My name is Bertrand Thompson and I am serving a Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) for crimes I committed in 1995.
At the ages of 17 and 18 my irresponsible and reckless actions lead to me taking the life of two other human beings and aiding and abetting in the murder of another. No words can ever repair the damage I caused; this I will live with for the rest of my life. The pain and anguish I caused these 3 families and everyone who was impacted by the loss of their loved ones. The disservice I did to the city of Stockton and how I contributed to the negative image of criminal behavior is a shameful reality that I live with, and is a regret that I am determined to change.
In my younger years I did not comprehend the importance of law and order within our society, civil obligation, and the sacredness of life. Instead, I portrayed ignorance, callousness and foolishness. As a youth, I never considered the consequences of my actions. Contemplating the ripple effect of throwing my life away as a teenager before I understood what life was has brought me to new levels of maturity. My maturity in understanding the impact of these crimes has revealed the contributing factors that played a pivotal role in my downward spiral of negative decision making. These contributing factors include: acceptance, insecurity, poverty, suppressing my feelings, shame and depression, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Along with a host of warped beliefs that normalized the use of violence, carrying guns, selling drugs and committing additional acts of crimes.
I am very ashamed of my past behavior and for it taking so long for me to take responsibility for what I have done. I can only hope my life today exemplifies redemptive qualities. Unlike my past, I now live a life of reform as an act of amends. I am compelled to keep building and forming healthy relationships to foster the healing and repair the damage I have caused to everyone that was impacted by my past behavior.
Thank you