You can bet your life on it! Check out this firsthand story. As long as violent criminals are paroled, released on probation, or released early there is continued threat to survivors, witnesses, family members, and public safety. As the sole eyewitness to my own victimization, I spent many hours in ICU using what little strength I had to pull the sheets over my head as suspicious looking visitors roamed the halls because 3 of the 4 violent gang members were still on the loose. Finger pointing, threats to survivors and family members, arrests, criminal proceedings, and all of the pieces are often left behind. Most of these complexities and issues live on forever in the lives of those affected, which is yet another reason to increase your mindfulness about personal safety.
To follow is advice written by the daughter of a murdered couple. She gives vivid insight into the fall out of the tragic murder of Les and Carol Dotts, a beloved married couple from a loving family in a small eastern town of Tennessee.
"On Friday February 3, 1995, my parents, Les and Carol Dotts, decided to go out for dinner. When they came home they were brutally murdered by Thomas Gagne, Jr. (20) and David Scarbrough (18), while their 13 year old accomplice, Harley Watts was the lookout. The KCSO and the media referred to my parents’ murders as “overkill” due to the numerous times my parents were shot at close range.
Thank you for wanting to help keep my parents and HoneyBare's memories alive. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of educating and reminding the public of what victims of violent crime and their loved ones have to go through. There are still articles online about my parents' murders and our ongoing fight for justice. One of the murderer's, Gagne, died in prison 11 01 2023. The "juvenile" (Harley Lonnie Watts) at the time has continued his criminal path and was just released on probation - again. He keeps pleading out and getting probation. Make me sick. Scarbrough goes up for parole AGAIN the end of this year.
First and foremost, the nightmare that is the criminal justice system for victims of violent crime is slow and flawed. You will need every ounce of strength and patience you have and then dig deep for more as time goes by. Remember that the members of law enforcement that are working on your loved ones' murder are doing their job with the resources that are available. They cannot manufacture evidence, DNA, or force witnesses to come forward. If you want law enforcement to treat you with courtesy and respect, you need to treat THEM with courtesy and respect. Stay in touch with law enforcement, but don't hound them. Let them do their job. Try to be patient. It is REALLY hard, but it is worth it. Anything law enforcement shares with you and says "do not share with the press or anyone else", LISTEN TO THEM. If you tell someone because you "trust" them, there will be someone they will tell because they "trust" them, and so on and so on. You never know show knows who. How would you feel if what you shared with "someone you trust" got back to the one(s) who murdered your loved one(s) and because of that they got found not guilty, or fled the country, etc? It is not worth it to jeopardize the investigation or to cut off the lines of communication between you and law enforcement because they no longer trust you. My in-laws were very upset with my husband and I when we should not share details of the investigation with them. We nicely told them to get over it. Take care of yourself. See a therapist or counselor, join a grief support group, find a local crime victims' rights support and /or advocacy group. It really helps. Don't let anyone tell you how to think, feel, or grieve. Everyone processes a loved one being murdered differently. The pain, frustration, anger, fear, etc. just does not up and go away. It comes and goes and there is no time frame to it. Those who tell you that you "need to move on, you need to get over it, or you need to forgive the murderer" need to keep those insensitive and ignorant opinions to themselves, but unfortunately, there are those who just HAVE to tell us how we are supposed to react to OUR loved one(s) being murdered. I gave up trying to explain my feelings to them and just began telling them "this isn't something I am going to discuss with you. Please respect that." If they keep pushing, and some will, just walk off. Or pretend you feel like you are going to throw up. That works really well on pushy reporters. (Most of the reporters I dealt with were caring and respectful, but there was ONE...). You have to do what is right for you and your family WITHOUT letting anger, hate, and frustration take over your life. Is it easy? Hell No! But if we sink to their level, if we choose to harden our hearts and stop caring, if we advocate or pursue violence, the monsters win. I will NEVER disrespect or dishonor my parents and the way they raised me by behaving or thinking in the same ugly twisted way the 3 murderers and their families do (did). If you do not stand up for yourself and your loved ones, why should anyone else? I will never stop standing up, speaking up, and fighting for my parents. I love them too much for that. Wow, this ended up being a LOT longer than I was expecting...
My parents adopted HoneyBare when she was about 5 months old from our vet clinic. She had been neglected and abused and was malnourished and very ill. Our veterinarian told my mom and dad that even with treatment that weren’t sure HoneyBare would make it. Their response was “we are going to do everything we can to get her healthy. If treatment does not work, then she will have had all the love and attention she could ever want during her final days.” HoneyBare not only survived – she THRIVED! She grew into a beautiful 84-pound collie who was loving, playful, and silly. One of my favorite memories is when I stopped by my parents' house on the way home from work one day about 6 weeks after they adopted HoneyBare. As I walked from the kitchen into the family room I saw daddy on the floor in front of HoneyBare with a rope toy in HIS mouth shaking it at HoneyBare and going "GRRR GRRR". You see, HoneyBare did not know how to play when my parents adopted her. And here was daddy playing tug with HoneyBare. Her tail was wagging and she looked so happy. I of course had tears flowing down my cheeks because it was such a beautiful and sad thing to behold. A puppy who does not know how to play is just so wrong. HoneyBare somehow survived the awful night my parents were murdered in their home. Loving and taking care of HoneyBare was often the only thing that kept my husband and I going some days. She and our collie Mischief were the best of friends and she adored our cat Cuddles. My husband and I became involved in the former East Tennessee Victims’ Rights Task Force and HoneyBare became a “mascot” at events during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We would tie a big purple ribbon to her collar, and I would give a speech about what happened the weekend my parents’ were murdered – from HoneyBare’s perspective. FYI. My parents did not believe in funerals, and as big animal lovers they had stated in their wills that in lieu of a funeral, flowers, etc. that donations be made to the Humane Society where we live. We lost HoneyBare May 12, 2003 at almost 12 ½ years old. It broke our hearts and was in many respects as bad as losing my parents as she was our last link to them. February 3, 2024 it will be 29 years since my parents, Les and Carol Dotts, were brutally murdered in their home. We are still dealing with the criminal justice system. In loving memory of Les and Carol Dotts, and ALL victims of violent crime and their loved ones, including their beloved pets! The one picture is HoneyBare in front of our Christmas Tree. She HATED having her picture taken. The other is during National Crime Victims' Rights Week. My husband is to the left, and a friend's daughter is hugging HoneyBare.
...Thanks, Jeanne Dotts Brykalski"
Thank you to Jeanne for sharing a very personal story so that others may learn from your wisdom.
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