Hurt

TRAGEDY STRIKES THE TOWN OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA *EDITED*

December 14, 2004/Written by Kelly Sheldon

In the suburbs of this peaceful city, there lives a brother and a sister named Derek and Lilith McKellner. A couple of months back, Derek started seeing a man named Dave Lowe. According to neighbors, the two seemed to get along. Until about four months ago when next door neighbor heard violent screams. He went next door to ask if everything was alright. The neighbor, who would like to remain anonymous commented, "Lilith was such a social butterfly with us. But when her brother's boyfriend moved in, she became so quiet. I often tried to ask her if she was alright. She would always give a simple 'Oh me? I'm fine.' When I heard the screams, I went over and she answered the door. She didn't open it much, so I couldn't see inside. But she was shaking like she was out in a blizzard in shorts. She dismissed any sort of conversation, telling me she was fine and not to worry. She and her brother had an argument but they were going to talk it out now. The only problem was that her brother's car wasn't in the driveway. I knew something was wrong but she wouldn't give me any hint. So I decided to just keep an eye on her." It seemed that the entire neighborhood could sense something off about Dave Lowe but no one thought to call the police. According to another neighbor, they were begged not to by Lilith. The neighbor Samantha Erin stated, "Lilith, said that she's afraid that Dave is going to think it was her who called the police. And when he gets out of jail, he'll come after her and she'll end up with a knife in her gut."

It seemed as though Dave had finally lost it. According to police and paramedics, Lilith's older brother suffered minor injuries. Lilith was not so lucky. Derek comments on the matter with a simple statement. "My sister got it all. The pushing down the stairs, the kicks to the stomach, being dragged down the stairs by her hair, I did nothing this whole time, I was ignorant to all of it. I'm lucky that my sister didn't die."

Phoenix Police report that they received a tip from a gmail address they believe to be known as Anthony. All it say was this,

"My name is not important. But my friend and her brother are in real danger. I don't know her exact address. Her name is Lilith McKellner and her brother is Derek McKellner. Please, I don't want her to go through the same thing I did. Please hurry."

Three hours later police show up to the address that the siblings were thought to be frequenting. Police report that they heard loud screaming inside the house upon arrival. With no one answering the door, they were forced to break it down. Only to find Lowe standing over his boyfriend with a hammer, threatening to smash his face in. Police managed to pry Lowe away from him and paramedics were rushed to the scene. When they arrived, they found Lilith was at the bottom of the basement stairs laying lifeless. Doctors report that in that one incident, she received 4 broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a sprained ankle, and several broken fingers. Police speculate that she was pushed down the stairs and then psychically assaulted further. Charges and a restraining order have been pressed against Lowe, in the meantime he waits in jail for his trial.

Our hearts go out to this brother and sister. We hope that in the coming year you will find personal strength and justice after this mentally scarring event.