(KS) Battered Mother Who Lost Children and Appealed to Kansas Legislature, jailed for 12 days!! OUTRAGEOUS! KSWatchDog

Abused Wichita mom, who lost children and appealed to Kansas Legislature, jailed for 12 days

By Earl Glynn On April 11, 2011
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Cecillia Arnold was released from jail on Sunday after 12 days. Her offense? She talked to her daughter in foster care.

Wichita.  Cecillia Arnold bonded out of jail on Sunday after serving 12 days in jails in Texas and Wichita.

Kansas Watchdog contacted Arnold by phone in Wichita late Sunday after learning about her current legal battle from a Wichita source.

Arnold said she was arrested in Arlington, Texas on March 29 on an outstanding arrest warrant and extradited to Kansas.

What was the offense?

As reported last year by Kansas Watchdog, Sedgwick County officials issued an arrest warrant for Arnold in Feb. 2010 after she talked to her older daughter while traveling through Wichita on her way back to Texas on Dec. 1, 2009.

Arnold’s trip back to Texas was after she testified before a Joint Committee on Children’s Issues at the capitol in Topeka about losing her daughters to foster care when she was an abused mom herself.

Arnold’s older daughter was in foster care in Wichita and Arnold violated a court order by talking with her.  For talking with her daughter Arnold became one of the “Featured Felons” in Sedgwick County in Feb. 2010.

Arnold said “they came to my job” on March 29 and she stayed in Texas jails in Arlington and Ft. Worth until April 7 waiting for “Kansas to come and get me.”  Arnold said she was transferred by plane to Wichita on Thursday evening.

Arnold said some Texas officials told her “we never see an extradition for something like this.”

The Wichita Eagle‘s daily bookings from the Sedgwick County Jail show Arnold was charged on April 7 with “Interference with parental custody; other than joint custody.”

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office web site still shows Arnold as a wanted person.

On Monday officials from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s office declined to verify anything about the extradition and declined to comment about the case since Arnold had been released.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office on Monday said they could not verify anything about the extradition and declined any comments until after Arnold makes her first appearance in District Court.

Terry Grisham, Executive Director at the Tarrant County, TX Sheriff’s office on Monday confirmed Arnold was arraigned in Ft. Worth on March 31 and released to Sedgwick County officials on April 7.  A senior clerk with the Arlington Police Department confirmed Arnold’s arrest there on March 29.

Arnold said she was in Sedgwick County jail until Sunday when her dad posted bond for her.

According to Arnold she was given documents that her daughter and her parents will be witnesses against her at her preliminary hearing in Wichita on April 21.

In previous conversations Arnold said her 9-year-old daughter was upset and scared and had asked “Mom, are you going to jail?”  Arnold asked, “who does this do a kid” in making a child testify again her mom?  Arnold is 25.

Arnold said “I lost my job” after being arrested and is concerned that she will go to jail if she only has a court-appointed attorney.

In an interview in Topeka in 2009 after testifying to the Joint Committee on Children’s Issues, Arnold said she thought she could have done a better job representing her case than the court-appointed attorney representing her.  [See first video below, or listen to audio of her testimony below.]

Arnold plans to see if she has enough money in her 401(K) retirement account to obtain better legal counsel than she received in the past.

Monica and Albert Arnold are trying to help their daughter. They do not understand why they cannot have custody of their grandchildren if their daughter is denied custody.

Her dad explained “We don’t have money” and are limited on what legal help they can afford to give their daughter or to fight for their granddaughters.   [See second video below.]

Arnold’s parents, Albert and Monica Arnold from Wichita, traveled to Topeka in 2009 and 2010 trying to testify to the legislature on their daughter’s behalf about the treatment she has received from the legal system in Sedgwick County.

Albert and Monica Arnold are frustrated that as grandparents they have been denied custody of their own grandchildren.

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Related Videos:

Abused Mom Lost Children; Appealed to Kansas Legislators

Grandparents try to appeal to Kansas legislature to help “felon” daughter with child custody

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Related Articles:

• Warrant out for mom who testified at hearing about losing custody of children, Kansas Watchdog, Feb. 28, 2010.
• Compelling stories from parents and grandparents about problems with placement and removal of children, Kansas Watchdog, Dec. 4, 2009.
• Parents, grandparents ask why children removed from homes, Kansas Watchdog, Dec. 1, 2009.

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Excerpts from testimony on Nov. 30, 2009 to Joint Committee on Children’s Issues:

Cecillia Arnold:  “I did all court orders and my girls were placed back home with me”

“The case workers changed many times. I couldn’t get through to them sometimes.”

“The reintegration itself … was going well”

“I had stability. I had a home. I had a job. I had everything that they would ask someone to do for reintegration to occur.”

“My abuser … was going to jail at the time at the time the girls were removed from home. He was incarcerated for, I think, it was two years for the crime he committed against me.”

“The girls were removed from home for the second time.”

“The assistant [Sedgwick County] DA … filed a petition for termination [of parental rights], and after … the trial termination was granted.”

“As of now I have not seen my children since March of this year”

“During the trial I had testimony from different people — the foster care parents … — their testimony was overlooked.”

“… bad experiences with DCCA …”

“They said the reason for termination was … me not following the reintegration plan. That was not true.”

“… the ball got dropped on me from the Agency that was contracted through the courts … They didn’t do the job that they were supposed to do, which resulted in my girls being removed from home”

Senator Oletha Faust-Goudeau: “Her parents are in the audience … They have been denied custody of their grandchildren, too, and told there were too old; they were too sick.”

State Rep Bill Otto (R-LeRoy): “Your rights are severed?”

Arnold: “My rights have been terminated … I have no rights to my children. I have not seen them since March. I filed an appeal that didn’t go anywhere. I’m here today because I want my children back.” …

Otto: “Where was your lawyer?” …

Arnold: “I had court-appointed attorneys … I feel I could have done a better job representing myself” ..

Otto: “This should not happen to anybody … I’m so sorry.” …

Chair Kiegerl: “Your problem mainly is with the courts, although, I’m sure, the agency’s testimony was instrumental in the decision. … My heart goes out to you …I wish there were a magic wand that … we could use to solve your problem.”

Arnold left in tears.

Listen to Cecillia Arnold’s testimony:

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Contact: Earl F Glynn, earl@kansaswatchdog.org, KansasWatchdog.org

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Posted under Accountability, Column A, Judiciary, Kansas Government, Legislature.
Tags: Albert Arnold, Cecillia Arnold, Joint Committee on Children's Issue, Monica Arnold, Sedgwick County

Republican Senate Majority Leader in Arizona involved with Domestic Violence: NO CHARGES FILED filed due to legislative immunity

Joint statement issues by State  Senator Bundgaard & Ballard on Sunday:
http://sonoranalliance.com/2011/02/27/joint-statement-by-state-senator-scott-bundgaard-and-aubry-ballard-regarding-friday-night/

Reply

Click here to see video with pictures.

Domestic violence is a huge issue that has affected women and children for centuries, and it still does for many who have been involved with some of Arizona’s state legislators.

www.azleg.gov

 

There are at least three state legislators involved with this kind of inhumanity towards our society’s most vulnerable.

Readers of Three Sonorans read about Russell Pearce’s past history with domestic violence, and how this may have rubbed off on his sons, one of whom was just arrested this month for the same violence against women.

What is even more sad is how members of both parties, including the Democrats, will actually make excuses for this type of unacceptable behavior, and start blaming the victim, but this is also part of the history of domestic violence cases.

From El Numero Uno vato in the state Senate, Russell Pearce, to now dropping on the deuce, the Republican’s number two, Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard, who had his own domestic violence issue this weekend.

Scott Bundgaard, the majority leader of the Arizona state Senate, was briefly taken into custody on suspicion of domestic violence Friday but was released because he was immune to arrest under rules of the Arizona state Constitution.

via State Sen. Bundgaard involved in domestic violence incident.

Bundgaard gives his position of Number Two a perfect representation.

And just like another former state representative, Jan Brewer, who was busted with anextreme DUI and even caused a car crash on the freeway but was let go because of “immunity” and never charged again, unlike President George W. Bush who got charged with DUI, this whole Republican party seems to be drunk with power.

From recovering alcoholics like W and Glenn Beck, to Boehner who is as emotional as an alcoholic would be, our leaders are intoxicated with the power they have, and with this power comes violence.

If you are violent with the women and children in your own families, ones that you take vows before the Eternal God to love until death, then how are they ever going to care about the innocent women and children they kill in their wars, aka “collateral damage,” or the women and children they target with their policies?

Speaking of crazy policies, Scott Bundgaard is one of the co-sponsors of an anti-immigrant bill known as SB1225 which pretends to defend immigrant women from violence but really gives Sheriff Arpaio more tools to get tough on immigration.

Also co-sponsoring the bill with him is Ron Gould of the 14th Amendments repealing bills, and in total there are 10 right-wing extremists sponsoring this immigration bill.

The Latino community is strongly opposed to SB1225. For some reason we don’t trust Ron Gould and Scott Bundgaard to have our immigrant women’s best interests in mind. Forgive us for not trusting them… do you?

All Democrats should vote NO on SB1225! Now is not the time for right-wing immigration bills co-sponsored by Ron Gould and Scott Bundgaard. Now is the time to balance the budget!

Wanna sign on to Bundgaard's anti-immigrant bill SB1225? Ron Gould already has, and they are two teabaggers we can trust? The other names are blurred as they will be focuses of future articles.

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Click here to see video with pictures.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 27th, 2011 at 6:41 pm and is filed under Headline news, Immigration news, Right-wing hate, Women's rights, political news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

UPDATE: From the Mothers Rally In Washington, DC on Feb 13th, 14th, 2011

www.mothers-of-lost-children.com

Our Heroes

The Mothers Movement is patterned after all movements that oppose human rights violations:

• Suffragist movement in Britain and the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffragette,

Madres de los Desaparecidos (Mothers of the Disappeared) movement in Argentina http://blog.buzzflash.com/editorials/103,

African American civil rights movement in the United States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_(1955%E2%80%931968)

Women's movement that stopped a civil war in Liberia

 

February 13, 2011

On Sunday February 13, twenty to thirty mothers and children participated in a vigil and demonstration in front of the White House for two hours. They held one big banner, three large double-sided signs on poles, and several other large signs.

The purpose was to express grave concerns about five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000.00) designed to encourage fathers to pay child support and provide abusers with supervised visits.

Instead, this gender-biased project provides legal services to batterers, molester, felons and drug addicts who avoid paying child support by getting custody. Safe mothers are put on supervised visitation. Children's continued outcries of abuse are ignored.

We want the President to know our tax dollars are destroying children's lives, not improving them.

Federal Fatherhood Initiatives

February 14, 2011

A press conference and speak out were held on Monday, February 14 at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to inform them how their fatherhood programs impact children.

Advocates joined the speak out. A television reported came by, but security staff forced him to leave. Fortunately, he had a zoom lens, so could film the event from afar. We don't know if he was able to air the story on Channels 4, 5 or 9.

About half way through the speak out, several Homeland Security vehicles arrived. A small squadron of large uniformed federal agents announced that the group was on Federal property and told us to leave or be arrested.

After a lively discussion from citizens whose taxes provide HHS with money for the property, the mothers, children and advocates (including 2 attorneys) marched off, finishing the speak out while moving along peacefully.

The march continued up Independence Ave., past the three House of Representative buildings, turned left on First Street and ended at the Senate buildings.

Many of the mothers stood with the signs and banners during the next several hours in front of the Senate buildings, while others met with Senate aides and distributed packets of information.

A courageous kid told Senate aides how she was forced to reunite with her sex offender father.

A mother explained how she was turned away from federally-funded HHS legal services because she is a mother, not a father.

Two attorneys, two counselors, and several mothers discussed how the HHS fatherhood program backfires, leading to destructive outcomes for children.

Family Court Related Research and Articles

February 15, 2011

The next day, one stalwart mother continued to distribute the rest of the packets and flyers to the remaining Senators. She found that Senators and their aides recognized her white t-shirt with Mothers of Lost Children in black letters on the front. Our emblematic uniform is being noticed - an excellent sign.

http://americanmotherspoliticalparty.org/

Mothers Day 2011 Demonstrations

• Our next events will be on Sunday May 8, Mothers Day and Monday, May 9, 2011. We hope to have Mothers of Lost Children t-shirts for sale in advance. Those who are not able to come to Washington DC can organize a speak out at your local courthouse on Monday May 9 and wear the t-shirt 'uniform'. If needed, wear a white scarf over your face to prevent recognition and retribution by the court. White pants or skirts complete the ensemble.

• MILION MOTHERS MARCH Timing to coordinated in conjunction around the Vigil—The Million Mother March is and extension and as in above done along the women's suffragettes—MOTHERs  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Million-Mom-March-Mothers-Day-2011-in-Washington-DC/153380204718360?sk=wall

Sham in Shawnee County (Topeka, Kansas) Claudine Dombrowski and her daughter Rikki.

Sham in Shawnee County (Topeka, Kansas)

Sham in Shawnee County (Topeka, Kansas) The last time I did court watch for protective mother CLAUDINE DOMBROWSKI, I called my subsequent posting on the experience "Showdown in Shawnee County." See the post here:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/02/showdown-in-shawnee-county-we-finally.html

I can't even call the hearing held on October 19, 2010 a showdown. It was just a sham.

Let's do a little review. Claudine is a battered mother who lost custody of her only daughter in an ex parte hearing in 2004. (Ex parte means the mother wasn't even represented at the hearing.) Since then, she has had very little visitation. The hearing in January 2010 (see post above) was supposed to fix that. And finally, Claudine was awarded two hours of unsupervised visitation on Sunday and telephone contact twice a week. We figured it was a start.

Well, this was not to be. And not because of anything Claudine did.

As Claudine testified, visitation went well. She taught her now teenage daughter to drive. They shopped. They went to Barnes and Noble. They talked about girl stuff. Boy stuff. Just like any other mother and daughter. In fact, Claudine was able to enjoy her first mother's day with her daughter in ten years. There were no negative interactions. In fact, it looked like some serious healing was going on.

And in that lays the problem. You see, abusers and their enablers don't like healing. They find that supremely threatening to their power and control. So of course, the process must be stopped lest their domination of the child and the overall "situation" be compromised.

So in May 2010, all visitation stopped at Dad HAL RICHARDSON's personal discretion--which he admitted during his own testimony. He made the unilateral decision that he would no longer take his daughter to the law enforcement center for visitation (presumably at her "request"--but more on that later.) He made sure that during the times of designated phone contact, the phone was never answered as it was set on fax. (Dad admitted under oath that the phone does go to fax mode when not answered--though he denied "inhibiting" phone access, which is not surprising. But then, how did Mom know to testify that the phone was set on fax when she called? Oh those little details....) But of course, Dad didn't exactly encourage or welcome contact either--that much was evident. In fact, it was pretty clear to me that he was extremely negative about Claudine, and doing his best to crush any contact between her and her daughter.

But like many abusers, he projected his own motives onto the child, now a teenager. SHE was the one who was "uncomfortable." She was the one who was "afraid." Afraid of what? Physical abuse, sexual violence? No, there was no evidence of that beyond vague innuendos about "fighting" that allegedly occurred in the distant past (These innuendos weren't even brought up in January. Must be a new game plan.)

Apparently we are supposed to believe that this teenage girl is "afraid" because Mom allegedly doesn't "follow the rules." What rules? Apparently the court's rules regarding discussion of this case.

All this was echoed by Guardian ad Litem JILL DYKES. And once again, just as in January, Ms. Dykes didn't even feign professional neutrality in this case, as she literally sat at Daddy's elbow the whole time.

Are you kidding me? The typical teenager would blow off a parent's attempt to discuss court matters--ASSUMING any such discussion took place, which Claudine denies. They certainly wouldn't be "afraid" of such a discussion. Annoyed perhaps. But not "afraid" or traumatized. This is just classic projection. That this teenager is such a hothouse flower that she is somehow irreparably injured by any possible or potential references to her parents' legal issues, which I'm sure she already knows all about anyway. Nonsense.

I would humbly suggest that it is Hall Richardson and his enablers who are "afraid" of any possible open or frank discussion of this case. Or any contact between this mother and daughter. And their little "feelings" shouldn't play any part of this.

Under Kansas law, visitation isn't shut off because somebody is "uncomfortable" for vague and specious reasons. If that were the case, then controlling and manipulative parents would be cutting off access for whatever reason they dreamed up that day.

Unfortunately, given the dynamics of domestic violence, children who are in the control of abusers often find it necessary to parrot what the abusers want for their own survival. Which makes if very difficult for this child to speak up and articulate what she wants--except in private to her own mother.

And frankly, this ordeal shows a complete double standard. Were this a custodial mother blocking visitation for such vague and specious reasons, she would no doubt be labeled as an "alienator" with "parental alienation syndrome" (PAS). And the situation would be addressed immediately--either visitation would be enforced by the courts or the mother would lose custody all together. But I digress.

So no visitation from May to the present. But this actually was a minor issue as far as the court was concerned.

No, once again our major concern was Claudine's political activity. The players in Shawnee County are very upset with how well known this case has become (my last blog posting on this case had readers as far away as Australia.) And they are blaming Claudine for all of it, even though when pushed, Judge DAVID DEBENHEIM fiercely denied that he was trying to "stomp" on Claudine's first amendment rights. (Huh. Could have fooled me.)

But even in cases where OTHER bloggers like Nancy Carroll at Rights for Mothers had discussed this case (http://rightsformothers.com/), Claudine was blamed. In fact, the opposing attorney submitted into evidence printouts from NANCY's blog to show that Claudine was out of compliance with their gag order. Message to the Hoffmans: Nancy is not Claudine. I'm not Claudine either, for that matter. And you can't shut us up.

And honestly, did the Hoffmans really have to embarass their employee like that? They trotted out a young and painfully ignorant employee of theirs to "testify" about Claudine's "alleged" facebook and twitter activities. This fresh-faced young woman--no more than a high school graduate with a few "computer" classes--earnestly told us that every posting and link on somebody's facebook page had to personally "approved" and/or "posted" by that person. Yes, dear friends. She did say that. And meant it too, so far as I can tell. I won't give her name, though it's in my notes. I refuse to further humilate her. But honestly, your great aunt Rose probably knows more about facebook than this girl.

So the significance of this was what? There are supposedly "references" to her case on Claudine's facebook page! Oh the horror! And you know what? This blog may very well end up with a link on Claudine's facebook page, too--through an automatic feed mechanism. It will go straight to facebook--even when Claudine is sleeping or brushing her teeth. Or sitting in court. Because you know what? Claudine is a well networked activist with probably hundreds of facebook friends working on issues related to child abuse, domestic violence, human rights, and family court reform. Many of us have discussed this case before. Just as we have discussed many other cases like this one, where the courts have backed up the abuser and shut out or ignored the protective mother. And for your information, you'll find articles and links about those cases as well.

And all this policing of Claudine's personal and political activities on the internet is particularly hypocritical when you consider the following: Attorney JASON B. HOFFMAN and GAL JILL DYKES had no qualms about violating professional ethical boundaries and becoming facebook "friends" with this child! (I saw the screen shots.) Mom can't even post a photo of her daughter per court order, but these folks feel free to do as they like. Not that the judge was interested in this matter at all. Big surprise there.

And this is the crux of the matter. What the court in Shawnee County REALLY doesn't like is that--as they put it--this lady "has a cause." Or she has "become a cause." They don't like the "venom" (i.e. the truth) that has come out about this case, and the attention it has received nationally and even internationally. They don't even like Claudine's facial expressions! (Yes, the judge made a point of addressing this. "You are your own worst enemy!" he thundered at Claudine--apparently over some grimace or frown that I didn't see.)

So make sure you never show anything but a happy face in front of Judge Debenham, even when you are possibly losing all contact with your only child!

Claudine is supposed to hear later this afternoon what the court's decision is--after her daughter will presumably be allowed to speak her mind with the judge. But of course, she can't really speak her mind--not as long as she's a minor and dependent on her father.

We are not optimistic as to the outcome.

But you know what? In a little over two years, this girl ages out of the system's control over her life. Perhaps then, real change will come about. Abusers and their enablers often win the battles. But they seldom win the war. That puts off any real healing in this case for another two years.

But at least it's something to hope for.

Continue reading at NowPublic.com: Sham in Shawnee County (Topeka, Kansas) | NowPublic News Coverage http://my.nowpublic.com/world/sham-shawnee-county-topeka-kansas#ixzz1EXbxjvG1

CUSTODY DISPUTE: FATHER Kills MOTHER in Murder- Suicide After Custody Dispute

Two People Dead After Custody Dispute

http://www.wcyb.com/news/26863394/detail.html

By Preston Ayres

POSTED: 4:31 pm EST February 14, 2011

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Johnson City police now say two people died in a weekend murder-suicide.

According to Johnson City police, the two were found with gunshot wounds on the floor of a home on Long Street just before 10:30 Saturday morning.

Police tell us 33-year-old Rebecca Markland died Saturday night at Johnson City Medical Center.

The father of her child, 31-year-old Frankie Hughes, was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time after the shooting Saturday morning.

Officers say a fight for custody of their child broke-out after Markland stopped by the Long Street house.

The child, who's about a year old, was initially taken into state custody and is now with a family member.

The night before the shooting, police were called to a fight between the parents at a Johnson City motel.

Officers say Hughes made threats to harm Markland and himself and was carrying a suicide note.

They found another note after the shooting on Saturday morning.

‘I’ve killed the kids’ Dad tells mom he stabbed them to death: Divorce,Custody Battle

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3412065/Dads-call-to-mum-Ive-killed-the-kids.html

Stabbed to death ... Rolls, 10, and Regina, eight, were found by police in father's flat

Killer stopped ex-wife's fresh start

EX-WIFE was days from escaping Aram Aziz when he murdered her and their two kids

 

By MIKE SULLIVAN, ALEX WEST, GARY O’SHEA and CAROLINE GRANT

Published: 15 Feb 2011

A JILTED father allegedly knifed his two children to death then rang his estranged wife to say: "I've killed the kids."

Horrified police are said to have found Jean-Francis Say, 61, sitting in a chair in his flat a few feet from the bodies of son Rolls, ten, and daughter Regina, eight.

It is thought the children died of multiple stab wounds.

A source said: "The scene inside the house was harrowing. It's hard to imagine how terrified these poor children must have been.

"Why ring up your ex-wife afterwards and tell her what you've done? She is devastated with grief. She thinks her life is at an end."

Neighbours said Say was heartbroken when wife Antoinette left him for another man two years ago and took the children with her.

He told them he only realised something was wrong with his marriage when he got home and found Antoinette had gone. He went straight to the children's school to pick them up - and learned Antoinette had taken them with her.

Sylvia Murphy, 39, who lives in the same apartment block in Southwark, South London, said of Say: "He was very friendly and approachable, always dressed in a suit and looking smart and presentable I always thought he was a really nice man.

"When I found out what happened I was in complete shock, I couldn't sleep. I can't believe anyone could do that to children. The kids were both lovely. Rolls was an adorable little boy."

Sylvia said Say fought a custody battle for the children but was only allowed to see them on weekends.

She added: "The dad seemed like the busier parent. He always took them to school and picked them up.

"He always said he was the one who did everything for the kids and all his wife did was sleep and go to work."

Crime scene ... Say's apartment

DAN CHARITY

French-speaking Say, believed to be from West Africa's Ivory Coast, recently confided his troubles to Sylvia and begged her to help him in his ongoing struggle for more access to the children.

She said: "He seemed absolutely devastated and poured his heart out to me about the kids.

"He said 'I gave them everything at Christmas, a Nintendo Wii and a Nintendo DS.'

"He asked me to write a good character reference for him to give to his solicitor as he was trying to get the children back.

"He wanted a shoulder to cry on, I don't think he had anyone to turn to. He thought I would be able to help him get the children back."

Antoinette, who is thought to have dialled 999 after Say allegedly phoned her on Sunday, was yesterday too upset to speak at her new home in Holloway, North London.

A friend said: "She's crying and can't speak to anyone. It's such a difficult time and she's so shocked."

Horror find ... flats where Say lives

A neighbour of Antoinette's said Rolls, who was autistic, and Regina were polite children who had clearly been well brought up.

She added: "They were always with their mum and were so well behaved. I never saw them out on their own. Most of the kids round here are terrible. But these two were the kind who opened doors for you. They seemed intelligent." Police were yesterday searching a communal garden outside the housing association flats in Empire Square where the children were found dead.

Polite

Others who live in the flats described Say as quiet but cheerful and polite. A caretaker said: "He was a nice man and was always smiling. I think he worked as a security guard and occasionally did stewarding at football matches."

Plumber Scott McEwan said: "We knew something had gone badly wrong because there were lots of police around on Sunday.

"Then we saw officers in paper suits going in and out of the flat. I just couldn't believe it when I heard that two kids had died." Police sources said Say, who is accused of murder, has not yet spoken to officers attempting to interview him. He appeared briefly at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Balding and powerfully-built, he confirmed his name, address and other personal details through a French interpreter. He was remanded in custody. Say was last night said to be on suicide watch after allegedly threatening to harm himself.

English Martyrs School in Southwark, which Rolls attended before he moved away with his mum, declined to comment.

DID you know the family? Ring us on 020 7782 4104 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

m.sullivan@the-sun.co.uk

Family tragedy: Murder/suicide leaves infant without parents

 

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?ID=86607

Family tragedy: Murder/suicide leaves infant without parents

By Becky Campbell
Press Staff Writer
bcampbell@johnsoncitypress.com

Johnson City police are wrapping up their investigation into a weekend shooting that is now classified as a murder/suicide.

The argument between Frankie Hughes, 31, and Rebecca Pugh Markland, 33, that led to the Saturday morning shooting was apparently over custody of the couple’s 10-month-old son, according to JCPD Sgt. Billy Church.

Church said Hughes had recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for a forgery conviction, and also had a 2002 conviction for obtaining narcotics by fraud.

The shooting occurred at 901 Long St. a little before 10:30 a.m. Church said that Markland went there to ask Hughes for some money.

While she was there, the two began to argue, Church said. That’s when Hughes shot Markland and then himself.

Angela Wilcox, a friend of Markland’s who rode to the house with her, was apparently outside when the shooting occurred.

She told police she heard what sounded like “firecrackers,” so she drove a few blocks down the street — with Markland’s son — and called 911.

The man who lives at that house, Eddie Yakley, was home when the shooting happened but told police he was in his bedroom when he heard the shots.

Yakley told police that he saw Hughes put the gun to Markland’s face, but didn’t see her get shot. Yakley also told police that he didn’t see Hughes shoot himself.

According to Church, police found a note on Hughes indicating that he intended to kill himself.

It was the second suicide note police found in connection to the case in as many days.

On Friday, Markland flagged down a police officer near Johnson City Medical Center.

She told the officer that Hughes had held a gun to her and threatened to shoot her while she was holding their child.

Markland and her son got away unharmed. She gave police a handgun case for a 9mm pistol. She told officers it was the case for the gun Hughes used to threaten her.

Police escorted Markland to that hotel room so she could get her belongings. Hughes was gone, but officers found a note indicating he intended to kill Markland and then himself.

Markland also told police that Hughes had stolen her prescription for clonazepam. Police found the empty prescription bottle in the room, according to the report on the incident.

Hughes died a short time after the shooting and Markland died Saturday night from her injuries.

The Department of Children’s Services was called to find an appropriate custodian for the couple’s son.