'My heart goes out' to Willises

Ryan feels sorrow for 6 kids' deaths, Lura Lynn says

George and Lura Lynn Ryan's hearts "ache" for the Willis family who lost six children in a fiery 1994 accident on a Wisconsin highway, Lura Lynn Ryan said Friday.

But her husband wasn't driving the truck that caused the accident, she noted.

"My heart goes out to the Willis family. It always has," Lura Lynn Ryan said from her Kankakee home. George Ryan was home as well but would not come to the phone, citing advice from his lawyers not to talk to the media. "I think he's said many times that his heart aches for the family. That's about the most I can say for him."

The Rev. Scott and Janet Willis asked to testify at Ryan's sentencing hearing Wednesday to illustrate what they said were the consequences of Ryan's corrupt behavior. Ryan tolerated a culture of corruption in which commercial driver's licenses were handed out to unqualified drivers such as Ricardo Guzman in exchange for bribes that went in to Ryan's campaign fund, prosecutors said.

Guzman's English was too poor to understand other drivers' warnings that a piece of metal was about to fall off his truck. The part pierced the Willis' gas tank, which caught fire.

But Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer ruled that the line between Ryan's actions and the children's deaths was not direct enough for it to be used against him in the trial or in sentencing, though testimony was allowed about Ryan putting an end to an investigation into the role corruption played in the children's deaths.

So instead, the Willises wrote letters, which were released by their attorney Friday:

"Both my husband and I have struggled with depression," Janet Willis wrote. "While my husband battled thoughts of suicide, I battled to keep my sanity. My husband and I have prayed and asked God to keep us from bitterness."

The children's sister Amy (Willis) Moody wrote, "I wish that George Ryan would have cared as much about the lives of innocent children as he has claimed to care for convicted criminals."

"Six children were innocent victims resulting from a political scheme to raise campaign money," the Rev. Willis wrote. "My wife and I have a strong desire to forgive Gov. Ryan but it must be on an honest basis: sorrow and admission."

There is sorrow, Lura Lynn Ryan said Friday.

"We hurt and have grieved for that family as well," she said, starting to cry. "But that's not going to change anything. It's a horrible tragedy and we do feel very badly. I would think he understands. He's a minister. There is a God up there and there is forgiveness."

Gov. Ryan could be overheard asking who was on the phone and what they wanted.

"He isn't talking to any media," Lura Lynn Ryan said. "He's never been charged with that. He can't talk to you."

She felt her husband should not be blamed as though he were driving the truck that caused the accident.

"If George Ryan had hit those people, I'm sorry, that would be different," she said.

Mrs. Ryan hung up just as the reporter asked why Ryan had not asked for forgiveness, saying, "I've said too much. I have to go."

nkorecki@suntimes.com

apallasch@suntimes.com