Vigilantes Torch Home, Kill Innocent Woman
Police Say Two Men Set Fire To House Of Child Porn Suspect, Whose Wife Dies
-
-
Photo
Booking photographs of Robert "Bobby" Bell (left) and Gary Sellers, both of Helenwood, Tenn., charged with murder and arson in a Sept. 2, 2007 house fire that killed Melissa Chandler. Authorities say it was "vigilante justice" aimed at her husband Timothy Chandler because of his arrest on child pornography charges. (AP Photo/Scott Co. Sheriff)
-
Photo
The charred remains of Timothy and Melissa Chandler's house and car in rural Helenwood, Tenn., photographed on Sept. 12, 2007. Melissa Chandler died from injuries in a Sept. 2 fire which authorities say was set by two men who wanted to drive the Chandlers from the community after Timothy Chandler was charged with child pornography. (AP Photo/Duncan Mansfield)
-
Two of Chandler's neighbors decided to do something about it, police say. They're accused of trying to scare him off by setting fire to his tiny house tucked away in a hardscrabble Appalachian hollow.
Chandler, 53, escaped from the flames. But his wife was killed in what authorities are calling an example of vigilante justice.
"I really wish it wasn't me who got out," Chandler told Knoxville television station WBIR. "I wish it was her. She didn't deserve that."
Robert "Bobby" Bell, a 37-year-old construction worker, and Gary Lamar Sellers, a 39-year-old coal-mining equipment mechanic, are jailed on $1 million bond, charged with first-degree murder and arson.
After losing all his possessions in the Sept. 2 fire, Chandler was living in a Knoxville homeless shelter. His attorney, public defender Larry Bryant, said Chandler expects to enter a plea next month to charges he downloaded more than 100 pornographic pictures of young girls.
His mother-in-law found some of the pictures on a disk he had given her to copy computer programs in May. She tipped off police, and Chandler was arrested Aug. 20. Released on $100,000 bond, he came home a few days before the fire.
Sellers and Bell told police they did not intend for anyone to die. They just wanted to get Timothy Chandler out of the neighborhood because he was "a pervert," Chief Deputy Bill Lane said.
Sellers admitted driving the pickup truck used that night, but he claimed Bell set the fire, according to an affidavit. After lighting the blaze, the pair "drove to a close location where both men watched the residence burn."
Bell "feels like it was a very unfortunate incident, just like everybody else," said his court-appointed lawyer, Lief Jeffers. "This was not anything that was intended by any of the parties."
Sellers' attorney Jimmy Logan did not return a call for comment.
The fire is one of many examples of suspected vigilantism against sex offenders, ranging from harassment and arson to more violent crimes. A Nova Scotia man used Maine's sex offender registry last year to find and fatally shoot two registered sex offenders. Two convicted child rapists were killed in Washington state.
Helenwood, some 15 miles south of the Kentucky border, is a mountain community of about 800 people with an average household income of $17,700 - less than half the state average.
The Chandlers and both suspects all lived on Butler Lane, a twisting one-lane country road that runs past small fields, weathered houses, outbuildings and trailers, and rusting farm machinery. Homes are clustered so closely together that neighbors can keep an eye on each other from their back porch swings.
Oma Butler lives on a hill overlooking the now-charred one-bedroom home, which she rented to the Chandlers. She knows everyone involved and blamed the fire on a combination of alcohol, drugs and "no sense."
The Chandlers were a little secretive, Butler recalled, and covered their windows with plastic bags. But they were good renters for nearly eight years.
"They have always been real nice to me," she said. Timothy "seemed the happiest guy when I would see him."
Records indicate Chandler served 18 months in prison in Ohio for a 1990 conviction for gross sexual imposition, which typically involves fondling. But he's had no problems since.
Bell and Sellers have had frequent run-ins with the law over relatively minor offenses, including drinking and driving on a revoked license.
Detective Don Laxton said several people were "hollering names and so forth" outside the Chandlers' house a few hours before the fire began.
Butler didn't think anything of the noise then, but awoke later to the sound of a truck spinning its wheels "like it was in a deep mud hole." She saw the red pickup drive to a nearby hill, park and turn off its lights.
Soon after, her son came running in. "Mom, mom, the house is on fire!" he yelled. The house's porch "was burning from one end to the other. It was a-flaming," she said.
Her son ran to the house. He smashed a window to get Chandler out. Then they broke open a door so Chandler could race inside for his wife. She was unconscious when Chandler brought her out. He tried CPR, but Melissa "Missy" Chandler, 37, died at the emergency room.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



- 1
- 2
- next
See all 66 CommentsThanks darkmeat4. I read a quote long ago but don''t know who it''s from though, it applies to these guys situation: "When your horse dies, get off!"
Hilarious. Yeah, sure. I know that if my wife and I were in a burning house, I''m not leaving without her. But he apparently had no problems escaping. Add coward to his already existing title of sick pervert.
For all of you .......
Complain about the - "Best" - Most Dedicated - Child Predators
This Country has ever - "Trained and Produced."
"J. Edgar Hoover" (FBI Director)
Occasionally enjoyed : A Romp in Bed with : "Young Boys"
Video tapped - Statements : From former FBI Agents :
Describing how - They Delivered Young Boys - For S*e*x*
Is Evidenced - To that ! ! ! !
If those Young Boys, came from - Juvenile Detention Centers.
They may - "Not" - of had any - Choice in the Matter
That activity - Now turns into a : - S*e*x* - Slave - Trafficking operation.
In 1984 - Craig - Was under an Investigation for having
S*E*X* - with - Under Age Pages.
Like Foley - - Another - Closed door Investigation by - The FBI
on behalf of : The Republican (Nazi) Party
Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, Larry Craig and many Others
The FBI - Has a History - of Providing Youngsters for : S*E*X*
"Child Solicitation - Child Prostitution - Child Pimps"
The FBI - (Uncovered) - In one of it''s - More Finest Moments
If the Law Enforcement branches of Florida -
Ever gain Access - To the Computers of - "Foley"
The FBI - Stands a good chance of being Criminally Charged.
It''s been a - Long time Coming - and - Too Long Overdue
Lastdance
Oh please - the backwoods inbred ignorant fools them them and you are the Bush Base ... sheesh.
LMAO -- you think there are liberals living in the appalachina mountains??? ROTFLMAO!!! Oh my - honey chile you have lost your mind!!
Oh dear - did Jeffie Boy Gannon turn down your overdrawn credit card again???
nyckate, what the h3ll? This the second time you blasted me. You do know the words between the === === are quotes from someone else''s post, right? No one who knows me is going to confuse me with a neocon.
Shades of the movie Deliverance!
Robert ''Bobby'' Bell and Gary Sellers sound like two brain dead losers, who decided to take the law into their own hands, "prolly ''cause the cort ain''t actin fass enuff."
The two are COWARDS. Afraid to confront the person, they strike in the night by setting the house afire.
"Wull shew him a thang er too, by settin far ta hiz houss."
Their charges should aslo includ atempted murder.
Definetly, these two cretins should be removed from the gene pool permanently and quickly, lest the have a chance to breed. However, they will be involved with the legal system for years to come.
In prison, they might be held as heroes to some inmates. However, to others, they will not be so adored.
There are *** offenders in prison, some by court action, others because of prison lifestyle. These two guys are going to have to spend the rest of their life looking over their shoulders.
wattermelann,
We would but Michael Vick killed them all.
As long as you are blessed by the Republicans or some back country preacher, you can maim, torture or kill whoever, whenever.
I did not spend six years in the military to let rich people think they could use hate to manipulate people who aren''t rich.
Stop the violence.
Look around: How in g o d''s name can it be possible that your neighbor of another color could have the power to make your job go away?
Yeah right, when you set FIRE to a wooden house with sleeping people inside, the intent is obviously murder- these two should get the death penalty.
Jezus, the moron downloaded PICTURES off the net, BFD! keep your dam kids at home in your sight and you don''t need to worry about anything happening to them, if PARENTS did their JOB monitoring THEIR kids, their kids would NEVER be molested, kidnapped or murdered.
The charges against the husband are, in this matter, irrelevant, because they do not justify what the two men did, even if no one had died.
Posted by newster1 at 02:04 AM : Sep 15, 2007"
U R the moron. It is a BFD for someone to d/l pics of kiddie porn. It''s people like this who make it NOT SAFE for kids. What do you propose parents do? Lock up kids inside so the pervs can run free? "dam kids''??? How kind and loving. You imply it''s parents fault if their child gets molested, kidnapped or murdered. You must be f*cking stupid. My uncle molested me while my parents were visiting my grandparents in the next room. Shouldn''t it have been safe for me to be at my grandparents house? Parents do do their job. The f*cking pervs are wacked and will do anything to get at a kid. Just ask my uncle.
http://leftofdial.com/?p=238
and the rest of you
Start down at your own Federal Building ! ! ! ! ! !
Complain about the - "Best" - Most Dedicated - Child Predators
This Country has ever - "Trained and Produced."
"J. Edgar Hoover" (FBI Director)
Occasionally enjoyed : A Romp in Bed with : "Young Boys"
Video tapped - Statements : From former FBI Agents :
Describing how - They Delivered Young Boys - For S*e*x*
Is Evidenced - To that ! ! ! !
If those Young Boys, came from - Juvenile Detention Centers.
They may - "Not" - of had any - Choice in the Matter
That activity - Now turns into a : - S*e*x* - Slave - Trafficking operation.
In 1984 - Craig - Was under an Investigation for having
S*E*X* - with - Under Age Pages.
Like Foley - - Another - Closed door Investigation by - The FBI
on behalf of : The Republican (Nazi) Party
Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, Larry Craig and many Others
The FBI - Has a History - of Providing Youngsters for : S*E*X*
"Child Solicitation - Child Prostitution - Child Pimps"
The FBI - (Uncovered) - In one of it''s - More Finest Moments
If the Law Enforcement branches of Florida -
Ever gain Access - To the Computers of - "Foley"
The FBI - Stands a good chance of being Criminally Charged.
It''s been a - Long time Coming - and - Too Long Overdue
Lastdance
Posted by WeedHighBuck at 07:51 AM : Sep 15, 2007
+ report abuse
So in your small little mind American''s should NOT be concerned about these people? You DO KNOW that Democrats and Republican''s ARE American''s don''t you? This is NOT something new here... well at least they didn''t put their hoods and sheets on, but it is far from new. It isn''t just this guy either. People who have challenged these "Born Again" freaks and their religion have seen as bad or worse. You can bury you head in the sand if you want but the followers of Senator Wide Stance are a bunch of hypocrits who WILL commit acts of terror the likes of which most American''s will never know. How do I know? I''ve lived amoung them my entire life.
Posted by bluehart at 04:32 AM : Sep 15, 2007
+ report abu
So we just toss out the Constitution, the provisions of making the state prove guilt BEFORE we inpose a punishment? You fascist are WAY out of bounds here and getting worse by the day. We employ people to handle these things, they are supposed to treat the accused in a certain way and NOT assume guilt at any point. That''s why we are a free people...well at least some of us.
The charges against the husband are, in this matter, irrelevant, because they do not justify what the two men did, even if no one had died.
Posted by Griezz at 02:16 AM : Sep 15, 2007
+ report abuse
If you think the idea that this is acceptable doesn''t come from Republican''s and the Religious Reich, you haven''t been listening!!! Tune in people like Pat Robertson and James Kennedy sometime! LISTEN to what they say about ANYONE who doesn''t agree with them politically and THEN listen as they LINK acts such as the actions this person is ACCUSED of to those people. THEY are no different than the Taliban and you are a fool for not seeing what is so obvious. Sieg Heil and Amen!!
I hope everyone who reads this can understand that the true pedophiles are mentally ill and need treatment. I do agree in isolation from children until they are cured.
I also would point out that we live in a society that makes it easy to accuse anyone of anything at any time including child related crimes. Once accused, you don''t stand a chance! There are some cases where the child has recanted their statement without knowing the accused is in jail but the law won''t accept the recantation. I know this to be true because it happened to a mentally retarded family member who now lives with me because I am a retired cop and current mental health professional and my wife is a nurse. It seems he was ordered to live with us for HIS protection - not the nephews who falsely accused him. One child is 19 and states his uncle never touched him and the other nephew in in juvenille jail in another state at age 14 because he is what he always was - l''enfant terrible!
As long as you are blessed by the Republicans or some back country preacher, you can maim, torture or kill whoever, whenever.
I did not spend six years in the military to let rich people think they could use hate to manipulate people who aren''''t rich.
Stop the violence.
Look around: How in g o d''''s name can it be possible that your neighbor of another color could have the power to make your job go away?
________________________________
ibsteve2u only you have to power to make your job go away with that chip on your shoulder attitude. I am not even close to rich, but I don''t go around crying because of it. ibsteve2u is jealous of people who have made a SUCCESS out of their lives. If it wasn''t for the rich who probably owns your company, you wouldn''t have a job.. Oh wait, you don''t like republicans.. So you think the government should be providing all jobs? Just another **** folks !
I just can''t understand what leads people to believe that its ok to hurt other people or their possessions. I think I would go ape-s*** on anyone who touches my things. That''s hours of work thrown in the trash.
Posted by sblake63 at 11:04 AM : Sep 15, 2007
I like this stupidity. Haven''t you heard about corporate welfare? As long as the government keeps providing corporate welfare, then they are providing the jobs.
THAT
would solve ALOT of problems.
AMAZING! polipoetical didn''t learn ANYTHING from this story! Can''t you see that INNOCENT people get hurt, in this case killed, by such rash actions?
THAT
would solve ALOT of problems.
Posted by polipoetical at 11:55 AM : Sep 15, 2007
+ report abuse
Who is to determine who is and is not guilty of such things? THAT is the issue here NOT what YOU think the law should be or should not be. These Southern Fascist need to get some sense of what FREEDOM really means. When you have the American Taliban on every sunday using hate for those who are accused of such things, you get losers like these two taking the law into their own hands. Hang em'' High I say!! Sieg Heil Grand Wizard!!
She''s probably better off anyway.
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 66 Comments