Education Focus Sponsored section ►►PAGE 15
Website used for affairs hacked AshleyMadison.com user info could be at risk ►►PAGE 2
Welch newest Council member Takes place of interim Councilman Doug Sorrells ►►PAGE 4
Two decades and counting
Norman’s Landing still serving great food, supporting community ►►PAGE 6
July 29, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 31
Forsyth deputies: Man kills family, self Wife, children dead in apparent murder-suicide By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Four members of a Suwanee family are dead after an apparent murder-suicide July 22. Forsyth County Sheriff Deputies say Matthew Fields, 32, killed his estranged wife, Rebecca Manning, 37, and her two children, ages 8 and 9. He also shot her father, Jerry Manning, 75, before turning the gun on himself. Jerry Manning is listed as being in critical condition and the only survivor of the incident. Deputies say they were called out to the Old Atlanta Road residence in Suwanee about 6 a.m. by Fields’ mother, who called 911 after she said her son called her to say he killed his family. Rebecca was still alive when deputies arrived. Sheriff Duane Piper said in a news conference Wednesday that his department was “familiar” with the residence,
The victims of the shooting were • Rebecca Manning, 37, of Cumming. • Jared Smith, 8 • Jacob Smith, 9 • Jerry Manning, 75, father of Manning. • The suspect is Matthew Fields, 32, husband of Rebecca Manning. but would not elaborate. Media reports say Fields had an extensive criminal history, although not violent. Deputies went out to the home Tuesday night for a domestic violence call. Rebecca Manning allegedly said “nothing’s going on,” when deputies asked her about the call, according to a police report. Fields left for the night. At some point he allegedly returned with a gun. It is unclear if Fields is Manning’s husband or boyfriend. Both boys attended Johns Creek Elementary School. A motive for the shooting is unclear, deputies said.
How you can help the family A memorial fund has been set up at all Wells Fargo locations for the Manning and Smith families who were involved in the horrible incident this morning in Suwanee/Forsyth County. Donations are for funeral costs and expenses for Mr. Manning, who is still hospitalized. The account is under: Rebecca Manning and the Smith family memorial fund.
KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF
Willard Byers, left, shows his orginial jerseys from playing at Matt Park to Sheriff Duane Piper and Fire Chief Danny Bowman.
Community breaks ground at Matt Park By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A crowd gathered July 17 for the groundbreaking of the new Matt Community Park at Settingdown Creek. The park is located just beyond Fire Station No. 3 at 6495 Wallace Tatum Road. Phase one of the park is planned to open spring 2016 and will be 175 acres including four synthetic-turf rectangular fields, a walking trail, a playground, concession area,
restrooms and a parks maintenance facility. The property for the new park was acquired with funding from the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond approved by Forsyth County voters in 2008. Construction of the park’s first phase is being funded by both the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond and by impact fees. In November 2011, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved the fire department to acquire three acres of the
property to serve as the location of new Fire Station No. 3, with the purchase funds for those acres going back into the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond account. New Fire Station No. 3 opened in July 2013. The fire station and new park will share an entrance off Wallace Tatum Road. Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills, whose district includes the new park, spoke at the event about growing
See PARK, Page 5