PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — On the previous working day of the Northam administration, a regional loved ones realized a 46-yr-old Williamsburg person, Ransom Ronnie Grandel, was granted a pardon by using on the internet records.

They imagined he would shortly return dwelling.

But a few months afterwards, they figured out condition officers say he seriously was not pardoned, and for now, he will keep on being in prison.

The situation dates again to November 1995. A suspected drug vendor bought into a shootout with a James Town County law enforcement officer subsequent a targeted visitors quit. In the trade of gunfire, both guys, as properly as a 17-12 months-previous lady who was in her bed, were struck by gunfire.

Officer Pat Murray, suspect Ransom Grandel, and a 17-calendar year-outdated woman caught in the crossfire, were being shot, but all three survived. When Grandel was convicted and sent to jail to serve life as well as 49 a long time, his niece Ericka was only 11 a long time old.

“At that time it actually crushed me. I was devastated getting so young. There was really almost nothing I could do about it,” reported Ericka Grandel in a Zoom job interview.

However, 24 years later, she did do one thing about it. In Oct 2021, she assisted her uncle file a petition for clemency. On Gov. Ralph Northam’s last day in place of work, a point out portal showed that the pardon was granted.

“If you click on the position, it says that a decision has been made on the pardon ask for the pardon has been granted,” stated Ericka Grandel.

The following day, Gov. Glenn Youngkin was sworn in. Six times later on, she checked the portal again.

“I observed out his pardon has been rolled back to ‘awaiting review’ and I discovered that out a 7 days later on on Friday, January 21. When I saw that standing, it was like a rock in my tummy. It was, like, quite hurtful to see that,” reported Ericka Grandel.

She ongoing inquiring issues and then on January 28, the Grandels received another reaction from the condition through e mail.

“The clemency workers informed me that in essence his petition was granted in mistake due to a personal computer concern and ‘I’m sorry for your heartache or any confusion this might have caused,’” claimed Ericka Grandel.

The email study:

Mr. Grandel, Our office is in receipt of the pardon petition you submitted in Oct 2021. Recently we had an mistake in our computer system that triggered the portal to quickly clearly show your petition with a status of granted. Your pardon is nonetheless under critique and has not been granted. I’m sorry for the confusion and any heartache this may perhaps have brought on.  
Ideal, 

Pardon Office

“How does a error of this magnitude come about and you just say ‘Oh I’m sorry.’ That I really don’t recognize and for that, I would like a response,” claimed Ericka Grandel.

And, there’s much more. On Friday, January 28, Ericka Grandel acquired an e mail from the state indicating “Mr. Grandel’s pardon was submitted initially as a straightforward pardon and not a conditional pardon. Hence, he does not qualify for a simple pardon.”

The e-mail examine:

From: “Pardons Place of work, Virginia” To: “Ericka Grandel”

Sent: Fri, Jan 28, 2022 at 9:40 AM Subject: Re: Ransom Ronnie Grandel Pardon Status

Mr. Grandel’s pardon was submitted at first as a simple pardon and not a conditional pardon.  Therefore, he does not qualify for a easy pardon.  Mr. Grandel’s conditional pardon is in review position at current. 
Greatest, 

Pardon Division

Ericka Grandel suggests her uncle never ever applied for a uncomplicated pardon. The clemency ask for Ericka Grandel presented to 10 On Your Side evidently states the request is for a conditional pardon.

Pardons in Virginia are processed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Workplace but when 10 On Your Facet contacted the business office by cellphone, we ended up directed to the push business in the Governor’s Business office.

An e mail was despatched to the press office environment on January 31 and February 1. Following the to start with email, a agent for the Governor explained to 10 On Your Facet she was on the lookout into the make a difference.

For now, Ericka Grandel continues to be hopeful but involved about regardless of whether Youngkin will honor the initial submitting from Northam’s past working day. Her uncle turns 47 several years previous on February 5 at the Sussex II Jail in Waverly, Virginia.

“It is a worry of mine and I am just hoping and praying that it does come down to that. When they assess his petition, I hope they can see the similar changed male that I see. He is a distinct particular person,” Ericka Grandel mentioned.