William doesnt deserve what is happening to him.

Hate is a strong word. Murdering someone because of their color, religion or sexuality is a sin. These two boys deserve life in prison. They should never get to see their families again. Justice needs to be served for anyone that commits a hate crime. Wake up America.

joseph bearden and bill bill brown are equally culpable in this horrific crime. both bearden and brown were together when the murder/robbery occurred. The testimony from all of the witnesses puts him with bearden in the victims car, and both participated in attempting to clean up the blood.
I would have given both of them the death penalty, but since bearden received life without the possibility of parole, I have to give william brown the same sentence.

I watched Joseph Bearden's entire trial and I totally disagree with you, blu crew.

I do not believe the Bearden is as culpable in Skipper's death as Bill Bill Brown. In fact, I think his conviction is bogus and should be thrown out.

Yes, Bearden's fingerprint was found in the car, but he admitted to being in Skipper's car. That certainly doesn't make him a murderer. I believe that someone else was in the car along with Bill Bill Brown - when Ryan was murdered.

I do not believe that Bearden had any idea that Brown was going to murder Ryan.

As far as I am concerned, the entire Brown family is a scary lot and I would be nervous if I lived within a 100 mile radius of these people.

I was a juror during Joseph's trial and I can tell you that the only reason he isn't facing the death penalty is because I and another juror felt that he was no where near Ryan Skipper when he was murdered. He was convicted of 2nd degree because he admitted to knowing that Bill Bill and his cousin were going to rob Ryan. That robbery resulted in his death and it could have been prevented had Joseph stopped it from happening. He received the life sentence because of the other charges and his past criminal history. Do I feel he deserves life? No, but that was on the Judge and had I known that was what was in store for for him, I would have never aggreed to second degree.

i agree and disagree, Bearden could have reported what happened if he wasn't part of it. But he didnt, he is just a guilty, Ryan is a friend of mine. As far as the Brown family ur right, i use to live down the street from them, but they are not the kind of people i hang with, it was a hate crime and they both deserve to be locked away forever.

It should give you comfort to know, Ana, that this week at William Brown's trial, William confirmed that he was in the passenger seat of Ryan's car - and Bearden was in the backseat - when the brutal stabbing murder occurred. Ray Alan Brown was not in the car. William Brown confessed in the interrogation video which was played for the court on Wednesday. Also Ana, your belief that Bearden "only" knew about the robbery that resulted in Ryan's death constitutes FELONY MURDER which is FIRST DEGREE MURDER, not second degree. And if Bearden wasn't there, why didn't he take the stand and say so? Bearden also bragged about "ridding the world of one more faggot." I guess you were the juror seen sleeping through the trial.

And it should give YOU comfort, that 1) you were not there to witness ALL of the evidence and testimony from the witnesses and 2) the LAW that we were given stated that in order to convict on first degree, the prosecution had to prove without a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Bearden was in the vehicle at the time of the murder, and they did NOT convince me OR the other juror of that claim. And his statement on "ridding the world of another faggot" was hear say from another person who tried to gain from Mr. Skipper's death. Because he admitted that he knew about the robbery and encouraged it, the law given to US, by the judge, states that he be convicted of Second Degree murder, NOT First Degree. By the way, if you have been keeping up with the William Brown case, as I have, he is pleading not guilty to the murder of Mr. Skipper, so based on you're statement you are taking him for his word that Mr. Bearden was in the car with him, so am I to believe that you agree that he isn't responsible for his death too??

Ou contraire, Ana, I was in the courtroom to witness every minute of the evidence in the Bearden trial, just as I have been in the courtroom to witness every minute of the Brown trial. You have not attended a day of Brown's trial - I know exactly who has been in that room and what has been presented. Have a nice day, Ana.

Ana wrote:

And it should give YOU comfort, that 1) you were not there to witness ALL of the evidence and testimony from the witnesses and 2) the LAW that we were given stated that in order to convict on first degree, the prosecution had to prove without a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Bearden was in the vehicle at the time of the murder, and they did NOT convince me OR the other juror of that claim. And his statement on "ridding the world of another faggot" was hear say from another person who tried to gain from Mr. Skipper's death. Because he admitted that he knew about the robbery and encouraged it, the law given to US, by the judge, states that he be convicted of Second Degree murder, NOT First Degree. By the way, if you have been keeping up with the William Brown case, as I have, he is pleading not guilty to the murder of Mr. Skipper, so based on you're statement you are taking him for his word that Mr. Bearden was in the car with him, so am I to believe that you agree that he isn't responsible for his death too??

The Judge's instructions for first degree murder required EITHER that you believed that Bearden participated in the murder with premeditated intent, OR that he participated in the robbery (including by having knowledge of it) and the robbery resulted in Skipper's death, otherwise known as "felony murder." The instruction for second degree murder required that you believed that Bearden participated in the murder without premeditation but instead was committed in the heat of the moment based on hate and anger, etc. Your own statements reflect that you should have convicted Bearden of first degree murder/felony murder. Brown pled not guilty because that's what Defendants do (especially to avoid the death penalty), and technically a plea of "not guilty" does not mean "I didn't do it," it means that the Defendant is requiring the State to prove its case. Brown gave a statement just days after the murder admitting that he and Bearden did it. And Bearden was clearly involved in trying to hide and destroy evidence of Skipper's murder after the fact, and trying to sell his car to profit from his death. What did the witness have to gain by testifying that Bearden said he did the world a favor by getting rid of a faggot?? Nothing. And what about Bearden's statement that they "fu-ked up" the guy?? And why didn't he take the stand to deny all those things if they weren't true?? And you were not in the courtroom for the sentencing when Bearden made a statement to the Court - he was arrogant and cocky and showed no remorse. You really have sympathy for this murderer?

Bearden didn't do it. The reason Brown is saying Ray wasn't there is because they are family. Funny they threw out a lot of key evidence on Beardens side, but yet let all of Brown's relatives testify. They should of been thrown out too. Brown deserves worse then what he is getting. A lot of people feel Joey wasn't in that car.

I was a Juror on the State Vs. William Brown case. There was no witnesses on this case.Ms. Wells brought nothing to the table for his defense. The most damming evidence against Mr. Brown was the interview he gave to the Police, when he said he blacked out right before Mr.Skipper was stabbed, yet he listed freely where he was stabbed the exact places. The evidence we saw was of the finger prints in the car. and foot prints around that car that led us to believe that only Brown and Bearden where in the car at the time of Ryan Skippers death. No evidence was ever introduce that anyone else was involved In the actual killing, although plenty of people knew. I feel very sad that not only did Ryan Skipper loose his life in a scary, horrific death, and left to die on a dirty, desolate road, but these two young men, hooked on drugs "meth" , Lost there lives to that drug. They only wanted $1,000 dollars for the car, only for drugs. I am not saying they did not kill Ryan because he was gay but Drugs fueled what happened that night. I feel deeply sorry for all the Family's involved, but especially Ryan's.

blu crew: fortunately, for William Brown, Ryan's family has a larger heart then I do. They are not seeking the death penalty. So, William Brown will spend the rest of his life behind bars along with Bearden.