DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 28, No. 40 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | February 1, 2012
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Investigation indicates murder-suicide By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Further investigation into three deaths on Saturday at a Mechanicsville residence indicate a murder-suicide. Sgt. Chris R. Whitley of the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office said the deaths of Caroline R. and Madison R. King, who were 3-year-old twins, appear to have been caused by their father, Robert D. King, 40. The girls had lacerations to the neck area. The investigation indicates that King had channeled the exhaust from his vehicle, which caused a lethal amount of carbon monoxide to have collected inside the residence in the 7900 block of Wynbrook Lane.. After an examination by the Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner, King died as a result of one or more of a combination of these factors. On Monday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that King’s estranged wife and the girl’s mother, Kristina Hooper, found the bodies in a front bedroom that had been linked to the exhaust pipe of a van parked outside the house. The Times-Dispatch said a search warrant affidavit and divorce petition records on file in Hanover County Circuit Court indicated she discovered her daughters and husband. The article also said court records showed Hooper made the call to 911 at 3:36 p.m. She was found in the driveway “crying on her knees and stating, ‘My babies are dead. They’re in the Jim Fields/The Local house’.” Flowers and remembrances line the steps of the house where two 3-year-old girls died along The Times-Dispatch said deputies found a with their father on Saturday in the 7900 block of Wynbrook Lane in Mechanicsville. The Hanover
Shooting victim’s parents talk about loss and grief (Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Darrell and Shannon Wells, the parents of Brett A. Wells, the 16year-old, who was shot and killed on Saturday, Jan. 21, on Verdi Lane in Mechanicsville. They had headlined their letter, “Brett was not perfect, but I can state, he was perfectly loved by God!”) Dealing with the death of a child is perhaps the most difficult thing that a grieving parent can possibly deal with in a lifetime. No matter what the circumstances, this level
of grief is profound and a major life challenge. There have been several comments made about our son, Brett Wells. The public and the press have rushed to provide their own opinions without knowing all of the facts. As people are making their judgments, what they are failing to recognize is what has happened is a community tragedy. My family lost a son, a brother, a grandson, a cousin, a nephew, an uncle and see PARENTS, pg. 24 `
see MOURNS, pg. 24 `
County Sheriff’s Office has indicated a murder-suicide.
School Board: more budget work needed By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com Adopting Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson’s first budget proposal for Hanover County Public Schools had been planned for the Hanover County School Board agenda last week, but the superintendent has decided more work is needed on the numbers. Just two weeks earlier, on Jan. 10, Wilson, in her first year as the school district’s leader, proposed a budget of $191.16 million – with 102.2 jobs being eliminated. Job losses were not addressed at last Tuesday’s meeting. The classroom would take the biggest hit, with 62.2 positions affected. Wilson said 16.1 vacant positions will not be filled and 14.9 full-time equivalent leadership, transportation and support staff positions, as well as nine secondary senior teacher
and family life teaching positions, are being considered for elimination. On Jan. 24, the School Board agreed with Wilson’s recommendation that four more weeks of workshops be scheduled before the budget is adopted. Workshops are planned for 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 16 and Feb. 21 at the Central Office THORNTON at 200 Berkley St. in Ashland. The next regular meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 14. Now, adoption is targeted for vote during the workshop on Feb. 21. It was announced that more workshops will be
conducted if necessary. “The extra time will give the board more time to ask questions and our staff more time to answer them,” Wilson said. After School Board chairman John F. Axselle III reminded members that they could vote to revise the schedule again, they unanimously agreed to the new schedule. Dr. Michael Thornton, assistant superintendent of business and operations, presented a budget history for the school system. He referred to the budget of Fiscal Year 2009-2010 when a deficit of more than $19.1 million was faced. He said the total for the four years leading to — and including the current budget deficit of $13.9 million — is more than $60.1 million. He said the deficit for the four years was balanced by using $28.6 million in non-recurring see BUDGET, pg. 5 `