I feel as if he has been judged pretty harshly even though he is the victim in this case and has lost his life. Why does it matter what his history was or what he managed to accomplish in his lifetime? But I am here to say that I couldn't imagine what my childhood would have been without him. He was a real outdoorsman. I can remember fishing and camping all the time. Traveling along the river was a huge part of our childhood. He taught us so much about nature and because of him I ate (a little) venison and mushrooms although they told me it was something else. This picture was taken in 1983. Steve was actually a really patient man. He could handle his two kids, my sister and I, and my cousin Jamie (she loved to eat the fish he caught).
Back in these days, the camera was only pulled out for certain events. Usually cute faces, get togethers, special events or a mess load of fish. Therefore, most of my pictures of Steve involve fishing.
He has even made the newspaper for some of his catches.
That was Dustin (his son) in that picture. Now the next picture is of my son, Cameron, with Steve. Don't they look a lot alike?
Ok, so I do have a picture (several actually) that have nothing to do with fishing. He was actually a great dad and you can see that on Dustin's face in the next picture.
Betty Ann Stanfill may have taken his life but she will never be able to touch our memories.
Background:
Betty was a friend of Steve's. She was heavily involved in drugs. She was riding with Steve and was contemplating how she was going to get her next drug fix. From what we have gathered, she beat him with a tire iron type of tool, stole his money and then used his vehicle to run him over. She left him there, in the middle of winter, where he slowly and painfully died. He was found by a hiker a few days later. The police knew that finding his car was the key to finding out who did this to him. And that it did, she was still driving it like nothing ever happened.
Today:
It would seem that anyone committing this type of crime would be going away for the rest of their lives. Not so. She was sentenced to a minimum of 50 months, maximum of 128 months for manslaughter. She has already served 1 of those years already. She could be walking the streets in 3 more years. The sentencing is on the light side because of many holes in the case like a lack of evidence and the underlying fact that Steve was old and what killed him may not have killed a younger person in the same predicament. The medical examiner couldn't testify that Steve died from his injuries sustained by her. He actually died from exposure because he was left there and injured in a way that he couldn't get up and walk to get help.
2 comments:
Marcia I saw this on the news last night and almost came back over but then I thought you might not want to tlak since you didn't mention it or maybe I talk
ed to much for you to have a chance. You did a VERY nice job and here showing the side of life that the media does not. Love Ya Lorrie
Marcia, What a wounderful thing you have done here. You are right Bettie will never take away the memories. My greatest memory is when Jamie was around 5 years old and at your house she was afraid to go near Steve unless he had gum in his pocket for her. And when he would get after you kids for doing something wrong and send you to your rooms and not her Jamie would stand and want him to send her to your room as well. Steve, Loved all you kids and all your friends. Steve will always be part of our lives....and will miss him.
Just remember
To forgive doesn't make that person right, it means to set you free. Love you lots Aunt Maria
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