Archive for Monday, July 7, 2008
Police outline events of killing
Suspect was in NJ before victim found
Friends and family of a Lawrence murder victim hope to keep her memory alive. On Wednesday, friends and family gathered for a celebration of life to remember Jana Mackey.
July 7, 2008
Advertisement
The suspect in the recent homicide of a Kansas University student drove nearly 23 hours to New Jersey last week before police found his former girlfriend's body at his Lawrence home, according to a timeline of events that police released Monday.
"The timeline is meant to provide some understanding of this complex and tragic case," said Capt. Dan Ward.
Jana Mackey, 25, was found dead at the home of her ex-boyfriend, Adolfo Garcia-Nunez, a 46-year-old Lawrence artist who also went by the name Fito Garche.
She likely was killed between 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, when she was last seen in class at KU, and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, when Garcia-Nunez was seen at a Lawrence convenience store before driving to New Jersey, police said.
Mackey's body wasn't discovered until the next day.
A friend reported Mackey missing at 4:36 p.m. Thursday after she didn't show up to class. About two hours later, Mackey's vehicle was found in the parking lot of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, near Garcia-Nunez's home.
Lawrence Police said they found Mackey's body at 11:07 p.m. Thursday in Garcia-Nunez's home, 409 Mich., after interviewing people the suspect was associated with.
By the time the KU student's body was found, Garcia-Nunez had been in New Jersey about five hours. He arrived there with his 18-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter. The children's mother lives in New Jersey.
"The son and daughter were not privy to what had occurred, fortunately," Ward said. "They were not involved."
About 5:30 a.m. Friday - about a half-hour after police asked for the public's help in finding Garcia-Nunez and his white Ford F-150 pickup truck - Garcia-Nunez's unoccupied truck was discovered in Elizabeth, N.J. Within hours, four Lawrence Police detectives were on a plane to New Jersey.
About 5 p.m. Friday, Elizabeth, N.J., police located Garcia-Nunez at a home and arrested him on a second-degree murder warrant from Douglas County. About the same time, Lawrence police issued a statement saying Garcia-Nunez's truck had been found. Police would not say where.
While awaiting extradition, Garcia-Nunez hanged himself at Elizabeth police headquarters, where his body was found in a holding cell early Saturday morning, Union County New Jersey prosecutor spokesman John Holl said.
After meeting with Mackey family members Saturday morning, Lawrence police sent out a news release about 1:45 p.m. Saturday about Garcia-Nunez's apparent suicide.
Ward wouldn't provide specifics of Mackey's death, out of respect to her family who told police they don't want to know how she died. He did say Mackey fought her attacker before she was killed.
"There was a physical altercation between the two of them," Ward said. "During that altercation, Mr. Garcia also received some injuries from Jana fighting back."
Also, he said officers found an open can of kerosene at the home during their investigation.
"The fumes had gathered inside the residence," Ward said.
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical was called, and firefighters determined the kerosene wasn't a hazard.
Mackey was a second-year KU law student from Hays. A celebration of her life will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Liberty Hall. Her full obituary appears in the link below.
7 July 2008
at 11:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
El perro rabioso Garche/Fito/Adolfo ha muerto.
Justicia se sirve.
7 July 2008
at 11:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
igby (Anonymous) says…
Did I understand that the 18 and 19 year old son and daughter, traveled back to NJ with him?
Would this not make them suspect in the crime and flight as well?
8 July 2008
at 12:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
ihatejohntravolta (Anonymous) says…
igby (Anonymous) says:
Did I understand that the 18 and 19 year old son and daughter, traveled back to NJ with him?
Would this not make them suspect in the crime and flight as well?
–––––––––––––––––––
they were not aware of what had happened.
8 July 2008
at 12:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Hawk6643 (Anonymous) says…
I understand that the children weren't aware of what was going on but wouldn't they have been curious why their father had injuries?
8 July 2008
at 6:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tunahelper (Anonymous) says…
how sad. way too young to die for a super person who was trying to make the world a better place.
8 July 2008
at 6:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Kropotkin (Anonymous) says…
Justice is hardly served by the death of this anti-Castro Cuban loser, save in most feverish imagination. This extraordinary woman dedicated her life to helping others and searching for social justice. She can never be replaced.
8 July 2008
at 6:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Marion: “El perro rabioso Garche/Fito/Adolfo ha muerto. Justicia se sirve.”
Have you had *your* vaccination, Marion?
Lately, you seem to be frothing a little at the corners of your mouth.
8 July 2008
at 6:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Kropotkin (Anonymous) says…
Have you read her blog, “Tangential?” Chronic, foul mouthed mocking of Lawrence and its residents, and self-congratulations for filling LJW reader comments pages with almost 12,000 explosions of bilge. This seems to be her obsession and sole purpose in life.
8 July 2008
at 6:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
MacHeath (Anonymous) says…
I'd imagine that the kids learned not to ask a lot of questions.
If I had one of his pieces, I would burn it. However, after having seen examples of his work, its clear that I would have never bought one.
Its too bad that the victims family can't see the cowardly (expletive deleted) subjected to a trial, and put in prison.
She sounds like a good person, that got mixed up with the wrong nut-job. My condolences to all family and friends.
8 July 2008
at 7:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Consistent with his opening post in this forum, Marion earlier had remarked:
“Adolfo/Fito/Garche/Garcia-Nunez held his own trial in that cell and found himself guilty and carried out a very appropriate sentence.”
Let us for the moment assume this to be true.
If true, would not Adolfo, in this final self-judgment, be worthy of our respect, since he then would seem to have arrived at the “respectable” consensus of these forums?
And if indeed this *man* so painted as a *monster* were capable of such insight, such self-evaluation (and -condemnation), then what a shame the epiphany did not arrive until events irreversibly had unfolded.
These forums are riddled with testimonials to the fact that Adolfo was out of control, behaviorally, and seriously in trouble, psychologically. And what consistently appears to have been the response? Pointed fingers, whispered warnings… condemnation.
In what measure do *we*, in condemnation of a “loser,” inadvertently condemn someone considered precious to a fate with which we then find it unbearable to live? I can assure you that those who misguidedly find comfort in condemnation in tragedies such as this will have ample opportunity to condemn in the future… at unacceptable cost.
Here's a contrasting viewpoint which didn't find its way into these forums (and I will preserve the privacy of the contributor). Not long after my original posts in another forum, I received an email which offered the following insights:
“Though I never knew him well, I do know a bit of his history. He and his siblings were abandoned by their mother at a young age. And he had a difficult childhood in Cuba… as I believe most natives there do. I feel this had a lot to do with his behavior with girlfriends breaking up with him… abandonment issues…. Perhaps someday people will learn that vengeance doesn't heal, it just continues a cycle of thought that is counter productive.”
And so, in Jana, maybe this “devil” found an angel, and maybe that's why he found it so hard to let her go… until a tragic act of passion placed her forever beyond his reach.
By all accounts, Jana was a wonderful person. Maybe she was more wonderful than anyone knew. I would like to think that, having shed “the coil”-once beyond this half-light of human existence, which warrants activism and occasionally places angels in the arms of devils-that, unlike the mother who abandoned the child, Jana might have been there to catch Adolfo when he fell.
8 July 2008
at 7:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
murphy59 (Anonymous) says…
But, then again, maybe not.
8 July 2008
at 8:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…
Or you could say that a violent individual, with violent tendencies, murdered a woman whose only crime was to have associated with the guy in the first place.
When you rationalize what a murdered has done, you minimalize the loss of the victim.
You could say he felt guilty and that is why he killed himself. Of course, he may have also thought death was better than being in prison for the rest of his life.
Lots of people have been abandoned by parents that didn't kill everyone that tried to distance themselves from them. Part of the problem with our society is that we make excuses for acts of violence committed by violent people. If we didn't, he might have still be in jail from the last act of violence he committed, or she never would have had anything to do with him in the first place.
This belief that everyone is inherently good is going to kill us all.
8 July 2008
at 8:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
KSChick1 (Anonymous) says…
Kropotkin (Anonymous) says:
Have you read her blog, “Tangential?” Chronic, foul mouthed mocking of Lawrence and its residents, and self-congratulations for filling LJW reader comments pages with almost 12,000 explosions of bilge. This seems to be her obsession and sole purpose in life.
BTW-Marion is a MAN…
8 July 2008
at 8:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
What a nightmare for his kids— a non-stop 19-hour drive to NJ, likely unplanned, only to have him arrested for murder almost immediately, followed by his suicide. What sort of effect will that have on them? Can't be a good one.
8 July 2008
at 8:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
That mistake has been made more than once on this board.
Still
having
a
wonderful
internet
life
.
8 July 2008
at 8:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
murphy59: “But, then again, maybe not.”
“Maybe” would seem to imply “maybe not.”
“Maybe not” does not disqualify “maybe.”
fu7il3: “When you rationalize what a murdered has done, you minimalize the loss of the victim.”
I do not believe I have either rationalized a murder or minimized the loss of a victim. Quite the contrary.
fu7il3: “This belief that everyone is inherently good is going to kill us all.”
If you read my post, then the inferable “belief” would be that each of us is inherently… human.
8 July 2008
at 8:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
“Lots of people have been abandoned by parents that didn't kill everyone that tried to distance themselves from them. Part of the problem with our society is that we make excuses for acts of violence committed by violent people.”
Looking for causes/explanations of behavior is not the same as “excusing” it. If such causes/explanations had been sought for his previous violent behavior, and he had received adequate treatment and counseling for his problems, both of these people might be alive today.
8 July 2008
at 8:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…
We don't know that he didn't receive treatment or counseling. Nor do we know that any additional would have been any more effective. Besides, even if he had currently been in treatment and counseling, how do you keep him from doing it while he is getting treatment and counseling.
Not everyone can be treated and counseled into a better person. They have a had a lifetime to shape the way they are. You aren't going to fix it over months or even a few years.
8 July 2008
at 9:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
Perhaps so, fu7il3, but that doesn't change the facts of my previous post.
8 July 2008
at 9:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
invictus (Anonymous) says…
Many of these Cuban “refuges” are criminals, Castro used political crisises to purge the island of criminals and send them to the U.S. The criminals then claimed to be “refugees” all the while comitting crime and trafficing drugs. But who cares this country has gone in the crapper we should put sings on the borders “Welcome Criminals!!, enjoy our country”
8 July 2008
at 9:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
50YearResident (Anonymous) says…
“Garcia-Nunez's unoccupied truck was discovered in Elizabeth, N.J. Within hours, four Lawrence Police detectives were on a plane to New Jersey.”
Why on earth would the Lawrence Police Department send four detectives to New Jersey by plane to look for Garcia? Did they think the police in Elizabeth, N.J. were incompetent to work this case? This reminds me of a current TV show where the FBI flies to work unsolved cases.
8 July 2008
at 9:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Pogo (Anonymous) says…
Am I looking in the wrong place or has this blog “Tangential” by the woman already been taken off the LJWorld website?
If it's been taken down, that's not very nice.
8 July 2008
at 9:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gypsygirl (Anonymous) says…
“Many of these Cuban “refuges” are criminals, Castro used political crisises to purge the island of criminals and send them to the U.S. The criminals then claimed to be “refugees” all the while comitting crime and trafficing drugs. But who cares this country has gone in the crapper we should put sings on the borders “Welcome Criminals!!, enjoy our country” ”
America has plenty of our own criminals. Whether imigrants come from Cuba, Mexico, Europe, Asia, etc - people are people…we're all human. And somewhere in the mix of us “Humans”, there's always a whack-job or “criminal”.
Furthermore, consider yourself lucky that you just happened to be born in the USA. It's a flip of the coin - you could have just as easily been born in Cuba yourself (or worse)- searching for a way to get to the freedom land make a better life for yourself/family.
8 July 2008
at 9:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
cheeseburger (Anonymous) says…
50YR-
How would you have handled it? You make it sound like the LPD detectives were taking a vacation at taxpayer's expense!
Our detectives were much more familiar with AGN that the NJ guys, and given their familiarity with what happened, would've been better prepared to question AGN.
As far as incompetence, there was some of that exhibited back east, as he, given the past and the present circumstances, should have been on suicide watch.
8 July 2008
at 9:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
Why on earth would the Lawrence Police Department send four detectives to New Jersey by plane to look for Garcia? Did they think the police in Elizabeth, N.J. were incompetent to work this case?
=========
Ummm…considering that the guy died while in their custody…
8 July 2008
at 10:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gypsygirl (Anonymous) says…
Such a tragic ending to the life of a beautiful, smart woman who had her whole life ahead of her.
Tungs are wagging about the crime scene…and it does not sound as if this were an impulsive, heat of the moment murder.
He was obviously very disturbed.
8 July 2008
at 10:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Pogo: “Am I looking in the wrong place or has this blog “Tangential” by the woman already been taken off the LJWorld website? If it's been taken down, that's not very nice.”
I'm not sure how to interpret the question or whether it is even directed to me, but I had posted some earlier comments in a related forum…
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/jul…
I don't know why this story got hold of me as it did.
I didn't know either of the recently departed.
… then again… maybe we all did.
8 July 2008
at 10:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…
Hi all,
Just to clarify, the blog referenced in Kropotkin's comment is Marion's, not Jana's. And, for the record, Marion is to my knowledge a man. Jana didn't have a blog on our site, though she did leave some comments.
Jonathan Kealing
Online editor
8 July 2008
at 10:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
50YearResident (Anonymous) says…
From Cheesburger, How would you have handled it? You make it sound like the LPD detectives were taking a vacation at taxpayer's expense!
I would have contacted them by phone and emailed a picture to the police department with instructions that he is a murder suspect and may be armed and dangerous.
After all, there is a chance that he had stolen another vehicle ant traveled elsewhere. I am sure that the LPD were taking a bloodhound with them to follow the trail from the truck. You know those New Joursey guys kaint do nothin right.
8 July 2008
at 10:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
HiLo2457 (Anonymous) says…
Wow. It never ceases to amaze me how the “experts” come out of the woodworks to throw in their two cents on this site whenever something major happens in Lawrence. There's enough amateur psychoanalysis on this page to explain the secret of life. I wish people would be a little more respectful instead of trying to prove how smart they are and how they MUST know exactly what was going on in everybody's head. Yes, you're all very smart, but do we really have to go all CSI on this? It seems pointless and disrespectful to me.
In response to this situation, it does tick me off that he had done this before and he was on the street - not very many people knew about his past, and it happened in this very town. There is no way to know that someone has a history of domestic violence - some of these people are very charismatic and charming (read: sociopaths). If we can force child molesters to go door-to-door and tell people what they've done, put stickers on their car and signs in their yard, couldn't we at least create a database of domestic abusers? It should be our right to find out about people's past before we get involved with them - what if Jana had been able to go to a database and see that this scumbag had a history of violence? Maybe she would have avoided him instead of getting involved with him.
We miss you, Jana Lynne. You were a constant source of light and life. I know that piece of horse manure is in a place where he can never get to you again.
8 July 2008
at 10:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
kubacker (Anonymous) says…
Blah, blah, blah!
8 July 2008
at 10:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
HiLo2457: “We miss you, Jana Lynne. You were a constant source of light and life. I know that piece of horse manure is in a place where he can never get to you again.”
It's a strange sort of “light” which you have shed on the matter.
Perhaps, in some measure, it is the mistaking of a human being for “horse manure” which fosters such outcomes. Apparently, at some point, Jana found value in Adolfo.
8 July 2008
at 10:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
“Perhaps, in some measure, it is the mistaking of a human being for “horse manure” which fosters such outcomes. Apparently, at some point, Jana found value in Adolfo.”
People find value in horse manure as well. It makes good fertilizer. Feel free to continue giving credit to Adolfo. I still think his actions against women made him a dirtbag.
8 July 2008
at 10:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
simplemind (Anonymous) says…
before condemning the aggressor or the victims characters maybe some thought should be put into how the system handled this matter from the root beginning. fito had previous involvement with the law several years back resulting in incarceration for trying to murder another individual. he was later released back into this town after spending time in prison for attempted murder. if my facts are correct, several citizens were appalled by this and took action, but their voices were not heard. so here sits lawrence so shocked by what has happened. seems silly… maybe instead of cheap talking about the victims in this case, which to me would be both parties a bigger problem needs to be addressed, such as the system and how to rehabilitate the corrupt citizens of our society.
8 July 2008
at 11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says: “Jana didn't have a blog on our site, though she did leave some comments.”
Has that user and her comments been removed or are they still available? If they are no longer available, why?
8 July 2008
at 11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Perhaps, in some measure, it is the mistaking of a human being for “horse manure” which fosters such outcomes. Apparently, at some point, Jana found value in Adolfo.
… and having said that, let me acknowledge your grief, the (above) expression of which, IMHO, is misdirected and self-harming.
8 July 2008
at 11:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Haiku_Cuckoo: “People find value in horse manure as well. It makes good fertilizer. Feel free to continue giving credit to Adolfo. I still think his actions against women made him a dirtbag.”
So, what are we left with, Haiku? The beloved being murdered by dirtbags, amid a chorus of condemnation? If this is the best we can do, then we'll continue to have ample opportunity to sing! (Reminds me of another insight into condemnation, regarding those who forget the past or who fail to learn from it.)
BTW, far from “giving credit,” I have simply acknowledged Adolfo's humanity.
Human… like you and me.
8 July 2008
at 11:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
simplemind (Anonymous) says:”maybe instead of cheap talking about the victims in this case, which to me would be both parties a bigger problem needs to be addressed, such as the system and how to rehabilitate the corrupt citizens of our society.”
Perhaps you know of such a system that has a proven record of “rehabilitation” of the “corrupt citizens” in this society or in other countries? If you do please feel free to share the details such as costs and benefits including objective measures of effectiveness.
Otherwise most of us will file this along side the “maybe Jana was a Saint” and the maybe “Garcia-Nunez was an alien in an Edgar suit” discussions which are of little value and best suited for the late night bull sessions of undergraduate dorm rooms and coffee shops by those who for all their grand solutions have no idea of what they are talking about and zero experience dealing with the complex issues like domestic abuse and murder that they so easily resolve.
8 July 2008
at 11:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
simplemind (Anonymous) says…
of course it is complex in such a complex world, but simply speaking it would be nice. i was just thinking social issues. maybe we should go back to the days of clowns and public humiliation?
8 July 2008
at 11:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
“maybe some thought should be put into how the system handled this matter from the root beginning. fito had previous involvement with the law several years back resulting in incarceration for trying to murder another individual.”
Hear, hear!! I am with you 100% We need stricter laws and tougher sentencing. I don't care at all that the guy was a misunderstood artist or that he had a so-called rough upbringing. If you cause harm to someone, you should be locked up!
8 July 2008
at 11:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…
Sigmund,
The user is still available. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which is deleting anything off of our sites has a lot of unintended consequences, we virtually never delete anything. That being said, since Jana wasn't a verified user, I'm not comfortable posting which user she was.
Jonathan Kealing
Online editor
8 July 2008
at 12:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
simplemind (Anonymous) says…
it could be very costly to run a program to rehabilitate individuals, i agree, but the point is, is that is short-term thinking. i suggest to step out of the now and think about how rehabilitation over a period of time may just change the minds of these people. of course throwing an individual in a prison cell and calling it rehabilitation is not very effective, but while intensive therapy may be costly right now, i could see a positive outcome if taken seriously and looked at as a long-term goal. it's not like we have a shortage of time… maybe someday we'll get it right, instead of repeating the past. just because another city, state, or country wasn't successful does not mean it is not possible. that seems like a weak state of mind to believe it is out of our reach as a whole.
8 July 2008
at 12:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Bravo Jonathan!
As for people commenting here, and those who think it's not typical.
Humans have done this since the beginning of time. They just did it more in person. Think of church meetings, people gathering at the general store sitting and playing checkers. People massing in the town square when something happened. It's how people share thoughts and feelings..and it's perfectly natural.
It's also perfectly natural for some people to not like what other people think and say.
So get over it, you aren't going to change all of humanities thought processes and actions by trying to put them down here.
Add an opinion or correct some info, but accept humans as they are. Doing otherwise is just wasted effort.
8 July 2008
at 12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Defender (Anonymous) says…
“Many of these Cuban “refuges” are criminals, Castro used political crisises to purge the island of criminals and send them to the U.S.”
Invictus supports Communism and Castro. Why ya such a commie, Invictus?
8 July 2008
at 12:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gypsygirl (Anonymous) says…
How can anyone in their right mind support Castro and Communism??
8 July 2008
at 12:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
gypsygirl: “How can anyone in their right mind support Castro and Communism??”
Really… after all, are we not inFidels?
8 July 2008
at 1:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
invictus (Anonymous) says…
Defender
I Just state the facts, many Cuban Exiles were political, but Fidel used these opportunities to empty his prisons of violent criminals as well. And when they come to the U.S. they all claim to be political refugees. I don't indorse communism or any other form of government with this statement. I hope your post was a joke because it makes no sense. If it is, I can see the humor in it.
8 July 2008
at 1:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gypsygirl (Anonymous) says…
invictus: where did you get your facts? Just curious…
Seems to me a lot of Cubans were put IN prison - not emptied OUT. I'm not a cuban scholar but I have Cuban family members and friends…and I've never heard of that theory.
8 July 2008
at 1:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
HiLo2457 (Anonymous) says…
Tangential - Ok, I get it, you're trying to play the enlightened Buddhist on this. He was a tortured soul, still a human being, blah blah blah.
I have unending sympathy for the human condition, I realize that people make mistakes and there is always more to a story. But he KILLED her. It's at least the second time he's gotten violent with a woman, but I'm sure there have been more. She obviously cared about him and saw value in him, and look what he did. It's not an easy thing to kill a person, especially someone who is fighting back against you. I'm sure this didn't happen quickly. It was a brutal, violent action against someone who did nothing but care for people and see the best in them all her life. So you go ahead and keep seeing the best in Fito Horse-manure Garche, but it's not like “seeing value in him” made a difference in this situation, in fact it seems to have made it worse. It doesn't matter how nice you are to a sociopath, they never change.
I refuse to fill my heart with hate, because that's not the way Jana would have wanted us to be. But i refuse to see some sort of excuse for his behavior, or to say “that's ok, he was only human.” It's not ok, Jana is dead. Maybe Jesus or Buddha can have unending compassion toward murderers, but I'm not Jesus or Buddha. I have no compassion for that man, he's a repeat offender, if he could have been helped then this wouldn't have happened. He was beyond help, he was one of those fringe elements that probably would have been exiled from the tribe back in the day and left to fend for himself. He does not deserve our compassion, because compassion is what enabled him to commit this act in the first place. I hope he finds peace with his Lord, but I am human, and I afford him no compassion.
8 July 2008
at 1:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
HiLo2457 (Anonymous) says…
Tangential wrote:
“And so, in Jana, maybe this “devil” found an angel, and maybe that's why he found it so hard to let her go: until a tragic act of passion placed her forever beyond his reach.”
-I think you're getting a little too philosophical about this situation, and you're making it sound like some modern-day Romeo and Juliet. This isn't a play, two people are dead in real life.
You go ahead and feel sorry for him if you want, but 99% of the population can DEAL with their s*** without killing anyone. There's no excuse.
“BTW, far from “giving credit,” I have simply acknowledged Adolfo's humanity.
Human: like you and me.”
-I am human, and part of being human is making choices. If you make the choice to kill someone, you have placed yourself beyond the realm of compassion and understanding. You have made yourself a monster, no matter what people label you as.
He knew he had these tendencies, and he could have sought help. He didn't. So keep on trying to defend him and cast him in a “human” light - to me that makes it even worse. We're all humans that have to live together on this planet, and if you choose to violate certain standards, namely respecting the sanctity of life, then you reap the consequences. Why should I feel sorry for him or see him as “just a human being?” Did he see Jana as a human being when he was taking her life?
You can get all sanctimonious and condemn everyone on this site who calls him a monster, but HE is the one who chose to kill an innocent woman. He made himself a monster, and I'm going to leave it up to God to forgive him. As for me, I think the focus should be on the REAL victims: Jana, his kids, and Jana's friends and family who are grieving so hard right now they're in physical pain.
8 July 2008
at 2:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gypsygirl (Anonymous) says…
I think we can all have compassion for people who have grown up with troubled lives. Whether beaten, neglected, or whatever abuse you've encountered…you still have a choice to pull up your big boy pants and make a decision to get help, take medication, treatment, etc. and move forward. We all have a choice of who we want to become tomorrow.
As a product of two abusive alcoholic parents, i choose not to be an alcoholic.
I don't think anyone should be judged for how they deal with their grief. If you want to hate the monster, hate the monster…or feel sorry for his troubled childhood, do as you please.
Ultimately, it's not up to us….and we'll all be judged one day.
8 July 2008
at 2:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
OzChicklet (Anonymous) says…
HiLo2457 - thank you. Your response to the Tangential “Moon Puppy” was well stated. (I wouldn't want to desecrate the name of Buddha by association with Tangential)
8 July 2008
at 2:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
HiLo2457: “Ok, I get it, you're trying to play the enlightened Buddhist on this.”
On the contrary, it was not a “role” which I sought; it was a sentiment which welled within me.
HiLo2457: “But he KILLED her…. Jana is dead.”
He killed them both; Jana and Adolfo are dead.
HiLo2457: “Fito Horse-manure Garche…. I have no compassion for that man…. He does not deserve our compassion….”
wow.
I cannot feel anything but compassion for such a… soul.
HiLo2457: “It doesn't matter how nice you are to a sociopath, they never change.”
I leave my mind and heart open to the possibility of change for such individuals.
HiLo2457: “I think you're getting a little too philosophical about this situation…. This isn't a play, two people are dead in real life.”
In the face of such an outcome, it would seem that philosophy… and religion… are perhaps all we are left with.
HiLo2457: “You go ahead and feel sorry for him if you want, but 99% of the population can DEAL with their s*** without killing anyone.”
Then I guess it is that 1% which warrants greater attention.
(And, BTW, I experience sorrow for all touched by this situation.)
HiLo2457: “If you make the choice to kill someone, you have placed yourself beyond the realm of compassion and understanding. You have made yourself a monster….”
Why should any act place one beyond the realm of human compassion?
I think it was “Fred” who said (my paraphrase), “It is important, when battling monsters, that one take care not to become a monster, oneself.”
HiLo2457: “I'm going to leave it up to God to forgive him.”
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord…. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Thoughtful, relevant words.
HiLo2457: “As for me, I think the focus should be on the REAL victims: Jana, his kids, and Jana's friends and family who are grieving so hard right now they're in physical pain.”
Me, too.
… and for all those who might be spared a similar fate, were we farseeing and proactive enough to intervene in their behalf.
8 July 2008
at 2:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tomatoluvah (Anonymous) says…
From other article- take note of these comments!!
IMFRasor (Anonymous) says:
I would like to say first off, my prayers go out to Jana and her family. My life was directly effected by Fito Garche's actions in 2004 when he attacked my ex-wife causing her to fear for her life and flee the the state with my daughter. Fito Garche had tryed to get a restraining order against me out of fear of retaliation. Well, I had to endure this individual coming back into my community and being welcomed with open arms. The victim and friends of hers had judged me and try to socially ostrasize me because they believed Fito's lies he told them about how I was stalking him,etc. Fito Garche was a sociopathic, disturbed individual. It saddens me that my warnings fell on deaf ears. I always knew the problem of Fito Garche would work itself out. Its just so tradgic that an innocent life had to be sacrifised in doing so. And so I say wake up people!!!!not all are who they seem to be. R.I.P. Jana Mackey
chanteuz (Anonymous) says:
This newspaper printed an extraordinarily positive article about Fito when he returned from prison/mental ward after trying to murder my step-daughter. I wrote a scathing respone to the article that was NEVER published, indicating that this man was a sociopath and should not be promoted in your community. He needed to return to Cuba or, rather, be permanently imprisoned or both. I am disappointed that your article promoting Fito Garche or whomever he really was was published AND I'm disappointed that you did not publish my response. A woman is dead and “all are punished.”
8 July 2008
at 2:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
OzChicklet: “Your response to the Tangential “Moon Puppy” was well stated. (I wouldn't want to desecrate the name of Buddha by association with Tangential)”
Moon Puppy?
Desecration by association?
Somewhere over the rainbow, OzChicklet?
8 July 2008
at 2:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gypsygirl (Anonymous) says…
Wow - chilling accounts above.
8 July 2008
at 3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
HiLo2457 (Anonymous) says…
Tangential - I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to convince me of, why you're defending him, or why it's so important to you to challenge everyone on attacking him while “tangentially” attacking them (and me) yourself. It's not important to me to get into a philosophical or religious debate with you over this. I'm grieving for my friend, as many people in this town are, so your sanctimonious comments aren't going to be received very well.
P.S. For all of the Buddhist sentiment welling within you, I can't see Gautama Buddha, Jesus, Mohommad, any bodhisattva, or any enlightened figure sitting and arguing with anyone in their grief, trying to convince them they're wrong. I think that speaks more of a need within yourself to be proven right.
I don't know who you are, and maybe you're a really great person to be around in real life, but I'm not sure what your intention is here. If it is to enlighten, you might reexamine some of the teachings you seem to hold in such high esteem.
8 July 2008
at 3:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
HiLo2457 (Anonymous) says…
tomatoluvah - Thank you for posting those - truly sad, we failed Jana as a community on so many levels.
I was serious about the idea of a database of violent offenders - does such a thing exist? I know you can pay money for background checks, but it seems that the information is difficult to come across for free. I had a bad feeling about someone I got involved with a while ago, and tried to talk to the police. They told me he had a record, but wouldn't give me specifics of what the charges were. Obviously some charges would have caused me more alarm than others, so it would be nice to have a “violent offenders” database that could be searched, to avoid getting into bad situations.
When you fall for someone, it's hard to think they would ever do anything to hurt you. Love is blind, as they say. That is particularly dangerous with sociopaths, because they are so charming, and know the right thing to say and do all the time. But in reality, they will hurt you eventually, physically, emotionally, financially. By the time they do, you've already fallen for them and want to make all sorts of excuses for their behavior, and truly believe they really care for you. I'm speaking from experience! Obviously we can't all know who people are before we get involved with them, but if it would help even a few people to know that the person they're getting involved with has the capacity for violence, it would be worth it…
8 July 2008
at 3:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jkealing (Jonathan Kealing) says…
HiLo,
The Kansas registered offender database isn't all inclusive, but it includes more than just sex offenders. This page also links to the Department of Corrections database of former DOC inmates.
http://www.accesskansas.org/kbi/ro.shtml
Hope that helps.
Jonathan Kealing
Online editor