GUILTY NC - Kathy Taft, 62, Raleigh, 6 March 2010 - #6

[no1uknow]

I know exactly where that is, no1 -- my church is on RR, friends on RR, son's schools (once upon a time) on RR, my neighborhood for many years. OMG.

He did roam a bit, didn't he? Spooky and scary. Dayam. Yeah, I'd say about 2 miles. This will take a little while for me to shake it off...

Still not breathing normally....

<long breath & shaking head>

Thanks, my friend.

I can relate, borndem. Before Jason was arrested, I was really, really scared. Nobody knew what was going on but given the fact that the police were canvassing the area and taking DNA samples was unnerving. Reporters were knocking on my door daily. I was afraid to take the garbage out because I didn't want to talk to Ed Crump, Thomasi McDonald or any number of reporters I can't remember the names of again. A week or so before Jason was arrested, I noticed there was ALWAYS an unmarked car or two outside of our place. Every single one of my students was approached by the LE, and questioned as to what their business was here. That caused some of them to never come back so it cost me money. My beef is not with the lost income but the emotional toll this took on me and my immediate neighbors. It was AWFUL to be here, while that investigation was ongoing and after he was arrested, it got worse. I actually started having panic attacks, knowing that SOB had lived right under my nose and the same thing could've happened to me, my roommate (who is also my best friend) or my other female neighbor. I'm 5' 2"; strong but small. My roommate is all of 5' 1" and maybe 100 lbs. Her bedroom door leads right out to the backyard, where Jason spent a lot of time and came home through, after he did the evil things he'd done to KT. I had to go to a counselor for a few months and talk it over with her before I could focus on much of anything other than Jason and the evil he'd done. Worst chapter of my life and I'll say this again...I look forward to this trial being over with.

 

[Madeleine74]

LOL borndem. I don't think so as I sat separately towards the back most of the time. He'd have no idea who I was, nor should he since we never met. I didn't shoot him any looks at all.

 

[Madeleine74]

I was afraid to take the garbage out because I didn't want to talk to Ed Crump

... or Ed Crump's bluetooth headset, which might be permanently attached to the side of his head and/or which might need it's own seat in a courtroom. ;-D

A week or so before Jason was arrested, I noticed there was ALWAYS an unmarked car or two outside of our place.

I would feel comforted if I knew (or found out) it was police. No one's going to break into your home with LE sitting nearby.

It was AWFUL to be here, while that investigation was ongoing and after he was arrested, it got worse. I actually started having panic attacks, knowing that SOB had lived right under my nose and the same thing could've happened to me, my roommate (who is also my best friend) or my other female neighbor.

That would have freaked me out too but I don't think it's the size of the person that determines if someone like a JW selects them as a target. I have a feeling you take no bull whatsoever and he would have known that! Plus, you have a dog and a roommate! Pretty hard to break into an apartment and not be discovered when a dog is announcing someone's presence! He seemed to prefer houses away from his own residence. Ironically you and roomie were probably safer than many.

 

[no1uknow]

One more thing: some of you may feel sorry for Jason now but I don't. Not at all. I've forced myself not to watch every minute of this trial. It's been difficult because I'm curious, at least as curious as y'all. Whatever this jury decides, I will support, as long as Jason Williford never gets out of jail. He had his chance to get help for his problems. It's not that he didn't have plenty of opportunities to really get some help. He decided, instead, to rape and kill a woman who was by all accounts, a wonderful, compassionate human being, mother to five kids and grandmother to several beautiful little babies. Jason doesn't deserve to live a life among those of us, who all have our own issues, but decide to address them rather than give in to them. We all have it in us to be bad. Most of us choose a better way. Jason chose to be a selfish, arrogant punk and he should have to deal with the consequences for that. I'm glad I don't have to decide whether he lives or dies. Whatever happens, as long as he never gets out of jail, I'm fine with it but I don't feel sorry for him, whatever the verdict is, even if it's death.

 

[no1uknow]

... or Ed Crump's bluetooth headset, which might be permanently attached to the side of his head and/or which might need it's own seat in a courtroom. ;-D

Ed Crump is a persistent, if nothing else. That dude was out here almost every day of the 5-6 weeks before Jason got arrested.

 

[Madeleine74]

Ed Crump is a persistent, if nothing else. That dude was out here almost every day of the 5-6 weeks before Jason got arrested.

See...I would have been tempted to go up to him, hand him my dog's leash (with dog attached), a few plastic poop bags, and say, "Here...go make yourself useful and take my doggy for a walk around the hood. In exchange, my dog will give you an exclusive!"

 

[Rigby]

I missed JW answering the judge.. anyone know where it might be on the tapes? TIA

 

[no1uknow]

Their were many reporters from different tv outlets and newspapers but the worst was WRAL. They sent out many different reporters. They would wait on the street, just outside of the parking lot, for one of us to come outside....for HOURS, with cameras pointed at our doors the whole time. Of course, one of us eventually had to come home or go out. It was extremely stressful. They really wanted to talk to or about Jessica. Of course, we wouldn't speak of her of what we knew about what she was going through. Not a fan of WRAL since that happened.

 

[borndem]

Hmmm, I suppose. I would think if he started hoarding his meds he'd be discovered fairly quickly. But a determined person can always find a way to end it all.

Another reprehensible weirdo did -- Drew Planten -- he broke into the apt that a young woman shared w/her roomie who was o/o/town that weekend, and he did the same things to her that JW did + one more -- lotsa DNA. RPD had their eyes on him, like they did JW. They even joined his work group at a buffet lunch, to try & get his DNA -- when Planten went to get more food, he put his soda straw in his shirt pocket, so no luck there. His work manager managed to get a Coke can, IIRC, from his wastebasket & they got him that way.

He was shipped to Central for suicide watch and no telling what else -- he went catatonic at the county court house before the magistrate or the judge. At Central, he seemed ok and upbeat for a few days, and even tho they checked on him every 15 minutes, he succeeded in hanging himself in his cell before trial. See Amanda Lamb's Evil Next Door, her best book, IMO.

 

[Madeleine74]

Their were many reporters from different tv outlets and newspapers but the worst was WRAL. They sent out many different reporters. They would wait on the street, just outside of the parking lot, for one of us to come outside....for HOURS, with cameras pointed at our doors the whole time. Of course, one of us eventually had to come home or go out. It was extremely stressful. They really wanted to talk to or about Jessica. Of course, we wouldn't speak of her of what we knew about what she was going through. Not a fan of WRAL since that happened.

Built-in free security surveillance for the duration of their vigil!

Okay, yes I know, they can be pesky sorts. But that's what that type of job entails. And if one says "NO" then there's nothing else they can do.

Once JW was in jail, you knew he wasn't getting out anytime soon and you were safe! The inconvenience, as bad as that was, pales in comparison to your safety! And with the media hanging around, no one else was going to try and enter or break in to your place either. Safety first!

 

[sloothseeker]

I missed JW answering the judge.. anyone know where it might be on the tapes? TIA

It was the last thing that happened in court today.

 

[sloothseeker]

Another reprehensible weirdo did -- Drew Planten -- he broke into the apt that a young woman shared w/her roomie who was o/o/town that weekend, and he did the same things to her that JW did + one more -- lotsa DNA. RPD had their eyes on him, like they did JW. They even joined his work group at a buffet lunch, to try & get his DNA -- when Planten went to get more food, he put his soda straw in his shirt pocket, so no luck there. His work manager managed to get a Coke can, IIRC, from his wastebasket & they got him that way.

Thank goodness JW threw down the cigarette butt! But I'm guessing they were on to him before then since he denied DNA request.

 

[Madeleine74]

Thank goodness JW threw down the cigarette butt! But I'm guessing they were on to him before then since he denied DNA request.

As soon as he denied giving a DNA sample LE's hinky meter went up. Kind of ironic since that allowed him to be caught faster. Had he submitted his DNA they would have gotten him, but it might have taken a few weeks longer since the lab had to process all the samples they got and his would have been another in a long line. He threw himself right to the front of the line by refusing and once they got the cig butt, the lab had it tested within 24 hrs.

Busted!

 

[no1uknow]

I would feel comforted if I knew (or found out) it was police. No one's going to break into your home with LE sitting nearby.

That would have freaked me out too but I don't think it's the size of the person that determines if someone like a JW selects them as a target. I have a feeling you take no bull whatsoever and he would have known that! Plus, you have a dog and a roommate! Pretty hard to break into an apartment and not be discovered when a dog is announcing someone's presence! He seemed to prefer houses away from his own residence. Ironically you and roomie were probably safer than many.

I did feel comforted by all the LE being around. I was pretty bummed and felt like the protection I'd been living under had suddenly been pulled away when they left, actually. I was sorry to see them go, especially after learning the guy living a few feet away from me had been arrested for a brutal rape and murder. While I knew he was locked up, it also finally hit home that this dude had been living right under my nose and I didn't know it. It scared the absolute sh** out of me and it made me seriously question how well I could protect myself, if he'd ever tried to break in or attack me or my roommate. Did he ever try to break into my place? It would've been easy. What was he thinking when I looked him in the eye and told him the cops were conducting DNA tests throughout the neighborhood? He saw me talking to/trying to avoid reporters. What was going through his head then? Did he get angry when I said I thought the staircase from the HT to the Cartier house seemed like a good way to move about that area without being detected? You said he preferred to work away from his residence. I can see the lamplight in front of the house on Cartier, where KT was attacked, from by back porch. In fact, it seems he tried to keep it VERY local.
I understand what you're saying, Mad74 - maybe Jason wouldn't have tried to break in here because of the old hound dog - and were likely safer than many. I agree. Frankly, it didn't feel like that at them time. Jason is never going live next to me again, thank God. It's the past that haunts me, though. It's the knowing what he could've done and may have thought about doing that scares me. Jason victimized a lot of people. Kathy Taft, first and foremost - her family, as well. He ruined his wife's life, and his immediate family's lives. I'm sure his close friends have also suffered greatly. The ripple effect of a crime of this magnitude is huge. In his evil act, he effected a LOT of people around him. I'm a pretty stout person but I have to be honest...I was REALLY scared and I'll never be quite the same, knowing that guy lived a few feet away and did what he did.

 

[no1uknow]

Afterthought to Mad74,
I'm not a wuss. But what Jason did to Kathy Taft, was really, really bad. For all I know, you've been through a similar experience. I hope you understand that what Jason did effected a lot of people on different levels, but all of it was awful and has taken its toll, in one way or another.
I'm just a couple of years older than Jason. I come from a small town in Montana, where we never had to lock our doors or worry about any sort of crime that would compare to this. I'm probably naive but nonetheless, I never expected to find myself living next to a rapist/murderer who is as depraved as Jason seems to be.

 

[borndem]

I can relate, borndem. Before Jason was arrested, I was really, really scared. Nobody knew what was going on but given the fact that the police were canvassing the area and taking DNA samples was unnerving. Reporters were knocking on my door daily. I was afraid to take the garbage out because I didn't want to talk to Ed Crump, Thomasi McDonald or any number of reporters I can't remember the names of again. A week or so before Jason was arrested, I noticed there was ALWAYS an unmarked car or two outside of our place. Every single one of my students was approached by the LE, and questioned as to what their business was here. That caused some of them to never come back so it cost me money. My beef is not with the lost income but the emotional toll this took on me and my immediate neighbors. It was AWFUL to be here, while that investigation was ongoing and after he was arrested, it got worse. I actually started having panic attacks, knowing that SOB had lived right under my nose and the same thing could've happened to me, my roommate (who is also my best friend) or my other female neighbor. I'm 5' 2"; strong but small. My roommate is all of 5' 1" and maybe 100 lbs. Her bedroom door leads right out to the backyard, where Jason spent a lot of time and came home through, after he did the evil things he'd done to KT. I had to go to a counselor for a few months and talk it over with her before I could focus on much of anything other than Jason and the evil he'd done. Worst chapter of my life and I'll say this again...I look forward to this trial being over with.

Let me first say that I'm glad you had the smarts to go to a counselor -- someone "away" from it with whom you could talk without scaring your roomie or your neighbor. Someone who could probably help you with some routines to be able to breathe yourself out of an attack. Three women (well really, four) in that apt building -- yes, the mind wanders & can really cook up a panic in seconds.

But again, I'm glad you and your roomie stuck it out & didn't let JW win. I hope your other female neighbor stood her ground, as well. Grrrrr. And JF was prolly as scared as you three were.

Oh, his clutches really went far, didn't they? Can you imagine eventually realizing that you had slept with him the night before and after he had done that to some innocent woman? Or played in a band with him? Or flirted with him when you were watching him play? <shiver> What evil.

Well, no1, in a few days, I hope "few," he'll be history, and he'll be a permanent resident and the property of the Dept of Corrections of NC. Public Safety. Locks and bars and handcuffs and doors with steel bolts and electrified fences and armed guards with big freakin' guns. And powdered eggs, and kool-aid, and dirty halls & corners to clean and probably non-contact visits. For life, I hope. Grrrrr.

Still shaken a bit. I can only imagine it in a very small way, no1. You're a survivor, too. Go hug your roommate & best friend.

 

[borndem]

One more thing: some of you may feel sorry for Jason now but I don't. Not at all. I've forced myself not to watch every minute of this trial. It's been difficult because I'm curious, at least as curious as y'all. Whatever this jury decides, I will support, as long as Jason Williford never gets out of jail. He had his chance to get help for his problems. It's not that he didn't have plenty of opportunities to really get some help. He decided, instead, to rape and kill a woman who was by all accounts, a wonderful, compassionate human being, mother to five kids and grandmother to several beautiful little babies. Jason doesn't deserve to live a life among those of us, who all have our own issues, but decide to address them rather than give in to them. We all have it in us to be bad. Most of us choose a better way. Jason chose to be a selfish, arrogant punk and he should have to deal with the consequences for that. I'm glad I don't have to decide whether he lives or dies. Whatever happens, as long as he never gets out of jail, I'm fine with it but I don't feel sorry for him, whatever the verdict is, even if it's death.

Bravo!

 

[Madeleine74]

Afterthought to Mad74,
I'm not a wuss. But what Jason did to Kathy Taft, was really, really bad. For all I know, you've been through a similar experience. I hope you understand that what Jason did effected a lot of people on different levels, but all of it was awful and has taken its toll, in one way or another.
I'm just a couple of years older than Jason. I come from a small town in Montana, where we never had to lock our doors or worry about any sort of crime that would compare to this. I'm probably naive but nonetheless, I never expected to find myself living next to a rapist/murderer who is as depraved as Jason seems to be.

Thank God I've never gone through anything like that <knock wood> and I pray I never do. I've never lived in a place where I (could or would) leave my doors unlocked. Even now I keep every door locked. It would scare me too, of course it would!

JW has not ruined Jess' life forever. She's young and she is rid of him and once she's divorced she'll never have to think about him again. She is free and he can't do anything to her ever again. She has her own name, her own reputation, and the freedom to go anywhere she wants. She will get past this. She did very well on the stand. She can and will heal, I do believe that.

And you are safe too and no doubt will take precautions to continue to ensure your safety. The fear is natural and the trauma of "what could have been" is also natural. No one can know what was going on in JW's mind...assuming anything was going on much of the time.

You know the author, Ann Rule? She worked beside Ted Bundy for quite some period of time. This was during his crime spree! One of the most prolific and terrifying serial killers! Her first book was about that experience. She's a survivor and you are too!

 

[borndem]

Thank goodness JW threw down the cigarette butt! But I'm guessing they were on to him before then since he denied DNA request.

Yes, and his prior record probably put them into orbit. "He's our guy!" was probably said 30 times in the meeting rooms, etc., before they said, "We got him!"

 

[no1uknow]

Thank God I've never gone through anything like that <knock wood> and I pray I never do. I've never lived in a place where I (could or would) leave my doors unlocked. Even now I keep every door locked. It would scare me too, of course it would!

JW has not ruined Jess' life forever. She's young and she is rid of him and once she's divorced she'll never have to think about him again. She is free and he can't do anything to her ever again. She has her own name, her own reputation, and the freedom to go anywhere she wants. She will get past this. She did very well on the stand. She can and will heal, I do believe that.

And you are safe too and no doubt will take precautions to continue to ensure your safety. The fear is natural and the trauma of "what could have been" is also natural. No one can know what was going on in JW's mind...assuming anything was going on much of the time.

You know the author, Ann Rule? She worked beside Ted Bundy for quite some period of time. This was during his crime spree! One of the most prolific and terrifying serial killers! Her first book was about that experience. She's a survivor and you are too!

I do know of Ann Rule and I read a couple of her books when I was a teenager. Good, interesting stuff from what I remember!
Here's the thing...I'm no true crime buff. The only reason I'm here is because I want and need to talk about what happened since it happened right here. I'll survive, for sure, but I'm not the survivor that Jessica is. While we all tried to protect her and her privacy, it was pretty clear from the get-go that Jessica was going to get it figured out and move on. She's strong. She's full of spunk. She's a bit of a firecracker, actually. It's taken her a couple of years to get moving in a forward motion but she's done it. I imagine it would take most people much longer, if they were EVER able to accomplish that.
She had no idea what Jason was up to or the depth of his depravity. After he was arrested, she and quite a few of us around here, couldn't believe he'd done what he did. But her experience is different. She was married to this man. She loved him. She dealt with him everyday, tried to get them both on a better track, was assaulted by him and then found out (and eventually had to accept) that he had committed a heinous, brutal crime that may end up in his execution or life in prison without the possibility of parole. She didn't want to accept that at first but she finally had to and it was very difficult for her. To testify against him during his murder trial took balls and backbone that most of us probably don't have. She did it and she did it because she is honest and refuses to allow Jason to victimize her any longer. I know we all would like to think we'd react the same way. I don't know how many of us would or could.