FL - Sarah Lunde, 13, murdered, Ruskin, 9 April 2005

[nanandjim]

...I often wonder when reading the posts on Websleuths, if we all share some kind of empathy with the victims especially understood by those who have been abused in their lifes, in one form or another...

I think that this is an accurate observation.

I also find it sad for the mother and remaining children that she feels the need to go out and drink among strangers instead of being with and comforting her family.

She is a very troubled woman who apparently has no idea the lasting emotional scars that she continues to inflict on her surviving children.

 

[lady-eowyn]

I was just thinking of this last night ... as of yet, we have heard nothing about a sexual assault on Sarah. Even last night on the news, they were still stating the story about Onstott getting into a confrontation with her. Is it possible that the story is just as he says it is, and that there was no sexual assault?

Jersey....I've been wondering that too...but the fact that she was found partially clothed keeps me leaning toward the theory that she was sexually assaulted. I have no reason to believe what that creep says. I guess we will have to wait until the full autopsy report comes out.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Jersey....I've been wondering that too...but the fact that she was found partially clothed keeps me leaning toward the theory that she was sexually assaulted. I have no reason to believe what that creep says. I guess we will have to wait until the full autopsy report comes out.

I was thinking that maybe he was trying to throw the suspicion off of himself by removing some of her clothing but that wouldn't make any sense once he knocked on her door for the beer bottle. But he 'disposed' of her before knocking so maybe he didn't even realize the beer bottle had been left behind until it occured to him as an after-thought. Maybe he figured that no one would ever realize it's him because he hadn't been around in months so he decided to make it look like something other than it was.

I'm having such a hard time putting this into words right now! Never mind ... I'll be back after I've had my tea!!! :crazy:

 

[Only4Justice]

Justice, I am so sorry for what you've been through. When you start to see how many people have been affected by this, it's mind-boggling. I can't even begin to comprehend why this happens. It is so good to hear that you've been able to move on, and have your own family. It's amazing to hear the level of forgiveness you have and your worry for your mom's pain even though she didn't do what you needed her to.

Thank you so much for sharing information about your experiences with us. It's not easy to do but with the anonymity here, it's often very therapeutic - people finally get to speak up about what they've been through without divulging their identity. I hope that you will continue to join us in our discussions on the boards.

First of all, I definitely believe in the power of forgiveness. You forgive for yourself, to move on....

I had lots of therapy, and finally quit going because my therapist said I needed to put the blame where it belonged, on my mother for not protecting me. I couldn't do it. She said I instinctively protected her and made excuses for her all my life. As I said, I am 40 now and I still do it! For whatever reason, children love their parent so unconditionally.

That's what makes it such a crime that these children are not protected. Children look to their parent(s) to protect them. I remember thinking who could I go to for help? And, never did, just lived with it. Of course, there is more talk about abuse now which is a very good thing....

I have been here for a long time, just don't post much. I was noticing that a lot of us lurkers have came out of the woodwork since SP was sentenced to death.

 

[Only4Justice]

If I had lost my daughter, especially in such a brutal way, I would have hit the bottle a lot sooner than 4 days into it. In fact, by the time 4 days had passed, I might have committed suicide. The pain would be too great to bear. I can handle anything but the loss of one of my children ... I think that's the one thing that would push me over the edge.

I totally agree. Losing one of my children is my greatest fear. I don't think I could bear it. Getting drunk would be the least of my problems. I think this woman needs help and understanding, not finger-pointing and accusations. I hope the community and church rally behind her. Maybe then she would have the chance to get her life on the right track. Too bad it took losing her daughter to come to this. She has an opportunity right now to turn her life around if she has support.

Ms. Kelly Mae will have to live with this for the rest of her life.

 

[Sheromom]

I think that this is an accurate observation.

I also find it sad for the mother and remaining children that she feels the need to go out and drink among strangers instead of being with and comforting her family.

She is a very troubled woman who apparently has no idea the lasting emotional scars that she continues to inflict on her surviving children.

I agree. The state needs to do step in and do something to help that entire family! The mother should be forced into some sort of therapy (at the state's expense) as a condition of keeping the boys and the boys obviously need help as well. ANY parent who loses a child needs LOTS of support!

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

I agree. The state needs to do step in and do something to help that entire family! The mother should be forced into some sort of therapy (at the state's expense) as a condition of keeping the boys and the boys obviously need help as well. ANY parent who loses a child needs LOTS of support!

They could probably all use some therapy ... they've seen some very difficult times. But in terms of the state stepping in, her children are much too old for that now. It would be different if there was actual abuse but I don't see the state being able to rectify anything in that family at this point. The boys are virtually grown.

I have no idea what Kelly May has been through in her life. I don't know if she was a victim of abuse. I don't know if she had parents that loved her the way we love our children. I do know that she's been taking care of children for 22 years now, and for a while, she's been doing it alone. Every parent needs some time for themself. As far as I can tell, she thought that Sarah was going to be away overnight with church. Even if she knew that Sarah was going to be home, I don't know if her 22 year-old brother was supposed to be home with her; and so on. Some 13 year-olds are allowed to baby-sit. What would prevent someone like Onstott from barging into a home with a 13 year-old babysitter? Then not only is the teenager at risk, but so is the child(ren) that he or she is watching. Maybe she won't get "Mother of the Year" but by all accounts, Kelly May loved Sarah. Maybe she loved her differently than we love our children but we don't know what made Kelly the way that she is either.

 

[nanandjim]

My guess is that this guy came over to the house to have a little sexual rendezvous with the mother. It has been reported that HE was the one who broke up with HER. The mother wasn't there. He got a beer out of the refrigerator, sat at the table, drinking it and made a pass at the girl, perhaps trying to pull her on his lap. She resisted and a fight ensued. She continued to struggle once he had her in the headlock. The harder she fought, the tighter he gripped, killing her.

IMO, there was a reason for the altercation in the first place. If Sarah hated him that much that she would start a fight for no reason at all, she would not have let him into the house in the first place.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

IMO, there was a reason for the altercation in the first place. If Sarah hated him that much that she would start a fight for no reason at all, she would not have let him into the house in the first place.

He's such a low-life; if he wanted in, he'd get in, whether she allowed him to or not. I can see him being the type to push his way in the door & make himself at home.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

CNN.com - Dragnet nabs 10,000 fugitives - Apr 14, 2005

More than 10,000 fugitives from justice have been captured in a nationwide, weeklong dragnet involving federal, state and local authorities, said the U.S. Marshals Service, which led the effort...

The operation captured 10,340 people, of whom 162 were wanted for murder, 638 had outstanding arrest warrants for armed robbery and 553 were wanted for rape or sexual assault.

Also captured were 106 unregistered sex offenders and 154 gang members...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Bradenton Herald | 04/24/2005 | 'She's in the hands of God'

In the church where 13-year-old Sarah Lunde found comfort and family, those who knew her best gathered Saturday to celebrate her life and share in her family's pain...

Since his daughter's death, (Mark) Lunsford has dedicated most of his time to supporting efforts to strengthen regulations on sex offenders, but Saturday the soft-spoken man was there to support Sarah's family. Many hugged him and offered their condolences, but he was quick to remind them that the day belonged to Sarah, whose picture was on his T-shirt...

"You don't turn loose a pit bull that's bitten or killed a child, but you turn out a person who would?" (Isn't that the God's honest truth????)

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Tampa Bay's 10 News

The father of Jessica Lunsford and dozens of Hilsborough County Sheriff's deputies joined the mourners who came today to say goodbye to Sarah Lunde at her church...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

`Was Loved By So Many': From The Tampa Tribune

In the packed church on Saturday, a large photo of Sarah sat atop her closed casket. Pastor Johnny Cook said Sarah drew tremendous comfort from the church.

"She knew how to cry and pray and believe in God,'' he said...

Investigators have not released whether Sarah was sexually assaulted...

 

[kk's mom]

He's such a low-life; if he wanted in, he'd get in, whether she allowed him to or not. I can see him being the type to push his way in the door & make himself at home.

I see him that way too. Cocky SOB.

 

[TisHerself]

They could probably all use some therapy ... they've seen some very difficult times. But in terms of the state stepping in, her children are much too old for that now. It would be different if there was actual abuse but I don't see the state being able to rectify anything in that family at this point. The boys are virtually grown.

I have no idea what Kelly May has been through in her life. I don't know if she was a victim of abuse. I don't know if she had parents that loved her the way we love our children. I do know that she's been taking care of children for 22 years now, and for a while, she's been doing it alone. Every parent needs some time for themself. As far as I can tell, she thought that Sarah was going to be away overnight with church. Even if she knew that Sarah was going to be home, I don't know if her 22 year-old brother was supposed to be home with her; and so on. Some 13 year-olds are allowed to baby-sit. What would prevent someone like Onstott from barging into a home with a 13 year-old babysitter? Then not only is the teenager at risk, but so is the child(ren) that he or she is watching. Maybe she won't get "Mother of the Year" but by all accounts, Kelly May loved Sarah. Maybe she loved her differently than we love our children but we don't know what made Kelly the way that she is either.

Great post.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Thank you, TisHerself.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

WSVN-TV - Miami - News

A Tampa judge says he will review 15-hundred pages of records developed by the state Department of Children and Families relating to a slain 13-year-old Ruskin girl.

The department has investigated murder suspect David Onstott on past abuse allegations unrelated to Sarah Lunde.

DCF also has records detailing abuse or neglect investigations involving Sarah and her mother. Some of the records cover the girl's time in foster care...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Tampa Bay's 10 News

Julio Rodriguez and his helpers are installing new carpeting at the First Apostolic Church fellowship hall.

Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies used the building as their command post last month during their search for Sarah Lunde. The sheriff’s office had the old rug cleaned for Sarah’s funeral, but honorary deputies decided to raise money to replace the 20-year-old carpet...

Nelson Otero, Nelson’s Flooring: “They’ve just had a lot of tragedy here, so I thought it was time to help them...”

Sheriff Gee:
“A lot of hard work went into it, and I can tell you this community came together, like I've never seen before..."

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Man Indicted in Death of Girl, 13 | theledger.com

A sex offender was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday in the slaying of a 13-year-old girl whose disappearance last month prompted a massive search effort before her body was found in an abandoned fish pond.

David Lee Onstott, 36, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted sexual battery in the death of Sarah Lunde, whose disappearance April 9 made national news as the residents of her rural Hillsborough County community mobilized to look for her...

The indictment said her death was caused by "blunt impact to the head and/or strangulation and/or other unknown means..."

Sarah's mother appeared in Tallahassee this week as Gov. Jeb Bush signed legislation to get tougher on sex offenders.

The Jessica Lunsford Act establishes a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life behind bars for people convicted of certain sex crimes against children 11 and younger, with lifetime tracking by global positioning satellite after they are freed.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Onstott Indicted In Sarah's Slaying - from TBO.com

A grand jury on Wednesday indicted David Lee Onstott, determining enough evidence exists to charge him with the death and attempted sexual battery of 13-year-old Sarah Michelle Lunde.

It is the first official confirmation that Onstott, 36, might have attempted to rape Sarah...

... declined to explain what evidence led to the attempted sex crime charge...

She said prosecutors soon will announce whether they will seek the death penalty...

Onstott's case has been sent to Judge E. Lamar Battles, who was assigned to the criminal bench last month. In 2002, when Battles became a judge, he was assigned to juvenile delinquency court. He has spent the past year presiding over civil court...