Greetings, my name is Samuel Thomas McCauley, Jr. In 2006, when I was 22 years old, I perpetrated a vicious crime spree where I shot 3 men during 2 separate robberies over the course of 2 days. This resulted in 2 men losing their lives and a 3rd being permanently disfigured. I am currently serving 2 LWOP Sentences, a 75 to life sentence, and a 25 to life sentence for my crimes.
These sentences cannot make up for the hurt that I have caused nor can they give back what I wrongfully took, nothing can. However, I can change; I am no longer the same person who committed these heinous acts. I do not know how I can ever truly make amends, or if I even can; but still I must try.
My actions were horrendous and deplorable, for years I couldn’t admit that, I no longer deny the fact. I came to the realization that I needed to be a better human being than I was. I made a conscious decision to be a better man and to live my life making amends. I did not know who I was and why I did what I did, so I started by facing the hurt that dwelled within me instead of masking it and trying to escape through drugs and alcohol. In doing so I gained an understanding of what caused me to want to impose my pain upon others. I reached a point where I no longer desire to harm anyone at all.
Out of this horrible tragedy I created, I realized what I wanted out of life, and it wasn’t the cesspool of misery I was crawling around in. So, I bettered (and continue to do so) myself through education and self-help so I can be an asset to others.
I want to give back to the community that I have caused so much harm to. While I know that I can never truly make right all of the pain I have caused, I have to try. I am determined to prevent others from unleashing the same hate upon people that I did. I now understand my culpability and I do this for Dante, Pedro, Andres, and all the other people that my past self has tainted and hurt.