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Vol. 28, No. 41 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | February 8, 2012
Sheriff: Community stands together By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
HINES
wake of recent tragedies. The county has experienced five homicides since December, the most recent We stand together. That’s the main occurring on Monday, Jan. 30. message Col. David R. Hines, sheriff of Hines’ comment stemmed from mesHanover County, has for citizens in the sages he has received in the two months
since the first incident took place. of caring, compassionate individuals that at “We stand together to comfort the fami- a time of need come together.” lies and friends of the victims. We stand Calling the “we stand together” position together to assist law enforcement and their the strongest message, Hines added, “The efforts,” the sheriff said of the response see SHERIFF, pg. 4 from the community. “We are a community
Remembering Caroline and Madison
Mom remembers fun-loving girls By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com heir lives were too short. Twins Caroline and Madison King were only 3 years old when their father, Robert D. King, killed his daughters in what the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office, working with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, said was a murder-suicide on
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Patrick Dobbs for The Local
Family, friends and neighbors of 3-year-old twins Caroline R. and Madison R. King gathered Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the 7900 block of Wynbrook Lane in Mechanicsville for a candlelight vigil to remember the girls. They were killed on Saturday, Jan. 28, in what the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said has been ruled a murder-suicide. Their father, Robert D. King, 40, also died in the incident. In the photo at left, a large crowd gathered on the lawn of the residence. At right, Cydney Kidd, 7, holds a candle during the service.
Vigil set Saturday for those wishing to gather in prayer By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com A vigil will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville for those wishing to gather in prayer concerning the recent
acts of violence that have occurred in the Mechanicsville area and Hanover County. Lee Mitchell, a member of Hanover Evangelical Friends Church, is one of the organizers. “I was talking with some friends about all of the violence we’ve had lately in the
Mechanicsville area, and we were wondering what we could do to bring the community together,” Mitchell said. “Then at church, my pastor [Ed Vinson] talked about the power of prayer. So, we decided see PRAYER, pg. 14
Photo courtesy of Kristina Hooper
Twins Madison, left, and Caroline King get a big hug from their mother, Kristina Hooper.
Saturday, Jan. 28. King’s motive, if known, has yet to be released. On Thursday, his estranged wife, Kristina Hooper, talked about her daughters. “They were fun loving little girls. They made so many people happy. I have no idea why their father did this.” She said the girls liked to go grocery shopping with her. “They each would get their own little basket and go shopping. They’d put things see MOM, pg. 21