I'm old enough to remember that fateful day in November of 1963, and how well I remember it. I was 8 years old. It was announced in school that the president has died, and we were all sent home for the day. On my way home I saw grown-ups in tears, which, for a little boy, carried quite an impact. That impact I still feel today whenever I think about Kennedy, and the tremendous influence he has had on our nation.
Billy Graham on TV was telling us not to vote for Kennedy because he's a Catholic, and America should always be run by Protestants of English descent. I have hated him ever since. Many great and wonderful people have died since then. Why is Graham still here?
I still have trouble believing that Kennedy won against Nixon by one of the narrowest margins in history. I always thought the choice was obvious.
I still have trouble believing Nixon was Eisenhower's VP.
In my eyes, there has never been a greater American president during the 20th Century, and I continue to think about what America would be like today had JFK lived out his second term. We can only speculate, of course, but I still wonder how much further we may have progressed in the direction he was leading us.
Five years later, his brother Bobby and Dr. King met the same fate, cut down by an assassin's bullet, which made me worry about the direction we had taken since then. I am very proud of the way my generation had responded to it.
We may never be able to prove the conspiracy theory about the assassination, but if you ask me, it's a whole lot more credible than the theory that Oswald acted alone.
"Don't let it be forgot
that once there was a spot
for one brief shining moment
known as Camelot."
Showing posts with label anniversary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anniversary. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Thursday, November 15, 2012
15-Year Anniversary
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Bin Laden - 1 Year After
'May Day' has taken on a new meaning for us on May first of last year.
Can anyone remember the last time Americans celebrated a death?
I was a bit surprised that not everyone was excited about it. There are those who said, "They'll only replace him with someone just as evil." But still, it's one less evil person in the world. Some would say that people would use any excuse to get drunk and raise hell, and, for sure, there was a lot of that going on. But I thought it was something worth celebrating.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one.
I thought of the Munchkins singing "Ding dong the witch is dead..."
Besides that it took 10 years, I was sorry they didn't take his head. That's a tradition that goes way back. David took Goliath's head after slaying him to present to the king, as knights have done for their kings through the Middle Ages, and the head of Blackbeard the pirate was presented to the people of Virginia as proof that he was dead. Why not this time? Because, they say, we don't want any kind of shrine to him. I'm sure a lot of people would have liked to have seen such proof, but it didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits at the time.
Besides that it took 10 years, I was sorry they didn't take his head. That's a tradition that goes way back. David took Goliath's head after slaying him to present to the king, as knights have done for their kings through the Middle Ages, and the head of Blackbeard the pirate was presented to the people of Virginia as proof that he was dead. Why not this time? Because, they say, we don't want any kind of shrine to him. I'm sure a lot of people would have liked to have seen such proof, but it didn't seem to dampen anyone's spirits at the time.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Jessie Foster 6 Years Missing
March 28, 2009
Today is the six-year anniversary of when Jessie Foster went missing.
Her mother, Glendene Grant, is a Facebook friend of mine, and we have shared a few messages between us during the last few years. She has never given up, either in hopes or in efforts. She has been an encouragement to other parents of missing persons.
This video is a couple of years old, but this news article is from yesterday.
http://www.cfjctv.com/story.php?id=7878
----------------------------------------------
In other news, Britanee Drexel, who went missing April 25, 2009, is still being searched for in South Carolina. Today I have found claims that bones have been found that may be her remains, but I can only get error readings when trying to access the news story. Sorry to say, I don't know what's up with that at the present time, but I'm eager to find out.
-----------------------------------------------
This just in on 4/11/2012
An update on the Sharron Prior Case
http://www.cjad.com/CJADLocalNews/entry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10369648
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
New Sharron Prior Video
Well, it's new to me anyway.
I just discovered this in Facebook, and decided it should go here too.
Among my special friends in Canada are the Prior family. I have written before about Sharron Prior, and posted a video a few years back about her. When I saw this, I thought it was just so beautiful it must be shared.
After St. Pat's Day I start thinking about Easter.
Sharron went missing on Easter weekend, and was found dead shortly afterward.
I'm pretty sure the Easter Bunny cried that year.
-------------------------------------------------
This is a different subject now.
It has come to my attention that a news story I had completely missed was caught by John Allore. This is a must-read for anyone keeping up with Debbie Key's story.
http://theresaallore.com/2012/02/suppressed-confession-enhances-dalzells-sentence/
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Do You Remember?
Yesterday (March 5) was the anniversary of Eve Carson's demise.
I wonder how many of us remember that?
And how many of us remember St. Patrick's Day on March 17th?
If you ask me, around here, not enough! That's why I make such a big deal about it. I'm hoping to compensate for those who don't even know it's a holiday.
You would have to be of my generation to remember Darby O'Gill and the Little People. But did you know that before playing as James Bond, a young Sean Connery played in this movie?
And did you know he could sing?
Friday, June 04, 2010
Poop on Van der Sloot
Since I began recording anniversary dates on missing and murdered persons, I have always found interesting parallels in them. But this is the most interesting of all.
May 30, 2005 - Natalee Holloway went missing in Aruba.
May 30, 2010 - Stephany Flores was murdered in Peru.
Was this done on purpose? Or was it coincidence?
Same "suspect" in both cases, that being Joran Van der Sloot, who has managed to BS his way out of being charged (with help from his father, of course) with what has become the most widely publicized missing persons case of this decade. He has given inconsistent confessions to the police, as if it were a game to him, and still managed to walk free.
Is this story starting to sound familiar yet?
It wasn't until June 2 that the body of Flores was found stabbed to death in Van der Sloot's hotel room in Lima, Peru, prompting one of the questions I've been hearing most.
Why didn't he try to hide the body this time?
But there's an even bigger question than that.
Here we have a man who has literally gotten away with murder, in a case that has made news around the world, so why wasn't he doing his very best to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life, instead of pressing his luck?
Some suggest that the man was convinced he could get away with anything, and decided he could afford to get cocky. Of course, he should have taken into consideration the fact that his father, who was a diplomat in Aruba with political pull, is no longer alive to bail him out.
Oh, and another thing. He was no longer in Aruba, but in South America.
It wasn't until June 3 that Van der Sloot was captured, a long long way from Lima, Peru, in Santiago, Chile. It would have been a shorter trip to head back to Venezuela, where he could take a boat back to Aruba. Was he enjoying the thrill of the chase?
Now here is an interesting 'reverse parallel' if you will.
The father of Van der Sloot (now deceased) was a person of considerable influence in Aruba.
The father of Stephany Flores is a person of considerable influence in Peru, which, unfortunately for Van der Sloot, is where he is now.
Ricardo Flores is well known as a former race car driver with the Peruvian Auto Club and a respectable business man. Not surprisingly, this man has shown a great deal of interest in punishing the man who killed his daughter. He offers us these words.
"Joran was able to laugh at the crime he committed in Aruba, but in Peru he won't be able to laugh."
After the arrest. the mother of Natalee Holloway tells us Joran had the audacity to come to Alabama attempting to collect extortion money for revealing where he really hid the body. A warrant was issued for his arrest in the US on Thursday.
So why was he being so cocky? Did he really think he could get away with everything he did? Is this all just a big game to him that he enjoyed? I have another theory.
I'm no expert, so take this for what it's worth. I believe that Joran is the kind of killer that can't stop killing. People like this do not stop until they are stopped, either by being locked up, or by being killed themselves. (Excuse me while I get on my soapbox)
Preaching the Gospel to a killer like Joran does not work. There is no explaining to him that killing people is wrong and we mustn't do that. This kind of problem cannot be cured by counseling and parole. Once we have a person like this behind bars, PLEASE! For God's Sake! For the Good of All Concerned! DON"T EVER TURN HIM LOOSE AGAIN!
Okay, I'm finished.
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - Monday, June 7
Today I've found this interesting post in WICI. It seems Pat Brown disagrees with my serial killer theory. For a second opinion, although a good one, I must admit, check out
http://womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/2010/06/joran-van-der-sloot-serial-killer.html
I have found conflicting reports on how Stephany Flores was killed. Not all say she was stabbed to death.
May 30, 2005 - Natalee Holloway went missing in Aruba.
May 30, 2010 - Stephany Flores was murdered in Peru.
Was this done on purpose? Or was it coincidence?
Same "suspect" in both cases, that being Joran Van der Sloot, who has managed to BS his way out of being charged (with help from his father, of course) with what has become the most widely publicized missing persons case of this decade. He has given inconsistent confessions to the police, as if it were a game to him, and still managed to walk free.
Is this story starting to sound familiar yet?
It wasn't until June 2 that the body of Flores was found stabbed to death in Van der Sloot's hotel room in Lima, Peru, prompting one of the questions I've been hearing most.
Why didn't he try to hide the body this time?
But there's an even bigger question than that.
Here we have a man who has literally gotten away with murder, in a case that has made news around the world, so why wasn't he doing his very best to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life, instead of pressing his luck?
Some suggest that the man was convinced he could get away with anything, and decided he could afford to get cocky. Of course, he should have taken into consideration the fact that his father, who was a diplomat in Aruba with political pull, is no longer alive to bail him out.
Oh, and another thing. He was no longer in Aruba, but in South America.
It wasn't until June 3 that Van der Sloot was captured, a long long way from Lima, Peru, in Santiago, Chile. It would have been a shorter trip to head back to Venezuela, where he could take a boat back to Aruba. Was he enjoying the thrill of the chase?
Now here is an interesting 'reverse parallel' if you will.
The father of Van der Sloot (now deceased) was a person of considerable influence in Aruba.
The father of Stephany Flores is a person of considerable influence in Peru, which, unfortunately for Van der Sloot, is where he is now.
Ricardo Flores is well known as a former race car driver with the Peruvian Auto Club and a respectable business man. Not surprisingly, this man has shown a great deal of interest in punishing the man who killed his daughter. He offers us these words.
"Joran was able to laugh at the crime he committed in Aruba, but in Peru he won't be able to laugh."
After the arrest. the mother of Natalee Holloway tells us Joran had the audacity to come to Alabama attempting to collect extortion money for revealing where he really hid the body. A warrant was issued for his arrest in the US on Thursday.
So why was he being so cocky? Did he really think he could get away with everything he did? Is this all just a big game to him that he enjoyed? I have another theory.
I'm no expert, so take this for what it's worth. I believe that Joran is the kind of killer that can't stop killing. People like this do not stop until they are stopped, either by being locked up, or by being killed themselves. (Excuse me while I get on my soapbox)
Preaching the Gospel to a killer like Joran does not work. There is no explaining to him that killing people is wrong and we mustn't do that. This kind of problem cannot be cured by counseling and parole. Once we have a person like this behind bars, PLEASE! For God's Sake! For the Good of All Concerned! DON"T EVER TURN HIM LOOSE AGAIN!
Okay, I'm finished.
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - Monday, June 7
Today I've found this interesting post in WICI. It seems Pat Brown disagrees with my serial killer theory. For a second opinion, although a good one, I must admit, check out
http://womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/2010/06/joran-van-der-sloot-serial-killer.html
I have found conflicting reports on how Stephany Flores was killed. Not all say she was stabbed to death.
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!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Brandy Hanna: 5 Years Missing
Another popular vacation spot in South Carolina, besides Myrtle Beach, is Charleston. It was here that Brandy Hanna went missing on May 20, 2005.
Brandy worked with her mother, who is the manager, at Alex's Restaurant in Charleston. (Not to be confused with Alice's Restaurant.) Brandy was quite popular there, and got along well with everyone. She didn't have any enemies. One day Brandy came home from work, called her mom and texted some friends, and no one has heard from her since.
Here is her story in America's Most Wanted,
http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=44621
the Charley Project,
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/h/hanna_brandy.html
Project Jason,
http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=232.0
and in her own website.
http://www.missingbrandyhanna.com/
Brandy Hanna has literally disappeared without a trace. Her mother, Donna Parent, has never given up, and her posters are still on display in Charleston, SC.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Madeleine McCann Anniversary
Madeleine McCann has been missing since May 3, 2007.
Her birthday is May 12, 2003. She was almost 4 years old when she went missing, and will soon be 7 if still alive.
Also known as Maddie, she went missing from Proia Da Luz, Portugal, while on vacation with her family, from the apartment where they were staying.
Here is the McCann's official family website
http://www.findmadeleine.com/
and blog.
http://findmadeleine.blogspot.com/
Here is a very nice tribute page made to Madeleine in Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&q=madeleine%20mccann#!/pages/Madeleine-McCann/29095946153?ref=search&sid=1847184243.418146390..1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN OTHER NEWS;
Todd Matthews is 40 years old today. Mr. Matthews has done more for missing persons, I believe, than any other living individual I know. Happy Birthday, Todd! Keep up the good work!
The trial of Demario Atwater continues today here in NC for the murder of Eve Carson.
On Wednesday May 5, it will be 2 years since the murder of Ira Yarmolenko. There is a tribute page to her in Facebook as well.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123464587668298#!/group.php?gid=13079847854&ref=search&sid=1847184243.3600478404..1
And tonight, Bill Tomsick goes on the radio to talk about getting NASA to help find missing persons. Get access here.
http://www.560thesource.com/
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Brittanee Drexel Anniversary, Vigil
Brittanee Drexel went missing April 25, 2009. This weekend in Myrtle Beach, SC, starting on the evening of April 24, 2010, there will be a candlelight vigil in her memory.
Police in Myrtle Beach have announced they have a few persons of interest, but have declined to give much more information, other than to say they don't believe she is alive, but they do believe they will find who killed her, if they haven't already.
Search efforts have been conducted by CUE Center for Missing Persons, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Laura Recovery Center, Southeastern Mounted Search and Rescue, Cold Case Group, and Adam Walsh Foundation.
I apologize if I left anyone out.
For more information check out
http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/brittanee-drexel/
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Jamie Fraley Anniversary
Jamie Michelle Fraley went missing April 8, 2008, from Gastonia, NC. It has now been two years. Jamie was born March 5, 1986, and was 22 years old when she disappeared. She is one of two missing persons cases that occurred near the same time and place as the murder of Ira Yarmolenko. Search efforts have brought us more questions than answers, and her story is as bizarre as it is sad.
Jamie Fraley's story in America's Most Wanted,
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=60357
The Charley Project,
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/f/fraley_jamie.html
Help Find The Missing,
http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4518
News 14 Carolina, (with video)
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/nc_missing/618564/family-of-missing-gaston-co--woman-asks-public-for-help
North American Missing Persons Network,
http://www.nampn.org/cases/fraley_jamie.html
and Project Jason
http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=2691.0
A month after Fraley went missing, on May 4, 2008, Jennifer Rivkin of Kings Mountain, NC went missing. Her borrowed car, unlocked with purse inside, was found in the parking lot of the Winner's Circle Bar & Grill in Gastonia, NC.
On May 5, 2008, the body and car of Ira Yarmolenko were found on the bank of the Catawba River in Mt. Holly, NC, which is near Gastonia, also in Gaston County.
Texas EquuSearch had planned a search for Jamie Fraley and Jennifer Rivkin in Gaston County on October of 2008, but they didn't follow through with that plan. Andrew Dalzell has been living in Stanley, NC in Gaston County since he left the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area, and later moved to Gastonia before his arrest last year. A South Carolina serial killer, Patrick Burns, ended up in Gastonia last summer, where he was gunned down by police on July 6, 2009. Gaston County sounds very much like an area Stephen King might write a story about. I have been there myself and can tell you first-hand there is something spooky about that area. I don't want to go back.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Jessie Foster Anniversary
The 4-year anniversary of Jessica Edith Louise Foster, better known as Jessie, will be observed on March 29. Some sources say she went missing on March 28, 2006. Her family website claims she went missing between March 28 and April 3, 2006.
Jessie Foster was born in Calgary and moved to North Las Vegas, NV, 4 months before she disappeared. It is suspected she had become a victim of human trafficking. She was 21 years old at her disappearance, and her birthday is May 27, 1984.
Jessie is being remembered by the CUE Center for Missing Persons,
http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/jessica-foster/
The Charley Project,
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/f/foster_jessica.html
Chris's Crime Forum,
http://chriscrimeforum.freeforums.org/missing-jessica-edith-louise-foster-t2561.html
Help Find the Missing,
http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/missing_database/index.php?s=jessie+foster
and on FaceBook.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=13079847854#!/event.php?eid=330536888730&ref=ss
Jessie Foster's Family Website is http://www.jessiefoster.ca/
Sharing an anniversary date is Sharron Prior, who went missing on March 29, 1975, and found murdered shortly afterward. Sharron's sister, Doreen Prior, is a very good friend of mine. Sharron was painting Easter eggs on her last day at home. I regret that Easter has not been a happy holiday since then for the Prior family.
Sharron Prior Website is http://www.sharronprior.com/
Unlike Sharron, Jessie Foster is still missing. Her mother, Glendene Grant, has never given up hope.
-----------------------------------------------------
UPDATE - Saturday March 27
This morning I got a message from 'Anon,' a loyal reader and friend, with a couple of more links to include. Here we have, in two parts, where Glendene Grant is being interviewed with my hero, Todd Matthews, in Missing Pieces. I have only a small handful of the many stories on the 'Net about Jessie, and cannot include all of them, but I have to agree this is worth including also.
http://missingpiecesshow.homestead.com/MissingPiecesEpisode22Archive.html
http://missingpiecesshow.homestead.com/MissingPiecesEpisode79Archive.html
Thursday, March 04, 2010
In the Garden of Eve
March 5, 2008, is a date that has been embedded in my brain. It has now been two years. Her killers have still not been to trial yet.
Writing about Eve Carson has always been difficult for me, whenever I try to be objective about it. Having been a Chapel Hill person for a long time, I tend to think of her as one of us. I may not have known her personally, but I knew who she was. She was the student body president of UNC. It was hard to pick up a copy of the Daily Tar Heel without being reminded of that.
But it wasn't until two years ago that I realized how much she was loved by just about everyone around here. I was walking across the UNC campus and saw so many faces in tears. I noticed everyone was moving towards The Pit. That was when the impact of what has happened really hit me for the first time, and I haven't completely recovered from it yet.
To this day I can not look at a picture of her smiling face without thinking about what has been taken from us, how much we have lost. I can still feel moisture forming in the corners of my eyes whenever I read about her. When I tried to write about her before I'd get too angry, or too bummed out to continue.
I got upset when I read some statement someone made about how it is always the pretty white female blonde victims that get all the media attention, and how unfair that is. People get murdered in Durham and Raleigh all the time, who don't get nearly as much attention. I say, hold on there, you're comparing a person who was well known and loved with people we never heard of before. It's not just looks we're talking about.
http://mojomom.blogspot.com/2008/03/eve-carsons-murder-gender-race-and.html
I don't think anyone would dare argue with me when I claim that Eve didn't get elected student body president on her looks. She may have turned quite a few heads, but what really made her popular was that she cared about people, and it showed. She didn't just give lip service to how much she cared, but demonstrated it in action. Her work speaks for itself.
Eve was the kind of person who would have forgiven the people who killed her a lot quicker than I ever will.
I was very surprised to read that the parents of Eve Carson are against the death penalty, considering what happened to their daughter. There was at least one survey that I know of that claimed more people in NC are in favor of the death penalty since her murder, and that people who used to be against it have changed their minds. I personally would gladly volunteer to assist in the executions if I were asked.
But when you think about the loving heart that Eve was well known for, it hardly seems fitting that we should honor her memory with such feelings of hatred.
There is now a memorial garden on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill, which was dedicated in Eve's memory today with a very nice turnout.
http://alumni.unc.edu/article.aspx?sid=7475
This does my heart good to know she will be remembered for a long time 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!"
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.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Birthday for Charley Project
The Charley Project will be 5 years old on October 12, 2009.
The predecessor for the Charley Project was the Missing Persons Cold Case Network, (MPCCN) founded by Jennifer Marra, who was also one of the founders of the Doe Network. She resigned from MPCCN on December 2003, turning over control to Meaghan Good, who ran it until March 2004. At that time the site was attacked by hackers and had to be taken offline. Meaghan founded the Charley Project on October 12, 2004, using much of the original content of MPCCN.
Meaghan Good also has her own birthday just one week earlier. She was born October 5, 1985, and has recently turned 24 years old. You can read about her here.
http://www.charleyproject.org/administrator.html
On August 23 this year Meaghan was interviewed on Blog Talk Radio, and you can check it out here.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PEASINTHEIRPODS/2009/08/24/News
Here is the Charley Project data on Debbie Key.
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/k/key_deborah.html
Here is the Blog.
http://charleyross.wordpress.com/
The Charley Project is named after Charley Ross, a boy who was kidnapped for ransom on July 1, 1874 in Germantown, PA, when he was 4 years old. He has never been found since.
Families and friends of missing persons owe a debt of gratitude to this one-person network, who has done a great service for all of us. Meaghan has earned my personal thanks a long time ago.
Happy Birthday Meaghan. Happy Birthday Charley Project. Keep up the good work!
The predecessor for the Charley Project was the Missing Persons Cold Case Network, (MPCCN) founded by Jennifer Marra, who was also one of the founders of the Doe Network. She resigned from MPCCN on December 2003, turning over control to Meaghan Good, who ran it until March 2004. At that time the site was attacked by hackers and had to be taken offline. Meaghan founded the Charley Project on October 12, 2004, using much of the original content of MPCCN.
Meaghan Good also has her own birthday just one week earlier. She was born October 5, 1985, and has recently turned 24 years old. You can read about her here.
http://www.charleyproject.org/administrator.html
On August 23 this year Meaghan was interviewed on Blog Talk Radio, and you can check it out here.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/PEASINTHEIRPODS/2009/08/24/News
Here is the Charley Project data on Debbie Key.
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/k/key_deborah.html
Here is the Blog.
http://charleyross.wordpress.com/
The Charley Project is named after Charley Ross, a boy who was kidnapped for ransom on July 1, 1874 in Germantown, PA, when he was 4 years old. He has never been found since.
Families and friends of missing persons owe a debt of gratitude to this one-person network, who has done a great service for all of us. Meaghan has earned my personal thanks a long time ago.
Happy Birthday Meaghan. Happy Birthday Charley Project. Keep up the good work!
Friday, September 04, 2009
Shanksville PA 9/11 Memorial
We all know the story of what happened in America on September 11, 2001. Evil terrorists made a series of attacks on our nation using American commercial airliners as weapons. The attack that got the most attention was the World Trade Center in New York.
An attack that didn't get as much attention was near Shanksville, PA. That one made the least amount of damage, as the plane crashed down on an empty field, killing only those who were on board. Yet, it was the most heroic.
The courage of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 defeated the efforts of the hijackers, causing the plane to crash a long way from the intended target of Washington, DC, and away from any heavily populated areas. Because these people were brave enough to fight back, hundreds of lives have been spared.
New York City was a major disaster area, and the Pentagon in Arlington, VA was under heavy guard. But in that field in rural Pennsylvania, there was nothing to keep people away who came to see where the plane went down. People were walking around with tears in their eyes, thinking about those who lost their lives to save others. After the flames were out and the smoke had cleared, people began working on a memorial.
The true beauty of the memorial that was built on that site was that it was done entirely by private citizens. There were no committees, no town meetings, no assignments, just people wanting to express their sympathy for what happened there.
For a long time afterward, people were traveling from all around the country to visit the crash site, bringing memorabilia with them to add to the display. One of the first things erected on the site was a chain link fence that the visitors used to display their various items. Others brought signs, plaques, and sculptures. Many brought flowers and flags. Soon it became the largest makeshift shrine in America, if not the whole world.
Eventually, the US Government decided they didn't like the idea of citizens doing their job, and sought to make the crash site into an official memorial park. Everyone liked the idea, of course, except for the part about the government wanting to take credit for it, the bad taste of the "crescent" design, and the fact that they were so bound and determined to prove they could do such a better job than everyone else, that they went way overboard on how much land they would need, and how much to spend on it. This is why it took so long to reach an agreement on it.
So now, eight years later, the plans are officially under way to build this great big park that will cost millions of dollars, to be completed in time for the 10-year anniversary in 2011. I'm sure it will all be very nice, but I would want everyone to remember it was the people who started it. Just ordinary, everyday, American people.
For an impressive example of what American people are capable of doing on their own, take a look at the pictures on this website.
http://www.donnan.com/Flight_93.htm#FLIGHT_93
Just as in the case of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, there are those who believe this whole 9/11 thing didn't really happen, that it was all just a big hoax. They have yet to convince me.
Special thanks to Chris Hurlbert, whose stories and photos have inspired me to write this.
An attack that didn't get as much attention was near Shanksville, PA. That one made the least amount of damage, as the plane crashed down on an empty field, killing only those who were on board. Yet, it was the most heroic.
The courage of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 defeated the efforts of the hijackers, causing the plane to crash a long way from the intended target of Washington, DC, and away from any heavily populated areas. Because these people were brave enough to fight back, hundreds of lives have been spared.
New York City was a major disaster area, and the Pentagon in Arlington, VA was under heavy guard. But in that field in rural Pennsylvania, there was nothing to keep people away who came to see where the plane went down. People were walking around with tears in their eyes, thinking about those who lost their lives to save others. After the flames were out and the smoke had cleared, people began working on a memorial.
The true beauty of the memorial that was built on that site was that it was done entirely by private citizens. There were no committees, no town meetings, no assignments, just people wanting to express their sympathy for what happened there.
For a long time afterward, people were traveling from all around the country to visit the crash site, bringing memorabilia with them to add to the display. One of the first things erected on the site was a chain link fence that the visitors used to display their various items. Others brought signs, plaques, and sculptures. Many brought flowers and flags. Soon it became the largest makeshift shrine in America, if not the whole world.
Eventually, the US Government decided they didn't like the idea of citizens doing their job, and sought to make the crash site into an official memorial park. Everyone liked the idea, of course, except for the part about the government wanting to take credit for it, the bad taste of the "crescent" design, and the fact that they were so bound and determined to prove they could do such a better job than everyone else, that they went way overboard on how much land they would need, and how much to spend on it. This is why it took so long to reach an agreement on it.
So now, eight years later, the plans are officially under way to build this great big park that will cost millions of dollars, to be completed in time for the 10-year anniversary in 2011. I'm sure it will all be very nice, but I would want everyone to remember it was the people who started it. Just ordinary, everyday, American people.
For an impressive example of what American people are capable of doing on their own, take a look at the pictures on this website.
http://www.donnan.com/Flight_93.htm#FLIGHT_93
Just as in the case of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, there are those who believe this whole 9/11 thing didn't really happen, that it was all just a big hoax. They have yet to convince me.
Special thanks to Chris Hurlbert, whose stories and photos have inspired me to write this.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Kristin Lodge-Miller Memorial
Even with the help of the people at the Rape Crisis Center, I still had trouble finding this. Originally, I was told the memorial marker was at the spot where the shrine (or pile of flowers) used to be, which was on the other side of the street, near Phillips Middle School, on Estes Drive in Chapel Hill.
Actually, it is near the driveway of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, which is next door to Amity Methodist Church. It's tucked back a ways from the sidewalk, in the shade of some trees, and it's easy to walk by without seeing it.
When I first wrote about Kristin Lodge-Miller 2 years ago in this blog, I reported that I was unable to find very much about her on a Google search. Now there's quite a bit in there. I think the Eve Carson case had a lot to do with bringing this story back into the news of Chapel Hill. For me, this will be a part of our local history I will always remember.
Be safe out there, and remember the date of July 15, 1993.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Birthday for FDK
June 1st is the birthday of the FDK website.
We are now 2 years old.
Once again I have been contemplating if I should continue or not.
In the beginning I said I would quit the website if no one showed up for the candlelight vigil. Attendance was good, so I kept on going.
Last year was very successful with getting media attention, so I didn't even have to think about it.
This year I asked for feedback from some friends to help me decide.
There's a female friend I am rather fond of, so I tend to listen to her. She reminds me of how, on the first part of the journey, I wanted to write about plants and birds and rocks and things, but ended up writing about crime instead. It was sad to think that everyone I write about is dead.
(Thank you, America)
This person says there are more pleasant things I could be writing about.
And then there was the opposite extreme.
There was this person who suggested that a website about a murdered or missing person should be more "serious," and have less of the "Funny Little Bunnies," and other goofy stuff I like to do.
I've decided that too many of us have a dreadfully negative attitude towards death, and I should try to make a positive example.
For this reason, I have selected this tune by Mike Oldfield to offer in response.
-----------------------------------------------------
RIP - Paul Kemp
May 23 1958 - May 26 2009
Another Friend of Debbie Key
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