A few words before you open this page.

This was written during a dark time. A time when nothing about Brad’s passing made any sense. Certainly not the lack of remorse from Milton Willis and his lack of accountability.

It was written like you speak, and your English teacher would tell you that is not proper. But—nothing about the harsh feelings at that time could have been put into proper English.

Forgive—my ramblings on the trial page. I was then as I am now a grieving mother.

We were all saddened and mad, and this page shows just how much.

The system failed Brad. Milton Willis served a little less than 2 years of his four year sentence.

We don’t give him the time of day— and look forward to his accountability on the flip side! He has to live with what he did and is solely responsible for this act. We do wonder how he lives with himself. According to his neighbors – he walks the streets without a care in the world or it being a bother.

Again, we don’t give him the time of day…

Suzan

THE TRIAL

This part of the website is dedicated to the Truth about the car crash in Del Mar California where Brad died. We encourage you to speak out. We could not do that for 15 months and 17 days as we listened and watched Milton Willis “blame” Brad, and try to avoid any and all responsibility. His courtroom speech the day he went to jail for 4 years was anything but remorseful. It was insulting and cruel. He actually (ask anyone there) blamed Brad at that time saying he should have called him a cab. Anyone who knows Brad knows this never happened. All of the evidence tells a much different story.

We encourage you to participate with your stories of Brad and make comments regarding your experience with the Trial. This is for us to vent our frustration and sadness.

On June 6th, 2008 Bradley James Dillahunty was killed in a car crash @ 1:42 A.M. in Del Mar California.

Milton Willis was the driver he was 51 and had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit. He had THC in his system. This was his 2nd offense in California, and he had a DUI dismissed (?) in Hawaii in 95′.

What we are about to present are facts. Not the ‘fiction’ the defense attorney Warwick presented to get his client off on charges of Vehicular Manslaughter. We worked closely with the D. A. Matt Tag, and his investigative team of San Diego County on the case.

Milton Willis was sentenced to 4 years for his part in the death of our son for Vehicular Manslaughter, and went to jail on September 23, 2009. He will most likely serve only 18-24 months of the sentence he was given.

We feel the story is worth telling because of the accusations that were made against our son which are NOT true and twisted in such a way that the lies entangled him with Milton. Our objective is to let those who knew Brad, and loved him know the truth, and to free Brad’s name from Milton Willis.

Our story follows a time line –

On June 6th at 6:30 in the morning a man from the San Diego Sheriff’s office came to the front door to tell us the news of Brad. We did not know who the driver was at that time. It was not until Saturday morning when we were informed it was Milton Willis.

Jim and I went to see the family 3 days after Brad died in hopes of finding out some of the information that had only begun to trickle our way. We met Michael, Milton’s brother, Kate and Brooks Sullivan, and Milton’s mother. A friend or aunt of the family was there named Lucy. We wished Milton a full recovery and asked to be notified when he was out of the hospital.

Milton was in a coma for the first couple of weeks after the crash, and after becoming conscious he was released from the hospital and went straight into Alcohol and Drug Rehab.

Jim and I went to see him in the hospital and wished him well when he came out of his coma. I saw him once after that day in August of 2008. I went to Del Mar after he got home from Rehab and had a visit with Milton and Michael Willis. I talked to Milton about Brad’s DUI, and the seriousness of the consequences he was facing. He told me he “did not know that” about Brad. No he did not, but he clearly used it, and lied in the process against Brad.

The purpose of that trip was to give him two books that belonged to Bradley. The first of which is The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto. The second is a photographic album of the Snowflake, by Kenneth Libbrecht. Brad loved these books because they demonstrated how our thoughts affect us. Milton was given these books with a written “Forgiveness” message that came straight from a broken heart. Many of you have asked about my Forgiveness. Let me explain, I did this so I would not feel hate in my heart everyday. It was a difficult journey but one I made for me, and for Bradley. He and I are very spiritual and I know he would have wanted it this way.

I never heard from Milton Willis or any of the family again until it was time for sentencing Milton who pleaded guilty in late June 2009.

During those 15 months after Bradley died many accusations and insults were thrown at us, at him. We stood back and watched the San Diego County D.A. Matt Tag and his team, Phil Sowers and Tom Morgans conduct a lengthy and thorough investigation. Jim and I are were made privy to those findings.

Most people are unaware of the many events leading up to Brad’s tragic death that night. We want his friends and family to know what we know, and to let you see and hear the truth from us.

First, Brad was surfing during the day and he came back to Milton’s mother’s home in Del Mar (a couple of blocks from the beach) to take a shower and nap. When he awoke, he walked nearby to have a bite to eat. He came back to the house where the Willis brothers had designed a recording studio out of the mother’s house garage. Brad, Milton, and others jammed until about 10 p.m. At this time Brad let Milton borrow his car. He was ALONE and not with Milton when he went to a beach bar in Del Mar called Jimmy O’s. It is a block from the beach, and no more than a mile from the house where he was staying, and not even that to Milton’s brother Michael’s apartment. At 11:30 p.m. he sent a text to Milton asking him if he was “home yet”. He was waiting at the bar for Milton to pick him up. He had 1 drink at Jimmy O’s. Again, he had 1 drink at Jimmy O’s and his blood alcohol was 0.03% at the time of his death. This is reported in his autopsy from the San Diego County Medical Examiner. Those of us that knew him well also knew he never liked to drink and play his guitar because it slowed his fingers down. They were practicing to record. Milton also knew this and in his apology letter wrote “Brad was not drinking and smoking with us that night..”

The next point to clear up is that BRADLEY WAS NOT WITH MILTON FOR 3 HOURS BEFORE HE DIED. This is almost an irony at this point to clear up because neither the papers, nor the defense attorney Warwick for obvious reasons ever reported this. One of the accusations from Willis was that Brad knew he was drunk. Not True! We know this for a FACT because of cellular records. There is a technical explanation. Every time we make a call it “pings” off of cell-towers. Although Milton tried to say Brad was with him, and that Brad knew how much he had to drink the District Attorney proved otherwise, helping to force Milton’s hand to plead guilty.

Another point to address is that Milton was clearly drunk when he came to pick up Brad who was waiting for him. NOT TRUE!

There was a detective in the bar who saw Brad that night, and who also saw Milton come in. He did not “appear” as drunk as he was. Most alcoholics have a high Tolerance for alcohol. That is clearly the case with Milton. Again, he checked into Rehab and admitted he was an alcoholic and substance abuser. This too is on record.

When Milton came into the bar he got Brad and left. Two minutes later Brad was dead. Brad was wearing his seat belt. Milton was not. Brad could not have gotten control over the car because Milton was “witnessed” bouncing all over the car when he lost control at more than 67 mph. The lead detectives said there was no way possible for Brad to try and save himself.

The car missed 2 stop signs not 1. There are MANY eye witnesses to the crash that night. All say the car was doing 80 mph or more, but forensics say at least 67mph. When the car hit the dip after missing the 2nd stop sign Milton lost control over the vehicle. It skidded over 300 feet. The first car it hit and totaled– it hit so hard it imprinted the license plate from Brad’s car into it. The second car it hit was a Mercedes and then it finally landed into a palm tree. Brad was killed on impact. The windows were broken out. Milton went through the back. The only reason he survived the impact was because of the broken windows. Otherwise – he would have died too.

Milton chose not to work with us and let his attorney speak for him. Every step of the way he blamed Brad. First there was the accusation floating around about how Brad was the driver.

Forensics proved otherwise. Milton then blamed the car mechanics. That too was false. Brad’s grandparents had given him the car in April of 08′ just before he died. It was garage kept for 10 years and barely driven as the mileage reflected. The next accusation and sadly the one the entire family seems to believe (I will address that later) is that Brad FORCED Milton to drive.

Let’s see, Milton has Brad’s car for over 3 hours while he drinks and smokes pot before going to get him. When Brad sent the text to Milton at 11:30 p.m. Milton never let Brad know he was drinking and smoking. Brad had $80 dollars in his wallet to take a 1 mile (or less) cab ride, and was no stranger to doing so (ask any of his REAL friends). Brad could have walked (he was no stranger to doing that). When we lived downtown Huntington Beach it was about a mile to the downtown beach bars & restaurants from the house. Brad walked or took one of the bicycles when he went down to meet friends. Just a few minutes before the crash Milton goes to pick up Brad (Milton had the keys) – leaves with Brad and he dies within about 2 minutes. Milton does not buckle up (It is absolutely insane that Brad forced anything. Remember Jim and I are Milton’s age and I can assure you no one “forced” him to do anything!). Let’s get one thing straight right here–Brad would never allow Milton to drive his car like an insane maniac over 67 mph in a 25 mph zone (that Milton drives EVERYDAY to go to work at the beach)!

Now, I would love to address Brad’s DUI that took place 2 1/2 years before he died. Before doing that I would like to state that Brad’s DUI should never have been an issue or allowed to be an issue for any reason when it comes to his death! It is an even bigger tragedy made worse by someone who has shown no accountability or remorse about killing a 24 year old young man! Those of us that knew Brad, (and that does not include the Willis brothers, who had no knowledge of his DUI before the crash), knew that Brad learned his lesson. Unlike Milton, Brad did not drink and drive after receiving a DUI. Fact: Brad as self-punishment gave up drinking for a year and two months. He only started drinking 1 month before his death. He used to drive as far away as L.A. to get someone who had too much to drink so they would not drive under the influence. We know – We lived with him! He would bring them home so they wouldn’t be tempted to drive and drink. He spent over 22K in attorney fees, insurance, and fines. He was saving his money to go to Australia for a year. He would not have done anything to jeopardize this! Anyone who knew him knew he played open-mike night at bars all over O.C. during this time, and ordered his usual – “water”. He had every intention of Jim and I keeping his car for him while he was in Australia for a year. This was a discussion as recent as 10 days before he died.

Months and months passed and still no word from Milton…

In January of 09′ Milton phoned Ashley Harris (Brad’s longtime friend) for our number and what we got was not a call from Milton, but his attorney Warwick. He called me at work to ask if there was something I could say on behalf of Milton and his 500K bail – which in his opinion was too high. His money he said could be better spent on his defense. I told him that I was not comfortable with people speaking for me, but he could tell the judge that I didn’t see Milton – at that time trying to get out of his responsibility for the crash. That was not what was said in court. I told Matt Tag the D.A. that Jim and I would be at all of the court dates from that point on. By the way – Milton and Michael knew I had taken over Brad’s cell number, they had the address, and also my email. There is NO excuse as to not being able to contact us.

In February 09′ when we started to hear the accusations from Milton Willis and his attorney reflecting Brad to blame and not the victim Jim and I ventured down south to the crash site. We had not done that until that time. It was a very sad and difficult journey. One person has commented (regarding a newspaper article about the case) that Milton walks by the palm tree where Brad died everyday as though it is of no bother to him. There are still shards of glass in that tree. We talked to the lead bartender at Jimmy O’s restaurant/bar where Brad was that night. You can see the beach from the front street of the bar. It is about a block away. We called the Willis brothers and asked them to meet us. To talk with us. We never got our phone calls returned.

In March the D.A. asked for Brad’s cell phone to be able to prove that the two were not together as this was the next line of defense for Milton Willis. They were not. This has been proven based on cell records!

In April we reached our “last hope” when Milton then accused Brad of “forcing the keys into his hand”. That was the last day we stood in the middle of the courtroom. The place where friendship and death collide. We were from that point on sitting on the D.A.’s side of the courtroom.

In late June we showed up at the preliminary trial. With nowhere to run and evidence mounting, and people like Brooks and Kate Sullivan subpoenaed to testify against Milton, he pleaded guilty. The fact is – HE IS GUILTY OF KILLING BRAD IN THE CAR CRASH ON JUNE 6TH, 2008.

ALL parties agreed to the Sentencing date of September 1st – 2009. He had all summer to prepare himself and family for his pending jail sentence. On the 1st with everyone present he and his attorney asked for a continuance. This was unbearable and despicable behavior! Who does such things to the family and friends of the victim? If you think this behavior was disgusting you should have seen his remorse speech.

On September 23, 2009 we all went back to court. Milton’s attorney rambled on and on about how Brad was to blame. Milton is ultimately his boss and could have stopped this but chose not to. Milton Willis’s shameful-shameful behavior in his remorse speech was something those of us there will never forget. He actually rose his voice at us and Brad’s other family members and friends expressing loud angry words about how someone (he was referring to Brad) should have called him a cab! There were actually gasps from everyone there. This character shows his true colors and what a desperate man he really is…

I have a few more points to address in our story:

At this time I want to discuss how Michael Willis, Milton’s brother told (anyone who would listen) and the lead detectives that Brad got what he deserved, because “friends don’t let friends drive drunk”. This statement has infuriated everyone on our side because he KNEW Milton went to get Brad and the condition he was in. He actually ‘taunted’ Ashley Harris the day of sentencing with that statement- when he said it to her face and in front of many witnesses just outside the courthouse. Another example of the behaviors we have endured. This behavior is indicative of the sad and pathetic way the Willis brothers have acted in the wake of this tragedy and our loss.

I have been contacted by the family and told “It will get easier”, and “we need to talk there has got to be a better outcome for everyone”. Michael called after the trial to say he was mad at the city of Del Mar for having such a dangerous street and would I come to vent my frustration at the city council. My comment to that is I don’t think anyone was intended to drive down the street drunk at 67mph, drunk with a passenger. Again, no responsibility for the actions taken by Milton.

In closing I would like to say we cannot express our loss. It is not possible. We can only hope the TRUTH has helped some of you who have asked and wanted to know more of what happened the night Brad died. Anything else said is NOT TRUE. Those of us that KNEW Brad knew that he was a person of great integrity and had the roles been reversed would have stood up and done the right thing! This is something Milton Willis does not seem capable of.

A normal person of good standing and behavior does NOT BLAME THEIR VICTIM. DOES NOT BLAME THE STREET FOR THE ACCIDENT (ONE HE DRIVES EVERYDAY). DOES NOT HAVE 3 DUI’S. DOES NOT GO INTO REHAB UNLESS THERE IS A PERVASIVE PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR. DOES NOT HURT THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIM.

Milton is serving his 4 (2? Or less) years in the State penitentiary. When he gets out he will be about 55 years old. He will not be the better for it.

We have a civil attorney, Aitken Aitken and Cohn to represent us over Brad’s death. We hope Brad’s Scholarship will be the beneficiary of any award.

We will discuss this action as details permit.

I will be putting the words I chose for court on this TRIAL page. Others want to express theirs as well. The judge would NOT let all of us talk as there was a lack of time for everyone to speak. I just have to say the judge let the defense attorney Warwick ramble on and on. We should ALL have been allowed to speak!

For all of you who have supported us: thank you. And we know Brad – remember that is what counts…

What follows are the statements from others. Please feel free to weigh-in, this is for you now.

– Suzan and Jim Dillahunty