ALBA, Tex., Mar. 2, 2008
Texas Town Grieves Over Brutal Slayings
Family Opposition To Teenager's Romance Suspected In Murders; Girl One Of 4 Arrested
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ATF agents shovel and pick through the charred remains of a rural Alba, Texas home on March 1, 2008. A mother and two children were killed during a pre-dawn attack on their remote East Texas ranch; another man was critically injured by gunshot wounds and the family's house burned to the ground. (AP/H. Nygren Jr., Tyler Morn. Tele.)
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Angry that her parents demanded she break up with her boyfriend, the teenager helped kill her mother and two brothers during a grisly weekend ambush at the family's rural wooded home, authorities said Sunday.
The 16-year-old girl joined her boyfriend and two others in shooting and stabbing members of the Caffey family in their bedrooms before setting the house on fire, authorities said, confirming what most in this small farming town had known since the pre-dawn attack Saturday.
The lone survivor was Terry Caffey, the father. He was shot five times - including twice in the back - before he was able to drag his bloodied body through the woods in search of help. He was awaiting surgery Sunday to remove the bullets, Rains County Sheriff David Traylor said.
The girl, who police confirmed as the family's daughter but whose name was withheld because of her age, was arraigned Sunday on three counts of capital murder and was being held on $1.5 million bond.
Three others between the ages of 18 and 20, including the girl's suspected boyfriend, were arraigned on the same charges and given the same bond.
"Early on in the investigation, it was revealed that the juvenile and one of the suspects were dating and made to break up," the Rains County Sheriff's Department said in a release.
Charlie James Wilkinson, 19; Charles Allen Waid, 20; and Bobbi Gale Johnson, 18, all of Emory, were being held at the Rains County jail. It was not immediately clear if they had attorneys.
The 16-year-old daughter is confined in neighboring Hunt County's juvenile detention center in Greenville. Investigators said she was found hiding at the home of one of the suspects, though it was not immediately clear which of the suspects she was dating.
The scene of the attack was about 20 acres of pine-canopied, remote woodland in Alba on a narrow gravel road with just two other homes. The town is about 60 miles northeast of Dallas in Rains County, the second-smallest county in Texas.
The victims were identified as Penny Caffey, 37, and sons Tyler, 8, and Matthew, 13.
All were members of Miracle Faith Baptist Church, where about 80 congregants wept on blue-cushioned pews and clutched small children to their side during a somber Sunday morning sermon.
Pastor Todd McGahee struggled to keep his composure as he remembered Penny "getting after it" on the church piano and her sons playing guitar with her.
"When I first heard, I was like, 'I don't even think I would have crawled out of the house,"' McGahee told worshippers. "But God has a purpose for Terry's life. God has a reason. God gave him the strength to get out."
McGahee implored worshippers to pray for the Caffey's daughter and not blame the parents of the suspects, at least one of whom attended the small church.
"There's been a change in this church and a change in this community," McGahee said. "And we can't just wish it away. ... It will be the same loss, the same hurt tomorrow. There's been that change in our lives."
Carl Johnson, a friend of the family, said the family moved about two years ago to just outside this rural farming town of about 1,500. He called the family good Christians and said he often told the daughter that he wanted her soft singing voice to perform at his funeral.
"They didn't like the boy and were trying to break them up," Johnson said. "They told me at church they didn't have any use for him."
Autopsies have been ordered on the dead family members. Rains County Sheriff David Traylor said investigators haven't been able to determine whether the fire or gunshots caused their deaths because "the bodies have been so badly burned."
Authorities said they have recovered one weapon and are searching for another.
The family's home sat about three miles off U.S. 69, the main two-lane highway near Emory. Hay bales, horses and cattle dot the landscape down the county road leading to their secluded house, where a picnic table and burned van sit near the pile of black ash that is all that remains of the homes.
A wood sign tacked to a tree in the family's dirt driveway read "Joshua 24:15," a verse from the Old Testament that reads, in part, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 126 CommentsWhadaya mean I can''t watch TV? BAMM!
Whadaya mean I can''t have an Ipod? STAB!
You''re not the boss of me!!
Younger people have no respect for life, as Sandy has stated, and the loss of authority, in this country.
And too, the loss of a God fearing people. It''s as simple as that. And I blame our political leaders, past and present, for this decay.
Posted by curse914 at 05:49 PM : Mar 02, 2008
I agree with most of your post, except with the above line. And blaming homeschooling is another cop-out. Kids that are home schooled associate with other kids in after school programs, such as sports, and other activities.
It''s about time to put a name on your "nameless evil". It''s called personal responsibility. And morals. Thou shall not kill. Remember?
Today''s children need to grow up hearing the word "no" more often. My neighbor''s 8 year old daughter received a cellphone for Christmas, because "it was what she wanted". I guess next year they will have to buy her a car - or risk getting killed.
The home schooled kids I have met, and raised by responsible adults have better manners than most kids in regular school. And I agree that a well rounded education is important, which includes physical education. And interaction with ones peers, is critical.
But these kids have gone way over the line! This is not a "Romeo and Juliette" type of occurrence.
Oh and BTW for the other posters in the future, Guns have been around longer than the NRA.
I notice that the lot of you are animals as you are raising your off springs. Me, I reared both of my girls and they are doing fine. You see that is the difference I wonder just how many of you are rearing yours or raising them like the mother pig.
The best of good thoughts to all and to all good night. Frank Bowers now of Austin, TX unlike gw bush a man without an honorable discharge I have 3 of them.
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Posted by exCoachKen at 05:03 PM : Mar 02, 2008
Also the kids can''t see your gun! Wonder if a BIC lighter was used to start the fire? Wonder if charcoal starter or something was used to enhance the fire? If these things can be found out maybe some other things need to be regulated. Were they drinking? OH no wait their age makes it illegal to drink. So we know they wern''t doing that! Couldn''t have the football, nascar, hockey, tennis, or any other sport go without their main sponsor now could we? Well gotta go. Need to stack BB''s. Don''t ever stay around for any feeble replies.
And too, the loss of a God fearing people. It''''s as simple as that. And I blame our political leaders, past and present, for this decay.
Posted by slim1h2o
Was Dr. Spock a politician? Isn''t this the off-spring of the generation he created?
Posted by erasmus6
The above is copied from another article but I think it is so true.
what a pity .
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The pity is the depths that website ad spammers will sink, using a tragedy article to spam dating sites and get rich quick scheme site.
-Younger people have no respect for life, as Sandy has stated, and the loss of authority, in this country.
-And too, the loss of a God fearing people. It''''s as simple as that. And I blame our political leaders, past and present, for this decay.
Posted by slim1h2o
Weren''t these church going people? God in there life.
This is a very sad thing. My heart goes out to everyone involved. God fearing or not, really has little to do with it. Some kids take a wrong turn.
BTW. Atheist have the lowest crime rate of any group.
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Posted by sandy777 at 05:09 PM : Mar 02, 2008
Great post, Sandy, and you are right.
My folks were great parents, I was one of the lucky ones. If I got out of line, I was put back in line fast by my Mom. And all my Dad had to do was cut his eyes at me, and I straightened up! And never ever dared to talk back! I was allowed to state my mind, but never allowed to be disrespectful of the boundaries they set for me.
And if I didn''t get something right the first time, I did it again, or again, until I got it right!
Many kids today aren''t being raised. They''re raising their parents who never grew up!
And there is really something going on dark inside that has taken away respect for life. I think its called compassion and respect.
I have to agree with part of your post, Sir. But remember, criminals are usually smoothe talkers and charming...that''s why they''re called cons...
And yes, I have seen women that will nag a man right over the edge...I had a sister in law like that. I watched my brother take it, until he finally just packed her up and said I can''t go to this place with you anymore, you need to find some happy somewhere. I really think for some women it does stimulate the making up process. Plus, it''s like they enjoy having to see the male having to apologize for losing their temper. I may get some backfire from this statement. But I have seen it happen. It''s weird.
But these kids murdering their parents is getting more prolific...I can''t help but think drugs have to be a factor in there somewhere.
I don''t have any answers but if I had the power, I''d give drug users two chances to get and stay clean, and if they regress on the third chance, I''d send them to a uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific to fend for themselves and live among their own for the rest of their lives and not bother the rest of us.
Posted by RowdyTexan2
I can''t help but think that you are so right!
Posted by tulcak
Unfortunately there''s more religion and more guns every single day.
But you certainly don''t want to give a government a monopoly on religion or guns.
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Posted by twogunsono1g at 01:28 AM : Mar 03, 2008
Maybe he''s back on his meds.
Either you should give up your guns because a pathological liar like you has business with any weapon except a spoon to eat your baby food.
Posted by ilikecats1
Do you ever enter a discussion or debate without personally attacking anyone who may have adifferent opinion or view than your own?
My guess is that you would not dare speak in person to anyone the way you do on these boards. If you did you would quickly find yourself on your back in need of najor dental work.
Hiding behind the anonimity of the internet while lobbing personal attacks at people makes you chicken stuff.
P.S. I like cats too. On toast with mustard and mayo.
Posted by schoollord
That argument does not hold up. All you have to look at is the tyrany our government has imposed on us lately when we do have firearms. Take them away and likely as not it would be "no holds barred".
Plus the English are far more civilized than we Americans could hope to be.
Posted by schoollord
Sounds like working for the Bush admin.
Posted by schoollord
Of course guns are a common tread in shootings, just as knives are common tread in knife attacks. What is the common tread in murders?
Posted by schoollord
You post solid data and make good arguments. I simply believe your solution to be wrong. You will never prevent badguys from getting firearms. Just as you will never stop people from getting drugs. The blackmarket economy is just too strong. I believe gun law enforcement to be a partial solution. Responsible parenting another.
I have owned firearms most of my life. I am a responsible owner. I was taught respect for them, but more importantly, respect for human life (even for those who probably don;t deserve it)
My firearms ar locked in a 1000 lb safe that is lag bolted to the floor. Nobody can get to them excepy me.
Please, everyone on these boards, hit the report abuse button every time these idiots post. if we flood the mod. with reports maybe they will do something about it.
Posted by Displeased at 08:37 AM : Mar 03, 2008
Revenge, greed, envy, lack of respect for life, just to name a few.
She was 16, so she couldn''t legally leave home, and her family was negative and recalcitrant about her relationship. Something had to break, and it seems she was more determined than they were. I don''t think that the family''s objection was simply verbal either, there may have been prior violence involved, so the full story may never come out.
"Having no use for someone" implies that the person saying such a phrase makes value judgments based on their ability to "use" a person. Sounds like a slave master mentality
But this is now the "American way", just kill anyone with whom you have a disagreement. It is the recurring theme in TV, movies, and music. Our current president is even guilty of this. The girl was absolutely wrong to take such a choice as she did, but I also think there is more than one wrong party in this.
The argument that if the government took all the guns away that they would be "no-holds barred" against americans makes Zero sense. - A) we live in the only country in the world that has a chance to be fair, even if the party in power right now has done everything they can to be unfair. B) you cant be serious to think that you or your friends sitting at home with your various assault weapons are a Deterrant for the feds to not come get you if they wanted? - they can do more harmful things to you if and when they want to than you can even think of. And if you somehow get into a standoff with them surrounding your ''compound'' or ''fort'' you''re insane if you think you would win because you have weapons of any type.
Posted by slim1h2o
True! All issues that should have been adressed by responsible child rearing.
Posted by slim1h2o
Removing guns will not remove these (and other) issues. I wonder how this girl would have killed her family if guns weren''t available.
Posted by schoollord at 08:29 AM : Mar 03, 2008
I wasn''t going to comment but this got the better of me. Sorry.
Schoollord, your data is anything but "rock solid" it"s the same Brady and VPC drivel we hear every day from the gun haters. You use twist your "data" to fit your misguided view of life. Anything that goes against your "view" is disguarded with prejudice. Your''s is the only view and those who counter it are to be demonized castigated and "their" ideas and IQs belittled by your retoric, you are nothing more than "A legend in your own mind", I''ll offer you a proper debate, one on one, you and my choice of your opponent (myself if you insist), location of my choice, central USA, in front of a large audience as you can assemble. I''ll even supply local police protection for you since you are so afraid on the nutz. What say? are you game?
Posted by offtheback at 08:56 AM : Mar 03, 2008
No argument there. And what is also true is, no matter how many guns are out there, weather it''s one, or one trillion. You''ll never stop murders, till we look deeper into ourselves as a nation, people, and society.
Posted by Displeased at 09:01 AM : Mar 03, 2008
Exactly,, well said. And let me add,,they could have used any number of things, including fire! Which they did use.
Some of the posts that schoollord posts, would have us back in the caveman days, with no fire, eating our freshly killed sabor tooth tiger. Which we killed with our sticks. Bon Appetite!
Sure you can use just about anything to kill someone, but most other objects you have to get close to someone & in some cases require some skill & planning to use effectively, while leaving a higher chance of survival and usually only 1 chance. If i hit you with my fist in your face, you have a much higher chance of living than if i shoot you in your face. If i hit you, stab you, or throw something at you, like a rock, knife, chair, or club, you can defend yourself & you still have a far higher chance of survival than if i just shoot you from 30 feet away. If you have a 9mm Taurus for example with a 15 round balanced clip, you have 15 chances to kill or wound from a decent distance.
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