Mother of murder victim starts petition to keep son’s killer off the streets

Peggy Truitt Brockway says, “He lured him out into the woods and shot Dougie three times. Shot him in the base of his head, blowing his head apart.”

Brockway is talking about the brutal murder of her son. In 1987, at just 18- years- old, Dougie Brockway was shot and killed by his friend Ransford Bryan. The two were out squirrel hunting in the woods across from Peddler’s Village.

Brockway goes on, “When Randy got back to the house he sat down and ordered pizza.”

Peggy tells 47 ABC Dougie was good to Bryan. Dougie brought Bryan in to stay with the Brockway family after he was put out of his home. Bryan apparently lied to police about what happened to Dougie. He reportedly told authorities Dougie got in a car and left with drug dealers that day. However, about three weeks later, hunters found his body in the woods.

Peggy says, “I don’t want any other family to experience this.”

Bryan is serving a life sentence right now, but he will be up for parole for the 6th time on Tuesday. Peggy has started a petition pleading to the parole board to keep him behind bars.

Peggy goes on, “We’ve been going through parole hearings. First it was every 4 years. Now it’s down to every year because they say he is a model prisoner.”

Peggy has already received more than 1,000 signatures. This is her 6th petition. She’s done one every time Bryan has been up for parole. She believes they may be one of the reasons he’s still in prison.

Peggy says, “I think our community realizes at this point I’m not doing this for me. It’s for them, as well as the safety of my family.”

It’s clear she has their support. During the course of Peggy’s interview with 47 ABC we had to stop for folks to come in and sign or drop off filled petitions. Peggy is praying it will help.

Peggy continues, “I think when you do that type of crime, you’ve got to stay where you are and pay for what you’ve done.”

For those interested in signing Peggy Brockway’s petition she can be contacted at her shop Mickey’s Magic Mirror in Lewes, DE at (302) 645-9192.

47 ABC also reached out to Ransford Bryan through the Department of Corrections for a comment, but he declined our request