Justice for Averie - Protest of the Parole of Phillip DeSelle

A Cry for Justice and Public Safety - We the Undersigned, Oppose the Parole and Early Release of Phillip DeSelle.

United, we would like to express our sincere concern regarding the possible parole of a convicted murderer of a child.

In 1990, 11 year old Averie Grace Evans was selling candy door-to-door as a fund raiser for her school in Natchitoches, Louisiana. DeSelle lured her into his home where he murdered her. He disposed of her bicycle in a local lake and dumped her body into a dumpster. Her bicycle was recovered, but her body was not.

Averie was a straight A student, a violinist, and was active and well loved in her community. She was granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, and friend. Her passing has changed the course of all our lives and we miss her desperately.

Deselle confessed fully to the crime in a written statement. Because her body was not recovered, prosecutors offered DeSelle a plea agreement. He plead guilty to manslaughter and kidnapping and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He is currently incarcerated in Wade Correctional Facility in Houma, Louisiana.

It is the sincere wish of Averie Grace Evans family that no other families are made to suffer such a loss at the hands of Phillip DeSelle. A person who could so callously and viciously murdered a child to whom the future held such promise, given the opportunity, is capable of murdering again. Please help us keep him from harming another child.

A bright light has been extinguished and it is our job to make sure darkness does not prevail.

This petition will be hand delivered to the Louisiana Parole Board on the day of his probation hearing on December 3, 2007.

This is an opinion petition and, as such, can be signed by any person of any age living in any state or country. If you agree, please sign this petition and forward it to as many others as you know.

All information will be kept confidential and will not be revealed to the inmate.