Justice
Jesse
Jesse’s Justice
Jesse’s Justice is an all-volunteer nonprofit based in Western Massachusetts, founded by Jesse Johansmeyer’s mother, Darlene Thorpe, and his sister, Willow Vandoloski.
The organization was created after Jesse’s death in a 2023 hit-and-run and the painful questions that followed — questions about silence, inaction, and what happens when no one calls for help.
Jesse’s Justice exists to push for accountability, strengthen bystander responsibility, and support families living with sudden, preventable loss.
Our Focus
Advocacy & Change
We work to close gaps in the law and push for clear expectations in life-threatening emergencies. Our advocacy is grounded in lived experience and focused on real accountability.
Support & Resources
We share survivor-informed resources for families navigating traumatic loss. This work centers honesty, care, and the realities of grief.
Jesse’s Law
Jesse’s Law is a proposed Massachusetts “duty to call 911” law created so what happened to Jesse does not happen again. It calls for bystanders to seek emergency help in serious situations, with clear limits and protections.
Jesse’s Travels
Jesse’s story continues to move with the people who loved him.
Friends and family carry Jesse’s ashes with them as they travel — across the country, to the ocean, and to places that mattered to him. These journeys are acts of love, remembrance, and connection.
Jesse’s Travels honors a life that keeps going, even in loss.
Founded by Family
Jesse’s Justice is led by Jesse’s mother and sister, alongside a growing circle of supporters and volunteers.
This work is personal. It’s carried forward by people who understand the cost of silence and the weight of doing nothing.
Updates
This past Sunday, I attended a social gathering on my own for the first time since Jesse was killed three
One of the hardest parts of grief isn’t just losing someone. It’s worrying that, little by little, you’ll lose pieces
When someone dies young, people often tell you to hold onto your memories. And you do. You remember their laugh.
Your Support Makes This Work Possible
Donations help fund advocacy efforts, educational initiatives, and future programming. Every contribution supports the mission and helps turn lived experience into meaningful action.