GUILTY VT - Jacob McDowell, 24, shot to death, Sutton, 27 Jan 2007

[Lurker]

I've had a saying for a long time and I don't know where I even picked it up but if everyone lived by this we'd have a lot less tragedy here. Nothing good ever happens after midnight is what I've always told my kids. I agree there is more to come on this story.

My Dad had a similar saying but his was "What can you do after midnight that you can't do before"

 

[GlitchWizard]

My Dad had a similar saying but his was "What can you do after midnight that you can't do before"

Yep. My Grandpa used to say "Nothing that goes on after eleven is anything you should be doing, anyway."

After spending a night in the hallway of an emergency room - I tend to believe they are ALL right!

 

[dark_shadows]

The mother is 37 and her boyfriend is 24? That's quite a jump in age there. How long ago did his father die? There's definitely more to this story

To my very dearest Lurker,:blowkiss:
You are right, there is alot more to this story.
Here is a little something for you;
http://www.caledonianrecord.com/pages/local_news/story/fb7833730


McDowell was at the Dixon home visiting Julie Dixon, Jonas' mother, during a time when Julie Dixon was suffering from bipolar disorder and, according to the defense's expert witness, was psychotic.

Jonas Dixon allegedly aimed a 12-gauge shotgun at McDowell in an attempt to make him leave the residence. He was angry with McDowell, believing McDowell was exploiting his mother's mental instability in order to have sex with her. Dixon claims McDowell grabbed the shotgun in an attempt to get it away from Dixon and, afraid McDowell could wrestle the gun away and use it on Dixon, Dixon clicked off the shotgun's safety and shot McDowell in the chest, killing him.

Defense Expert Testifies

Dr. Philip Kinsler, a psychologist, testified as an expert witness in support of the defense's motion to transfer the case to juvenile court.
End of quoted article.



Jonas was protecting his mother.



All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[Lurker]

Thanks DS!

Sounds like this poor kid was trying to protect his mother. I can't beleive nothing was done before, he tried to get help! How sad!

 

[dark_shadows]

More from the link;
Kinsler first interviewed Dixon on Feb. 1 while Dixon was held in custody at the Woodside Juvenile Detention Center in Colchester. He subsequently interviewed Dixon twice more in February. Kinsler said Dixon was "a broken child, extremely distraught." Dixon described his mother's mental problems, telling Kinsler, "she's crazy, she's bipolar, she doesn't take her medicine." As Kinsler recounted Jonas Dixon's experiences with his mother during January, 2007, Kinsler told defense attorney Kerry DeWolfe that Julie Dixon was so delusional she believed there were people living underneath her house trailer and delivered a Christmas card to the people whom she believed lived under the floor of the trailer.

Kinsler described Dixon's efforts to get help for himself and his sister and the young man's efforts to try and get help for his mother. "He turned to every place we tell kids to turn to, " Kinsler said. Dixon, his younger sister and his grandparents sought help from the schools, the state police, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury and the Vermont Department of Children and Families.

After Julie Dixon had a violent outburst, the Sutton school, concerned about Julie Dixon's mental state, locked down the school and asked the state police to patrol. The Sutton school principal contacted DCF who reported they could not continue an investigation until the following week. In the mean time, Jonas and his sister were told they must return to their chaotic home, according to earlier testimony from Dixon's grandmother, Norma Degreenia of St. Johnsbury. Summarizing the weeks before the shooting, Kinsler said Dixon felt abandoned and left alone by all the agencies and felt, "lost, isolated, alone and absolutely helpless." Kinsler said he was "horrified" that no one at DCF would apply for an emergency detention order for Julie Dixon, adding, "They [DCF] left him at home alone with a psychotic, drunk mother." He added, "They [DCF] had all of Thursday and all of Friday and yet they decided to do nothing until Monday."
Respectfully,
dark_shadows

 

[dark_shadows]

My Dad had a similar saying but his was "What can you do after midnight that you can't do before"

Dearest Lurker,:blowkiss:
Jonas was asleep in his room before the incident occured. The reason why Jonas was awake at the time is because he was awaken by the loud noise of his mother and the 24-year-old having sex. Like it was said before, there is alot to this story.

All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[dark_shadows]

I've had a saying for a long time and I don't know where I even picked it up but if everyone lived by this we'd have a lot less tragedy here. Nothing good ever happens after midnight is what I've always told my kids. I agree there is more to come on this story.

Dearest Lymom,:blowkiss:
Thank-you for your post. I appreciate it.

All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[MeoW333]

I really hope this boy just gets probation and therapy. I think that locking him up will just damage him more at this point. Right now he still has a chance to make it, provided a support system is in place for him. I feel bad for him and his family..

 

[dark_shadows]

I really hope this boy just gets probation and therapy. I think that locking him up will just damage him more at this point. Right now he still has a chance to make it, provided a support system is in place for him. I feel bad for him and his family..

To my dearest MeoW,:blowkiss:
Very nice to see you.
I have so much compassion for Jonas, his grandmother and his sister. All of them asked for help, nothing was done to help and Jonas.


Thank-you very much for your post.

All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[Salem]

Any word yet on whether the case was transferred back to the juvenile court?

My prayers to Jonas and his family. Such a struggle to be a child of a one parent family and then to have that parent be such a challenge..... Jonas must have felt so responsible for keeping things together when his mother could not.

I hope the psychitrist carries some weight and they handle this situation through counseling and probation.

Salem

 

[teedie2]

What a sad story! Where is the mother now? More importantly, where is the sister?

Government agencies can be so heartless sometimes. Maybe the employees get tired, want to do their 8 hours, and go home. So, it's not the agencies that are heartless, it's the people who work there, for whatever reason.

I hope this poor boy gets help, and not just punishment. Well, I hope the mother gets help, too.

This is disgusting. It shouldn't have happened. It shouldn't have had to happen.

 

[dark_shadows]

What a sad story! Where is the mother now? More importantly, where is the sister?

Government agencies can be so heartless sometimes. Maybe the employees get tired, want to do their 8 hours, and go home. So, it's not the agencies that are heartless, it's the people who work there, for whatever reason.

I hope this poor boy gets help, and not just punishment. Well, I hope the mother gets help, too.

This is disgusting. It shouldn't have happened. It shouldn't have had to happen.

Dearest Teedie,:blowkiss:
Thank-you so very much for your words.
His mother told police that her son shot her boyfriend! That was in the paper when it first happened.
Many agencies failed Jonas and his sister. I am not sure where his sister is.


Much Love and Respect for you,
dark_shadows

 

[teedie2]

Thank you, dark_shadows. I am always impressed with your responses to posters, and your kind words.

You work for a government agency, but it is obvious that you never short-change people on your job. I wish more folks had your work ethics.

 

[dark_shadows]

Thank you, dark_shadows. I am always impressed with your responses to posters, and your kind words.

You work for a government agency, but it is obvious that you never short-change people on your job. I wish more folks had your work ethics.

To my very dearest Teddie,:blowkiss:
You are so sweet, thank-you.

I was a Correctional Officer for well over a decade.
I recently retired from that job a few months ago.


All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[teedie2]

Retired?? Well, it's their loss, to be sure.

Dang it, you just bring out the "nice" in me, lolol!

And for that, I thank you again, dark_shadows.

 

[dark_shadows]

Retired?? Well, it's their loss, to be sure.

Dang it, you just bring out the "nice" in me, lolol!

And for that, I thank you again, dark_shadows.

To my very dearest Teedie,:blowkiss:
You truly made my day Teedie.
I am honored by the words of your heart to me.

All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[MeoW333]

To my dearest MeoW,:blowkiss:
Very nice to see you.
I have so much compassion for Jonas, his grandmother and his sister. All of them asked for help, nothing was done to help and Jonas.


Thank-you very much for your post.

All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

Hi Dark Shadows =)
Jonas was a victim of the system. Had it not been for a broken system that didn't help him, this whole incident never would have occurred. So i couldn't find him guilty due to the circumstances; i hope the judge feels the same.

 

[dark_shadows]

Hi Dark Shadows =)
Jonas was a victim of the system. Had it not been for a broken system that didn't help him, this whole incident never would have occurred. So i couldn't find him guilty due to the circumstances; i hope the judge feels the same.

To dearest MeoW,:blowkiss:
I want to thank-you for the words of your heart.
I hope that the judge feels the same as you. Jonas should never have been placed in the position.

All of my Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

 

[OkieGranny]

From March 2009:

http://caledonianrecord.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=44319

In a signed plea agreement, the state, represented by recently retired Caledonia County State's Attorney Robert Butterfield, agreed to amend a charge of second-degree murder to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. The state also agreed to a sentence "cap" with a recommendation of three to 12 years, all suspended, except for 15 months.

The plea agreement states Dixon will be given credit for the time he served at the Woodside Juvenile Center, which would reduce the 15-month sentence cap by approximately 60 days. Dixon would actually serve about 13 months...

A two-day sentencing hearing will be scheduled in approximately 30 days. Following the hearing, the court will make a decision on the youthful offender request and will impose a sentence.

From June 2009:

http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=45829

Caledonia District Court Judge Howard VanBenthuysen on Tuesday granted Jonas Dixon, 17, Sutton, youthful offender status...

He concluded Dixon is clearly amenable to treatment and rehabilitation as a youthful offender. VanBenthuysen also decided Dixon would be uniquely unsuited for adult jail...

VanBenthuysen exercised his authority under the new law to continue the court's jurisdiction over Dixon until his 22nd birthday. Dixon will be supervised by both the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children and Families.