Couple who adopted 12 children shot to death #1

[Komak]

HOLD THE PRESSES....

(possible) ANN SIMMONS SON....there is no father listed ........

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Strother of Gulf Breeze are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Amanda Strother to Lyle Simmons, the son of Ann Simmons of Pensacola.

Amanda is a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School and is now attending Troy State University. Lyle is a graduate of J.M. Tate High School. The wedding will be held at Unity Church of Christianity of Pensacola on the 20th of October.

Amanda Strother and Lyle Simmons plan an October wedding.

http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/0329/Community/019.html Picture here

 

[NSC]

Matthew Herkel
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial]July 16, 1975 - February 02, 2008[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial] Herkel, Matthew William
July 16, 1975 - Feb. 6, 2008

Matthew William Herkel, 32, Sarasota, FL since 1978, formerly of Midland, Mich., died Feb. 6, 2008.

Visitation was from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday,February 12, 2008 with services to follow, at The Church of The Nazarene, Sarasota.

Interment at Palms Memorial Park, Sarasota.

Survivors include daughters Abigail and Emilea of Kendalville, Ind.; parents Rebecca and William; sisters Jennifer and Katie; niece Mary Belle; and nephew Kincade all of Sarasota.

http://wiegand.createatribute.com/r...495e9dc107a19d814c70a&i_memorialid=1203019312
[/FONT]

Okay, well this might answer the question about who else was in the picture we found of Katie Herkel


http://sarasotahighschoolalumni.com/alumni/1264993/katie-herkel.html

 

[passionflower]

John choked to death years ago, Bailey died at the age of 3 in the hospital after an incident involving a bathtub and faulty hot water heater.

allot of 'accidental' deaths with in the family???? am I following this right?

 

[SewingDeb]

I'm reading and trying to make connections here.
I'm trying to figure the family tree.......
The 4 older children where to the X wife of Byrd's?
1 married a Herkel? or was that Melonie's name?
I'm getting myself so confused........please help so
I read this all correctly.

I believe Melanie and Byrd each brought two children into the marriage. Don't know about the rest...

 

[mom23gr8kids]

OMG< WAIT A SECOND HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

Wasn't one of the Billings children Mathew the one who died choking or got into a strangulation deal?? Could just be a coincidence but his last name his Billings on the power of attorney deal...

That son who died of choking was John. He passed away a very long time ago.

 

[Komak]

Matthew Herkel
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial]July 16, 1975 - February 02, 2008[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial] Herkel, Matthew William
July 16, 1975 - Feb. 6, 2008

Matthew William Herkel, 32, Sarasota, FL since 1978, formerly of Midland, Mich., died Feb. 6, 2008...


MATTHEW AND KINCADE are in a picture...a very good picture, that was one of the ones posted on July 6th....on LPG JRS myspace....

going to retrieve it now...

 

[Recovering-Lurker]

Just have to say, I am super confused. :crazy: Glad you other sleuthers know what's going on.

 

[harleysnana]

The LE said the murder is on baby moniter system.........camera moniters children!
OMG, I can't believe it.......imagine the horror of having to watch that at trial????!!!!
No wonder the stupid murderers were found so fast!
This is going to be upsetting as we learn more.

How sad....

 

[mom23gr8kids]

I'm reading and trying to make connections here.
I'm trying to figure the family tree.......
The 4 older children where to the X wife of Byrd's?
1 married a Herkel? or was that Melonie's name?
I'm getting myself so confused........please help so
I read this all correctly.

No Herkel's in the family tree.

Melanie had two bio daughters, Ashley and Nikki.
Bud had a daughter Melissa, son Michael, then an adopted son John (who passed before he and Melanie were together).
Then Bud adopted Justin.
Then Bud and Melanie marry.
They then adopt 12 more children.
One of those children, Bailey, who was the first DS baby and the second child adopted by them as a couple passed away in 2004 at 3.
Then last year Melanie's bio daughter Nikki passed away after a long illness related to her cp.

 

[Komak]

Okay, well this might answer the question about who else was in the picture we found of Katie Herkel


http://sarasotahighschoolalumni.com/alumni/1264993/katie-herkel.html

OKAY THE MADNESS HAS TO STOP SOMEWHERE...PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS:

LPG Jr...has his claws all over the Herkel family, the link to the sarasota high school website...SHOWS A PICTURE OF LPG JR'S KIDS....that is NOT Katie...LPG Jr, set it up as a trap....figuring if one of Katies old schoolmates contacted her....they would get him...and he could tell them all about how horrible she was, or find information out about her....

ALSO on his myspace he has messages from attorneys and even the mayor I believe, I would guess he made those myspaces too, and then responded to himself....to make himself look more valid.....

BELEIVE NOTHING that has Katies name on it...I would bet that she has 'disappeared' and doesn't exist anymore...so sad, but this guy LPG Jr is such a NUTCASE....so twisted, self-rightous, narrcisitic, and manipulative...she probably thought it was best for her daughter...maybe now especially if he gets the DP, they both can live a normal life....

 

[Winnts]

Just have to say, I am super confused. :crazy: Glad you other sleuthers know what's going on.

Can someone summarize all of this for us? I've tried following this case and have been reading the thread, but it's moving so fast I have no clue whats what anymore.

Thank you!!

 

[passionflower]

Just have to say, I am super confused. :crazy: Glad you other sleuthers know what's going on.

ou and me both.............I'm reading from page 1........this thread went so fast, so many murderers and so many in family and extended family.

 

[NSC]

HOLD THE PRESSES....

(possible) ANN SIMMONS SON....there is no father listed ........

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Strother of Gulf Breeze are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Amanda Strother to Lyle Simmons, the son of Ann Simmons of Pensacola.

Amanda is a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School and is now attending Troy State University. Lyle is a graduate of J.M. Tate High School. The wedding will be held at Unity Church of Christianity of Pensacola on the 20th of October.

Amanda Strother and Lyle Simmons plan an October wedding.

http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/0329/Community/019.html Picture here

Okay, I am sure it is nothing. But the fiance left myspace in June, deleted all her friends... June 19th was loast login - for those that have not been around. JR did all his myspace stuff June 15th and surrounding dates.. just been ALOT of mid-June things!!

 

[NSC]

OKAY THE MADNESS HAS TO STOP SOMEWHERE...PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS:

LPG Jr...has his claws all over the Herkel family, the link to the sarasota high school website...SHOWS A PICTURE OF LPG JR'S KIDS....that is NOT Katie...LPG Jr, set it up as a trap....figuring if one of Katies old schoolmates contacted her....they would get him...and he could tell them all about how horrible she was, or find information out about her....

ALSO on his myspace he has messages from attorneys and even the mayor I believe, I would guess he made those myspaces too, and then responded to himself....to make himself look more valid.....

I had thought about that too - but I thought you needed a special password to access that site as an alumni???

 

[NSC]

We could really use our own thread...there is soooo much info, so many players, so many websites etc etc etc...

 

[mom23gr8kids]

HOLD THE PRESSES....

(possible) ANN SIMMONS SON....there is no father listed ........

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Strother of Gulf Breeze are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Amanda Strother to Lyle Simmons, the son of Ann Simmons of Pensacola.

Amanda is a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School and is now attending Troy State University. Lyle is a graduate of J.M. Tate High School. The wedding will be held at Unity Church of Christianity of Pensacola on the 20th of October.

Amanda Strother and Lyle Simmons plan an October wedding.

http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/0329/Community/019.html Picture here

Okay I don't know these people or of any connection between them and Melanie and Bud.

But one thing caught my eye that may or may not be important.

The church that they are planning to marry at is the same church Ashley was married in 2 years ago. It was a beautiful wedding and They were so proud of her and so happy for her.

Now I don't know how large the congregation is or how often it is used for weddings. Just noticed it was the same place.

 

[Komak]

I had thought about that too - but I thought you needed a special password to access that site as an alumni???

The picture was right there...as her profile picture when I clicked the link...I did sign up after though...awaiting a confirmation email...but apprently her latest update was to her profile pic...actually HIS latest update....

Emotional Manipulators are evil at its worst...

 

[passionflower]

HLN just said 1 killer was a minor about 16 yrs old........charging murder as an adult!!!!!
took a smaller safe.......robbery
DA wants All facing murder charges

 

[passionflower]

No Herkel's in the family tree.

Melanie had two bio daughters, Ashley and Nikki.
Bud had a daughter Melissa, son Michael, then an adopted son John (who passed before he and Melanie were together).
Then Bud adopted Justin.
Then Bud and Melanie marry.
They then adopt 12 more children.
One of those children, Bailey, who was the first DS baby and the second child adopted by them as a couple passed away in 2004 at 3.
Then last year Melanie's bio daughter Nikki passed away after a long illness related to her cp.

Thankyou so much, now where do the Herkel's come in like as Katie????

 

[NSC]

Okay I don't know these people or of any connection between them and Melanie and Bud.

But one thing caught my eye that may or may not be important.

The church that they are planning to marry at is the same church Ashley was married in 2 years ago. It was a beautiful wedding and They were so proud of her and so happy for her.

Now I don't know how large the congregation is or how often it is used for weddings. Just noticed it was the same place.

Had you ever heard of an Ann Simmons? She owed the Billings a debt of around 32,000 and they had a lein on her house. Do you know if they helped any battered women or anything along those lines???