May 24, 2000
It was a dark and stormy night in the deep green swampy bayou's of Louisiana. The clouds were thick like a black smoke stack and the winds rolled through the cypress trees, bending them back almost to the point of breaking the large limbs. The lightning lit up the sky and the thunder shook the ground. It was the deep, sweaty heat of may that brought in this storm. The humidity was so thick that when you stepped outside, you could not catch your breath and you immediatly could feel the heat on your skin.
That is how this whole story should have started. After all, a dramatic prologue like that is usually followed by something dreadful happening. The story that I am about to tell is dreadful, its My story and it did have an awful ending, but the beginning, was nothing like that!
The anniversary came this year, just like it always has, and when I think back on that faithful day. I always wonder if there will be a year when I wake up and not remember that on May 24th 2000, I almost lost my life.
I know that events are always seen from different points of view.
When there is a traffic accident, you can have 4 people witness the same crash, but you will have 4 differnt points of view. Everyone sees everything diffeerntly. My vision of that night may not be the vision of Doug's view from that night, but that really doesnt matter anymore because in 2001, Doug died.
Here is my version of what happened:
The sun was hot, and it was the usual end of the spring, May winding down weather in Louisiana. We lived in Bossier City at the time. Katie was just 2. Bossier City is in the north west part of louisiana. It is close to Arkansas & Texas and it is a thriving city. Its not the back woods of the state, full of cajun people, hunting alligators or green, swampy bayous. Well, they do hunt alligators and there are some bayous but we never lived on or in one. We didn't sit around eating Jambaylya every night or listen to the radio and hear nothing but the guitar and banjo. Bossier and Shreveport both was and still is a city, full of houses and neighborhoods and ordinary, southern people.
The week of May had been a fun adventure so far with my Aunt Joyce (mom's sister), my cousin Lori (Aunt Joyce's daughter) and my Uncle Bob (mom's brother) taking the train in from their homes in Iowa and Illinois to enjoy time with us. We had enjoyed some local cuisine and seen some sights. we had experienced the Alligator Farm in Natchitoches and Uncle Bob even got to meet some Louisiana Fire Ants.
It was wednesday afternoon heading into early evening and I was working as I always did, as a loan officer for a private loan company. Katie was spedning time with my family. That day We were scheduled to meet at our weekly wednesday haunt in Bossier, Notinis Italian restuarant for their All you can eat spaghetti night.
I was set to leave work at 4:30, run an errand and meet them all at the restaurant at 5:30. I never made it there.
I left my job in Shreveport as planned and headed across the bridge into Bossier to my insurance agent's office. Doug French had an All State office and we had met through mutual friends. Not long after meeting him, he became our agent.
I had some papers to sign so it was going to be a quick visit. I pulled into the lot on Airline Drive at 5:15. I was just a few blocks from the restuarant so I was making good time. I headed through the door of the front office, never knowing that my life would change forever.
The receptionist had left for the night and Doug was alone in his office in the back. I walked into his office and was greeted with a sweet smile and his strong southern drawl. We chatted a bit about Katie and how she was getting so big. In my distant memories, I heard the bell ring on the front door. The front door had a bell attached to it and whenever someone entered, it would sound. But if I did hear it that night, I didnt give it another thought. I don't think Doug did either.
I came out of Doug's office and the first one grabbed me. I was thrown into the right corner and they began to tie up my hands and legs. They tied me down and taped my mouth closed. I jerked away from one of them and he moved forward onto me, so close that I could feel his breath on my face. he hit me in the head with one of the guns and it was hard enough that I lost my balance and fell forward. I could feel the burn in my skull and then could feel the blood running down my face. Doug kept yelling at them to not hurt us, we both had families and we would give them whatever they wanted. Please don't kill us was screaming out of his mouth. They went through everything, opening and throwing things onto the floor. Scavaging looked like an art to them. They knew Just what they wanted.
I Saw one of them grab the phone and rip it from the wall. They put their hands on me and searched me. Took my purse and emptied it out on the floor. They ripped my diamond earrings out of my ears and removed my watch from my wrist. the time seemed to stand still. There were so many times that I knew I was going to die and never see katie again. I was so helpless physically and emotionally. Doug was too. They kept the 3 guns on us and kept telling us if we moved or spoke that they would put a round of bullets into us. My eyes were moving constantly from the first, second and third gunman.
Nothing was stopping.
Please God, end this!
I was in the corner, cowering and scared. Crying out to God, asking him Why??? Why me??? What do I do to end this? Am I going to live through this? please let me see my sweet katies face again.
And in that next moment, everything changed.........
I thought that I was dreaming and heard the bell from someone coming into the office. It was not a dream, I heard a stranger's voice asking for Doug. My stomach was sick thinking that someone else was with them and he was coming in too. the 3 however got scared and took off out the back of the building. I couldn't see anyone from where I was, still tied up in the back office. I only heard the man's voice and now Dougs cracking voice speaking back to him. Doug came strait over to me and cut the tape off of ny legs and wrists. He uncovered my mouth and in the front office, I saw the man standing there, seeing us but not sure what to say. I felt like I couldnt breath but watched carefully at all of my surroundings. Trying to take everything in.
This man, owned another All State agency in Bossier and had some things to give to Doug and decided at the last minute to stop by that night. I have no memory of what that mans name is or remember anything of what he looks like. I just remember that he saved us. He called 911 and the cops came quickly. The parking lot was flooded with flashing lights. They put me into the back of a squad car to get me out of sight from any media that was starting to filter into the area. They put Doug in another car and they kept us there for what seemed like an eternity. I quietly watched the black sky fill with blue and white lights and my eyes darted around to every camera crew that now filled the small parking lot. I continued to shake uncontrollably as I sat alone in the cold, running squad car. My mind could not stop running through everything in my head. I could hear the scanner calling out into a world of darkness.
Hours later, I was driven to the police station a few blocks away and I had to give them my statement about what had happened and see if I could offer them any information that they needed! The night was now full of darkness and it was still so muggy. The air in the station was cold from the Air condtioner and I was restless sitting in the chair. Boding from one side to another. The detective seemed to take forever in his questions, trying to find out every single detail of what I could remember. An eternity later, the detective released me to go home.
I remember walking around the corner and seeing my dad, Uncle Bob, David and Jeremy waiting for me
I cannot remember who drove me to my house, but I have a vivid memory of walking through my front door, seeing Lori, Katie and Aunt Joyce. Then, I saw my mom, as she ran across the room, crying and yelling my baby! Seeing her, I fell to the ground in her arms, and for the first time that night, uncontrollable sobs escaped by body. I cried until there was nothing left in me.
The remainder of that night and many months of nights became long and I no longer slept. When the lights went out, I couldnt close my eyes without seeing the 3 of them. Their masks and their guns. The lights had to stay on and I had to be by myself. I had to be away from everyone and I felt that I was so lost. I couldnt take care of myself or be a mom to Katie.
The days passed and I slowly found freedom again outside of my house.
This last May was 14 years since that night and I will never be the same person that I was that faithful day. I think that the girl/woman that I had been, died in that All State office that day.
I always try to find good in the world. but with going through and being a victim to a violent crime first hand, I know that there is pure evil and hatred out there and that people encounter so much of it on a daily basis and unfortunalty some never recover.
As for Doug, I am sad to say that when he died, a place of what was left of me, went with him that day. Lamar and I were going down I-49 with Jessica, megan and Katie when I got the call. I cannot express into words the pain that I felt at that moment. You see, Doug was the only one that I had to connect with about that muggy day in May and now, it is just me and the vivid memories of that awful night.
I have learned so much over the years as to why I was spared that night. I have come to realize that God had so much in store for my life. I found an amazing, Godly man and married him. I took Katie back to church, the place that I had walked away from because of a dismal marriage and fear of life. I was able to see that I could live and it was ok to be me. I changed jobs from working 80 hours a week at the loan company to taking a pay cut to a job move into the world of chiropractic. Moving from suits and heels to scrubs and tennis shoes. I was able to be a mom to Katie again and fill my life with the grace, joy and love that comes with a happy and fulfilled life. I slowly learned to not be scared about what was out there in the world. I had faced death and won.
I went from no longer feeling like a victim, but a survivor!
This post is not inteneded for anyone to feel sorry for me with what I went through. I am simply telling my story on paper for the very first time. This is part of my healing process. Yes, it has been 14 years, but things still trigger memories of that night and I thanks to God, I have learned how to face my fears head on.
To me, this is just a story now. A work of non-fiction of something that happened to me a long time ago. Something that hapened to me to help make me who I am today.
That is how this whole story should have started. After all, a dramatic prologue like that is usually followed by something dreadful happening. The story that I am about to tell is dreadful, its My story and it did have an awful ending, but the beginning, was nothing like that!
The anniversary came this year, just like it always has, and when I think back on that faithful day. I always wonder if there will be a year when I wake up and not remember that on May 24th 2000, I almost lost my life.
I know that events are always seen from different points of view.
When there is a traffic accident, you can have 4 people witness the same crash, but you will have 4 differnt points of view. Everyone sees everything diffeerntly. My vision of that night may not be the vision of Doug's view from that night, but that really doesnt matter anymore because in 2001, Doug died.
Here is my version of what happened:
The sun was hot, and it was the usual end of the spring, May winding down weather in Louisiana. We lived in Bossier City at the time. Katie was just 2. Bossier City is in the north west part of louisiana. It is close to Arkansas & Texas and it is a thriving city. Its not the back woods of the state, full of cajun people, hunting alligators or green, swampy bayous. Well, they do hunt alligators and there are some bayous but we never lived on or in one. We didn't sit around eating Jambaylya every night or listen to the radio and hear nothing but the guitar and banjo. Bossier and Shreveport both was and still is a city, full of houses and neighborhoods and ordinary, southern people.
The week of May had been a fun adventure so far with my Aunt Joyce (mom's sister), my cousin Lori (Aunt Joyce's daughter) and my Uncle Bob (mom's brother) taking the train in from their homes in Iowa and Illinois to enjoy time with us. We had enjoyed some local cuisine and seen some sights. we had experienced the Alligator Farm in Natchitoches and Uncle Bob even got to meet some Louisiana Fire Ants.
It was wednesday afternoon heading into early evening and I was working as I always did, as a loan officer for a private loan company. Katie was spedning time with my family. That day We were scheduled to meet at our weekly wednesday haunt in Bossier, Notinis Italian restuarant for their All you can eat spaghetti night.
I was set to leave work at 4:30, run an errand and meet them all at the restaurant at 5:30. I never made it there.
I left my job in Shreveport as planned and headed across the bridge into Bossier to my insurance agent's office. Doug French had an All State office and we had met through mutual friends. Not long after meeting him, he became our agent.
I had some papers to sign so it was going to be a quick visit. I pulled into the lot on Airline Drive at 5:15. I was just a few blocks from the restuarant so I was making good time. I headed through the door of the front office, never knowing that my life would change forever.
The receptionist had left for the night and Doug was alone in his office in the back. I walked into his office and was greeted with a sweet smile and his strong southern drawl. We chatted a bit about Katie and how she was getting so big. In my distant memories, I heard the bell ring on the front door. The front door had a bell attached to it and whenever someone entered, it would sound. But if I did hear it that night, I didnt give it another thought. I don't think Doug did either.
I came out of Doug's office and the first one grabbed me. I was thrown into the right corner and they began to tie up my hands and legs. They tied me down and taped my mouth closed. I jerked away from one of them and he moved forward onto me, so close that I could feel his breath on my face. he hit me in the head with one of the guns and it was hard enough that I lost my balance and fell forward. I could feel the burn in my skull and then could feel the blood running down my face. Doug kept yelling at them to not hurt us, we both had families and we would give them whatever they wanted. Please don't kill us was screaming out of his mouth. They went through everything, opening and throwing things onto the floor. Scavaging looked like an art to them. They knew Just what they wanted.
I Saw one of them grab the phone and rip it from the wall. They put their hands on me and searched me. Took my purse and emptied it out on the floor. They ripped my diamond earrings out of my ears and removed my watch from my wrist. the time seemed to stand still. There were so many times that I knew I was going to die and never see katie again. I was so helpless physically and emotionally. Doug was too. They kept the 3 guns on us and kept telling us if we moved or spoke that they would put a round of bullets into us. My eyes were moving constantly from the first, second and third gunman.
Nothing was stopping.
Please God, end this!
I was in the corner, cowering and scared. Crying out to God, asking him Why??? Why me??? What do I do to end this? Am I going to live through this? please let me see my sweet katies face again.
And in that next moment, everything changed.........
I thought that I was dreaming and heard the bell from someone coming into the office. It was not a dream, I heard a stranger's voice asking for Doug. My stomach was sick thinking that someone else was with them and he was coming in too. the 3 however got scared and took off out the back of the building. I couldn't see anyone from where I was, still tied up in the back office. I only heard the man's voice and now Dougs cracking voice speaking back to him. Doug came strait over to me and cut the tape off of ny legs and wrists. He uncovered my mouth and in the front office, I saw the man standing there, seeing us but not sure what to say. I felt like I couldnt breath but watched carefully at all of my surroundings. Trying to take everything in.
This man, owned another All State agency in Bossier and had some things to give to Doug and decided at the last minute to stop by that night. I have no memory of what that mans name is or remember anything of what he looks like. I just remember that he saved us. He called 911 and the cops came quickly. The parking lot was flooded with flashing lights. They put me into the back of a squad car to get me out of sight from any media that was starting to filter into the area. They put Doug in another car and they kept us there for what seemed like an eternity. I quietly watched the black sky fill with blue and white lights and my eyes darted around to every camera crew that now filled the small parking lot. I continued to shake uncontrollably as I sat alone in the cold, running squad car. My mind could not stop running through everything in my head. I could hear the scanner calling out into a world of darkness.
Hours later, I was driven to the police station a few blocks away and I had to give them my statement about what had happened and see if I could offer them any information that they needed! The night was now full of darkness and it was still so muggy. The air in the station was cold from the Air condtioner and I was restless sitting in the chair. Boding from one side to another. The detective seemed to take forever in his questions, trying to find out every single detail of what I could remember. An eternity later, the detective released me to go home.
I remember walking around the corner and seeing my dad, Uncle Bob, David and Jeremy waiting for me
I cannot remember who drove me to my house, but I have a vivid memory of walking through my front door, seeing Lori, Katie and Aunt Joyce. Then, I saw my mom, as she ran across the room, crying and yelling my baby! Seeing her, I fell to the ground in her arms, and for the first time that night, uncontrollable sobs escaped by body. I cried until there was nothing left in me.
The remainder of that night and many months of nights became long and I no longer slept. When the lights went out, I couldnt close my eyes without seeing the 3 of them. Their masks and their guns. The lights had to stay on and I had to be by myself. I had to be away from everyone and I felt that I was so lost. I couldnt take care of myself or be a mom to Katie.
The days passed and I slowly found freedom again outside of my house.
This last May was 14 years since that night and I will never be the same person that I was that faithful day. I think that the girl/woman that I had been, died in that All State office that day.
I always try to find good in the world. but with going through and being a victim to a violent crime first hand, I know that there is pure evil and hatred out there and that people encounter so much of it on a daily basis and unfortunalty some never recover.
As for Doug, I am sad to say that when he died, a place of what was left of me, went with him that day. Lamar and I were going down I-49 with Jessica, megan and Katie when I got the call. I cannot express into words the pain that I felt at that moment. You see, Doug was the only one that I had to connect with about that muggy day in May and now, it is just me and the vivid memories of that awful night.
I have learned so much over the years as to why I was spared that night. I have come to realize that God had so much in store for my life. I found an amazing, Godly man and married him. I took Katie back to church, the place that I had walked away from because of a dismal marriage and fear of life. I was able to see that I could live and it was ok to be me. I changed jobs from working 80 hours a week at the loan company to taking a pay cut to a job move into the world of chiropractic. Moving from suits and heels to scrubs and tennis shoes. I was able to be a mom to Katie again and fill my life with the grace, joy and love that comes with a happy and fulfilled life. I slowly learned to not be scared about what was out there in the world. I had faced death and won.
I went from no longer feeling like a victim, but a survivor!
This post is not inteneded for anyone to feel sorry for me with what I went through. I am simply telling my story on paper for the very first time. This is part of my healing process. Yes, it has been 14 years, but things still trigger memories of that night and I thanks to God, I have learned how to face my fears head on.
To me, this is just a story now. A work of non-fiction of something that happened to me a long time ago. Something that hapened to me to help make me who I am today.
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