History A Letter From Hell

[Ryan]

I was 12 years old in 1988 when Mickey and Trudy Thompson were murdered in their driveway. I can remember my old man breaking the news to me one day after school. Mickey was my hero and the news, much like Mickey himself, didn't seem real to me. Oddl...

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[jack orchard]

he affected my life for the better. R.I.P. to both...jack

[1stGrumpy]

Mickey Thompson is and was a true legend. May he and his wife rest in peace. Perhaps, Ryan, the best thing to do with that letter is nothing at all...

[THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER]

Ryan, I understand your angst and look forward to your decision on what to do about the letter, whatever it may be. Peace.

[Ryan]

I won't ever publish the letter. That much has been decided... Instead, I want to write about the experience of it all. However, I'm not going to do that without first making sure that doing so isn't opening up some family wounds.

Like I said, I'm not a journalist and don't make my bones by being there first or without a lean. I'm a writer.

[Artiki]

Does this Goodwin guy have any legal irons in the fire? Any pending appeals and suchlike? Couldn't a letter like that have any legal ramifications?

[Weasel]

And let's not forget that Colleen Campbell - Mickey's sister - fought tirelessly for justice in her brother's and sister-in-law's murder case and never gave up. The letter is part of history - just think of what it will be in fifty years from now - part of the documentation that surrounds this case - before and after.

I too would think that this letter may be self serving for Michael Goodwin and I would think it best remains sequestered so as not to suit the author's purpose....

[BISHOP]

Originally Posted by Artiki

Does this Goodwin guy have any legal irons in the fire? Any pending appeals and suchlike? Couldn't a letter like that have any legal ramifications?

Goodwin is serving two life sentences, Judge made sure all appeals are denied. He will never leave prison.

[JeffreyJames]

Wow man, that's super heavy! Good move on not sharing the letter, that makes complete sense.

[Chaz]

The guilty usually seize any small ambiguity and try to build a defense around it. They are often very good at it. if there ever is a list of the best the racing world had to offer, Mickey and AJ would be at the top.

[Atwater Mike]

A friend was a former associate with Mickey Thompson...he worked on the stretched Mustang funny car, and some of the Pontiac projects with Mickey.
I joined him in 1970, and one week we went South to visit friends of his (in the business) picking up pieces for his '27 Roadster project.
We stayed one night with Mickey and Trudy. I was stoked...

When I heard the news of their deaths, it was surreal. Like a bad dream...
Like Ryan, I had some reaction when Mr. Goodwin was brought to justice...the evidence was such that it seemed to take forever.
I don't have a judgemental opinion here, but the system seemed to work; I, for one, was satisfied.

Mickey was a serious business man, and had to be tough to achieve what he did.

[Bad Banana]

Ryan.. Have no idea what is in that letter an honestly don't care. I believe like some others that it was written with an agenda befitting the writer.

Personally, I would wipe my ass with it and mail it back to him. No one else on this planet had a motive but him to kill Mickey Thompson and his wife. End of story.

[daddio211]

You never know who your fan club may include!

[alittle1]

Ryan,

When each of us is born, we are all given a cross to bear. You now have yours. Good luck, my friend.

[BOP-Nut]

Wow. I don't know what I'd do if I received that letter in the mail...

RIP Mickey and Trudy

[bamaheel]

Originally Posted by Chaz

The guilty usually seize any small ambiguity and try to build a defense around it. They are often very good at it. if there ever is a list of the best the racing world had to offer, Mickey and AJ would be at the top.

A lawyer's job is to manipulate the skeletons in other people's closets.

[Atwater Mike]

Originally Posted by Weasel

And let's not forget that Colleen Campbell - Mickey's sister - fought tirelessly for justice in her brother's and sister-in-law's murder case and never gave up. The letter is part of history - just think of what it will be in fifty years from now - part of the documentation that surrounds this case - before and after.

I too would think that this letter may be self serving for Michael Goodwin and I would think it best remains sequestered so as not to suit the author's purpose....

Exactly right.

[BISHOP]

I think it will feel pretty good the day you burn that letter.

[Offset]

Ryan, I do not think it is too big of a leap to go from "writer" to "journalist" in this particular case. You already have an in depth knowledge of the situation, perhaps it could be argued a little too close but there is a story here for certain.

Take some time and consider all options with this document you received. I believe the answer to the question of what to do with it will become crystal clear.

[Jimmy B]

The world was robbed the day Mickey & Trudy were murdered. Goodwin is where he belongs, behind bars. But like it or not that letter is history, it should be vaulted for years, one day in the far distant future released. It is not often you have the opportunity to read how a convicted criminal justifies or tries to explain how they couldn't possibly be involved. It would be a window into that persons mindset. It must add another dimension to the story no matter how fabricated/bullshit it is.