Every night, my mom calls my grandmother (Mamoo) at 7:02pm because that's when the freetime starts. Thursday evening was nothing out of the ordinary. My mom was stressed because of work, went shopping, and when the time rolled around she was on her way home but that didn't stop my mom from calling her. Lots of conversation struck, my mom was at peace with a few things, and some things were said that needed to be said. To understand, you'll need to know my grandfather passed away July 17, 2004 leaving Mamoo and his three kids (plus grandkids and in-laws) behind. Mamoo was doing so well with it, and having a ball with us all. She had 6 cats in the house, and one of her sons was living with her, and she was never lonely or scared.
Well, around 8pm on Thursday evening, the doorbell rang. Mamoo asked my mom if she should get it, but they agreed that because Woody (my uncle who was living with her) wasn't home she'd just wait and not get it. It rang again, so she kept the phone off the hook with my mom still on it and went to see who it was. Mamoo kept all the doors locked (storm door locked, and the wooden doors triple locked by chains and bolts) and felt completely safe. She knew the person at the door, she told my mom "It's okay. It's one of the Anderson boys, he's run out of gas and he's thirsty. I'm going to get him a gas can and a glass of water." My mom asked if she was sure, and Mamoo responded "Oh yeh, it's okay, I'm sure." At this time, he wasn't in the house yet - she had talked to him through the door.
After this point, no one is for sure what happened. We all have our stories and thoughts, but the main thing is.... this man, and it's hard to justify calling him a MAN, but this person took Mamoo away from us. He murdered her in her own home a little after 8pm Thursday night. Because my mom was on the phone with her when the doorbell rang, we know who it was. However, my mom thought nothing of her being away from the phone for so long because Mamoo would've taken him to get some gas, and taken him to his car and made sure he got to where he needed to be. That's what kind of person she was.
At about 10pm, my mom called Woody asking if he knew any Anderson's and if they lived on the same street. She also said what was going on, and Woody called a friend/neighbor to come by and see what was going on. He called our friends Cathy and David, and they went over, saying they'd call us back in a few minutes to let us know. At about 11, we had heard nothing from them and we got really scared. Everyone who was going over was suddenly disappearing without a trace. My mom and I hopped in the car and I flew 90-95mph down the highway, trying to get us there as quickly as possible. No more than 20 minutes down the road, my aunt (Marty's wife, who is another uncle, my mom and Woody's brother) called and told us to pull off the highway. She informed us that someone had broken in, killed her, and that's all she knew.
As it had turned out, Cathy and David had pulled up the house and David (Mamoo's attorney) had an eerie feeling about the house, because some odd lights were on and curtains were pulled back.... things looked like a wreck. David and Cathy then called the police, and they came out. They had to break down the front door, and found Mamoo on her stomach/face, covered in blood. Cathy wanted to go in, but wasn't allowed to.. they knew it was a criminal case before they even entered the house. That's when at least 20-30 cops (state police and Harrodsburg police, along with detectives and the coroner, and the prosecutor) and EMS came to the house.
My mom was the key witness, she KNEW who was at the door. She knew who entered and murdered Mamoo. And because of that, the police were sent out IMMEDIATELY to find this SOB and arrest him. While still at the house, detectives and the "thinkers" were trying to figure out exactly what happened and how it went down. Lots of police were out on rooves, knocking on doors to ask questions, and looking in every square inch of the neighborhood for anything. They found the glass of water and the gas can on the front porch, meaning she opened the door to hand him these things and he forced himself inside. They also found a bloody fingerprint on the front door - the idiot left clear evidence of him being there. They found a towel he wiped off with on another street. They found all kinds of things. At this point, they were looking for him and looking for the weapon.
The only room he had raided was her bedroom, he was high on Crystal Meth and was looking for some quick cash. He was looking for anything of any value. He obviously didn't find a lot, because yesterday when we got to go in to get some clothes for Mamoo to wear, I went and dug up the "loot". Mamoo told my mom, and a few close friends, that if anything happened to her, that I'd know where to look for everything. And I did. And this guy didn't. He did walk away with no more than $50 cash, a gold coin on a chain, and possibly a little something else. They have him on video tape at Kroger cashing in coins to get dollar bills, and they found the gold coin on a chain in his pocket. Yes, that means they FOUND this guy. About 8 hours after he murdered Mamoo, he was sleeping in a hotel room, with the tv on, in his bloody jeans, with the jewelry in his pocket. How dumb can this guy be?
But Kroger had him on videotape; he threw more evidence on the top of the machine - it was a box from Mamoo's house that he tossed coins into. They've also shut down the machine, and found quarters and other coins with blood on them. They're testing the coins as we speak. They also found the knife in a dumpster at a local gas station, wrapped up in his tshirt covered in Mamoo's blood.
What I don't understand is this guy. How is $300 worth of "stuff" worth the life of my MAMOO?! I would've given him everything I had, Mamoo would've given him everything she had. But why did he had to hurt her?! Why did have to kill her?! I don't get it.
The only peace I have is knowing that Mamoo is now with Dandy (my grandfather who died in 2004). She missed him so much, and they were lifelong and eternal soulmates, and knowing they're finally back together brings some comfort. But that doesn't stop me from wishing she hadn't been taken in such a brutal way.
Unfortunately, this guy is only 17 years old. We can try him as an adult, and he WILL suffer in jail. But he likely won't get the death penalty because he's a minor, even though we are trying him as an adult. I know it's wrong, but I hope he does get the death penalty... after 30-or-so years of true, hardcore prison life.
Mamoo was more than everything to me. She was my best friend. I have very close relationships with my family, and I can honestly say my mom, my dad, and Mamoo are my best friends. My mom, Mamoo, and I called ourselves The Three Awesome Chicks... because we were. I loved going to her house, I loved spending every moment I could with her. She was such a loving and giving character. She'd share anything with anybody. She'd do anything for anybody. She was never selfish, or rude, or mean, or anything of the like. She was Mamoo and she was perfect. She was beautiful in every aspect - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. She was a role model to everyone who knew her, no one had nothing but kind words to say about her.
My entire family is at a loss of words about this. We're all so hurt, lost, and confused... but we also show deep anger and hatred towards the person who did this. The only problem is that we're all very faithful and strong Christians, and we all know it's not "right" to have these angry feelings towards this man, but it's not stopping us. Please pray for us... we could use any kind words, thoughts, or prayers you have for us. We don't know what we're going to do, but we know that if we stick together as a family, we'll get through this. We're taking it one day at a time, and that's all we can expect to do.
Thank you in advance for any prayers or thoughts you send along. Anything will be special and meaningful to me, even if you're not religious.
I'm attaching a few links to the news stories found in a couple of the nearby/local newspapers.
Teen Charged in Murder of Harrodsburg Woman
Murder Victim Respected by Students and Staff, say friends
Breaking News: Harrodsburg Murder Suspect Named
Here are two pictures from February, 2005 at a 25 year reunion of the 1980 NCAA Championship team - the Louisville Cardinals. My uncle played on that team (some basketball fanatics might know who he is or any of the other teammates). The first one is of my crazy uncle Marty and Mamoo. The second is of her in our hotel room.
She was such a wonderful woman and I know her spirit will live on forever.
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Your Mamoo was a wonderful women and you are very fortunate to have had her in your life and now carry such fond memories. Keep them close to your heart and she will always be with you.
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