading the article (Fugitive hid 40 years in plain sight) it was I who was awakened to the fact that our honored senior might not be deserving of compassion.

Here's my Comment:

I tried to think of reasons why the law and the victim's family should forgive and exonerate Frank Dryman and show compassion for this changed elderly man. Then something that Frank repeated throughout his interview hit me. Frank "Forgot."

"Frank Forgot he was a wanted man."
"Frank Forgot he was a parole violator."
"Frank even Forgot about hiding."

All these confessions of Frank's forgetfulness made me wonder if Frank had any remorse or compassion for the life he'd taken with six shots in the back when he was young and wild. Further along in the interview Frank's words confirmed what I suspected:

"Only since I have been back here did I start to think about it," said Dryman. "To be honest, I didn't even remember the victim's name."

Frank had forgotten his victim and his crime. He had lived freely in complete denial of the young and wild Frank Dryman while his victim's family lived with a scar too painful to glance at. If not rehabilitate, prison should at best remind criminals of the wrong they perpetrated that landed them behind bars.

Frank may be a changed man from his young and wild self, but it damn sure wasn't a compassionate heart or a guilty conscience that brought about the change. Frank Forgot or never learned the most important part about human growth and spiritual change; acceptance of who we are in all our imperfections.

Frank Forgot to Pray for himself and those he caused harm. He was too busy living as Victor Houston to ask God's or anyone's forgiveness for Frank Dryman/Frank Valentine.

Frank Finally Remembers!