BARTOW, FL -- Monday morning, Patricia and Lynn Mulder had an important day in court.
Over the last two years, they've traveled out of state, speaking to others about pushing for stricter laws against hate crimes.
"I want for Ryan to be known as someone who was important in this lifetime," Patricia said.
While waiting to go up to the ninth floor, they eased their nerves by locking hands.
The rainbow bracelet on Patricia's wrist is in memory of the couple's murdered son. She also wears a silver ring that belonged to Ryan.
"Hate, which is what killed my son Ryan," Patricia told us, "will kill other people if we don’t stop that hate."
Then, in courtroom 9C, the Mulders sat only a few feet away from the second man accused of killing their son.
Ryan Skipper was 25-years-old, studying to become a computer programmer before he died.
On the side of a road in Wahneta is where Polk County deputies found his body.
Investigators say his two killers stabbed him to death 19 times, because they knew he was gay.
During the trial, the prosecution’s witnesses included crime scene technicians.
As technician Lisa Davis described some of the video of the crime scene to the jury, one juror was visibly affected. When an image of Ryan's body appeared on the monitor, that juror's eyes tensed up and her hand covered her mouth.
Meanwhile, expressionless was the accused murderer, William Brown, Jr.
Ryan's mother held back tears.
"Each and every day I think of Ryan, but to hear him in terms in courtroom of a non-entity is always very hard for me."
Ryan's parents are trying to start up a scholarship fund for aspiring students like their son. Donations are being collected, and when they reach $10,000, it will be official. To make a donation, send it to:
Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland (CFGL)
1501 South Florida Avenue
Lakeland FL 33803
863-683-3131
www.cfgl.com
