Vigilantes Torch Home, Kill Innocent Woman

Police Say Two Men Set Fire To House Of Child Porn Suspect, Whose Wife Dies

(AP)  Everybody in this little mountain community knew that Timothy Carl Chandler had been arrested on child pornography charges. It was in the newspaper and all over the TV news.

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.

[kkwas]

It''s too bad it''s the wife that died...should have been the husband. We need more vigilante justice nowadays, just brought forth maybe by some brighter people.

[retmilspouse]

darkmeat4

Thanks 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!"

[Krazcarl]

Ah vigalante justice that''s why it''s illegal innocents get hurt if they were men why didn''t they jump him not set the house on fire have a drink and run. This is cowardly and should be punished.

[wattermelann]

vigilante justice is not right, because it is not based on right and wrong. It is based on what some ignorant fool thinks is right or wrong. When vigilante justice is practice something dreadful happens and many times the wrong person is persecuted--you know just like Jesus. Funny a lot of these vigilantes are thinking they are doing these awful things in the name of Jesus Christ when in fact they are just like the Romans and Jews who persecuted Jesus. throw these two crazy vigilante deviants to the dogs...please.

[rafterman1]

==="I really wish it wasn''t me who got out,"===

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.

[lastdance2]

RE : darkmeat4 - Rafterman1 - crzmeat

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

[nyckate]

Rafterman1

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???

[rafterman1]

===Oh please - the backwoods inbred ignorant fools them them and you are the Bush Base ... sheesh.===

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.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

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.

[retmilspouse]

throw these two crazy vigilante deviants to the dogs...please.

wattermelann,
We would but Michael Vick killed them all.

[ajmystic]

Mrs. Butler, who rented the house to the Chandelers, made the comment that this was done because of "alcohol, drugs, and no sense". She couldn''t have been more right. Give a couple of people some alcohol and drugs, let them stew about a situation that they want to end, and if they have no sense, this is what will happen. They should have just let the law take care of it. Once a person is convicted of being a s*e*x offender, it probably wouldn''t take another court long to convict him again and give him more time in jail. The two who committed this act are where they should be. I hope they get life in prison. That will give them plenty of time to get some sense into their heads.

[fatherwolf2]

Shore makes me proud ta be an Amerkun

[hermit22]

if people KNEW that the courts would really deal with perverts, this sort of thing probably wouldn''t happen.

[kaelinda]

These two vigilantes will probably get life in prison without parole, while the pervert who likes little children will get five years and then be let out to collect more pictures and maybe even "fondle" a child. Where''s the justice here?

[mdc76082]

Only in America! What a bunch of backwoods Jethro Bodines. Too many Dukes of Hazzard reruns! Morons. Dah.

[ladyephesus1]

People really need to allow God to handle these things. This is a big problem in the world. Everybody wants to play God!! An innocent victim died as a result. Praying for this man would have served better than killing his poor wife.

[missingamerica]

This is what I hate about what the Republicans do - they use *** like the "Swift Boat" ads to embed hatred in America''s soul.

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?

[METAUSTIN]

Don''t care if it was an accident or not, string these two killers up! Tennessee MUST be a "red state" after reading this. What idiots. Bet these two "good ole boys" were inbred too. Reminds me of "Deliverance". Can''t believe morons like this really exist now-a-days, but all you have to do is look into the Oval Office to see they do. Pathetic! At least Falwell is gone. Good riddence! It''s really sad that a glowing center of intelligence like Oak Ridge is smack in the middle of Hooterville.

[nothappyatall]

"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."

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.

[griezz]

I don''t blame Republicans. I don''t blame Conservative Christians. I just blame the two worthless people who murdered an innocent woman, just because they were drunk and wanted to act like big men.

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.

[red164]

Sounds like something that poser with the screename (libluvsuvs) would do.

[knyghtwolf]

Another fine example of "it''s not who you know, it''s who you blow" that counts. IF bush or anyone in a position of A U T H O R I T Y had ordered this say like an "invasion of a county based on faulty intel." No one would hold the REAL culprit accountable, they would just give them MORE money to waste, more people to go after and justify it that way, calling it their "christian duty, calling, or god told them to do it or some lame reason as such." Good example of good ole west texass justice but different location.

[bluehart-2009]

"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.

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.

[radio632]

This happened a few miles from where I live. I blogged about this last week. The national media is finally picking up the story (thanks to the AP). The dead woman''s sister comments on my blog:

http://leftofdial.com/?p=238

[lastdance2]

RE : knyghtwolf
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

[weedhighbuck]

Oh look! Some bizarre *** happens in the mountains of Tennessee and the Democrats and Republicans start blaming each other. I think the ones on this site are dumber ''n the jagoffs in TN who are involved in the story.

[skyk-2009]

Oh look! Some bizarre *** happens in the mountains of Tennessee and the Democrats and Republicans start blaming each other. I think the ones on this site are dumber ''''n the jagoffs in TN who are involved in the s

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.

[skyk-2009]

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.


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.

[mcvet]

don''''t blame Republicans. I don''''t blame Conservative Christians. I just blame the two worthless people who murdered an innocent woman, just because they were drunk and wanted to act like big men.

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!!

[mcvet]

Everything we have as a people, all that is America is bound up in the right of an Accused Person to be assumed not guilty until the State PROVES that in a court of law. Many decades ago many wide eyed College Students got on buses and went to states like Tenn, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and the rest to see to it that the citizens of those states COMPLETELY and FULLY understood that FACT. The citizens of those states are the only ones who can change what they are and have been. THEY and they alone must make Justice and the Constitution something that they HONESTLY believe in, instead of something they agree to in an effort to get people to look other places. THEY and they alone can stop the American Taliban Leaders from again denying the most basic rights to people. Sieg Heil and Amen.

[perimogi]

Dumb as the child pornographer. They thought they were helping the neighborhood? They were, they were removing themselves from it. Sad for the lady who was a victim of their stupidity and her husband''s pervertedness.

[bwright923]

why do they feal the need to type the lady''s quotes in a dialect, i.e. "a-flaming". what if they were interviewing a new jersey person would they type "he drove his cah to the tap of the hill"?

[lehn1043]

This is a tragic event that tell the tale about what we are all about n America.

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!

[sblake63]

This is what I hate about what the Republicans do - they use *** like the "Swift Boat" ads to embed hatred in America''''s soul.

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 !

[ucellis]

I hate it when people mess with other people''s stuff. Granted, yes, he was a pedophile but there are other ways besides destroying and killing.
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.

[rudy654-2009]

Oh wait, you don''''t like republicans.. So you think the government should be providing all jobs? Just another **** folks !
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.

[donnie900]

Hey, I got an idea. Lets call Bush a pedophile.

[polipoetical]

Personally, I feel that individuals who Sexually Abuse or assault children (by this I mean **** sapiens sapiens under the age of Puberty and Reproduction potential) should be Euthenized with extreme haste, much as a rabid dog is put down.
THAT
would solve ALOT of problems.

[myidoncbs]

Vigilante in waiting, polipoetical, says: "I feel that individuals who Sexually Abuse or assault children ... should be Euthenized with extreme haste, much as a rabid dog is put down."

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?

[blayzebright]

Its amazing how often this happens, yet people never learn. Even in the justice system itself, countless people have been executed before being proven innocent. People who commit crimes worthy of death are no less sick than the butchers who carry out their sentence.

[hereticzero-2009]

This should fall under hate-crimes even if the guy was charged with child porn. He can also sue for wrongful death.

[mcvet]

Personally, I feel that individuals who Sexually Abuse or assault children (by this I mean **** sapiens sapiens under the age of Puberty and Reproduction potential) should be Euthenized with extreme haste, much as a rabid dog is put down.
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!!

[toolmangler-2009]

You would think that being rich would be enough for people to be happy. Nope!. Being the most powerful kid on the block is the only thing that counts to some people. All of the animals in the world take the same view, having enough food to eat is not enough with them either. Each species has its own ''pecking order'' from the top down. Man is suppose to rise above his animalistic nature. Some do, most don''t. The rich man that finds ways to help people without calling attention to himself is the one I admire. The powerful man that uses his power to make peoples lives safer, better without hurting other peoples is the one I admire. The poor man that lives his life to the best of his ability and doesn''t blame someone else for his lot in life, is the one I admire. My biggest problem is that I don''t have nearly enough people to admire these days, but there are some, Thank you GOD!

[ratmonkeyx]

All pedophiles deserve to die. Or dismemebered. Or raped and set on fire. Either way, it''s too bad his wife had to die, but at least he will suffer knowing that it was all his fault.
She''s probably better off anyway.

[deeplynlove-2009]

This is disgusting. There is no proof that he ever molested any children, as a matter of fact their still investigating the "child porn" his mother says she found on his computer. For idiot hicks to take advantage and jump the gun without facts, it''s disgusting, and it''s part of the reason why innocent people die. I say all drunk drivers should die, any idiot who drinks and gets behind the wheel, they should all be put in prision for killing innocent people! I don''t like child molesters either, but there is not proof or any facts saying that this man ever molested children. There was no reason for those two drunken men to get involved and "take the law into their hands" or "scare him off" that''s why innocent people die, that and drunk drivers. I hope those two get the Max.!!

[tamarak2]

AC Wharton III, the 35 year-old son of the mayor of Shelby County TN was just placed on diversion for raping a 13 year-old girl a few weeks ago in Knoxville. Emotions are running high about the city''s complacent treatment of pedophiles. This is tragic but not completely imaginable.

[tamarak2]

AC Wharton III, the 35 year-old son of the mayor of Shelby County TN was just placed on diversion for raping a 13 year-old girl a few weeks ago in Knoxville. Emotions are running high about the city''s complacent treatment of pedophiles. This is tragic but not completely imaginable.

[tamarak2]

AC Wharton III, the 35 year-old son of the mayor of Shelby County TN was just placed on diversion for raping a 13 year-old girl a few weeks ago in Knoxville. Emotions are running high about the city''s complacent treatment of pedophiles. This is tragic but not completely imaginable.

[tamarak2]

AC Wharton III, the 35 year-old son of the mayor of Shelby County TN was just placed on diversion for raping a 13 year-old girl a few weeks ago in Knoxville. Emotions are running high about the city''s complacent treatment of pedophiles. This is tragic but not completely imaginable.

[tamarak2]

AC Wharton III, the 35 year-old son of the mayor of Shelby County TN was just placed on diversion for raping a 13 year-old girl a few weeks ago in Knoxville. Emotions are running high about the city''s complacent treatment of pedophiles. This is tragic but not completely imaginable.