Curtis Fry speaks about Iowa City killing for first time

Curtis Fry is opening up about the night he killed a 75-year-old Iowa City man.

On January 18, Fry was released from the Hope House in Coralville, where he spent the final few months of a ten-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Patrick McEwen in 2009.

"I want people to understand that every choice matters," Fry said in his first interview since the 2008 incident.  "It was a rough few years, but God helped me through."

According to investigators, Fry broke into McEwen's Iowa City apartment in the early morning hours of Feb. 7, 2008 and beat him to death.  Testimony during the trial revealed that Fry had been drinking heavily with friends while celebrating his 21st birthday in the hours before McEwen's death and didn't remember the incident.

"I believe I did make a positive out of this," Fry said during a telephone interview Monday night.

While incarcerated at the North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City, Fry said he spent time talking with prisoners about God, faith and life choices.

"It's not about me, this is about God," the now 24-year-old Fry said.  "My attitude going into prison was, lord, use me."

According to Fry, he has not had a drink since the incident, and plans to remain sober for the rest of his life.

"Even if I felt I could drink, I won't," Fry said.  "Never again."

McEwen doesn't have family in the area. He was an active member of Agudas Achim Synagogue in Iowa City.  Other members of the synagogue expressed disappointment after a judge convicted Fry of voluntary manslaughter, and not the original charge of second-degree murder, which carries a 50-year-sentence.

Jeff Portman, rabbi at Agudas Achim, has said in the past that he is hopeful Fry will make a positive of the experience by educating others about the dangers of alcohol.

It is a wish Fry appears to be carrying out.  Tuesday night he shared his story with "The Salt Company," a group of University of Iowa Christians, at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City.  Fry said he plans to continue speaking to groups that reach out to him.

Fry will remain on parole until August.  He is currently living at home with his family in Wilton.  Fry said he continues to maintain a job in Iowa City, where he works as many as ten hours a day.