The unthinkable happened in our quiet little community of Jackson, MO. Actually this murder happened about 2 blocks from our secure little home....almost in my backyard. That's too close for comfort! Who would have thought it! This sleepy little community is like Mayberry, USA, on the weekend, the business district (pretty much one block) rolls the sidewalks up at noon, forcing everyone to either shop at the super WalMart or go to Cape Girardeau, MO. Many times people still leave their front doors unlocked, kids play outside unattended, spring, summer & fall sees families picnicking in the park. This peace was all shattered, Monday, December 3, 2007. All the details have not yet been revealed, but it seems an exparte order had been filed against a husband and he could not deal with it, so a couple of hours later he shot his wife, her 16 yr old son, and their 2 other children, one 4 yrs and the other a toddler, he then killed himself. The toddler was dead at the scene, the mother fled to the sheriff's office for help, the 16 yr old died about 2 days later. At this point in time the mother and 4 yr old have survived.
My opinion has always been if someone is in such a rage then just kill themselves and end their apparent misery......do not take innocent children down with them! What a waste of our precious young people.
I am a real estate professional, because of this, I am constantly asked if a particular area is a "safe place to live". Legally I cannot answer that, I have to direct prospective clients to statistics so they can arrive at their own opinion.
I am still happy to say that Jackson, MO, is not a violent community. Yes, there are occasionally violent happenings, but they are truly a rarity. Unfortunately as time progresses all things change and history repeats itself, however, it would be a wonderful thing to be able to cling to sanity, even if it's for a few fleeting years!
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