SHS Newsletter

7/29/2019 SHS Newsletter

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SHS SUPPORT FOR HOMICIDE SURVIVORS NEWSLETTER - SPRING ISSUE #1" 3/20/11

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www.supportforhomicidesurvivors.com " PAGE 1

A Parent’s Story by Mother Victoria Crompton- Tetter, SHS Board Member

Jenny. An ordinary kid, from anordinary family. Yet an extraordinary event changed our lives completely,and forever.

Mark. He appeared on ourdoorstep on evening in October1985. With a charming smile heasked, “Is Jenny home””. My firstreaction was confusion. Who is thisboy? Jenny had not mentioned that

anyone, particularly a boy, wascoming over. Then she camebounding down the steps, smiling,thrilled to see him. When I saw how excited Jenny was, I didn’t have toheart to say no, to say that I really

thought she was too young to haveboys calling at the house.

That first evening I guided theminto the living room, where we all satawkwardly, looking at each other. Jenny was far too shy to make casualconversation, and she was obviously far too taken with him. So my husband, Greg, and I kept theconversation going.

So Mark Smith came into ourlives. Although Mark was very politeand answered all my questions abouthome and school, he was skillful atkeeping the real Mark hidden. LaterI would review the conversation and

realize that I knew nothing abouthim. I would also learn that he liedabout the four year diff erence intheir ages.

Her interest in Mark was a bit of a mystery to me. Beyond his obvious

good looks, I didn’t see what theattraction could possibly be. Incontrast to Jenny’s love of learning,

Even Blindfolded she must hear the victims voice

SHSsupport for

homicide

survivors!"#$%&'($)*+')#)%

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Who Murdered Lacey Gaines? Don’t be a ! aid to ask everyone you know “Who Ki " ed Lacey Gaines? by Lacey’s Aunt Cherry Simpson SHS Designer

This is my beloved niece Lacey Gaines. She was murdered just 6days after her 20th birthday on Dec7, 2009. She was strangled with a cord and her throat was cut with a 10” kitchen knife. No forced entry,no robbery, no sexual assault, nodefensive wounds. Her murder lefther infant son with out a mother and

her family in possible danger. Lacey has left us happy memories of herpast, but there will never be any more joyful moments, nor hope andpromise of a future.

She was not murdered formoney, nor for sex, or passion, but incold blood, calculated andpremeditation the act of a killing

machine - carrying out murderagainst someone's mother and family.

The police haven't been able tosolve her case yet. They say they have a very strong suspect( s ),someone she definitely knew. They say he/they had the opportunity andmeans but not yet enough evidence

to convince a jury of guilt. You seethey cannot convict merely onmeans, motive and opportunity, butmust provide convincing proof of means used, and opportunity actually acted upon by the defendant( s ) charged.

The secret to solving murder isin determining three things, the

'Holy Trinity' of detection: Means,motive and opportunity.

Means is the easiest of the threeto determine. By 'means', I meanhow the murder was carried out andusually an examination of the body

will tell you this. According to theFirst Responders Report Lacey wasstrangled and stabbed.

Lacey Claire Gaines Murder Case #09-06670 Justice, IL

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http://www.supportforhomicidesurvivors.com/






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A PARENT’S STORY - continued ! om page one

he was a poor student, uninterestedin building for his future. My feeling

was that he was just drifting throughlife. As I observed the diff erences

between them, I knew it was just a matter of time before Jenny wouldtire of him.

Despite their age diff erence andlack of common interests, however, Jenny and Mark’s relationshipappeared to thrive. Apparently they

were the talk of the school, the“perfect couple”, so much “in love.”

He called her daily, sometimesseveral times a day. They shared a locker at school and walked each

other to class. They ate lunchtogether. He came over to our houseabout three nights a week. For a child of fourteen, it was pretty overwhelming. My rules were strict,but Jenny did not seem to mind.Perhaps she knew she couldn’t havehandled more freedom.

My instincts were right – after

six months Jenny wanted to break up,but not because their interests wereso diff erent. What I didn’t know wasthat Mark was very controlling and Jenny was tired of that; she wanted

her freedom back. In fact, when shetold me was breaking up she actually said “I just want to be free, Mom”.

Mark ignored Jenny’s attempts tobreak up. He still shared the locker,still walked her to class, still called.When she insisted that he stop, hebecame more insistent, morepossessive. The phone callsincreased, the unannounced visits tothe house more frequent. He wouldnot move out of her locker. Because

he made it so difficult, Jenny simply gave up and agreed to go back.When I questioned her, she said thatshe really cared for him and wasn’tsure she wanted to end it. Thisroutine continued for several monthsinto the summer, until Jenny madethe final break.

As Jenny increased her attemptsto pull away, Mark intensified hisactions to keep her locked in. Heseemed to always know her plans. Atfirst she would unwittingly tell him

where she was going. Then, as sheattempted to keep this informationfrom him, he would turn to her

girlfriends and find out about heractivities from them. Her trips to themall were marred by Mark’s suddenappearance. Her weekly dancelessons were punctuated by hisarrival, cunningly timed just a few minutes before I arrived to pick herup.

By August 1986 Jenny had

returned to school, to the 10th grade.Mark had graduated so he was not inschool but he didn’t go away: heentered the school grounds andbroke into her locker, going throughher things and reading the notes herfriends had written. She began tosuspect he was entering our home

when were gone; she told her friends

that things in her room were not asshe had left them. He left herthreatening notes that hinted she“would not make it to homecoming”and desperate lines that said “I wish

you would die”. She told her friendsabout these things and even laughedthe day of the homecoming parade,saying “Well, I’m still in one piece.”She never told me.

Friday, September 26, 1986, I woke Jenny to get her into theshower before I left for work. Ihugged her and kissed her beforeleaving, as I always did. We spokebriefly about the homecoming gamethat evening and she asked if I could

give her friends a ride to the game. Then I rushed out the door. My day was uneventful. I was bored and hadmany things to do at home. Ithought about asking my boss if Icould leave work early, but I resistedthe urge. I left work at my usualtime and drove home thinking aboutthe busy night ahead.

When I drove onto my street,the first thing I saw were groups of neighbors standing in their yards,looking toward my house. Then Isaw the ambulance, the police cars,and the fire truck. I saw policeofficers running out of my house. Istarted shaking so violently that Icould barely park my car. I ran out,shouting, “what is happening here?”I was stopped from entering my home and told that my daughter hadbeen stabbed, but that “theparamedics are working on her.” I

watched as they carried her out on a stretcher and took her away in an

ambulance. I hung onto a white andshaken Greg as he described walking into the house and finding Jenny “lying in a pool of blood”. I sat in thehospital emergency room and heardthem tell me that my daughter wasdeceased. Dead? Not Jenny. I justtalked to her this morning. She isonly fifteen. How can she be dead?

Daughter: Jenny Crompton

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A PARENT’S STORY - continued ! om page two

The days became a blur. Mark was arrested. At his trial I learned thetruth of my daughter’s last months. Ilearned of the pressure he had put onher and his threats. I learned of thedeception he forced her to participatein. I heard fourteen- year-old childrendescribe their attempts to handle a situation adults could not handle. Isaw the fear and guilt of her friends asthey grappled with the thought they could have saved her if only they hadtold someone what was going on. Ilearned that Mark had emotionally and verbally abused Jenny. I heard thekids say that it happens all the time atschool, partners abusing and hitting

each other, so they didn’t thinkanything of it. I listened to a recreation of the last moments of herlife: how she got off the school busand entered our home alone to find

Mark waiting for her, and how hestabbed her over sixty times with a butcher knife, leaving her on the floorto be found by Greg. I heard theaccount of Mark’s evening: how hehad attended the homecoming football game with a date and how helaughed and ate and appeared very unconcerned that Jenny was dead. Iheard the jury verdict: guilty of firstdegree murder and a life sentence

without parole.

Something rose up in me. Whatis going on with our teens? I read of the Jennifer Levin murder in New York City. I scoured the library,looking for books on the subject.

Why hadn’t other mothers spokenout, tried to warn me or warn Jenny of the danger? My involvement beganslowly. I read what I could find onthe subject and talked to a lot of

teens. I started giving presentationsto small groups of teens – at churchesand in individual classrooms. I amstill giving presentations, now toaudiences as large as 2500, and toaudiences all over the country. But Jenny’s story remains relevant becausethe problem still exists. With today’stechnology teens are able to tracktheir partner every hour of the day.Controlling relationships are in themajority and most teens accept themas normal.

Twenty five years. Jenny has been gone for so long. She would be 40 years old. But her voice was notsilenced by Mark; her story has been

heard by thousands of teens andpossibly hundreds of lives have beensaved as a result. She’s smiling i n heaven.

How was it accomplished? Lacey was a fighter this was known to all who knew her but to a stranger she would appear to be shy and reserved.Why then no defensive wounds? Was

she drugged or possibly surprised. This would mean premeditation. Wasthere more than one person? Didsomeone plan Lacey's murder andthen carried it out carefully. Or wassomeone hired to kill her?

What tools were used and wheredid they come from? An extensioncord and kitchen knife from Lacey'sown home.

Why the overstatement of deathby strangulation and stabbing ( throat

slashed ). To be certain the job wascomplete? No question she was founddead, in her home, fully clothed, noforced entry, no defensive wounds, notheft or sexual assault.

Opportunity also means being inthe right place and time to committhe murder. We know where and

when the dirty deed was committed.

You can eliminate anyone with analibi. Unless, of course, it was a hiredhit.

Motive' answers the 'why'question. Why was Lacey killed?

Motive can be both the easiestand hardest of the Holy Trinity tosolve. Sometimes there are lots of people with a good motive to kill, andsometimes it can be hard to findanyone with any kind of motive at all.

So, the first thing you should askis 'Who benefits?' Look very carefully.Who has the most to gain from theLacey's death? And if it's notimmediately obvious, then you’re

going to have to talk to everyone.

Lacey was a treasured daughter, a close sister, a tender mother, anunforgettable niece, a generouscousin, and a forever friend. She wasunique, full of life and laughter, shehad a spirit which could not bebroken, it was a light she let shinebrightly. She still shines ever brighterin our hearts and in Heaven.

Don't be a ! aid to ask everyone you know ... Who do you think ki " ed Lacey? Someone will have a clue as to theidentity of the murderer, but withoutasking absolutely everyone, you might

never know. Remember Lacey was a fighter and she is on the winning team. I want Lacey's cowardly murderer to know - you have not won.God keeps His promises.

"In God I trust; I wi " not be a ! aid.What can man do to me?" Lacey'sconfirmation verse. Psalm 56:11

Visit www.LaceyGaines.com with links to TIP-LINE, updates,stories, a REWARD. Join herFacebook page Help Find Lacey

Gaines' Murderer page has more then1758 fans.

The number of those looking forher killer( s ) is GROWING. Lacey isnot forgotten and neither are herkiller( s ).

Justice, IL Lead Det R. Plotke

[email protected]

708-458-2191

WHO MURDERED LACEY GAINES - continued ! om page one


mailto:[email protected]









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“We wish you sunshine on your path and the storms to season your journey. W e wish you peace in the world in which you live and in the sma " est corner of the hear t w here truth is kept..........More we cannot wish you except perhaps love to make a "

the rest worthwhile“ . <Robert A. Ward>

I worked part-time for GoldblattBros. and Mike worked part-time forhis uncle George ( later Broadway Maid Rite fame ) flipping hamburgersand chopping onions. On more thanone occasion, he was teased he hadonion odor! We met while Mike wasrepeating English, he sat next to my then 'steady guy' and soon, we weremaking eye contact and passing notes.

He would compliment my blouse andI would be flattered, we becamesteady’s and kept it secret from ourparents when he gave me a diamondengagement ring. I hid it at home but

wore it to school to show it off having no idea what I was doing, although Iultimately knew I had to return it, I

was only a junior for heavens sake! ( Ican’t imagine how Mike may havereacted had he lived and one of ourdaughter’s became engaged at thatage! ) For Mike’s senior prom his dad

let him use their white T-Bird. Mike wore a white blazer tuxedo and I worean all white gorgeous formal Iborrowed from my cousin Pat thatshe wore as Prom Queen! Thememory I cherish most from our

warm Prom evening was when Mikedecided to try the air conditioner inthe car and suddenly our white

formalwear was covered in whatlooked like black ashes! We both hada good laugh! Mike had aspirations of following in his dad’s footsteps andjoining the Navy for a four yearcommitment after his graduation in

1963. We knew we were committed toone another, while he went off on hisNavel Submarine duties, I graduatedin 1964 and started my office clericaljob, remember the old IBM keypunchoperator jobs?

While Mike would sail the worldin a submarine, I lived at home withmy parents and planned our future. Tokeep me from being lonely while he

was gone he gave me an adorable littleblack poodle dog I named “Sailor”.

Every Thursday evening after work hisMom and Dad would have me for wonderful meals. Her whippedpotatoes and milk gravy stand alone.On more than one occasion I wouldbe surprised by a long distance phonecall from Mike ( pre-arranged by hisfolks ). They were so kind and wereally bonded those four years he wasaway as I promised to wait for him.When my birthday would be near,they would take me to their specialplace for dinner at the Rockford

Airport Lounge and Restaurant.When I would get in the back seat of their cute little ‘Thunderbird’ it wouldbe piled high with beautifully

wrapped gifts. Just for me! ChanelPerfume that I never, ever, coulda ff ord to buy for myself, and anadorable Pendleton red plaid woolcircle skirt are just a couple of the

favorites I remember. They also toldme I could order anything on themenu. Those Lobster Tails and Filetsare the best I have ever had, maybebecause of the memories! That’s whatmade Mike so special, he came from a

loving, kind and generous family. They didn’t have to spoil me so much to

gain my love for them, but I knew that brought them joy and I knew they were doing this for Mike. I soonfound out where Mike got his warm,loving and caring heart.

Well, Mike informed his motherthat upon discharge from the Navy he

was going to purchase a motorcycleand ride it home from the Navel basein Virginia she was furious and

wouldn’t hear of it. He eased her fearsby calling and saying he boughtsomething with four wheels and sheneedn’t worry about him driving home. When he arrived, he was in a little red ‘old’ Austin Healy convertible with NO top! Rain, sun,

wind, whatever, he drove it all the way home with his STUFF piled in it.Now you have to imagine Mike is 6’3”tall, his head sticks out over the

windshield and when I get in, I amonly 5’2” tall and can’t even reach the

peddles. Yup, this was definitely a future family car! I lived with my folksbetween Rockford and BelvidereNorth of Highway 20 so when Mike

would leave after spending theevening with my family, we could hearhis loud muffler on the car traveldown towards the highway and my

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S HEART: My Journey With Mike As High School Sweethearts Of The 60’s!

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MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to agencies,organizations and individualsinterested in the welfare of

survivors of homicide. There areno dues assessed, but participation

in the organization projects is

required.If interested in becoming a

member please send request to our web site;

SupportforHomicideSurvivors.com

NEED ASSISTANCE

Any victims of homicide we wantto hear from you, please send yourrequest and phone number to us

at:

[email protected]

DORA L ARSON

Executive Director, Co Founder

815-714-9747

TERRY M AYBORNE

President, Co Founder

815-277-9775

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S HEART: My Journey With Mike As High School Sweethearts Of The 60’s! Cont From Page 4

mom and I would always have a goodchuckle teasing him that we couldtell if he turned towards his parentshouse to the west or turned easttowards Frank Gays Marque Strip bar( it was quite popular back in in thosedays )! He believed us always saying he

went straight home! He was fun totease, I loved it!

Before Mike serves his last yearin the Navy, we have pretty muchmade our wedding plans. During oneof his furloughs we finally officially become engaged and can be openly excited about it this time. No one issurprised, but it’s an exciting time forus. I remember we wrote so many letters back and forth during those

years he was away and the mom’s andI sent many boxes of cookies andchips. I wish I had saved all those

letters, but in time they disappearedand of course I had no idea they should have been cherished. Ourdaughters would have loved reading them at a future time in their life. Healso came home with two keepsakes.One I was happy about and one I wasembarrassed about. He had an oilportrait made of me in Spain frommy senior picture, the other, well it

was inked into his upper arm and thelikeness was familiar and the name onthe ribbon across it said "TERRY",but she was TOPLESS!!!! What was

he thinking? ( I wouldn't let him wearshort sleeves for a LONG time ).

We marry on Mike’s mom anddad’s ( Les & Eva's ) 25th wedding anniversary in September after hisdischarge. We thought it would beneat to celebrate our 25th anniversary on their 50th. My most vivid memory of our wedding was when I tookMike’s hand at the alter and his hand

was ICE COLD! I’m told later by thebest man that the previous evening,

the guys took him out for a night onthe town and they closed up the TenStoop Bar of Broadway! They have tocarry a 6’3” passed out groom-to-behome and figure out how they are

going to get him to church the nextday. Several cold showers later, I amstanding next to this literally freezing cold ‘love of my life’ soon to behusband who will be some day be thefather of my children and pray hethaws out!! We danced to Jolie’ Jorgensen Swedish Band at the

Harmony Club and had our fill of food, fun and beer. We drove thatnight to the Wisconsin Dells CoachLight Motel for our honeymoon( when I saw it was being auctionedoff a few years ago it brought back a lot of memories ). After a few days upnorth we settled into our town houseapartment in Loves Park with thenew huge Spanish style bedroom set

we bought on layaway from House of Lindberg and the rest of theapartment was furnished with ‘not

second’ hand furniture, but ‘thirdhand’ furniture for the living roomfrom his Aunt Mia. We used his momand dad’s round red wood table andbenches for a kitchen table. We lovedit, we were in love! I was still working for the same company and Mike was

working for a company downtownuntil he decided he wanted to test for

the Winnebago County Sheriff ’sDepartment. He felt that’s where hisheart’s desire was and he wanted tobe a part of making our community a

better place for his future children,nieces and nephews to grow up in.

We all had struggles then, but we were happy and full of love. We hadno clue there was a storm brewing!

“I’d like to brush the gray ! om out of your skies and leave them onlyblue“ .<Edgar Guest>

The Journey continues, but untilthen, I wish you peace along yours,

Terry L. Mayborne, President

Support for Homicide Survivors Join us on FB @ SHS Support for

Homicide Survivors President:Terry L. Mayborne Continued From Page 4







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The first thing I want to do asEx. Dir. of SHS is to thank everyonefor their support for SHS, Terry Mayborne and me. The idea to start a

new organization at my age enteredinto my thoughts, but I knew I hadto continue the battle to help

victims. This cause has driven my lifefor over 30 years, how could I stop

while I still had life in me? I talked tofamily members, friends and called

Terry to ask her to join me. She said yes to coming on board to be thePresident and Cherry Simpson saidshe’d help in anyway too. Within two

weeks we had SHS up and running.We appreciate all of you for our

growth and continuing accomplishments.

This week I spent at our Capitol working for legislation for victimsand their rights. I gave testimony forSen. John Millner to Sen.Bill 2151,

which puts limits on juvenile sex off enders similar to adult off enders.It would mean limits to where thejuveniles could be, what groups they could join all to keep child safe. Onceagain if this bill were law years agomy Vicki would be alive today. Sen.Millner is a dear friend of many

years, I love him and all the thingshe’s done over the years for victimsand me.

I talked to Rep. Jim Durkinabout the problems of peoplesentenced to mental facilities. He hasintroduced legislation which will endall the fears victims have whose

off enders are given this sentence. This will include notification uponrelease.

I’m back to Springfield againnext week for final billsintroductions. We will support Rep.Reboletti’s bill House Bill 263 thatcreates a murder registration. Webelieve this would be the first of it’skind in the country. I will givetestimony to this bill and will supportthe victims of the crimes whichbrought the need for this law. RepReboletti has helped us numeroustimes to stop early release of violentoff enders. He is a champion for

victims.

Some others of the upcoming bills are from the Senate; 1338, 1339,1340, 1341, 1560, 1561, 1562 and 1563all pertaining to stopping early releases of inmates, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Dillard. I will testify tothese as needed.

House bill 1237 sponsored by Rep. Mayfield, is to give specialtraining on victim sensitivity. Herdedication to victims makes her oneof our new allies. Rep. Cunningham

is a new Representative, who issponsoring House bill 277, which willstop sex off enders from bothering

victims. He is another great friendfor victims. SHS will give full supportto both needed legislation.

Years ago the VictimConstitutional Amendment waspassed into law. I helped the then

Atty. General, Roland Burris, travelthroughout the state to get this votedfor. But, still victims are not receiving all their rights! This year SHS withnumerous victim organizations andadvocates are pushing for HJRCA,sponsored by Rep Lou Lang andmany other legislators that willstrengthen the rights of victims. This

would appear on the ballots for 2012for citizens to vote into law.

It always amazes me, as we think we’ve changed all necessary laws,

more are needed for victims’ safety and well being. This was one of thedriving forces in my decision tostarting a new organization at almost65 years of age. I have never given a second or doubtful thought to my

helping start Support for HomicideSurvivors. With your continuing support and prayers I’ll be doing

victim work until my 100th birthday. Then might be the time I will thinkabout retire!

With my respect and very best toall our friends and supporters,

Dora Larson

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

News conference Feb 8 in the IL Capitol, SHS Exec Dir. Dora Larson, Senator Mike Jacobs, Agent ames Simmons, Senator Bi " Brady

Mission StatementSupport for Homicide Survivors

will provide information, assistanceand support for survivors of

homicide.

These services will be administered

with respect, compassion andconfidentiality.

Support for Homicide Survivors will enhance victim’s rights inIllinois through public forums,

needed legislation, and joint eff orts with other victim service agencies,

departments and organizations.

Board MembersVICKI CROMPTON- TETTER

Author/Advocate TERENCE M. P ATTON

Henry County State’s Atty

P ATRICK KEANE

Asst. Supervisor/ Chief of Security atIDOC

B ARB S TONE

Victim Services Provider at WinnebagoCo State's Atty's Office

AGENT J AMES SIMMONS

& VP F.O.P. & Presi, of F.O.P. IDOCLodge #263

GREG SULLIVAN

Executive Director Illinois Sheriff s Assn., Springfield, IL

ConsultantCHERRY SIMPSON

Designer/Activist




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