|
Mars Hill Grad Killed by Fiancé
by Ryan Wright
Kelly Towe
|
Death. This is one word that is not commonly associated with love. But it is sometimes the end result of troubled relationships.
Kelly Towe graduated with honors from Mars Hill College in December of 1999 with a double major in biology and chemistry.
After graduating, she was employed for four years with Glaxo Smith Klein, a major pharmaceutical company with offices in Bristol, Tennessee. Not long after that she met a man named Michael and became engaged.
"This was a girl who had everything going for her," said Judge Bill Leavell of the 24th Judicial District Court during a recent Victims Advocacy Training session at Mars Hill College.
Then something went terribly wrong. As he passed around a March 15 article in the Yancey Common Times Journal that told Kelly's story, Leavell made the point that a person in a relationship may not recognize trouble until it is too late. The headline next to Kelly's picture read: "Murder-Suicide Claims Life of Yancey Woman."
According to Times Journal articles, Kelly left her job in Tennessee and moved to Oklahoma to take a marketing job at a horse breeding operation.
She met Michael Barter at a charity event in November. They soon began dating, and at Christmas he gave her an engagement ring.
Kelly's family liked Michael and his mother. "His mother was very nice," Kelly's father told the Times Journal. "Kelly liked her, and she thought the world of Kelly. Mike was very charming, very polite, well-mannered, seemed level-headed, and Kelly said he was good to her."
Everything seemed to be going great, but beneath the surface was a lingering secret.
Kelly never knew much about Michael's past, especially his criminal history, which came back to haunt her. She eventually began to find out some things about his past, including the fact that he lied about being 35 when he was actually 41.
One day they got into an argument in which he threatened her and took her car keys. Michael's mother gave Kelly the keys to her truck, and Kelly left the house. Michael followed her and began to ram her until she ran into a utility pole.
She used a cell phone to call 911 to try and get help. While she was on the phone, he walked up to the truck and shot her in the head. He then shot himself.
He died instantly. She survived for several hours and died in an Oklahoma City trauma center.
After telling the story, Leavell said, "I've been a judge for 11 years. I deal with domestic violence every day." Too often, he said, women think, "This can't happen to me. I'm too smart for this.' But it does happen."
He urged women to watch for signs early on that someone might be violent, and get out of those relationships early. "There are a lot worse things than being alone. Do not sell yourself short."
He said there a lot more domestic violence cases than most people realize. He sees only the cases that actually go to court. There are many more that may not make it that far because the person who is getting abused is too afraid to tell anyone. This should never be the case. If you feel that you are in a relationship that is not beneficial to you, the judge said, then you should get out.
For the love of Rodeo
|
Joyce Cody, director of My Sister's Place and also a MHC graduate, was also a speaker at the training session. She explained how she had previously been in an abusive relationship, how it affected her, and also what friends and family can do to help someone who they believe might be in an unhealthy relationship
"In our society we are taught to mind our own business, but we need to watch out for one another. If you see a friend with physical injuries, give help," Cody said.
She warned that without the support of people outside of the relationship, there may never be any changes in what is going on. It is our duty as friends and family members to look out for one another and to make sure that when we see something that is amiss that we do something about it.
Reader Comment:
Marcus Chavez, MHC '05 (Dec.), 4/15/06, 10:06 a.m.
Oh, man...This is horrible. Kelly Towe was such a great person. She was one of the coolest and best people I've ever met. This is horrible, I contacted a few friends(alumni), and they are just as shocked as I am. She had so much going for her. We need to plant a tree and a memorial in her name. If it has not yet been arranged.
Kelly was an ideal student and friend that many looked up to. Her bright smile and charming personality would light up students and classes, as she shared her insight and joy. Please, say a prayer for her family and for Kelly. God Bless...We miss you Kelly...
Marcus
Bruce Branan, 4/25/2006, 1:50 p.m.
I am shocked and deeply saddened by this news about Kelly Towe. Kelly was a student of mine during the years I taught chemistry at MHC, and I often saw her around town in Burnsville where my family lived. I pray for God's presence and comfort during these hard times.
Jennifer Halsall-Wilson, alumni, 5/29/2006, 4:44 p.m.
I just wanted to post and share the speech that I gave at her funeral. It describes more than I am able to now how I feel about her and this tragedy.
Kelly Diana Towe brought everyone around her to life. I’ll never forget when I first saw her. I picked her face out in a stadium full of people at a football game and wondered who the vibrant, mysterious girl was. I was blessed enough to get to meet her and later get to live, travel and work with her for close to two years.
Kelly welcomed me into her home and her family. She was more than a friend to me. She was a sister and a soulmate. From the day we met, she became part of my fiber. She will live in me always.
Kelly is an inspiration in my life. She never hid from challenges or obstacles- whether it was completing a double major while working two jobs and breaking horses, or packing up her life and passing on her mundane but steady job to chase her dream in Oklahoma. She was the embodiment of alive.
Kelly created joy wherever she went. She was a blessing to her family and friends. Each of us has many wonderful stories to share in how she enriched our lives. We must be sure to continue to tell them so that she can continue to live through the experiences that touched us.
I will never forget this wonderful, talented woman. I will also never forget the lesson that her passing has taught me: keep the people that you love close to you. Don’t let too much time pass between hugs. Make sure you tell them how much you love them.
I believe that Kelly will stay with us forever. We must not speak of her in the past tense, because while she may not walk with us with mortal feet, she walks with us still.
Meghan Fender, 9/19/2006, 10:27 a.m.
Kelly's dad and I have talked about me barrel racing. I want to be able to do the things that she did in her honor. I have good grades and I would want her to be proud. So thanks. We love and miss her.
Christy, 12/3/2006, 12:23 a.m.
I grow up with Kelly. We road horses together and had sleep overs. She was one of my best friends. AS the years went bye I fell in with a bad crowd. Our friendshipe grow a part. She was much younger than me. I found the love of my life and married right out of the 11th grade. He became a different person. Started selling and doing durgs. Drinking and with that came PHY. abuse. I kept it together because I had a 2 year old and was 6 months pergent. When he started on the the 2 year old I left. Now I am happy, and have loving childern who do not know him. This could have been me. I loved kelly She was the most loving, careing, person in the world. Always had a good thing to say. Loved her horses more than life. This should not have happened to someone so full of love and life. I will always remember Kelly as that happy loveing child who made me laugh and befriended me.
Give us your feedback. We value your opinions.
The Hilltop reserves the right not to post anonymous comments or any that could be judged slanderous, that make unverifiable allegations of fact, or use language we consider in bad taste.
All fields must be filled in.
HOME
|
