It is very sad for both families. My prayers are with both the Greenberg's and the Murphy's.

This stinks of corruption to me. This "youth" clearly rattled someones cage who has pull in our state house. I look at this and can't help but wonder, why did our "elected" officals actually changed the law to prosecute this "child" as an adult. Then after a few months deem this is unfair, but not to be retroactive? It's as if this law was put in place to punish "one" individual. Then quickly changed afterwards, does anyone else wonder why the state acknowledged this was the wrong move, yet they didn't fix the damage it caused to 500 RI Youths??? Now I think someone should look into the families involved and their ties to capitol hill!

This "child" was old enough to drive a boat wrecklessly while drinking now he can pay the price.

My heart goes out to the Murphy and Greenberg families. I don't think any of us would want to be held responsible for the rest of our lives for the irresponsible behaviors of our teenage years, but this incident shows us how quickly teenage irresponsibility can destroy lives forever. We all must remember that these boys could have anybody's children. May the Murphy family find peace in the future.

A Barrington Mom

What a perfect opportuniy for the parents of the dead teenager to prevent the loss of a second life. What good will it do to imprison this teen. Instead consider a plan that would have him speak to children about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Reply to "A Barrington Mom"
No, it is not true that the operator of the boat
"could have been anyone's child." Millions of
young men grow up without having killed a friend
through totally irresponsible behavior. The many privileges enjoyed by Barrington teens must not include the right to kill a friend and not suffer
any consequences.

Probably a spoiled kid from a well-to-do neighborhood with an attitude fostered by self-consumed parents that he can do whatever he wants to, always better than the next person. An attitude that everyone else is expendable, and unimportant. Bottom line, the other person is dead forever, let this person spend several years in jail to show society that he is responsible for his actions, poor decisions, and bad behavior. So what if the parents suffer the social stigma of a child in jail. They wouldn't have to if they did a better job raising him, and instilling responsible behavior.

The tragic death of Patrick Murphy will leave Ryan Greenberg with a burden of guilt that he will endure for the rest of his life. Both of these young men are guilty of being young and irresponsile, but havent we all acted that way at one time? I know that I personally have been wreckless in the past, and was very fortunate that I have never expirienced a tradegy as severe as this one.

My point is that the sending Mr. Greenberg to prison will not prevent further tragedy. But if Ryan were to tell his story to other young adults, as a form of community service (as suggested above), someone might listen. And moreover, similar misfortune in the future could be avoided. As responsible adults in this community, our focus should not be on the prosecution of the defendant, but instead upon the prevention of future turmoil in the community.

If the media can not focus on this side of the story, then please have the mercy minimize the publicity of this story. The families in question have suffered enough.

This is a sad story but the fact of the matter is this kid killed another person, period! He needs to pay for his actions like evry other person in this world. There are consequences for your actions no matter how old you are.

My heart goes out for both families. My prayers are with both, the Greenberg's and the Murphy's.

And his parents drop $100,000 for bail ON THE SPOT in court today! This kid has never even HEARD about the real world, never mind lived in it!!!

My heart goes out to both families. I think that it would not hurt to use some tough love with these teenagers who have the mind set that they are indestructable. I say show them graphic pictures of the results of teenage drinking.
susie

"Instead consider a plan that would have him speak to children about the dangers of drinking and driving."

I'd be all for that. We can cut his 20 sentence for second-degree murder in half in exchange for him speaking to kids about drunk driving.

I look at the situation in terms of Russian Roulette. If both parties were drinking and had knowledge of one another's condition, then I view the actions leading up the the accident as consensual. As in a game of Russian Roulette, all players agree to partake in a dangerous game while ignoring the possible consequences. If this is true, Ryan should NOT be imprisoned for murder. If Ryan deliberately and maliciously concealed his alcohol use and impairment from Patrick, then he is guilty of murder and should be charged as such.

The publicity of this all ,is enough. The Murphy's has lost a child . The suffering of it all makes my heart ache for that wonderful loving family. Everything that is told or spoken of is about drinking an the consequences. Did anyone ever consider Patrick was not drinkiong or just had maybe one . And by being in the water with no knee board, how is that reckless ? Please have a little mercy when writing.Please base your comments on facts and not assumptions . Believe me the person responsible WILL be punished no matter what jury!

I don't think that having him speak to children about the dangers of drinking and operating any vehicle or boat would do justice. I understand that both of the boys were in it together, but we educate our children in so many ways these days. We have programs such as dare, we have police officers come in, we spend federal and state dollars ontelevision commercials about the effects of drinking. In addition, we show demolished cars from drinking and driving accidents. I think that he should serve some type of sentence. He took responsibility for operating the boat. I am truly sorry for all involved. I don't think it has anything to do with economic status everyone is exposed to this including adults. It is a true tragedy. That endangers all of us.

I live in Barrington and I am appaled at the behavior of this group of children. After losing 2 classmates on Nayatt RD, 1 in the Barrington River, 1 on New Meadow Rd, 1 to the training school, this one most definitely to the ACI, another one of them just failed a sobriety test after eluding park police and severly injuring a pedestrian in Bristol. This is the best public school system in the state and it is graduating a bunch of reckless, irresponsible idiots. Wake up!!!

I don't understand how the state can pick and choose who they are going to make examples out of and who they are going to go light on. This boy did not intentionally "murder" his friend. Just a couple of weeks ago a teen was sentenced to just a couple of years in the Training School for his friend dying while he was drinking and driving. How is one second degree murder and the other driving under the influence death resulting?? I absolutely believe that teen drinking and driving is a big problem but punishments should be consistant for everyone.

I think the whole situation is awful for everyone concerned. I do feel, though, that rules are mean't to be kept and that Ryan Greenberg should be charged as the 17 year old he is. He can be held accountable - but at HIS AGE. You don't change laws just because you think someone deserves a harsher penalty - if that were the case, we would be changing laws everyday! I wish the courts would take responsibility and charge each person as they should. My heart goes out to the Greenbergs and the Murphys! xoxo

To EMT: $100,000 personal recognizance means he walks away without paying a dime. If he fails to appear then he is responsible to pay that amount.

To B: The law was enacted before the incident occurred, not after. Get your facts right before you post. OOOOOh big conspiracy... your on to something... Get real.

The defendant is guilty as sin. Once the case moves forward the facts will be presented and the image of an innocent "child" some of you see him as will be shattered. I guarantee it.

Apparently Barrington has a problem. 3 incidents of teenagers and alcohol in the last 6 months. 2 of 3 incidents resulted in a fatality. The last guy is lucky to be alive. Wake up Barrington teens! Parents... you could be doing a little more to change things too. Your behavior and irresponsible actions speak volumes of your complacency.

I feel bad for both families, my prayers are with them. I think the state did the correct thing when they passed the law about being tried as adults and they did a very BAD thing changing it back. It looks as these kids in Barrington will not learn from others mistakes. How may kids have to die before someone/anyone (parents/kids) wakes up in Barrington?? This week another made the news as DWI. He should be punished as an adult, do the time and get probation. Probation being he has to talk to students about drinking. It's unbelievable how many Barrington teens have been caught drinking. There have been a few times that thank God no one has ben killed and they get caught outside drinking on lawns and such. If they take it easy on him they will send the message to these kids it's OK to drink. People saying sending him to prison will not save a life is wrong it might get 1 just 1 kid to think twice if he thinks he may end up in prison.

As a retired school teacher in another state, I've attended numerous programs where a drunken teenage offender who'd maimed or killed someone in a vehicle accident spoke to teens as part of his community service. Twenty percent of the audience think its a joke; seventy percent are moved, but then by the weekend the message wears off and they are back out drinking; ten percent actually change their own lives. Let this boy serve time in prison AND speak to groups.

Why do we assume this kid came from a rich well to do family?? This could happen to any of our kids. It's just an unfortunate incident. We all have done stupid hings in our lives. I don't think he wanted to kill his friend. Does anyone really think that this kid is or will ever really enjoy his life again?? As far as the family of the boy that was killed my heart goes out to you.

It seems a lot of you want this child to go to prison. Yes, he made a very costly mistake. It is just that........A Mistake. He does deserve a second chance. You can't blame the parents for the mistakes the children make. Have some heart for both families. Put yourself in their shoes. How do you think you would feel? My good God. Reflect on what you did as a child. Consider yourself very lucky you never had to go through what these two familes are going through.

REMEMBER, this young man KILLED someone. There has to be a price to pay. Serving time in prison will not ruin his life. HE will get out and get to move on with his life. HE can learn from this. HE can help make sure he doesn't do this again. HE must take responsibility for what he has done. By pleading not guilty he hasn't taken responsibility yet. Remember he has already lied about what happened. How many times should he be able to drive drunk before he is held accountable?
Let him serve some prison time, speak to students about what he has done, and speak with parents who have lost a child to a drunk driver. I know someone who was hit by a drunk driver. The driver payed his penalty and went on with his life. The person he hit has been in a coma ever since. That driver ruined not just the life of the person he hit, but the life of her parents, her brother, and the rest of her family. I don't have any sympathy for this young man. We have all these ads running about if you drive drunk you will get caught and be arrested. Maybe there should be a disclaimer at the end of the ads saying that this law is void if it happens in Barrington and/or involves its residents. Enough is enough!

It's about time kids learned they have to pay a price when they do something they KNOW is wrong.Parents need to teach them to stand up and take responsibility for their actions and not yell my child wouldn't do something like that' and bail them out when they do something , illegal, immoral or just plain wrong. When someone drinks and drives it's just as bad as if they took a gun and deliberately killed someone. It is NOT just a mistake, they know what they are doing, and they are just a child is not an acceptable excuse they are old enough to know right from wrong.