By the end of this month, we will be observing the 15-year anniversary of when Debbie Key was last seen. The 10-year anniversary got a lot of attention, which I am still thankful for. (see slide show at the bottom of this page) This time around, I would like to point out some other significant events that have occurred in 1997.
1997 - Deaths
Perhaps most memorable are Mother Theresa and Princess Diana, but also were comedian Red Skelton, poet Allen Ginsberg, and the lovely Nicolette Larson.
Carrie Slaughterbeck may have become the first person to die from blue-green algae.
Not as well loved but also remembered is Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan.
Let' not forget the entire congregation of Heaven's Gate, with the appearance of the Hale-Bop Comet, on March 26, 1997
Other Anniversaries in '97
Vampire fans in the US and UK have observed the 100-year anniversary of when Bram Stoker (a favorite author of mine) published "Dracula," the novel that made him famous. (1897)
And in Roswell, New Mexico, a festival was held in celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the alleged UFO crash that made that town famous. (1947)
Other Events
Another favorite author of mine, Kathy Reichs won the Ellis Award for her first novel, "Deja Dead." This author's work was the inspiration for the TV series, "Bones."
The first mass protest against Scientology took place in Clearwater, Florida.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (the TV series, not the movie) began in 1997 and continued through 7 episodes. (1992 for the movie)
We do not live in the past. We get on with our lives and strive to progress. But one of the best ways of doing this is by learning from our history.
As for Debbie Key, at the present time I am not aware of any plans to commemorate the coming date, but I would not be surprised if any of our friends were to show up at that parking lot across the street from the Jade Palace Chinese Restaurant on Main Street in Carrboro, NC. It's been known to happen before around this time, and if you ask me, I'd say to enjoy a good Chinese dinner at Jade Palace is a good enough reason to go there anyway. Should an impromptu gathering occur, that's likely where it will be.
Holiday Season is approaching.
Peace on Earth. Good Will to People.
Showing posts with label Debbie Key. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Debbie Key. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
FDK now 5 years old.
Friends of Debbie Key first appeared on the Internet on June 1st, 2007.
The first website about Debbie was called "Debbie Key - Murder Victim" and was done by Jackie Helvey in 2006. Jackie is probably known by every musician and artist in the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro area, but is best known for the website Carrboro.Com.
http://www.carrboro.com/
I thought Debbie's story deserved more than one page, and so in May of 2007 I bought the URL and hired Judith Gadd of Star WebWorks to create FDK.
http://www.starwebworks.com/
I am very grateful to Judith for all the support and encouragement she has given me.
Our first year got off to a very good start with the news coverage of NC Wanted, and the 10-year anniversary candlelight vigil. But more than anything else, it was the blog "Who Killed Theresa?' by John Allore that really got it off the ground. There is a rather uncanny parallel between the stories of Debbie Key and Theresa Allore that got everyone's attention. From there the website seemed to take off on its own momentum.
The most rewarding thing for me about doing this was connecting with people like John Allore, Todd Matthews, Doreen Prior, Monica Caison, and our special friend 'Anon', who have each been a blessing to me. Through these new friends I have become more aware of the plight of missing persons, the heartbreak of victim's families, the people who are doing something about it, and the insane laws that fail to keep dangerous people locked up.
I really hate it whenever I hear people say, "I don't think there's anything we can do about it." before they even try. If I can make a positive example to anyone, I will consider it karma payed forward for all I have received.
Special thanks to everyone who has helped me along. I hope you know who you are.
The first website about Debbie was called "Debbie Key - Murder Victim" and was done by Jackie Helvey in 2006. Jackie is probably known by every musician and artist in the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro area, but is best known for the website Carrboro.Com.
http://www.carrboro.com/
I thought Debbie's story deserved more than one page, and so in May of 2007 I bought the URL and hired Judith Gadd of Star WebWorks to create FDK.
http://www.starwebworks.com/
I am very grateful to Judith for all the support and encouragement she has given me.
Our first year got off to a very good start with the news coverage of NC Wanted, and the 10-year anniversary candlelight vigil. But more than anything else, it was the blog "Who Killed Theresa?' by John Allore that really got it off the ground. There is a rather uncanny parallel between the stories of Debbie Key and Theresa Allore that got everyone's attention. From there the website seemed to take off on its own momentum.
The most rewarding thing for me about doing this was connecting with people like John Allore, Todd Matthews, Doreen Prior, Monica Caison, and our special friend 'Anon', who have each been a blessing to me. Through these new friends I have become more aware of the plight of missing persons, the heartbreak of victim's families, the people who are doing something about it, and the insane laws that fail to keep dangerous people locked up.
I really hate it whenever I hear people say, "I don't think there's anything we can do about it." before they even try. If I can make a positive example to anyone, I will consider it karma payed forward for all I have received.
Special thanks to everyone who has helped me along. I hope you know who you are.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Memories
After the Christmas stuff gets put away, I often start off the new year going through stacks of old mail, newspapers, and magazines, deciding what to keep and what to recycle. And so it was that I came upon a copy of Chapel Hill News dated January 2005. I knew right away why I was keeping it, for on the front page was a news story about Debbie Key. It was time to take a break from the stacks and read it.
I have read this before, many times, and I already know the story by heart. It's on the website. Click on the tab that says, "Press Accounts," and you'll see it there. Yet, there was something about seeing it in the newspaper that I was holding in my hands that brought back the memories of reading this story for my first time. It brought a tear to my eye.
Much later, as I was going through the last stack of paper, I found this little book that I had forgotten I had. It's called, "The Poetry of Ira Yarmolenko."
Here we go! The time between now and then just disappears. I picked up this little book at a memorial service for Ira I had attended back in 2008. I'm not gonna get anymore work done today. It's time to sit and read some more.
Like everything else about Ira Y, her poetry is unique. Sometimes I have to read it over again two or three times before I get it. It requires a certain perspective, or, should I say, a certain attitude, in order to understand what she's saying. On the front cover it says:
THIS IS A JOB FOR ME
AND I WILL PLAY
MIND TRICKS,
TO UNWRAP MYSELF AND
LET SELF BLOOM...
Inside, the first poem is about words.
The word "Words" make me think about a song by the BeeGees.
"It's only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away."
And then there's one by the band called Missing Persons.
"What are words for, if no one listens anymore?"
This is Ira'a poem.
----------------------------------------------
In words, poets find solitude.
even if nothing is good,
it can be written as if it is.
That's what I love about poets.
Unmaterialistic intellect, the control
and power of something that is
dead before they take hold of it.
WORD. Take love, and make it
shake. Grab a gun and a bottle
and a song of tradition, make
it dance on its toes.
I love you, poet of sound, word,
grace, word, letter, syllable, haiku,
lyric, mimic, rap, therapy, beauty.
-----------------------------------------------
Carlos Castaneda, in writing about the teachings of Don Juan, tells about the challenge of stopping the "internal dialog," that endless stream of words that flows through our brains constantly. I have called it the "eternal" dialog, for nothing seems to stop it. You can't turn it off, but you can alter its flow. If you are a poet, or any kind of writer, you can take all these words and recycle them into art. It is indeed good therapy, for the writer, if not for the reader.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
FDK Meets CUE
ON THE ROAD TO REMEMBER
MISSING PERSONS TOUR 2010
On Thursday, Aug 19, I've had the honor of meeting Monica Caison and Lisa Valentino, as well as Lisa's two children, and other members of the CUE staff who were too busy taking pictures for introductions.
The weather had co-operated beautifully. It had been drizzling that morning, but it stopped long enough before the gathering that we were able to do everything outside in the parking lot, including setting up a table with pictures, flowers, and candles, and the CUE Center's big sign. I was joined by my friends Joy, Steve, and Laurel. There was a great bunch of balloons (bio-degradable, I am told) which were released at the end of our gathering.
Monica's team arrived in a big white van, emblazoned on the sides with color pictures of about a hundred missing persons, arranged in the shape of a map of the United States. The same image is on the sign.
Reporter Katelyn Ferral with the News and Observer (Chapel Hill News) was on the scene. She promised to notify me when her story is printed.
Monica called for some group shots of us with our balloons by the big sign they had set up. Cameras were still ready when Monica asked if we wanted a moment of silence before releasing the balloons.
"We're not very good at being silent." Joy said.
"Except whenever we go by this parking lot."
I can certainly say the same for myself.
It was fun watching the colorful display of balloons going up, up, and away.
Lots of photos were taken, which I am looking forward to seeing and sharing.
I came home with some nice souvenirs, including a t-shirt, booklet, and DVD.
It makes me happy to know that Debbie is being remembered by new friends, as well as her old ones.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like N&O did a good job for us! What do you think?
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/20/636866/women-still-missing-not-forgotten.html#storylink=misearch
MISSING PERSONS TOUR 2010
On Thursday, Aug 19, I've had the honor of meeting Monica Caison and Lisa Valentino, as well as Lisa's two children, and other members of the CUE staff who were too busy taking pictures for introductions.
The weather had co-operated beautifully. It had been drizzling that morning, but it stopped long enough before the gathering that we were able to do everything outside in the parking lot, including setting up a table with pictures, flowers, and candles, and the CUE Center's big sign. I was joined by my friends Joy, Steve, and Laurel. There was a great bunch of balloons (bio-degradable, I am told) which were released at the end of our gathering.
Monica's team arrived in a big white van, emblazoned on the sides with color pictures of about a hundred missing persons, arranged in the shape of a map of the United States. The same image is on the sign.
Reporter Katelyn Ferral with the News and Observer (Chapel Hill News) was on the scene. She promised to notify me when her story is printed.
Monica called for some group shots of us with our balloons by the big sign they had set up. Cameras were still ready when Monica asked if we wanted a moment of silence before releasing the balloons.
"We're not very good at being silent." Joy said.
"Except whenever we go by this parking lot."
I can certainly say the same for myself.
It was fun watching the colorful display of balloons going up, up, and away.
Lots of photos were taken, which I am looking forward to seeing and sharing.
I came home with some nice souvenirs, including a t-shirt, booklet, and DVD.
It makes me happy to know that Debbie is being remembered by new friends, as well as her old ones.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like N&O did a good job for us! What do you think?
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/20/636866/women-still-missing-not-forgotten.html#storylink=misearch
Sunday, August 01, 2010
CUE Coming to Carrboro
The CUE Center for Missing Persons, as part of their annual 'On the Road to Remember Tour,' will be making a stopover to remember Debbie Key at the Jade Palace Restaurant in Carrboro, NC, on Thursday, August 19, at 11:30 AM.
For those who came late, The Cue Center became involved in Debbie's case after skeletons were found in Wilmington, NC, more than 10 years after Debbie's suspected killer stated in his confession that he dumped the body in Wilmington. The remains were later identified as those of Allison Jackson-Foy and Angela Rothen. NC Wanted has made an episode about Allison Jackson-Foy as well as one about Debbie Key. Jim Ware of Star News in Wilmington had written an article comparing the two cases.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080621/ARTICLE/806210334
Links to the websites of Allison Jackson-Foy and CUE Center for Missing Persons are on the Links List. Special thanks to CUE Center.
----------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - Aug 15
News report of this event by News 14 Carolina
http://charlotte.news14.com/content/nc_missing/629274/cue-center-road-tour-aims-to-solve-cases-in-north-carolina
For those who came late, The Cue Center became involved in Debbie's case after skeletons were found in Wilmington, NC, more than 10 years after Debbie's suspected killer stated in his confession that he dumped the body in Wilmington. The remains were later identified as those of Allison Jackson-Foy and Angela Rothen. NC Wanted has made an episode about Allison Jackson-Foy as well as one about Debbie Key. Jim Ware of Star News in Wilmington had written an article comparing the two cases.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080621/ARTICLE/806210334
Links to the websites of Allison Jackson-Foy and CUE Center for Missing Persons are on the Links List. Special thanks to CUE Center.
----------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - Aug 15
News report of this event by News 14 Carolina
http://charlotte.news14.com/content/nc_missing/629274/cue-center-road-tour-aims-to-solve-cases-in-north-carolina
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Now We Are Three
This is me and my friends during a gathering in beautiful downtown Carrboro. We may look a little older now, but you should still be able to recognize some of us.
Friends of Debbie Key appeared on the Internet for the first time on June 1, 2007. It was preceded by "Debbie Key: Murder Victim" which appeared December of 2005.
So far this year has been very encouraging, with three times as many website visits, and more comments than ever before.
In January there was an interview with News 14 Carolina with me, Chris, and Joy, and they decided to keep Chris and Joy. I keep telling myself this is okay, because our story is about Debbie, not me. I'll get my Andy Warhol moment someday.
This year my friends finally succeeded in convincing me to sign up for Facebook, and it wasn't easy for them. Eventually I was assured I wouldn't be attracting the creepy kind of visitors we've all been warned about. Indeed, I was much surprised to find how many people I know are already there. I am fond of the saying, "The friends of my friends are my friends." In Facebbook, this saying has taken on new meaning.
Perhaps the most exciting day for us this year was on March 29, with the news of the sentencing of Mr. Dalzell, and our favorite news reporters wanting to talk to us about it. I don't think we will be forgetting that anytime soon!
Another exciting event happened just a week ago, when Joy and I got to see our friend, John Allore, performing in "Eurydice," a play at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. YAY! That was fun!
This summer I'm looking forward to meeting with the CUE Center for Missing Persons when they have their "On the Road to Remember Tour."
I sure hope we keep those comments coming in, and not the kind I have to delete. Thanks to everyone for your support!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Dalzell Sentenced
From Asheville Citizen Times
-----------------------------------
Man gets 27 years in Buncombe Internet child sex sting
This time, they got their man.
A suspect cleared in the disappearance of a woman 12 years ago was sentenced Friday to nearly 27 years in federal prison for using the Internet to entice someone he thought was a Buncombe County girl to meet him for sex.
Andrew Douglas Dalzell, 33, pleaded guilty to the crime in U.S. District Court in Asheville.
Judge Martin Reidinger ruled he had to take Dalzell's confession to the 1997 slaying of Deborah Key into account in the sentencing even though a murder charge was thrown out when a state court judge ruled the confession was inadmissible.
Buncombe County sheriff's deputies charged Dalzell in February 2007 with solicitation of a child by computer after he initiated explicit chats with an undercover officer posing as an 11-year-old girl. Dalzell was arrested after he drove from Gastonia to the Asheville area to meet the girl.
Reidinger said he hoped the stiff sentence would serve as a deterrent to other potential child sex offenders.
“That's the sort of behavior that this society cannot tolerate,” he said.
Dalzell sobbed as he apologized for this crime.
“I made an extraordinarily bad judgment,” he said. “I am not a bad person. I love my mother, I love my wife, I love my baby. Being away from them hurts.”
A judge in Orange County threw out a 2004 murder charge against Dalzell after finding police fabricated an arrest warrant to pressure him into a confession.
Police said Dalzell was last seen with Key at a Carrboro pool hall just before her disappearance. Investigators in Carrboro never found a body or other physical evidence linking Dalzell to Key's disappearance, but in 2004 they saw a chance at a confession, Carrboro police Lt. John Lau said.
The opportunity arose after Dalzell asked officers for protection as he moved out of his Carrboro residence because he was afraid of being attacked by a local drug dealer, Lau said.
Officers spotted stolen property during the move, and detectives had also obtained what they said was evidence of him trying to solicit a minor girl to come live with him and his girlfriend, Lau said.
When Dalzell was arrested on larceny and solicitation charges, he was shown a fake arrest warrant charging him with murder, which prompted a confession.
“One and a half minutes into interview, he gave it up and admitted he strangled her,” Lau said.
In 2005, Orange County Superior Court Judge Wade Barber threw out the murder charge. Barber said officers “fabricated official court documents,” used deception and should have immediately informed Dalzell why he was being arrested.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100327/NEWS/303270031/&template=artiphone
-----------------------------------------------------------
Joy and I have been interviewed today by Beth Velliquette with the Chapel Hill Herald about this, who has written several news articles before about Debbie Key.
------------------------------------------------------------
CORRECTION - It was February 2009 (not 2007) when Dalzell was arrested in Buncombe County.
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - March 30
http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/6880682/article-Former-slaying-suspect-sentenced-in-child-solicitation?instance=main_article
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - April 3
This story in 'Who Killed Theresa?'
http://theresaallore.com/2010/04/andrew-dalzell-they-finally-got-that-fcker/
-----------------------------------
Man gets 27 years in Buncombe Internet child sex sting
This time, they got their man.
A suspect cleared in the disappearance of a woman 12 years ago was sentenced Friday to nearly 27 years in federal prison for using the Internet to entice someone he thought was a Buncombe County girl to meet him for sex.
Andrew Douglas Dalzell, 33, pleaded guilty to the crime in U.S. District Court in Asheville.
Judge Martin Reidinger ruled he had to take Dalzell's confession to the 1997 slaying of Deborah Key into account in the sentencing even though a murder charge was thrown out when a state court judge ruled the confession was inadmissible.
Buncombe County sheriff's deputies charged Dalzell in February 2007 with solicitation of a child by computer after he initiated explicit chats with an undercover officer posing as an 11-year-old girl. Dalzell was arrested after he drove from Gastonia to the Asheville area to meet the girl.
Reidinger said he hoped the stiff sentence would serve as a deterrent to other potential child sex offenders.
“That's the sort of behavior that this society cannot tolerate,” he said.
Dalzell sobbed as he apologized for this crime.
“I made an extraordinarily bad judgment,” he said. “I am not a bad person. I love my mother, I love my wife, I love my baby. Being away from them hurts.”
A judge in Orange County threw out a 2004 murder charge against Dalzell after finding police fabricated an arrest warrant to pressure him into a confession.
Police said Dalzell was last seen with Key at a Carrboro pool hall just before her disappearance. Investigators in Carrboro never found a body or other physical evidence linking Dalzell to Key's disappearance, but in 2004 they saw a chance at a confession, Carrboro police Lt. John Lau said.
The opportunity arose after Dalzell asked officers for protection as he moved out of his Carrboro residence because he was afraid of being attacked by a local drug dealer, Lau said.
Officers spotted stolen property during the move, and detectives had also obtained what they said was evidence of him trying to solicit a minor girl to come live with him and his girlfriend, Lau said.
When Dalzell was arrested on larceny and solicitation charges, he was shown a fake arrest warrant charging him with murder, which prompted a confession.
“One and a half minutes into interview, he gave it up and admitted he strangled her,” Lau said.
In 2005, Orange County Superior Court Judge Wade Barber threw out the murder charge. Barber said officers “fabricated official court documents,” used deception and should have immediately informed Dalzell why he was being arrested.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100327/NEWS/303270031/&template=artiphone
-----------------------------------------------------------
Joy and I have been interviewed today by Beth Velliquette with the Chapel Hill Herald about this, who has written several news articles before about Debbie Key.
------------------------------------------------------------
CORRECTION - It was February 2009 (not 2007) when Dalzell was arrested in Buncombe County.
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - March 30
http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/6880682/article-Former-slaying-suspect-sentenced-in-child-solicitation?instance=main_article
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - April 3
This story in 'Who Killed Theresa?'
http://theresaallore.com/2010/04/andrew-dalzell-they-finally-got-that-fcker/
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Thank You News 14
Today is the day I've been waiting for.
News 14 Carolina has interviewed me and my friends, Joy and Chris, on the story of our missing friend Debbie Key.
For those of us who do not get this cable channel, you can see it here.
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/nc_missing/621666/friends-hope-new-information-will-lead-to-justice
News 14 Carolina has interviewed me and my friends, Joy and Chris, on the story of our missing friend Debbie Key.
For those of us who do not get this cable channel, you can see it here.
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/nc_missing/621666/friends-hope-new-information-will-lead-to-justice
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Top Stories of 2009
I thought this would be a good way to start for January 2010.
May I present NC Wanted's Top 9 stories of 2009.
http://www.ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/6736970/
You know, it really makes me feel good that the arrest of Andrew Dalzell is included in this list, along with the news stories of Kelly Morris, Shaniya Davis, and Jason Young.
I'd like to take this opportunity now to say that of all the news teams I've had the pleasure of contacting, NC Wanted has been the most supportive. Thanks again, you guys!
This year, I look forward to (finally!) blogging the murder trial of Eve Carson, which has been delayed so many times it's outrageous.
I keep thinking about how the killer of Anne Pressly of Little Rock, Arkansas, was tried and convicted less than a year (but close to it) after he was arrested. Perhaps NC should follow Arkansas's example. They don't mess around when it comes to murder. The trial lasted two weeks.
I have recently been contacted by News 14 Carolina, in Wilmington, NC, about Debbie Key. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Special thanks to Monica Caison with the CUE Center for Missing Persons.
Here's hoping for a better year to come!
May I present NC Wanted's Top 9 stories of 2009.
http://www.ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/6736970/
You know, it really makes me feel good that the arrest of Andrew Dalzell is included in this list, along with the news stories of Kelly Morris, Shaniya Davis, and Jason Young.
I'd like to take this opportunity now to say that of all the news teams I've had the pleasure of contacting, NC Wanted has been the most supportive. Thanks again, you guys!
This year, I look forward to (finally!) blogging the murder trial of Eve Carson, which has been delayed so many times it's outrageous.
I keep thinking about how the killer of Anne Pressly of Little Rock, Arkansas, was tried and convicted less than a year (but close to it) after he was arrested. Perhaps NC should follow Arkansas's example. They don't mess around when it comes to murder. The trial lasted two weeks.
I have recently been contacted by News 14 Carolina, in Wilmington, NC, about Debbie Key. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
Special thanks to Monica Caison with the CUE Center for Missing Persons.
Here's hoping for a better year to come!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Santa Visits Carrboro
'Twas awhile before Christmas when all through the town,
not a person was smiling. They were all pretty down.
I was walking down Main Street 'til I came to this spot
called the Bank of America parking lot.
Whenever I come here I always remember
a friend who went missing the first day of December.
At the Jade Palace Restaurant across the street
I was joined by some friends who I happened to meet.
We greeted each other and remembered the reason
we tend to be sad on the Holiday Season.
A fellow spoke up and said "That's enough!
I'm tired of hearing this old Debbie stuff!
"Get on with your life. Get this through your head.
Life is for the living and Debbie is dead."
Then down on the street came a reindeer-drawn sled
with a fat jolly fellow all dressed in red.
We knew right away just who it was.
Who else could it be but Santa Claus?
He was handing out gifts as he stepped from his sleigh,
and everyone's sadness seemed to just melt away.
As a crowd gathered 'round at the sight to behold,
he turned to the fellow who had spoken so bold.
"Regardless of if you've been naughty or nice,
listen to me and I'll give you advice.
"Everyone you encounter becomes part of you.
Remember that someday you will die too.
"With those who are living share your love and your cheer,
and also with those who are no longer here."
Santa then turned his head and he looked right at me,
saying "I too remember your friend Debbie Key.
"The Spirit of Christmas she held close to her heart,
and she still shares our love even though we're apart.
"She celebrated life from beginning to end.
My advice to you... Keep on blogging, my friend!"
He returned to his sleigh and said "I believe
I will see you again on this Christmas Eve!"
He then shook the reins and took off down the street
to the sound of thirty-two reindeer hoof beats.
The people were standing in shock and in awe,
each asking if this really was Santa they saw.
And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and keep up the good fight!"
not a person was smiling. They were all pretty down.
I was walking down Main Street 'til I came to this spot
called the Bank of America parking lot.
Whenever I come here I always remember
a friend who went missing the first day of December.
At the Jade Palace Restaurant across the street
I was joined by some friends who I happened to meet.
We greeted each other and remembered the reason
we tend to be sad on the Holiday Season.
A fellow spoke up and said "That's enough!
I'm tired of hearing this old Debbie stuff!
"Get on with your life. Get this through your head.
Life is for the living and Debbie is dead."
Then down on the street came a reindeer-drawn sled
with a fat jolly fellow all dressed in red.
We knew right away just who it was.
Who else could it be but Santa Claus?
He was handing out gifts as he stepped from his sleigh,
and everyone's sadness seemed to just melt away.
As a crowd gathered 'round at the sight to behold,
he turned to the fellow who had spoken so bold.
"Regardless of if you've been naughty or nice,
listen to me and I'll give you advice.
"Everyone you encounter becomes part of you.
Remember that someday you will die too.
"With those who are living share your love and your cheer,
and also with those who are no longer here."
Santa then turned his head and he looked right at me,
saying "I too remember your friend Debbie Key.
"The Spirit of Christmas she held close to her heart,
and she still shares our love even though we're apart.
"She celebrated life from beginning to end.
My advice to you... Keep on blogging, my friend!"
He returned to his sleigh and said "I believe
I will see you again on this Christmas Eve!"
He then shook the reins and took off down the street
to the sound of thirty-two reindeer hoof beats.
The people were standing in shock and in awe,
each asking if this really was Santa they saw.
And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and keep up the good fight!"
Thursday, November 05, 2009
To Solve a Cold Case
John Allore has written this up, with some input from me and Doreen Prior, and suggested that we all post this in our blogs.
Naturally, I agreed.
----------------------------------------------------------
How To run your own Cold-Case – Top Ten
Doreen Prior made an interesting comment recently that she was equally dialed in to unsolved cases in the Montreal region from the 70s. If you don’t know Doreen, she has been advocating longer than me for a resolution to the unsolved death of her sister, Sharron, http://www.sharronprior.com/ who was murdered in 1975. Doreen knows this process better than anyone. As well, Bill Widman has been actively seeking to solve the murder of his friend, Debbie Key. In the interest of helping other families who may be trying to conduct their own investigations, Doreen, Bill and I offer these top ten suggestions for conducting your own cold-case investigation:
1. Information Management – The Internet: If you can afford it, get a subscription to Lexis-Nexis. http://www.lexisnexis.com/
This will allow you to data mine old newspapers back to the early 80s. There’s gold in them hills.
2. Information Management – Your local library: Most major libraries keep copies of all regional newspapers on microfiche. For Theresa’s case I was able to have the Provincial Library in Quebec mail me microfiche of old newspapers like the Montreal Star, Photo Police, Allo Police to my local library in North Carolina! I know Doreen Prior also accessed local libraries for Sharron’s case. Newspapers offer you good information about activities in the area of investigation leading up to, and immediately after any murder.
3. Google is your best friend: http://www.google.com/alerts
I have Google Alerts set up for all key words associated with my sister’s death (names of regional towns, suspects’ names, the name of each regional police force). This is a good way to stay a step ahead of anything that may be relevant to your investigation.
4. Accessing public records: Things like medical records and autopsy reports… these are public information and readily available from your local medical examiner or coroner.
5. Makes friends with the appropriate law enforcement agency: In many circumstances a case grows cold due to perceived ineptitudes of the investigating police force. Despite the frustration you must ultimately make peace with the investigating force. Ultimately they are the only body that can bring the case to justice. Despite friction, you must work to find an understanding. This doesn’t mean you can’t continue to challenge the force, just realize that you must retain balance. Crime scene reports? Evidence? Primary information? All of this is in the hands of the investigating force. You must make amends if you hope to gain access to this information.
6. Psychics: Useful? As secondary evidence, possibly. Just realize that anything psychic / medium offers is not admissible as evidence. It can be a great resource (myself and Bill have used them), but be aware of their limitations. And don’t get strayed into kooky theories: you can see patterns in any amount of randomness. Remember that some things are a coincidence.
7. Network: Read everything. The internet is an incredible resource. Become familiar with advocacy and justice initiatives. Make friends, get educated, attend conferences.
8. Publicity: The media can be a great tool to get your story out. Remember one thing: ultimately they are exploiting you, so feel free to exploit them. “If it bleeds it leads”… and the stories the media usually are attracted to in cold cases are something gruesome or something very personal ( perhaps too personal for a crime victim… I always hated when they asked me about “closure”). Be professional, cautious and guarded. Don’t offer up anything you feel is crossing a line. You have a right to say, “no, that’s too far” with these people. Also, don’t feel bad if they don’t want to cover your story. I have spent many hours offering up angles to media (suspects, new information, a personal-interest moment, a tidbit that is relevant to a current case), if they aren’t interested, don’t take it personally. Move on. It’s a business. One of the main reasons myself, Doreen and Bill started blogs was to control the distribution of information. So you can start one too! That too is media attention!
9. Get support: Guess what? You’re only human. And very quickly you will reach a burnout threshold. Get help. Find something positive other than this cold-case that gives you energy ( a hobby, your family, a sport, your shrink). We’ve all been to the bottom. It’s no fun, but we will support you on your journey back up. One of the best things I did? Made friends with fellow victims and investigating colleagues on Facebook. At first this seemed counter-intuitive: I wanted to isolate my personal life from my cold-case life. In the end it was the right decision because it was healthy to see these people without the victim stigma, in a normal light: families, loves, interests.
10. If all else fails: Contact the Vidocq Society, http://www.vidocq.org/ a group out of the Washington area comprised of retired forensic and investigative experts dedicated to solving old cases. Slightly pretentious, but if you’ve exhausted numbers 1 – 9 at this point you have nothing to lose. A word of caution: Vidocq will only consider your case if you have support from your local police jurisdiction (so no coming here if you’ve got a beef with how the police screwed up your case).
Go forth and solve!
Naturally, I agreed.
----------------------------------------------------------
How To run your own Cold-Case – Top Ten
Doreen Prior made an interesting comment recently that she was equally dialed in to unsolved cases in the Montreal region from the 70s. If you don’t know Doreen, she has been advocating longer than me for a resolution to the unsolved death of her sister, Sharron, http://www.sharronprior.com/ who was murdered in 1975. Doreen knows this process better than anyone. As well, Bill Widman has been actively seeking to solve the murder of his friend, Debbie Key. In the interest of helping other families who may be trying to conduct their own investigations, Doreen, Bill and I offer these top ten suggestions for conducting your own cold-case investigation:
1. Information Management – The Internet: If you can afford it, get a subscription to Lexis-Nexis. http://www.lexisnexis.com/
This will allow you to data mine old newspapers back to the early 80s. There’s gold in them hills.
2. Information Management – Your local library: Most major libraries keep copies of all regional newspapers on microfiche. For Theresa’s case I was able to have the Provincial Library in Quebec mail me microfiche of old newspapers like the Montreal Star, Photo Police, Allo Police to my local library in North Carolina! I know Doreen Prior also accessed local libraries for Sharron’s case. Newspapers offer you good information about activities in the area of investigation leading up to, and immediately after any murder.
3. Google is your best friend: http://www.google.com/alerts
I have Google Alerts set up for all key words associated with my sister’s death (names of regional towns, suspects’ names, the name of each regional police force). This is a good way to stay a step ahead of anything that may be relevant to your investigation.
4. Accessing public records: Things like medical records and autopsy reports… these are public information and readily available from your local medical examiner or coroner.
5. Makes friends with the appropriate law enforcement agency: In many circumstances a case grows cold due to perceived ineptitudes of the investigating police force. Despite the frustration you must ultimately make peace with the investigating force. Ultimately they are the only body that can bring the case to justice. Despite friction, you must work to find an understanding. This doesn’t mean you can’t continue to challenge the force, just realize that you must retain balance. Crime scene reports? Evidence? Primary information? All of this is in the hands of the investigating force. You must make amends if you hope to gain access to this information.
6. Psychics: Useful? As secondary evidence, possibly. Just realize that anything psychic / medium offers is not admissible as evidence. It can be a great resource (myself and Bill have used them), but be aware of their limitations. And don’t get strayed into kooky theories: you can see patterns in any amount of randomness. Remember that some things are a coincidence.
7. Network: Read everything. The internet is an incredible resource. Become familiar with advocacy and justice initiatives. Make friends, get educated, attend conferences.
8. Publicity: The media can be a great tool to get your story out. Remember one thing: ultimately they are exploiting you, so feel free to exploit them. “If it bleeds it leads”… and the stories the media usually are attracted to in cold cases are something gruesome or something very personal ( perhaps too personal for a crime victim… I always hated when they asked me about “closure”). Be professional, cautious and guarded. Don’t offer up anything you feel is crossing a line. You have a right to say, “no, that’s too far” with these people. Also, don’t feel bad if they don’t want to cover your story. I have spent many hours offering up angles to media (suspects, new information, a personal-interest moment, a tidbit that is relevant to a current case), if they aren’t interested, don’t take it personally. Move on. It’s a business. One of the main reasons myself, Doreen and Bill started blogs was to control the distribution of information. So you can start one too! That too is media attention!
9. Get support: Guess what? You’re only human. And very quickly you will reach a burnout threshold. Get help. Find something positive other than this cold-case that gives you energy ( a hobby, your family, a sport, your shrink). We’ve all been to the bottom. It’s no fun, but we will support you on your journey back up. One of the best things I did? Made friends with fellow victims and investigating colleagues on Facebook. At first this seemed counter-intuitive: I wanted to isolate my personal life from my cold-case life. In the end it was the right decision because it was healthy to see these people without the victim stigma, in a normal light: families, loves, interests.
10. If all else fails: Contact the Vidocq Society, http://www.vidocq.org/ a group out of the Washington area comprised of retired forensic and investigative experts dedicated to solving old cases. Slightly pretentious, but if you’ve exhausted numbers 1 – 9 at this point you have nothing to lose. A word of caution: Vidocq will only consider your case if you have support from your local police jurisdiction (so no coming here if you’ve got a beef with how the police screwed up your case).
Go forth and solve!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Beyond This Place
My favorite story about what happened to Debbie Key is "Bad Dream House" by John Allore. During our Halloween weekend I have learned that John had written a sequel to the story. It is called "Beyond This Place," and the first chapter now appears in his WKT? blog.
http://theresaallore.com/?bloggerURL=/.com/
Below is a sample of the first chapter, edited by me.
(...) indicates where I left out sentences.
(You don't have to tell me I'm biased because I already know that, but I also want to make it shorter for this post)
------------------------------------------------------------
I live in a house once inhabited by a psychopath. (...) Each day there are a dozen little things reminding me that Deborah Key – the young woman who was most likely murdered by the former owner of our home – is still missing. Working in the garden, I’ll unearth some artifact belonging to the former owners. Inevitably, it will be some weapon or instrument of torture – an arrow, a spear, the broken blade from a sword. One time I found a gigantic hunting knife with brown stains on the blade. (...) Another time I found the remains of a dismembered Barbie doll.
Last year my wife started a business; a children’s resale shop in downtown Carrboro. Carrboro is a little bedroom community of Chapel Hill in North Carolina. My wife’s shop is cute. She has a lot of nice stuff. (...) As fate would have it, my wife rented the space where the bar Sticks and Stones was formerly located. The same Sticks and Stones where Deborah Key was last seen alive. Every day after work I pull into the parking lot to pick up the kids. I always park in the spot where Deborah was last seen kissing Andrew Dalzell against the hood of her car. Deborah’s mother placed a small memorial on the spot with flowers and a plaque. It’s nice that it’s there to remind me. Just in case I forgot.
Not long ago I got another call from our local police. Deborah Key’s body still had not been recovered. Chief Henderson wanted to return and search our property. This time they weren’t bringing a cadaver dog; they were bringing a psychic.
I don’t understand this “psychic” business. They always seem to be able to see everything that is totally extraneous. They do everything but the one thing police ask them to do: solve the crime. (...)
“She had a vision that Deborah’s body was in a place with woods and a lake.”
(...) That was the thing, it wasn’t a gimmick; my friend had done it. It was amazing. She had a conversation through the medium with her dead relatives. It was creepy. There were details this medium knew about my friend’s life that only people who had “passed” could have known – little pieces of knowledge that no one could find through deception. My friend came to a conclusion. Either the medium was really a psychic and she was reading your mind; or it was for real, and she talked to the dead. My friend suggested I arrange for a consultation with my sister. The medium charged two hundred dollars an hour. I said I’d think about it.
On the weekend I phone my parents and ask them about the medium. They say, why not? I talk with my brother. He can’t think of a reason not to do it either. Curious. I was hoping one of them would stop me. At Barnes & Noble I “inadvertently” wind up in front of the New Age section. My medium’s staring at me from the cover of her book. What’s going on here?
--------------------------------------------------------------
IN OTHER NEWS:
Today is the day the trial begins for Curtis Lavelle Vance, who last year murdered TV news anchor Anne Pressly in Little Rock, Arkansas. I plan to keep up with this case.
Here is some more news on the prison release issue.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6304543/
Tomorrow will be the 31-year anniversary of the murder of Theresa Allore - November 3, 1978.
Also on this day, 3 years ago, Michelle Young was killed near Raleigh, NC - November 3, 2006.
http://theresaallore.com/?bloggerURL=/.com/
Below is a sample of the first chapter, edited by me.
(...) indicates where I left out sentences.
(You don't have to tell me I'm biased because I already know that, but I also want to make it shorter for this post)
------------------------------------------------------------
I live in a house once inhabited by a psychopath. (...) Each day there are a dozen little things reminding me that Deborah Key – the young woman who was most likely murdered by the former owner of our home – is still missing. Working in the garden, I’ll unearth some artifact belonging to the former owners. Inevitably, it will be some weapon or instrument of torture – an arrow, a spear, the broken blade from a sword. One time I found a gigantic hunting knife with brown stains on the blade. (...) Another time I found the remains of a dismembered Barbie doll.
Last year my wife started a business; a children’s resale shop in downtown Carrboro. Carrboro is a little bedroom community of Chapel Hill in North Carolina. My wife’s shop is cute. She has a lot of nice stuff. (...) As fate would have it, my wife rented the space where the bar Sticks and Stones was formerly located. The same Sticks and Stones where Deborah Key was last seen alive. Every day after work I pull into the parking lot to pick up the kids. I always park in the spot where Deborah was last seen kissing Andrew Dalzell against the hood of her car. Deborah’s mother placed a small memorial on the spot with flowers and a plaque. It’s nice that it’s there to remind me. Just in case I forgot.
Not long ago I got another call from our local police. Deborah Key’s body still had not been recovered. Chief Henderson wanted to return and search our property. This time they weren’t bringing a cadaver dog; they were bringing a psychic.
I don’t understand this “psychic” business. They always seem to be able to see everything that is totally extraneous. They do everything but the one thing police ask them to do: solve the crime. (...)
“She had a vision that Deborah’s body was in a place with woods and a lake.”
(...) That was the thing, it wasn’t a gimmick; my friend had done it. It was amazing. She had a conversation through the medium with her dead relatives. It was creepy. There were details this medium knew about my friend’s life that only people who had “passed” could have known – little pieces of knowledge that no one could find through deception. My friend came to a conclusion. Either the medium was really a psychic and she was reading your mind; or it was for real, and she talked to the dead. My friend suggested I arrange for a consultation with my sister. The medium charged two hundred dollars an hour. I said I’d think about it.
On the weekend I phone my parents and ask them about the medium. They say, why not? I talk with my brother. He can’t think of a reason not to do it either. Curious. I was hoping one of them would stop me. At Barnes & Noble I “inadvertently” wind up in front of the New Age section. My medium’s staring at me from the cover of her book. What’s going on here?
--------------------------------------------------------------
IN OTHER NEWS:
Today is the day the trial begins for Curtis Lavelle Vance, who last year murdered TV news anchor Anne Pressly in Little Rock, Arkansas. I plan to keep up with this case.
Here is some more news on the prison release issue.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6304543/
Tomorrow will be the 31-year anniversary of the murder of Theresa Allore - November 3, 1978.
Also on this day, 3 years ago, Michelle Young was killed near Raleigh, NC - November 3, 2006.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Everyone Knows Something
In the field of astronomy, more new discoveries have been made in the last century by amateur, rather than by professional astronomers. This is due partly because professional astronomers have a schedule made out in advance of celestial bodies expected to appear. The amateur, however, would be more likely to set up and point his telescope at whatever catches his attention. The sky is a big place, and if you were looking at any given constellation, you might miss something that becomes visible in another part of the sky. It is surprising how many times an observatory hears from a casual stargazer, calling to report something that hasn't been seen before.
The same occurs in other fields of science, including forensics and criminology.
A case in point is Todd Matthews and the mystery of the Tent Girl. Human remains found in Kentucky during the 1960's have gone unidentified for 30 years, in spite of great efforts. It was a man with no formal training or prior experience (this was his first case) who solved the mystery of this person's identity. He had to come up with a method of his own, and it worked.
Often a murder or missing persons case goes unsolved because police follow a prescribed procedure. Even worse is when they already have a theory they are trying to prove, and disregard visible clues they find, because these aren't the clues they're looking for.
Read any book about a serial killer, and chances are that you will be surprised how many clues have been ignored. The author, writing in retrospect, (hindsight is always 20/20) describes in detail the killer's activities, from his first victim to his final arrest, and he doesn't always do a good job of covering his tracks. Before you finish the book, you may find yourself wondering why they haven't caught him yet.
Among the police in my locality, there are those I sometimes have long conversations with, and those who won't talk to me at all. I was told, by a police officer I do converse with, that perhaps it is because bloggers have such limited credibility with law enforcement. Granted, there is a lot of BS out there in the blogging world, but still this is unfortunate.
The most dramatic case of investigative failure I've read about is the case of Theresa Allore. The Surete du Quebec, being the provincial police of that area, have overlooked so many clues it inspires us to make fun of them. (Perhaps me more than anyone else) There were two other young females who were murdered in the same general area and time that were not connected, except by Theresa's brothers who continued the investigation, (if not started it) and a detective from Vancouver named Kim Rossmo.
Rossmo came up with a formula called "Geographic Profiling," and has also designed a computer program for it.
It was found that if you take a map of that area in Quebec and mark all the places where the bodies were found, along with where they were last seen, and where their possessions were found, you come up with a consistent pattern. The killer's stalking route becomes clearly visible. One begins to wonder why the cases were not connected.
Rossmo's program was initially scoffed at by his fellow officers, but today it is widely used by the RCMP, the FBI, and Scotland Yard.
In the case of Ira Yarmolenko, it was the bloggers, not the police, who first presented the possibility that Ira's murder may be connected with the two missing persons cases that took place in the same county in NC, and very close to the same time. There may or may not be a connection, but the question needs to be asked.
It is likely that Ira Yarmolenko and Debbie Key never knew each other. The Yarmolenko family moved to Greensboro, NC from the Ukraine in 1996, and to Chapel Hill in 1998. Debbie Key went missing in 1997. Still, both lived in the Chapel Hill area and had a lot of friends around here. There are people I've met who knew both of them, though not at the same time. I have talked with some of these people, and have learned some interesting things from them. There are also people I've talked to who are quite young, having been students at CHHS when Ira was there. When I tried to share some of this info with people in my age group, most of them said things like:
"You gotta consider the source."
"These are just kids."
"What do they know?"
To that, let me say this:
If you think young people don't know very much, you must not be spending much time around them.
When Debbie went missing, the Carrboro Police went around talking to nearly every one of her friends. Carrboro is a fairly small town where everyone knows each other. Word got around fast. By the time the news reached my ears, I was surprised by how many people already knew about it.
The Mt. Holly Police have not been talking to anyone except Ira's immediate family, as far as I know, and have been very tight-lipped about the investigation. There are those who believe they have arrested the wrong people. (Would you sit down and go fishing by the river where you just got finished killing someone?) The trial will be on Feb 2nd, last I heard, and I am curious as to how it will end up. I am willing to bet at this point that this case will be solved by the friends and family of the victim, rather than by law enforcement.
As my Scarecrow says in "the Wizard of Blogs,"
"No one knows everything, but everyone knows something that others do not."
The same occurs in other fields of science, including forensics and criminology.
A case in point is Todd Matthews and the mystery of the Tent Girl. Human remains found in Kentucky during the 1960's have gone unidentified for 30 years, in spite of great efforts. It was a man with no formal training or prior experience (this was his first case) who solved the mystery of this person's identity. He had to come up with a method of his own, and it worked.
Often a murder or missing persons case goes unsolved because police follow a prescribed procedure. Even worse is when they already have a theory they are trying to prove, and disregard visible clues they find, because these aren't the clues they're looking for.
Read any book about a serial killer, and chances are that you will be surprised how many clues have been ignored. The author, writing in retrospect, (hindsight is always 20/20) describes in detail the killer's activities, from his first victim to his final arrest, and he doesn't always do a good job of covering his tracks. Before you finish the book, you may find yourself wondering why they haven't caught him yet.
Among the police in my locality, there are those I sometimes have long conversations with, and those who won't talk to me at all. I was told, by a police officer I do converse with, that perhaps it is because bloggers have such limited credibility with law enforcement. Granted, there is a lot of BS out there in the blogging world, but still this is unfortunate.
The most dramatic case of investigative failure I've read about is the case of Theresa Allore. The Surete du Quebec, being the provincial police of that area, have overlooked so many clues it inspires us to make fun of them. (Perhaps me more than anyone else) There were two other young females who were murdered in the same general area and time that were not connected, except by Theresa's brothers who continued the investigation, (if not started it) and a detective from Vancouver named Kim Rossmo.
Rossmo came up with a formula called "Geographic Profiling," and has also designed a computer program for it.
It was found that if you take a map of that area in Quebec and mark all the places where the bodies were found, along with where they were last seen, and where their possessions were found, you come up with a consistent pattern. The killer's stalking route becomes clearly visible. One begins to wonder why the cases were not connected.
Rossmo's program was initially scoffed at by his fellow officers, but today it is widely used by the RCMP, the FBI, and Scotland Yard.
In the case of Ira Yarmolenko, it was the bloggers, not the police, who first presented the possibility that Ira's murder may be connected with the two missing persons cases that took place in the same county in NC, and very close to the same time. There may or may not be a connection, but the question needs to be asked.
It is likely that Ira Yarmolenko and Debbie Key never knew each other. The Yarmolenko family moved to Greensboro, NC from the Ukraine in 1996, and to Chapel Hill in 1998. Debbie Key went missing in 1997. Still, both lived in the Chapel Hill area and had a lot of friends around here. There are people I've met who knew both of them, though not at the same time. I have talked with some of these people, and have learned some interesting things from them. There are also people I've talked to who are quite young, having been students at CHHS when Ira was there. When I tried to share some of this info with people in my age group, most of them said things like:
"You gotta consider the source."
"These are just kids."
"What do they know?"
To that, let me say this:
If you think young people don't know very much, you must not be spending much time around them.
When Debbie went missing, the Carrboro Police went around talking to nearly every one of her friends. Carrboro is a fairly small town where everyone knows each other. Word got around fast. By the time the news reached my ears, I was surprised by how many people already knew about it.
The Mt. Holly Police have not been talking to anyone except Ira's immediate family, as far as I know, and have been very tight-lipped about the investigation. There are those who believe they have arrested the wrong people. (Would you sit down and go fishing by the river where you just got finished killing someone?) The trial will be on Feb 2nd, last I heard, and I am curious as to how it will end up. I am willing to bet at this point that this case will be solved by the friends and family of the victim, rather than by law enforcement.
As my Scarecrow says in "the Wizard of Blogs,"
"No one knows everything, but everyone knows something that others do not."
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thanksgiving Weekend News
Our Holiday Season is off to a good start this year, as two high profile murder suspects have been captured!
The killer of Anne Pressly, a popular news anchor for KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas who was murdered in October, has been arrested on November 26.
See story here.
The killer of Brianna Denison, who went missing January of this year and found murdered February in Reno, Nevada, has also been arrested.
See story here.
Shortly before Thanksgiving Day, in nearby Wake County, NC, a man who robbed a store, then beat up a woman to take her car for a get-away, got clobbered by a big frozen turkey.
See story here.
And on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day, early holiday shopping proves to be downright dangerous!
See story here.
The good news is that two dangerous killers are safely locked away, who have taken the lives of women who were loved by many, giving new hope for families and friends of murder victims everywhere.
Happy Holidays!
PS - Last year on this night, my friends and I gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of the 10-year anniversary of Debbie Key. It was a night I will always remember. To see pictures of this event, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
The killer of Anne Pressly, a popular news anchor for KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas who was murdered in October, has been arrested on November 26.
See story here.
The killer of Brianna Denison, who went missing January of this year and found murdered February in Reno, Nevada, has also been arrested.
See story here.
Shortly before Thanksgiving Day, in nearby Wake County, NC, a man who robbed a store, then beat up a woman to take her car for a get-away, got clobbered by a big frozen turkey.
See story here.
And on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day, early holiday shopping proves to be downright dangerous!
See story here.
The good news is that two dangerous killers are safely locked away, who have taken the lives of women who were loved by many, giving new hope for families and friends of murder victims everywhere.
Happy Holidays!
PS - Last year on this night, my friends and I gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of the 10-year anniversary of Debbie Key. It was a night I will always remember. To see pictures of this event, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Theresa Allore Video
This is Part 3 of 5 in a series of videos made by John Allore about Theresa, using news footage by W-5 in Quebec. I have selected this part for posting here, because this is the part where Debbie, and the "Bad Dream House," are mentioned.
We will soon be observing the 30-year anniversary of Theresa's death, which was on November 3, 1978.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Debbie's Birthday
Call me a sentimental old fool if you will, but I still remember Debbie Key's birthday. She was born September 21, 1962.
Here's a little ditty I wrote for her.
Ode to Debbie Key
I never met a person who could do less harm
Never met a person who could be more warm
But I know a lot of people who will say to you
that her life was full of gladness
and her heart was true.
Happy and free is the only way to be
So long as you maintain responsibility
Always had a smile for folks like you and me
That's the way we remember our friend, Debbie Key
She lights up every house that she's going to
She makes the world better just by walking through
Living in the world is fun when she's around
She always makes you smile - she never lets you down
Everyone says how she's so kind and good
She's loved by everybody in the neighborhood.
No one around here has ever had a fear
That in a town the size of Carrboro, one could disappear
She vanished in the night, and has since been out of sight
but left a loyal group of friends
and we're all still here
Can anybody tell us, where did our Debbie go?
Some say she went to Heaven, others say we just don't know
But anyway you look at it, one thing we know is true
is that she made the world better just by walking through
Happy and free as the only way to be
that's the way we remember our friend Debbie Key
Here's a little ditty I wrote for her.
Ode to Debbie Key
I never met a person who could do less harm
Never met a person who could be more warm
But I know a lot of people who will say to you
that her life was full of gladness
and her heart was true.
Happy and free is the only way to be
So long as you maintain responsibility
Always had a smile for folks like you and me
That's the way we remember our friend, Debbie Key
She lights up every house that she's going to
She makes the world better just by walking through
Living in the world is fun when she's around
She always makes you smile - she never lets you down
Everyone says how she's so kind and good
She's loved by everybody in the neighborhood.
No one around here has ever had a fear
That in a town the size of Carrboro, one could disappear
She vanished in the night, and has since been out of sight
but left a loyal group of friends
and we're all still here
Can anybody tell us, where did our Debbie go?
Some say she went to Heaven, others say we just don't know
But anyway you look at it, one thing we know is true
is that she made the world better just by walking through
Happy and free as the only way to be
that's the way we remember our friend Debbie Key
Monday, July 07, 2008
Back to Eve
I apologize to my readers who were expecting me to blog the Eve Carson hearing. The truth is, I chickened out when we got to Day 2, when they unsealed the autopsy report.
I didn't know until then that she had been shot in the face with a shotgun. This struck me as a final insult, to rob us of her beautiful face, as well as her life.
That's where I lost it.
The report says that she was unrecognizable, that she was initially identified by her jewelry. I was outraged to think that Eve's loved ones were deprived of seeing her face one more time before burial.
SIGH!
I went to writing instead of 4th of July fireworks, taking advantage of the holiday to change the subject, after seeking comic relief from YouTube.
So there you have it. I see no way that I can write about Eve Carson objectively anymore.
Okay, I admit it. It's not like I knew her personally. I did not.
It's just that I have accepted her as "one of us."
It has been said by many that Eve Carson embodied the True Tarheel Spirit, and I myself am inclined to agree. I've always thought of her as Ms. UNC.
Just because I live outside the Chapel Hill city limits doesn't mean that I live outside Tarheel Country. Even in my rural Chatham neighborhood one still sees mailboxes of Carolina Blue, with either the "UNC" or the "Tarheel" logo on it.
Eve Carson was considered by me, my neighbors, and my friends, as a highly respected member of our community, and for good reasons.
Need I explain why?
I know I said this before. Humor me, okay?
Unlike Debbie Key and Kristin Lodge-Miller, Eve was someone we read about in the news before she became a murder victim, not just after.
We already knew she was a good person, and no one ever attempted to challenge that opinion. I'm glad.
Now I don't have to stand on a soapbox and preach about how good people can be victims of crime too. That point has been clearly made already.
That is what I appreciate most about Eve Carson.
I can tell you from personal experience that reading about her last moments alive is enough to make a grown man cry.
After confessing to a friend of my desire to execute her killers personally, I was told that this would make me no better than them.
I'm afraid I have only one defense against that, and that's this.
I'm sure I will be more easily forgiven for killing her killers, than for killing her.
Yes, I agree, the lesser of two evils is still an evil.
Still, I am willing to support any effort that promises to eliminate the greater evil, any way I can.
I didn't know until then that she had been shot in the face with a shotgun. This struck me as a final insult, to rob us of her beautiful face, as well as her life.
That's where I lost it.
The report says that she was unrecognizable, that she was initially identified by her jewelry. I was outraged to think that Eve's loved ones were deprived of seeing her face one more time before burial.
SIGH!
I went to writing instead of 4th of July fireworks, taking advantage of the holiday to change the subject, after seeking comic relief from YouTube.
So there you have it. I see no way that I can write about Eve Carson objectively anymore.
Okay, I admit it. It's not like I knew her personally. I did not.
It's just that I have accepted her as "one of us."
It has been said by many that Eve Carson embodied the True Tarheel Spirit, and I myself am inclined to agree. I've always thought of her as Ms. UNC.
Just because I live outside the Chapel Hill city limits doesn't mean that I live outside Tarheel Country. Even in my rural Chatham neighborhood one still sees mailboxes of Carolina Blue, with either the "UNC" or the "Tarheel" logo on it.
Eve Carson was considered by me, my neighbors, and my friends, as a highly respected member of our community, and for good reasons.
Need I explain why?
I know I said this before. Humor me, okay?
Unlike Debbie Key and Kristin Lodge-Miller, Eve was someone we read about in the news before she became a murder victim, not just after.
We already knew she was a good person, and no one ever attempted to challenge that opinion. I'm glad.
Now I don't have to stand on a soapbox and preach about how good people can be victims of crime too. That point has been clearly made already.
That is what I appreciate most about Eve Carson.
I can tell you from personal experience that reading about her last moments alive is enough to make a grown man cry.
After confessing to a friend of my desire to execute her killers personally, I was told that this would make me no better than them.
I'm afraid I have only one defense against that, and that's this.
I'm sure I will be more easily forgiven for killing her killers, than for killing her.
Yes, I agree, the lesser of two evils is still an evil.
Still, I am willing to support any effort that promises to eliminate the greater evil, any way I can.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Wilmington Connection?
On Thursday this week, I've had the pleasure of talking to Jim Ware of the Star-News in Wilmington. Jim works on the crime team with reporter Dave Reynolds, who writes these news stories I've been posting links for, about the skeletons found in Wilmington, and Allison Jackson-Foy.
This man wanted to talk to me about some possible connections between the cases of Allison Jackson-Foy and Debbie Key. So we did. First he mentioned that Debbie and Allison were both last seen leaving a bar where people played pool. Both were in their mid-30s. It is debated whether anyone actually saw Allison leave the parking lot.
Sometimes even a little bitty clue can go a long way, and I think we made a pretty good example of that. It is always interesting to compare the parellels and the contrasts of similar cases. Curiously, on that same day, John had written a very interesting post in the WKT? blog on that very subject.
The bones were found just 3 miles from where Allison was celebrating her recent job promotion, at Junction Billiards in Monkey Junction, on Carolina Beach Rd. Allison has been missing since the summer of 2006. Naturally, her name appeared at the top of the list of people these remains might belong to.
There is talk of the possibilty of a serial killer in Wilmington. The FBI says a killer must kill 3 or more times to make that classification, but it is apparent the 2 skeletons were not dumped there at the same time. Someone killed 2 women at 2 different times, and used the same hiding place for both of them.
So what's the connection between this and Debbie Key? I am told we will be reading about this in the Star-News in the near future. In the meantime, they want to talk to Joy. I am looking forward to hearing what she reports back to me.
Having even a rumor of a serial killer in Wilmington, at the beginning of the summer, must have a negative effect on their tourist season this year. Too bad. It really is a nice place to visit. Even Dalzell considers it his "happy place."
Yesterday was Friday the 13th. A man I had an appointment with yesterday afternoon never showed up. It is now 27 hours later, and I still haven't heard from him.
Gee, what do you suppose that means?
Today is Flag Day, June 14th.
I wonder how many people remember Flag Day anymore?
Today there is an American flag displayed in my front yard.
Who would have thought I'd remember that?
Tomorrow is Daddy's Day.
This man wanted to talk to me about some possible connections between the cases of Allison Jackson-Foy and Debbie Key. So we did. First he mentioned that Debbie and Allison were both last seen leaving a bar where people played pool. Both were in their mid-30s. It is debated whether anyone actually saw Allison leave the parking lot.
Sometimes even a little bitty clue can go a long way, and I think we made a pretty good example of that. It is always interesting to compare the parellels and the contrasts of similar cases. Curiously, on that same day, John had written a very interesting post in the WKT? blog on that very subject.
The bones were found just 3 miles from where Allison was celebrating her recent job promotion, at Junction Billiards in Monkey Junction, on Carolina Beach Rd. Allison has been missing since the summer of 2006. Naturally, her name appeared at the top of the list of people these remains might belong to.
There is talk of the possibilty of a serial killer in Wilmington. The FBI says a killer must kill 3 or more times to make that classification, but it is apparent the 2 skeletons were not dumped there at the same time. Someone killed 2 women at 2 different times, and used the same hiding place for both of them.
So what's the connection between this and Debbie Key? I am told we will be reading about this in the Star-News in the near future. In the meantime, they want to talk to Joy. I am looking forward to hearing what she reports back to me.
Having even a rumor of a serial killer in Wilmington, at the beginning of the summer, must have a negative effect on their tourist season this year. Too bad. It really is a nice place to visit. Even Dalzell considers it his "happy place."
Yesterday was Friday the 13th. A man I had an appointment with yesterday afternoon never showed up. It is now 27 hours later, and I still haven't heard from him.
Gee, what do you suppose that means?
Today is Flag Day, June 14th.
I wonder how many people remember Flag Day anymore?
Today there is an American flag displayed in my front yard.
Who would have thought I'd remember that?
Tomorrow is Daddy's Day.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Today in History
It was one year ago today when this website, in its current version, made its first appearance on the 'Net. If you were to keep working back through the blog to the beginning, you will find this to be true. Those of us who can still remember past last year may recall the original Debbie Key website, in its one-page form.
The year 2007 was when we had the 10 year anniversary of Debbie's departure from us. I don't mind saying it was an honor for me to be managing the website at that time. I am pleased with the progress that has been made since then, and I'm feeling optimistic about the next year to come.
This year, the month of June began with a baking 88 degrees, making it really feel like summer. By evening we enjoyed a cooling rain.
The entire month of May, I've been hoping to get a report up here about the ID of the skeletons found in Wilmington. All I found was that they are still conducting the DNA test, and have sent the bones to a lab in Texas. Here it is.
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080528/ARTICLE/576199540/0/NEWS
Not saying that I was pleased with the murder of Eve Carson, but I was pleased with the fact that, this time, no one tried to blame the victim.
Unlike Debbie Key and Kristin Lodge-Miller, Eve Carson was someone we read about in the paper BEFORE she was killed. We already knew who she was when the tragic news was announced, and no one questioned her character as contributing to her death.
Honestly, I was glad to see that.
Ira Yarmolenko, just last month, provided another example of the same thing. I have not heard one single negative word about her, and believe me, I have heard a great deal of praise for this individual.
So have we destroyed the myth yet? You know, the one that says we should blame the victim? If not, I'd say, at least, that the myth has had a great big chunk taken out of it, and I'm glad of it.
One sure way to offend me is to blame the victim. Yea, it pisseth me verily!
I have had the pleasure of connecting with many praiseworthy individuals through the managing of this website, including John Allore, Todd Matthews, Doreen Prior, and my special Web Goddess, Judith Gadd. I have enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other families and friends of murder victims, and we have learned a lot from each other's stories.
Yeah, I'd say I'm ready for another year.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Response to John Hawthorne
While we respectfully acknowledge the good service to NC given by John Hawthorne as special agent with the SBI, we feel that we must protest his description of Debbie Key, as he had presented in the NC Wanted production, "The Disappearance of Debbie Key."
Mr. Hawthorne describes Debbie as a woman who may be bribed by the offering of alcoholic beverages by strange men in a bar, into granting favors of accompaniment.
Those of us who knew Debbie Key when she was still with us feel this description is unfair and inaccurate. We know this person to be of a more ladylike character, who maintained strict sexual boundaries, even among her closest friends. She was not at all the kind of person who would use her feminine charms to solicit drinks from strangers, but quite the contrary.
Debbie was a lady in many ways. She did not even approve of having "salty" language spoken in her presence, and had gotten her friends used to saying things like, "gosh darn it."
All the single guys in our circle of friends knew that it was okay to ask her to dance, to enjoy a hug now and then, but not to expect it to go any further than that.
Friends of Debbie Key have not attempted to paint Debbie up as an angel, though she was angelic at times, but have always admitted that Debbie liked to drink.
This to us did not make her a bad person, and certainly not a person who deserved to die for saying "no."
Please do not punish us for our honesty, but try to give our friend more credit than that.
Readers and viewers of Debbie's story are advised to wear filters concerning such descriptions of her character.
Debbie was a lady, and she did not practice such habits at the bar, or anywhere else.
We see this as just another example of the "blame the victim" syndrome.
We do not, however, blame Mr. Hawthorne as the originator of this interpretation
Your comments are welcome.
Mr. Hawthorne describes Debbie as a woman who may be bribed by the offering of alcoholic beverages by strange men in a bar, into granting favors of accompaniment.
Those of us who knew Debbie Key when she was still with us feel this description is unfair and inaccurate. We know this person to be of a more ladylike character, who maintained strict sexual boundaries, even among her closest friends. She was not at all the kind of person who would use her feminine charms to solicit drinks from strangers, but quite the contrary.
Debbie was a lady in many ways. She did not even approve of having "salty" language spoken in her presence, and had gotten her friends used to saying things like, "gosh darn it."
All the single guys in our circle of friends knew that it was okay to ask her to dance, to enjoy a hug now and then, but not to expect it to go any further than that.
Friends of Debbie Key have not attempted to paint Debbie up as an angel, though she was angelic at times, but have always admitted that Debbie liked to drink.
This to us did not make her a bad person, and certainly not a person who deserved to die for saying "no."
Please do not punish us for our honesty, but try to give our friend more credit than that.
Readers and viewers of Debbie's story are advised to wear filters concerning such descriptions of her character.
Debbie was a lady, and she did not practice such habits at the bar, or anywhere else.
We see this as just another example of the "blame the victim" syndrome.
We do not, however, blame Mr. Hawthorne as the originator of this interpretation
Your comments are welcome.
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