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| Photo by Bruce Matlock / bmatlock@statesville.com |
The mother of a slain off-duty Concord police officer testified that she was too distraught to ask her daughter-in-law about what happened in their Mooresville home on Sept. 13, 2005.
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26 comments:
Just wondering with Bonnie wanting everyone to cut slack and see things differently through their eyes. Why don't she believe that others do see something she doesn't. Some people's comments do go out of perspective but there are those that hit points right on the head. What you fail to address is she lied to him repeatedly and deceived fellow church goers for her personal gain.
Some of us that worked with him and cared for him as a true friend don't appreciate your comments and ability to forget how hard he worked to make her evil right. He stood up for her and worked himself to DEATH in trying to keep a home for his kids and HER. Even after he found out about some of the things she did.
His family helps provide a defense and home for their sons murderer. Why should any of us that worked with him and knew him care what they want or think. I have my rights too. I defended them before becoming a police officer and to this day offer my life as did he for people to have freedoms. DO NOT tell me about freedoms and rights.
I only ask why if all the truth were there and is there still so many lies being told by them all?
A question was raised about fund raising money. It is in a trust account overseen by a board of officers and friends of Quinn. I can assure it is legal and protected and defended. More than they want because some can't get their hands on it.
Bonnie never forget the officers that spent hundreds of dollars on Christmas items and clothes and such for the kids and also to help Francis and Bobby before we did't give enough for their liking and they turned on us. We have always stood on the prosecution side. We have not gone from asking for us to help them get to the truth, to saying we aren't true friends. We put the head stone on the man's grave with our money when they said they couldn't and then spent money on her. If this makes it through the filter I will gladly stand toe to toe and argue truth and fact with you any day. This is my second attempt at posting and don't know if it will get through. So don't keep running your mouth about anonymous because there are those that will put names and are not in any way intimidated or frightened by you or others.
Way to go Judge Taylor.
I only wished they would let Frances continue to talk and show her stupidity. Finally you have found someone who you can't snow over. I bet you just sat there and thought you would take one last jab. SURPRISE. Thanks Frances for helping the prosecution prove motive in your son's MURDER.
Officeer Childers, I completely respect your position in this case and respect what you have done for Quinn's children. I have never said anything whatsoever derrogatory against the Concord Police Department and have attended many of the fundraiser they have had for the children.
My only complaint was the ugliness that people have been throwing at the family. As I respect you and your position, I have to also respect their right to do what they think is right.
I don't know what happened that day. My prayer is that God's will be done. If Misty killed him in cold blood then may she get the strongest punishment she deserves. I just don't know. That is why my prayer is said let God's will be done.
I feel it isn't up to me to be her judge and jury and to vilify the family over following what they believe.
I apologize if anything I said came across as threatening or intimidating. That is the last thing I wanted.
I want justice also. I want the truth too. I trust that God and the courts will come to the correct conclusion, whatever that is.
This is such a heated subject. Even I am being accused of being a lying, stealing crook just because I am not of the opinion that she is guilty until proven innocent. Thats not right. Thats all I am trying to say...let the courts and God judge and find the truth.
I'm sure I don't know everything there is to know about this case, but neither do the ones that are writing such bitter, ugly comments. I am open to the truth and will respect the court's decision.
And thank you for putting your life on the line every day for us. I don't know how you do it but I am sure glad you do and that Quinn did too.
The devil paints pretty pictures to cover up his evil doings, and that's what has happened here, Quinn's parents are blinded by a pretty picture and can not see the truth. Francis and Bobby are good people, my family and I have known them for years. Quinn was a great person and he would never want his parents treated this way no matter what. Misty is the one on trial here not his parents, they will be punished enough when the truth comes out. I went to school with Misty and I would never in a million years thought that she would do something like this but I guess you never know. The main ones everyone needs to think about here are Quinn's children, they are the ones that will suffer for this.
Bonnie
You only know one side and have chosen to speak on behalf of the Witherspoon family. You have that right and no one can take that from you, but with that right you will get opposition from other people who believe differently. Have you taken the time to speak to the others who believe differntly? Have you gotten all the facts to the case. People are very passionate about Quinn and supporting him and will stand their ground and be passionate about it. From looking at your previous blogs, it appears, but I may be wrong, your starting to open your mind to what is being said here.
Everyone interpets the bible differently, and you need to understand that. Some believe in forgiveness, and others believe that thou shall not kill, and thou shall not steal. I personally do not believe it was god's will to take Quinn in the manner that it happened, but that is my personal opinion, and my personal beliefs.
It is hard for people to see Quinn's blood family defending his very killer, and all the sins she committed against the church and god.
People are being passionate about their support for Quinn, and with that, you will get opposition.
I do have an open mind and am not blinded by anyone involved in this. I admitted that I don't know all the facts that Mr. Childers has or the DA. I have only heard from the other side and only been able to attend the trial one day. I wish I could go every day so I could hear it all. I don't like getting filtered information. I like getting it directly from the source.
Mr. Childers, you said that there were still lies being told by them all. Does that mean that you think the Witherspoon family is lying to protect Misty? If so, can you elaborate?
I have witnessed them supporting her but in no way have I any inkling that they would lie to protect her. They have said all along that they just want a fair trial and the truth to be told.
I don't want to get you in any trouble but would really like to hear more on that if you would. I know Misty has changed her story once from the original story and why she said she didn't tell the truth initially. I have not ever heard anyone say that they thought the family was lying for her.
Mooresville Citizen, thanks for being kind. My initial posts were a little hot because of all the ugliness I felt was being unfairly thrown at the family.
My position is and always has been that Misty is responsible for Quinn's death. She hasn't denied that and neither has her family. The point of arguement is whether or not she intentionally killed him or it happened another way.
I can't imagine for the life of me Misty being capable of planning and carrying out killing her husband in his sleep with her children in the other room asleep. That is just not in my realm of reasoning from what I know of her.
Did she kill him by accident or in the heat of the moment, as a foolish attempt at suicide or something other than that? that seems more feasable to me. If they had charged her with voluntary or involuntary manslaughter I don't think you would have seen her fight it.
They offered her a plea agreement of 7 years on both accounts combined. Before she had a chance to talk to Quinn's family and tell them she was going to accept it the offer was withdrawn. Seems the DA got a huge amount of backlash for offering it to her. She was going to take the offer to spare Quinns family the pain of the trial.
She knows there are going to be consequences for her actions and so does Quinn's family. They just don't believe it should be murder one.
About time Bonnie is talking with a little sense about her.
I did not know Quinn but I am good friends with a few of the officers who worked with him. Over the past two years, I've watched them struggle with difficulty over this situation.
I do not for one second believe she is innocent, not because my friends do, but because the evidence is overwhelming. Between the angle of the gunshot wound, the flow of blood, movement of the head, and two different stories from Misty, the evidence speaks for itself. I can tell you, the safety on a department issued weapon does not "accidentally" go off. The service weapon Concord officers use would be heavy to someone like Misty who has never fired a weapon.
I agree with many people on here who say it is an unfortunate situation for the children. I've watched my friends raise money for Quinn's children so that they will have a good future-even it means a future without their father. They have held a benefit each year since his death to raise money for his children, not Misty. I've watched my friends defend their jobs and their choices to be police officers because of this ordeal. And I've watched them hurt because Quinn's family believes her. It must be very difficult to witness his family take her side and believe her when again, the evidence is overwhelming. It amazes me that they can't step back for one second and look at what they're doing. Regardless of the fact that they've known her for years, I believe they can make up their minds about her guilt at some point.
I never knew Quinn, but from what I hear, he was a phenomenal person who truly embraced life. He was a friend to everyone and cared deeply for his family. It seems that he stood up for someone who was not willing to do the same for him. I know he is grateful to his fellow officers who have attended the trial each day on his behalf.
May justice be served to Misty-if not now, here on Earth, than later at the mercy of God.
Bonnie
I do not hold fault with you, and do commend your courage for coming on this blog and expressing your opinions and beliefs. We all have those rights given to by our forefathers.
You need to understand why you are getting such opposition to your blogs and understand where their passion is coming from.
The wounds are still very fresh at the police department and with the people who knew Quinn.
Granted I didn't know Quinn very long, but he was one of the first officers who welcomed me to the department and offered his assistance should I have any questions. This department lost a great officer, a true friend, and a wonderful human being. People that Quinn arrested for criminal acts thought enough of him to either come to the department or call to express their deepest sympathy and to give testament as to what a kind, fair and outstanding officer Quinn was to them and to the community in which he served and he is dearly missed.
It must have been hard, humiliating and embaraasing for him to have to live with what Misty did at their church, but he chose to honor his vows and god and stay married to Misty and try and right her sins. I don't know of too many people who could have done that.
Those of us who have children, and would give our own life for our children do find Quinn's parents actions very disturbing and that is why they are questioning their loyalty to Misty and not their son. That is their right, but please don't ask people to look at it from their point of view or to defend the actions they have chosen to take. The wound is still too very new for us.
The police department did alot for the Witherspoon family and they now feel that Bob and Frances have turned their backs on them and Quinn with their actions. They have judged us and Quinn's friends for not standing behind them and Misty.
The prosecution believes that they have enough evidence to charge Misty with 1st degree murder and they are presenting it to the jury, and the jury will decide if all the elements are met to convict her of the charge.
Please don't find fault with the people who are responding, be it anonymous or not, they are still hurting for their loss of Quinn and everything he stood for.
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What sort of person is the true God? He describes himself as one who is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth" and as one who by no means grants exemption from punishment to those who willfully violate his commandments (Exodus34:6,7)
I support Quinn, and justice will be handed down, be it by the courts, or by god.
Bonnie,
This is not the realm to discuss facts that are to be left for the trial. I appreciate your comments and compliments. I think Mooresville said it when they tried to explain how passionate some of us are about Quinn and what he meant to us.
I miss him everyday at work and during deer season. As life changes things got in the way of our relationship at work to where I did not know about his problems financially. I truly wish I had so I could have helped him.
He was a true human being of friendship and a phenomenal officer.
The days leading up to his burial were very trying on all of us who worked with him closely and extremely hard for those of us who were charged with doing the honor of sending him off with a true heroes burial.
I stood over his cakset as did others while we watched an emotionless Misty laugh and cut up and show no remorse for what happened.
With all of the discussion of God and such in this I wish to offer one more thing. Remember Justice and Law. Quinn believed with all his soul in the law and what it stands for. Religions forgive and forget but never let crimes like this go unpunished no matter what religion it is.
I don't begin to try to put God in this equation because Murder is of the devil and sins like Misty committed are too. That is not God's will or doing. God, if you wish to go that route, does not commit sin.
As this draws to a close I pray that she is found guilty by the court. If she is not then I can do nothing about that but I do know it will not in any way change my mind.
As for Bobby and Francis. It is either ignorance or evil that makes a person deny the truth of facts in the death of one of their children. Deception is easy to see when it is not normal action. I, as did Quinn, deal with deceptive people everyday. On the stand it was evident they were deceptive and evasive in their demeanor and answers. No question at all.
I hope that all the turmoil that apparently has befallen that church dies away. I know for a fact that Quinn would be very heartbroken at it because of how much he talked about his church.
Misty has never been able to look any of us in the eye that knew him deeply. Never offered the smallest of grief that one would think she would.
I do know that in all things there is some good. I now he would be very proud to know his name is on the memorial that has become of the original event. It is now a charity for fallen officers children.
Everyone has their right to express what they feel. So with that good luck in dealing with all that has been said and done.
Thanks. I was at Quinn's funeral also with the family and afterward at their home. I also know what its like to be a widow and feel the stares of EVERYONE looking at you expecting you to look a certain way or act a certain way and there is no way that you can ever live up to other's expectations of how a widow should look or behave and I'm sure that was magnified 100 times over for Misty knowing she was the cause of his death.
My husband was killed in a fall at work nearly 10 years ago. I was in such shock and denial that I didn't react to any of it until the day after his funeral. Up until that point I kept busy with all the people that came to my home, the funeral arrangements, the kids and grandkids, OSHA, attorneys, etc. I relished the distraction of it all so I wouldn't have to deal with the reality of what had happened.
My husband and I had a wonderful marriage but I still felt the stares of my community when I accidentally smiled or laughed at something in the weeks after he died. I was so uncomfortable that I quit leaving my home. Its a very difficult thing to go through and you will never know it until you have been there. I used to be one that judged others. For example, I looked down on racing legend, Davey Allison's widow after he died because I didn't think she looked distraught enough and dated too soon, etc. I will never ever judge how a widow acts again. I know how it feels.
I spoke with Bobby last night and will be in the courtroom this afternoon and am concerned about the tactics being used today to possibly sway the jury by the prosecution. You officers I'm sure are aware of what I am talking about and the rest of you will know later.
I'm prayin hard for the right outcome today, whatever God feels that is to be.
And I know nobody understands what the Witherspoon family are doing but I think they have been so busy with all this that they have never stopped and faced the reality that their son is dead. I think its going to hit them all hard in the days to come, just as the loss of my husband took awhile to hit me. All this going on with the trial and Misty has kept them from burying their son and mourning him.
I'm afraid they are going to have a huge crash once this trial is over and I'll be praying for them and the kids. Even if you don't care about the rest of the family, those kids need your prayers and their family.
Thanks Officer Mueller and Officer Childers for explaining what you and your department are feeling and why.
We stand with you and are proudly displaying our support for Quinn with ours signs and ribbons.
May god bless you all and justice be served.
Quote from Bonnie,
" I spoke with Bobby last night and will be in the courtroom this afternoon and am concerned about the tactics being used today to possibly sway the jury by the prosecution. You officers I'm sure are aware of what I am talking about and the rest of you will know later."
What are you talking about?
Prosecution and defense are allowed to use what tactics are allowable to win their case. Have you not watched other court cases. Did you not see the tactics used in OJ's trial.
You make no sense.
jfq, I'm not at liberty to say but I'm sure it will be all over the 5pm news.
Bonnie,
Are you implying that the officers and the prosecution are having a direct effect on the way the jury thinks?
If there was or is anything unjustly going on in the courtroom the judge would put an end to it.
Bonnie, I will be the first to tell you how I feel! Let me start out by saying that you may be a widow and I'm sorry for that, but you didn't KILL your husband as Misty did. The way it sounds though you may would think about it because you keep stating things happen and it is God's will.
Anyway, when we walked through the funeral line with our broken hearts, we saw Misty with no remorse what so ever. She stood there like NOTHING had happened! I have 2 very good friends that lost their husbands and boy they didn't have a DRY eye the whole night hardly. So for you to sit there and say it is because she is in shock, well we don't believe it. The only thing she was trying to figure out is what LIE to tell next to prove her innocent.
Now let's go to the burial sight. If you were truly there then how can you possibly say out of pure shock she couldn't cry. I seen GROWN men who deal with people like her everyday crying. As they are crying in grief for Quinn she is laughing it up. Like OH BIG DEAL. All she could think about is the money that would be headed her way from his insurance policy. She never stopped to think that the detectives doing her case are the ones smart enough to figure out her lies!! They do it for a living!! You really make me wonder what kind of person you are. Are you really a friend? Are you really a christian? What are you really?
I will tell you NONE of us on here that support Quinn will EVER see your point. You may not see ours, but quit trying to persuade the ones that hurt daily to understand you web of lies. You can have people like Misty, and Quinn's parents understand you, but not us. Maybe you will get a little kick back out of it in the end! The only thing you have said, which I'm not sure if you mean it or not, that makes sense is: What about the kids? They need our prayers. Well trust me all of us are praying for them. The way Quinn's parents are dragging them in and out of that court room is CRAZY! Those innocent kids should be left out of it and placed in a stable home. Not their grandparents or their crazed mother.
We will all learn the judgement. Not soon enough though! I also will say that I'm sure most of us will not agree with that either. The only way we will be happy is if she would get DEATH!! That is all she deserves!!
God bless Quinn and all the other's that lay their lives on the line daily!
Ok Bonnie, I just watched the 5pm news and there was absolutely NOTHING about the so called tactics that the "officer and prosecution" have been using.
As I said before, What are you talking about, and you make no sense!
A true friend, How is it that I am a liar and thief and all the other things I have been called in the last two days just because I have some compassion for this family? How does that make me a liar? a thief? A potential murderer myself now? Good grief. I must have thought about killing my husband because I had a hard time being around people staring at me? You are the one that makes no sense. I'm not trying to convince anyone here of anything, just trying to give MY opinion just as you are doing only I can do it without disrespecting you or how you feel.
I understand how people feel about this case and I wish I didn't know anyone involved in something like this but I do and I do care. I care about those kids, I care about Quinn's parents, I care about Sabrina. They have been nothing but wonderful, caring friends to me. I can't just turn that off.
Anyway, It was a tough day. You will all be happy to know that the DA tried to have Misty sentenced today in the theft case immediately after the jury left the room to deliberate on the murder charges. The judge denied it but did hear arguments on it.
Nobody pressed charges against Misty for the thefts, not the church and not her sister. Neither wanted to prosecute her. So how does that happen? How does the DA have a case against her for a theft that nobody reported or wanted to press charges on????
I'm sure you all will be happy that she plead guilty to those charges but not so happy that the judge refused to sentence her on it this afternoon and will wait until the jury reaches a verdict in the murder trial. So the kids will get one more weekend with their mother at least.
As the day draws to a close and the weekend begins we all should pray for the jurors that they make the right decision. Even though I think she is 100% guilty, these jurors has someone's life in their hands. I look at it from the standpoint as these young children could possibly not be seeing their mother everyday for the rest of their innocent lives. If she does go free, and I hope she doesn't, she doesn't deserve to have these children because of her suicidal tendencies. She could be the next Andrea Yates. Continue to pray for those precious children and God bless Quinn and everyone who is seeking justice for him.
and I have NEVER implied or thought that the officers involved in this case have acted in any way other than professional and as supportive of a fellow officer. Just wanted to make that clear.
It was tough to watch those officers in court today. They lost a brother and it showed in all their faces. Quinn was loved by many.
The whole thing is sad and tough to watch. So many people hurt and in pain and such a wonderful man gone and three innocent children that will ultimately pay the price no matter what the outcome of this trial brings. Their lives will never be the same or as it should be. Its just sad.
Bonnie, You have way too much time on your hands if all you have to do is sit around and wait for people to comment so you can reply to them! GET A LIFE!DNHOEDOZ
Bonnie, I think you're enjoying this too much. Does it make you feel important to constantly be on this blog talking about your "in" with the Witherspoons? Seeing Misty with her gang of idiots walking in to court everyday gives one the impression that she knows she is the star of the show and enjoying every minute of it. The sad thing is that Quinn's family is playing supporting actors. How can they all come in laughing each day and carrying their drinks like they've just been out for lunch having a grand old time? It actually made me sick to my stomach to see Katherine, Seth, and Sydney there. It was bad enough to see Misty carrying that purse with Quinn's picture on it. Always making sure the pictures were showing for the camera. You talk about the prosecution making a show. Misty's is enough to make you vomit. I hope the children get away from all of the Witherspoons. Bonnie Just sit down and think about Misty having the kids......what happens when she gets behind in bills again? Would you sleep at night knowing she was alone with the kids? I've seen Misty with them. I've seen her slap them, shove them down and yell like a banchee. I've also seen Quinn with them. I've seen him smile when they came up to him. I've seen him pick them up when they fell. I've seen him stop in the middle of talking to someone to hear what they had to say to him. I've seen his lips softly brush across their heads as they have run off to play after getting the comfort from their dad that they wanted. I've seen him give up sleep to walk them to school or take them to dance. I've seen him work three and four jobs to feed them. It breaks my heart that they won't know their dad or remember what a wonderful person he was. I also hate the fact that they have to know how he died. It's so much worse than anything a child should have to go through.
Also I want to thank all of Quinn's frinds for standing up for him. It seems we are all he has anymore. The police officers are amazing especially the Concord police. They didn't have to come to court everyday to support him but they did and I appreciate all of those who did.
Bonnie, Who cares what the sister and the church wanted to do about pressing charges. I can't believe you think she shouldn't be charged. God didn't say, Thou shall not steal from people who won't press charges. He didn't say Thou shall not kill but lie about doing it and it's okay. That church should clean house. They should first get rid of Misty. Then the Witherspoons. Then the deacon and preacher who knew about the thefts and didn't tell the members. How do you think it makes those people feel having to sit there on sunday with Misty piled up on the pew. It's like she steals from them again every sunday. The Witherspoons not supporting Quinn is like shooting him over again every day. You Bonnie just need to stay off the Blogs before you really show how very ignorant you are.
Bonnie, FYI reference not having someone wanting to prosecute in a case... I will give you the example of Assault on a Female.
If I were to arrive at a call where a man had just hit his wife, and I have evidence plain as day by visible marks on her face or body...I take him to jail. No matter how hard the wife pleads for him to stay.
Breaking the law, means breaking the law. No matter how bad your victim wants it to go away, or how hard they try to cover it up or plead your case. If you do the wrong thing, you get punished even if the victim declines prosecution. I hope that will enlighten you as to why those mean detectives would still charge poor Misty.
Yeah Bonnie I am very happy they are trying to prosecute her sorry good for nothing self in those other charges. She deserves everything that comes her way!!
Being a true friend to Quinn is NOTHING you know about. You are a true friend to all those other idiots! All I am saying is you do have a right to your opinion, but just realize you sound as dumb as Quinn's parents and Misty.
You keep throwing God up in this, but just remember his judgement will come one day for Misty. It's not here on earth! I'm not going to argue with you because you enjoy it way to much!
You just keep thinking that Misty is innocent. That his parents are grieving, whatever you want to think. Just know that as you stated it was hard to see the officers in there! You know why that was hard? Because they are the ONLY ones with any kind of emotion on their faces! Misty has NONE and his parents don't either. They couldn't even be in there for closing arguements, afraid the "truch" for Quinn would put down sorry butt Misty! Thank GOD for the police officers that support Quinn because they/we are all he has left!!
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