Summer, sultry evenings in our neck of the Ozarks are usually pretty peaceful and quiet. The only sounds heard are the tree frogs call, an occasional cricket chirp and the intermittent passing of a car that runs on the Hwy 94 below. That quiet, gentle peacefulness we so treasure was interrupted when the shattering screams of children, gunshots and squad cars rang out last Wednesday evening at 9:06 PM.
The realization to what was happening came via a text message from my daughter of the heart, Kel, who had stayed home while DH and I took a mini-vacation to Branson. Her text message read:
"There's something big going on, there are eight squad cars, the road up the holler past our house is blocked, cops are in front of the neighbor's house searching for something."
"Did you hear anything?"
"The only thing I heard were screams? I was on the phone with my Mom, TV was on and BB was in the shower."
"Lock the doors!"
A short time later a policeman came to our door asking if she'd heard anything, after responding he asked for her name and then proceeded to ask her where she was from (Brasil), then proceeded to tell her his name, age, that he was divorced and asked what she did for fun? STRANGE. Before he left she asked what was going on and he wouldn't say anything except for an investigation. She also asked if there was anything for her to worry about: someone at large, drugs, meth house etc. He responded, "No."
The next morning, I logged on the Net from Branson, MO and found there was indeed something for her to have been concerned about, the lady two houses up the hollar, approximately 250 feet away, had been murdered by a relative with a .45 caliber handgun.
For the complete story regarding the murder check out this link:
http://www.nwaonline.com/articles/2008/07/19/news/071908rzshootingfolo.txt
I didn't know these people at all and we've lived here in the Cajun Hideaway six years plus, I just found out via the newspaper the house was a rental. If you read the article, take notice of the comments posted below it, some of them are pretty appalling. The suspect and the two that aided him are more than likely illegal. Recent data from this area indicates 51% of the Hispanic population is illegal and the citizens in this area are up in arms! As for me, I remember the legal 49%. I feel for this family, the husband and his five motherless children.
It's been a sad, sad last few days on Graham Drive...
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 36
I fear things like this are only going to get worse. We live only about 10 miles or so from Flint, which has one of the highest murder rates in the country. As more people in Flint lose their jobs, they will turn to crime, as there aren't any other jobs. And as for selling their homes and moving elsewhere (as some suggest), good luck trying to sell a home in Flint.
In parts of Boston, this is a fairly routine occurence - this type of thing - murder - boyfriend, etc. Could be Hispianic, Islander, Haitia, just very difficult to live in a complex society when you don't have a social support system.
I was not old enough to remember "Irish Need Not Apply" but I heard about it.
Your article is Featured in the Triple Name Club.
Rhetta - Two hispanics were sentenced last week to life in prison, w/o parole for shooting a guy while at a stoplight in this county. The whole county is in an uproar!
Kathryn - The suspect was a cousin of the murdered woman's husband who had been living with them. The victim had told a witness a few days before they had asked him to move out as he'd been causing trouble. We're living in a new age, at least for this little ol country girl. Stuff like this rarely happened on the plains of SW Minnesota.
I live right on the border in California and in the past, (I don't ever see illegals lately) I have met groups of them while walking my dog. Those were all agricultural types with callused hands, and they were shy and polite, trying to judge if I would turn them in or not. Some I did and others I did not. But I have heard stories by other people around here who have had dogs killed, and stuff stolen out of their houses. There used to be more drug runners coming through but since they caught the head of the drug cartel in Mexico, things have quieted down. I think the Border Patrol has been beefed up and is more vigilante.
Ruth - I agree 100%!
Carol - Thanks
Sue - Yeah, they still say hills and hollers in these parts, as a Yankee "ravine" would speak much better to the description. ;)) I just returned from getting the snail mail and as I looked up the street my heart sank....feeling for the children who witnessed such a horrific, terrifying even.
This is a totally separate point not pertaining to the article just your neck of the woods.
My brother and his wife went to law school at the University of Arkansas
Maria - Yes, we are all safe and sound...thanks.
Anne - The new Judge? Hey, that's cool! My Dad's surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in MN was a graduate of the U of A too...they put out a GREAT education in these parts.
Yes, the Ozarks are beautiful...I came, I saw, I stayed.
I do find the police officer's behavior interesting. he should have at least told Kel that, while there was no danger that the police knew of (assuming the killer was in custody), she should remain inside with her doors locked.
(Of course, police officers are known for strange pick-up lines...
Amanda - Thanks for the tip, I did indeed join your group! As the wife of a late police officer, I found his behavior odd also..The suspect was NOT in custody, however, a witness observed him leaving the scene in a pickup shortly after the shooting. So I'm thinking they figured he was long gone. But still.......
We've had a lot of women being murdered here lately, it always seems to be the husband or estranged husband. Creepy.
Unbelievable.