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Post by poconnell on May 16, 2011 19:08:09 GMT -5
Hi. My name is Paul. I’m from Chicago. January 1990 I was vacationing in San Diego. I met a girl named Tiffany (Tiffany Schultz). Tiffany was murdered on January 12, 1990 by serial mass murderer Cleophus Prince, Jr, who is incarcerated at San Quentin’s condemned row. She was one of 6 of the victims. I knew nothing of the incident until the night before the morning I was to go home. Mind you this was my dream vacation. I had a blast. A time of my life!! This was probably the most bazaar and ominous experience I've ever had. Tiffany and I hit it off well. What hurts me the most is I haven’t been able to contact anyone of her colleagues at the club she worked at due its strict rules and regulations. I felt whisked away. I just couldn’t be there. It was just a horrible feeling, not to mention the long plane ride home the next morning! I did have some contact with her parents. Her mother invited me to write her. I did once, but felt I shouldn’t anymore because I don’t want to rehash any emotional wounds, if you will. Has anyone had an experience like this? Thank you. With God’s love, Paul
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Post by Janet-Beth's Mom on May 16, 2011 21:01:24 GMT -5
Dear Paul,
I am so sorry that you know the trauma that comes with murder touching your life. I think all of us here can probably understand the need to talk about it. I wish you could have been able to talk to Tiffany's friends too.
I do know that communicating with my daughter's friends is one of the most comforting things to me. To hear them speak of her is so wonderful. Almost all parents I know think of their children every day, forever, many times a day, whether they see them or not. We still do too. And even if it's so emotional there are tears, it's a good feeling to know that someone else thinks of our children too. That is how it seems to me.
I hope you can find some comfort here too, and help with dealing with those traumatic memories
Janet
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Post by poconnell on May 17, 2011 7:10:52 GMT -5
I still have the photos of me and her and they're locked away in an undisclosed location. I can recall just about every moment we held each other in our arms. She kissed me on the forehead. I kissed her back and held her tight just one last time. How could anyone forget something like that???
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Post by poconnell on May 17, 2011 21:34:11 GMT -5
That night.....Man!! (shaking my head) My plane was to leave at 7 the next morning. I was in San Diego for 2 weeks. Arrived there on Jan 8. Met Tiffany on the 10th. Friday Jan. 12 she was stabbed and bludgeoned to death. I went to the club where she worked one more time because I wanted to see her again. I ask the lady at the front desk if she was still working there and she shook her head no. It was on the midnight hours of Jan 18th-19th when I found out about the incident. I went to the front desk and ask WHAT HAPPENED?? WHY? ? And then i went into the bathroom lamenting. next thing I remember, 2 gentlemen came in and checked on me asking me ' are you Paul?". I nodded yes. "Is everything cool witcha?". When I asked them ya know, why, they told me that her boy friend is under investigation....etc, etc. My plane was to leave at 7 the next morning......(sniff)..... I remember pacing back and forth in my hotel room debating on whether I should stay or go. I wanted to be there, but I didn't know where to go. I couldn't sleep.
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Post by melody on May 19, 2011 0:18:39 GMT -5
Dear Paul,
I am so sorry for Tiffany, her family, and for you and your experience. My brother was murdered away from his home as well, and I WISH I could be in touch with anyone who knew him in those last few weeks. Obviously not the people who killed him, but anyone... store owners, waiters, whatever. My brother was very charismatic and would have left impressions all around. Like the impression Tiffany left on you in particular.
I went to the place my brother last was about 3 months after his death, and a random cat came crawling up to my leg... I knew instantly that my brother would have pet that cat and probably even given it some treats.
Anyway, if I had any human connection to my brothers last days or weeks, I would totally welcome it. Maybe the mom at first was freaked out, maybe now is a good time to try again?
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Post by poconnell on May 22, 2011 10:12:46 GMT -5
God's love be with each and everyone of you!
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Post by c21king2queen on May 22, 2011 13:31:50 GMT -5
I am so sorry you had this experience and live with the memories of someone who touched your life being taken from this world in a horrible and violent way. Try to focus on the good memories more than on the painful or horrible way you lost someone to murder. A little over 3 years ago my husband didn't come home. The next day I filed a Missing Person's Report. He was murdered on the day he should have come home and dead for 3 days before his body was found in a shallow grave. I will live with the horrible memories of all that for the rest of my life. When a horrible experience like this touches your life, it never leaves you. I remember the morning of the day my husband was murdered, I stood in the doorway of our home holding our 14month old son and waving to my husband as he backed out of the driveway with the top down on his convertible and his sunglasses on. It was as if I could even hear the gold rings on his fingers clanking together as he waved to us, he wore a gold ring on almost every finger. I could see his lips moving as he was saying, "Bye-Bye." I remember the smile on his face. He backed out of the driveway and headed for work. That was the last time my son and I saw him. I spoke with him at least 3 times by cell phone that day. During the last phone conversation, his last words before he hung up were and I said the same to him, "I love you." At least I can live with the memory that our last words to each other were, "I love you." As I have been wading through all the pain and horribleness of all of this, I am trying to remember and focus on all the good times and good things about my husband. It is good and helpful to be able to talk about the person we lost to murder and reach out to others who knew and loved them. In my case, my husband's parents were already dead before I met him, so there is just his brother, sister and nephews and nieces. I haven't had any contact with his brother in the last 3 years, since the funeral. I have very little contact with his sister and nephews and nieces. The only people I really have contact with and talk about my husband with are people who I have known for years, friends in the community and a few of my husband's co-workers. I am sure this young woman's family would love hearing from you, if you decide you feel comfortable with it. I know I would love hearing from anyone who knew my husband. Sending Prayers out to you!!
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Post by poconnell on May 25, 2011 8:10:21 GMT -5
I went back to San Diego on Memorial Day weekend that same year, but it just wasn't the same.........the dark cloud remained. It was a sign for me to stay away for a while and get my bearings. I had to stay away in order to come back. (If that makes any sense) I didn't go back until 2009 with my wife and 1 and 1/2 year old son. SHe is aware of what happened. I told her that I don't want to see that part of San Diego again as long as I live. She understood.
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Post by poconnell on Jun 10, 2011 12:13:54 GMT -5
And one can never know what murder does until they have had the unfortunate experience with it themselves. This is what murder does: What I experienced in San Diego was so raw and completely out of the ordinary. It’s been hard. This website helps me let it out!! This is something I’ve never had!!! I have to write. I have to let it out.
Love you all!!
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