“People ask, ‘How can you forgive someone like that?’ People don’t realize how much courage it took for Brandon Wright to turn himself in for a murder charge knowing that he could get 25, 30 years and never see his kids again,” said Terry Bushey, who recently started a tile restoration business in Oregon.

He said he wants to hire ex-felons as a way to help them reform. “I want people to know that people who make mistakes and do crimes can change their lives.”

Rockey Brooks, Robert Bushey’s stepson who lived with him until he was 16 years old, didn’t know that Bushey had been murdered until Trevor Bushey called him last year. The last time Brooks had contact with his stepdad was around 1992.

“I’m a Christian, so forgiveness is something we’re supposed to do. It’s not always easy. In his case, I felt that he was not who he once was,” Brooks said. “I felt bad for him having to do 17 years, having to do so long now that he has children. Nothing he can do now can bring Bob back. An extra 10 years can’t do anything for us.”

Trevor Bushey met Wright in the Cowlitz County Jail prior to his sentencing and spoke in person at his September sentencing. Wright’s remorse and regret were clear to him.