Allen's Story

My brother, Allen “Tig” Fortune was murdered on May 8, 2004 by Chad Wesley Hamilton. Allen was attending an after-prom party when Mr. Hamilton wandered in off the street after leaving a local bar in town. After listening to multiple eye-witness accounts in court during TWO murder trials, we know that Chad Hamilton, a stranger to all, came in uninvited and started a fight with another young man. Allen walked up and asked Chad to leave, trying to break up the fight, and Mr. Hamilton pulled out a knife and stabbed him directly in his heart, cruelly and unjustly taking my little brother’s life.

Words are far too trite to describe the horror, agony, despair, and magnitude of the loss that Chad Hamilton has inflicted with his violent crime.

The hole in my brother’s heart upon which my precious mom and I stared the night of his murder is representative of the unending hole that is left in many lives that will never be filled. We not only mourn for what is lost, but for what will never be.

The pain is ever present, however, God truly sustains us through our darkest valleys and His grace and strength are more than sufficient.

Since Allen’s murderer’s first conviction, he has appealed every decision of the court and fought every denial of parole by the State Board of Parole causing us to revisit and relive his brutal crime multiple times. Some may think it easier to overlook this criminal’s recurring consideration for release every few months, to give up and stop fighting, to act as if it is not happening, to “move on” as they say. That may be the “easier” thing to do but not the right thing. This is not about simple revenge against Chad Hamilton for his vicious crime against my brother because his actions are not rectifiable and nothing we do will bring Allen back to us. Ultimately, I believe God will serve due justice. I pray for Chad Hamilton and his soul because only God can turn worthless into precious.

HOWEVER, protesting this murderer’s release from prison IS about fighting for the ones we love. When we love someone, we stand up for them, honor and respect them no matter the cost, fight for them selflessly regardless of the possible emotional ramifications we may experience from reliving a nightmare. The purpose of protesting IS about speaking for those who have lost their voice; those whose voices have been taken away unrightfully by another human being. Allen is not able to speak for himself; his right to life was taken away by Chad Hamilton, whose voice still remains loud and clear. SO, I am his voice. YOU are his voice.

I want to thank those of you who have or will take the time to selflessly contribute to honoring my brother, someone who deserves to be honored.