Sheriff Takes life of 4 year old son, mother, then himself
On Friday A Sheriff killed the mother of his son, then killed his 4 year old son before turning the gun on himself. Wapello Iowa is a small town where tragedies like this are not suppose to happen. But they, do. Three lives lost were because of power and control issues. The woman was moving on with her life because of repeated acts of violence. The Sheriff didn't just get out of bed that day and decide to do this, he had been thinking about this for quite some time. As In most of these cases when the woman leaves, that is usally the most dangerous time. This case was a Domestic violence related stalking situation. In almost 75% of these cases, the victim is almost always seperated or seeking divorce at the time of the incident. As you read the story below, remember a 4 year old child was murdered, tragically at the hands of his own father.
Sunday, January 8, 2006
WAPELLO IOWA— Residents of this close–knit community remained in a state of shock Saturday, a day after a young boy and his parents died in an apparent murder–suicide.
"It's been the talk all afternoon. Everyone is devastated and bewildered. No one can believe it happened here in our small town," said Wanda Mosena, who was manning the counter Saturday at Button and Bows in downtown Wapello. "It's on the mind of every customer who comes in here. ... That little boy was idolized by everyone."
Evan Massey, 4, Kirk Massey, 25, and Jessie Smith, 22, were discovered after 1 p.m. Friday by Louisa County Sheriff's deputies inside Kirk Massey's home at 202 Prairie St. in Wapello. All three suffered from gunshot wounds.
Smith was declared dead at the scene. Kirk Massey was flown by helicopter to Great River Medical Center, while Evan Massey was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. Both were pronounced dead later in the day.
Autopsies on the trio were conducted Saturday at the Iowa State Medical Examiner's office in Ankeny, according to Louisa County Sheriff Curt Braby. Initial autopsy results are anticipated as early as Monday.
The news of the tragedy quickly spread around town, Mosena said. Grief was visible on the faces of customers at her shop Saturday afternoon.
With few new details released over the weekend, rumors have begun to run rampant through the community.
"We heard he shot them then called it into the sheriff's department ...," said neighbor Janet Wilcox, who wasn't at home when the incident happened. "We can't say for sure that he pulled the trigger, but that's what we are hearing."
On Saturday, Braby dismissed such speculation saying, "There is no conclusion at this point. By Monday, we should have a better idea what went on."
Kirk Massey had been employed at the Louisa County jail since 2001. Because of that, Braby said the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been called in to act as the lead investigators in the case.
"They have the expertise in something like this," Braby said.
A man who worked in the neighborhood but declined to be identified alleged Massey and Smith argued frequently.
Wilcox said she never witnessed the couple fighting. And for the most part, she remembers them as a normal family.
"We never noticed anything was wrong. The boy would sit in a swing and I would talk to him. ... He was a nice little boy," Wilcox said.
Braby said an initial check of emergency calls came up empty for domestic violence complaints involving the couple.
"There's nothing there, so far," he said.
By Jeff Abell
Susan Murphy-Milano is the daughter of a Chicago Police Detective who murdered Susan's mother before taking his own life. She is the author of "Moving Out, Moving On" when a relationship goes wrong and "Defending Our Lives getting away from domestic violence and staying safe. (Doubleday books)
website: www.movingoutmovingon.com
