Matthew Cordle has been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison with no chance of early release and a lifetime driver’s license suspension. As Matthew promised, he plead guilty and took responsibility for the horrible crime that ended Vincent Canzani’s life. Because I said I would recorded and released Matthew’s confession video with the hope that it would convince others to put down the keys… Don’t make the excuses Matthew made. Make the promise to never drink and drive and post it to social media with #SaveYourVictim.
Please click the share buttons above to encourage others not to drink and drive…
Since the day Matthew messaged our Facebook page for the first time on August 9th, I have grown to know him. He calls me on a regular basis from jail. I can tell you that he is remorseful for what he has done. That remorse will never bring back Vincent Canzani, but it has driven him towards a lifelong mission to prevent drinking and driving. While I am disgusted by Matthew’s actions on June 22nd, I am proud of his promise to take responsibility and his conviction to see that promise through. This is Matt’s first message to me…
Hi Matthew – Why did you plead Not Guilty in your arraignment after you made this video? It’s the exact opposite of what you said in the video & the message that you are “trying” to carry forward. Thanks for your time.
“Cordle’s lawyers said yesterday, and repeated today, that their plan was to plead not guilty before Lynch, so the case would be assigned a trial judge at random, and then quickly enter a guilty plea before that judge.”
It was for legal purposes for the state he was in. It was so he couldn’t play the system basically. He did however plead guilty after he was assigned to a judge. But it was all for legal purposes so he could not get a more lenient judge in the long run.
He was sentenced and given 6.5 years with no chance of getting out! Unlike some who would get out in 2 years.
My mother was hit by someone who was drinking and driving while she was walking! The guy that hit her was a coward! He cried and begged and tried to commit suicide. Mr. Cordle did a bad thing but that doesn’t make him a bad person. He made a mistake an was willing to take the consequences! I have to give him props!
Bravo!!! Your a better person than you think are. You’ve restored my faith in humanity.
Matthew,
I commend you for what you are doing to try to right your wrong in the earthly sense. Drinking and driving was, is and always will be wrong, but I also believe everything that happens happens for a reason. Using your mistake to try to prevent others from making the same one is the right thing to do. No, you can’t bring back Vince, but you can honor his memory. Know too, that even though his family and lots of other people on earth may condemn you, Grace and Mercy are yours from Him who created you if you accept it. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1,2 NIV If you have not let Him into your Life, do, He will give you His Peace and set you Free.
I know exactly how Matthew feels. I myself, was convicted of DUI Manslaughter on November 29 th of 2004 in my state of Florida.
I served a 6 yr prison sentence and am currently still on probation.
Like Matthew has said, the real punishment is living.
My prayers are with Matthew, his family and also his victims family.
Xo
I’ve been following since this video went viral. There is definitely a powerful message that Matt is getting across; I can feel his sincerity. That young man has a long hard road ahead, but he has re-instilled in me, my outlook on the younger generations. His character and respect for others is something we just don’t see very often anymore; and I’m sorry Matthew that this is how I had to get to know you. Keep your promise, and try not to be too hard on yourself. Someday I’d like to shake your hand.
The world is full of great young people! We reinforce the trends we choose to see.
Hey. I just watched the video and read the story and about Matthew Cordle. I would like to know if there is a way to write him? I have the upmost respect for him having the courage to come forward like he did, when most of us woud have tried to escape our consequences. He made a major mistake and he knows it and I can feel how devastated he is from his actions. My deepest sympathies go out to the Canzani family for their loss.
Matthews address is:
Matthew Cordle
Inmate # A695248
P. O. Box 300
11271 State Route 762
Orient, Ohio 43146
If you want a reply send an envelope with an embossed stamp (not an actual stamp you stick on, they wont allow that) and your handwritten address (again not a sticker with your address, they dont allow it). He will write you back!!
I wrote to Matthew and thanked him for his courage to live his life for himself and Vincent Canzani now. He wrote me back a beautiful letter. I didn’t expect a letter back. I was very touched. I wish him and his family all the best. Also, my prayers are with Vincent’s family. It is a tragic mistake. Life seems to not be about making mistakes but how we live our lives when we make them. Matthew has taken the road less traveled.
What a true insperation Matthew is. I would like to write him is the address to write him the same or has it changed now that where in 2014.
Hi Yigal,
Matt’s address and email information is below.
Matthew Cordle, A695248
P.O. Box 209
11781 State Route 762
Orient, Ohio 43146
Visit jpay.com and search for Matt by his inmate number: A695248.
-Amanda
Thank you so much for Matthews address. I am doing a presentation on the affects of drunk driving deaths. I myself hit and killed a man named Micheal rankin on the night of July 19, 2014. As Matthew says, the real punishment is living. I have since struggled with depression and attempted suicide. I look forward to reaching out to Matthew. After over a year, I chose to plead guilty to my crimes and face punishment fully expecting 4-6 years. With many prayers and the mercy of the judge I was given 60 months supervised probation and 250 hours of community service to be served giving speeches to high schools and college students. I too was 22 when I killed a man, and it was my first offense but definitely not my first time drinking and driving. Matthews video has finally made me feel like I am not alone in this fight for life and the fight to keep others from making our mistakes.
what is the address?
Thank you for posting this video. I don’t drink, never have and never plan to so I could say that your message does not apply to me. But it does! Your message is about taking responsibility and being accountable for a wrong act. In my book you are forgiven because you’ve recognized the wrong done, feel remorse, ask for forgiveness, are willing to take the punishment and are doing what you can to make restitution. You can’t bring back the life you took but you are making restitution by posting this video to prevent other lives from being taken. Sure your face is seen clearly and openly-as clearly and openly as you take the blame and the responsibility. That is what it takes to begin to correct one wrong act. That takes courage and integirity. This applies to me. Thank you and God bless your efforts.
Thank you for doing the right thing. That can really ruin peoples lives. For the rest of your life. I hope this teaches people a lesson.
Putz, esse garoto tem de ser parabenizado por sua coragem. Que este arrependimento declarado por ele sirva de espelho para tantas outras pessoas evitarem cometer infrações parecidas no mundo inteiro, principalmente, as oriundas no transito causadas por ingestão de bebida alcoolica. Essa atitude, tambem merece aplauso pois este relato jamais seria encenado por atores – por melhores que fossem, nem poderia ser criado por uma agencia de publicidade porque é real e o resto apenas mera coincidência.
My father was killed by a drunk driver in 1968. That driver was also driving the wrong way on a divided highway. The legal plea was ‘diminished capacity’ which meant the driver was NOT responsible because he was drinking; his capacity to make responsible judgement was diminished.
The courts decided what my father’s life would have been worth, and the driver’s insurance company handed over a check. And the driver walked.
The laws have changed, but drunk drivers are STILL killing people. And it’s still Forever.
Thank you, Matthew Cordle. No doubt in my mind that your voice has saved someone else’s father, mother, son, daughter … ….
I lost 3 friends in a drunk driving accident, the fact that he’s taking responsibility for his actions, without making excuses is very emotional for me. I cannot say that it makes anything he did okay, but at least he isn’t trying to excuse his actions. He’s learned something, the hard way, and in return he’s trying to put the word out. I know only few are going to listen, but he’s trying. I know my 3 friends had to leave, it was time for them to go… but when I saw this it brought up the massive amount of emotions from when I first heard the news.
From the first time I watched the “I killed a man” video I was awe-struck. The man has taken responsibility in a most incredible way. The sad cost of a life, yet the standard Matthew has set in taking responsibility for his actions is courageous. I was so fascinated by the case I made the nearly two-hour trip to be in the courtroom when he was sentenced. Quite an experience: http://storiesmadepowerful.com/i-was-in-matthew-cordles-courtroom-when-he-got-sentenced/
Thanks for all you’re doing, Alex Sheen to get the word out.
Thanks, Matthew Cordle for ultimately delivering on your promises.
thanx for your courge to confess I head the videa about 5 times and aalmost cried
Thanks for the video. My nephew was killed on November 8th 2008. Troy was 8 years old.
I only wish our killer would of taken the responsibility to confess and show true remorse instead of sending the message that he made a mistake for drinking and driving. He is serving 8 years in prison, 2 years probation and believes in his heart he is serving way to much time.
I believe his circumstance has not changed because God wants to change his heart.
The killer was my uncle.
Thank you Matthew Cordle for your courage and your commitment to get the message out not to drink and drive.
Matthew, your courage, sincerity and genuine remorse shine through the video. It will not bring Vincent back, but I hope that your fortitude and determination to prevent other similar tragedies brings his family some comfort. I hope that when you have completed your sentence people can look beyond one tragic mistake and see the man that you have become and that you have many opportunities to live a good and fulfilling life that honours both yourself and Vincent as well as those who care for you both. Alex, congratulations on your website and crusade. I wish you every success!
I greatly appreciate the message of “Don’t drink and drive” that Matt is sending. I too am a victim of a drunk driver.
However, the message of “Take responsibility for your actions, at all costs!” I believe is as much if not more valuable. On a daily basis I hear people all around me blaming quite literally EVERYTHING in their lives on someone or something else other than themselves. He made me do it, the dog ate my homework, that’s not fair… the excuses are endless. Have we actually stopped to think about why Matt’s story has gone viral? Why is it people are so utterly amazed by his actions? Because owning one’s own trash is such a foreign concept in our society today, people can hardly conceive of what Matt has done.
Two of my promise cards say the following, “I promise to take responsibility for ALL of my actions in ALL aspects of my life.” “I will attempt to bring the message of owning one’s own trash to others.”
Matthew,
While I admire the courage it took you to plead guilty I cannot help but feel you didn’t get a long enough prison sentence. You killed someone, some would say murdered. The man who hit and killed my brother in 1992 never spent one day in jail. He got bailed out the day of the accident and fled the country. So I must say thank you for what you have done for Mr. Canzani’s family. You showed true remorse and have taken steps in hope that you stop just one person from doing what you did. For that alone you deserve credit. When I saw your video I wept in thinking of my brother lying in the road dying and his killer living a free life without remorse or guilt. You have relieved this family of that and given them some closure, but as you said you can never bring Mr Canzani back. You have taken responsibility like a man and stood up and said it was me I will not run from the truth. For that I say thank you.
Hi……….I cant speak english etc….. I only wanna telling you ehhhhh…… I write a little Bit german okay…?……. You have mut(german word)….. And….. I only can speak good things about you…… SORRY wenn(german word) you cant understand me…… I’m from germany….. Ehh…. Yeah….. You are a good Boy…… Other Boys aren’t so……. Good(?)…… I cant find an Other good Word……. You kill a man….. :(….. But in that Time you was Drunky… Or..?…… Ehhhhh…. I only wanna telling you you Are a good Men…… And….. Ehh….. I cant find words anymore….. Good Lucky……… Matthew.. ☺
…. Yours …………
I see growth in this young man , from his first confession until September of this year. I pray not to see him harden in Jail and stay the course. I pray when he gets out he gets an education and makes something out of his life
Two lives were lost that evening…. I too lost someone to a drunk driver . The killer also lost his life. Both drowned in a river in Maine. My life was never the same. No life was ever the same. Mathew will serve his time, but he has also lost his life, what it was, it was a horrible accident , he did not set out to kill anyone, but he did. Somewhere along the way he has to let himself off the hook and forgive himself to go on with a productive life or he will sink….