Charlie Kay Ely

[Gawron]

I debated with myself for a long time as whether or not to post what follows on this website. But I am having such trouble grasping this in context, I finally decided to go ahead. If this is in the wrong section and the Mods see fit to move it somewhere else, all I ask is a notification of where it went.

In my time as a public high school teacher I have suffered all of the “usual” calamities which unfortunately befall some students. A few female students have become pregnant as young as seventeen, one was arrested for armed robbery, a male student for drug dealing. I have had two of my students die, one due to illness and the other the victim of a shooting. But I swear, I do not know what to make of this. I just found out about this tonight, and I absolutely do not know what to make of this event, and am having a hard time assimilating it.

Charlie Kay Ely, teen girl, found guilty of murder in Fla. killing of Seath Tyler Jackson

Quote:

The jury has returned a guilty verdict in the first-degree murder trial of Charlie Kay Ely, one of five Florida juveniles accused of participating in killing 15-year-old Seath Tyler Jackson in April.

The trial went to jury late Friday morning after the prosecution and defense delivered their closing arguments, reports The Ocala Star Banner.


While the defense argued that Ely was held at gunpoint and forced to help dispose of Seath's body, Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt concluded that Ely was not a small player in the incident.

"Charlie Ely wasn't a scared pawn. The only person that was scared was Seath Jackson," said Berndt, reports the paper. "She had multiple opportunities to save Seath."

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20110925-504083.html

Charlie Kay Ely was a student of mine. In 2009 she was in my spring term fourth period eleventh grade English Literature/English Language Arts class. If someone had come into my class at that time and told me that in two years, one of the students in this class would be convicted of murdering a 15 year old boy, her name would never have entered my head.

She was a front row student. She never gave me any problems, was almost always in a good mood. I remember her smile and how she used to laugh, even at some of my jokes. She even defended me once when another student got out of line. She seemed like a happy, normal young girl.

But the events of this case are not only shocking, but gruesome in the extreme. Quote:

“Authorities say Seath was lured to Ely's Summerfield home, 60 miles north of Orlando , where he was beaten, tied up and shot. According to arrest reports, Seath's body was burned and his remains were placed into buckets and tossed into a lime pit.”

From a story posted on September 21st, 2001.

Bargo called to the stand against Ely but says nothing

Quote:

The state's first witness on Wednesday in the first-degree murder trial of Charlie Kay Ely was Michael Bargo, who is accused of firing the shots that killed Seath Jackson on April 17.

Ely turned her head as Jonathan Bull, her defense attorney, viewed the photos of the remains.

Source: http://www.ocala.com/article/20110921/ARTICLES/110929908?tc=ar

And from the same source.

Juror: The taped confession sank Ely

Quote:

The jury in Charlie Kay Ely's first-degree murder trial deliberated for just more than an hour before returning with a guilty verdict on Friday.

Ely burst into tears and courtroom observers gasped as the verdict was read just after 1 p.m. The case was turned over to the 12-member jury at 11:30 a.m. They returned to the courtroom after reaching a verdict just before 12:45 p.m.

The video shows Ely admitting she and Amber Wright, 15, a co-defendant in the killing, were sent to lure 15-year-old Seath to Ely's home. Seath was eventually beaten, tied up and shot. His body was then burned, and his remains placed into 5-gallon buckets and thrown into a flooded limerock pit.

Under Florida law, life without parole is the mandatory sentence for a first-degree murder conviction. A sentencing hearing was not immediately set in order to allow time for members of Seath Jackson's family to present victim statements to the court.

Source: http://www.ocala.com/article/20110923/ARTICLES/110929836?tc=obinsite

When I heard about this I was dumbstruck. What the hell happened to her? It is so hard to imagine Charlie participating in such an act as brutally killing a 15 year old boy, and then burning the corpse outside her house and stuffing what was left into paint cans. My God. And all because they didn’t like the kid? They didn’t like him, so they killed him. And she lured him to his death.

What the hell. I remember our studies that term of Dante’s Inferno, and a specific conversation we all had one day on the torment of murderers as depicted in that work. I use the Inferno as a legitimate platform to discuss right and wrong, good and evil. But now I question if I should ever have done that, or should ever do it again, or if I should ever say anything. At this moment I simply do not know. A moment like this makes me feel like I really know nothing, and perhaps am doing something wrong. I just don’t know what to make of it. At this moment I question everything I thought I knew.

I did find this line from the third article interesting, quote:

"These kids, all of them were users of her. She had her own place and everyone just came in. She was very naive, not street smart. She had only been away from home a few months," said Betty Sanchez, another aunt.”

That is true. Charlie was naïve, I recall that. She did not ever strike me as a “street smart” kid, and I suppose there is a part of me that believes she was manipulated into this act. But the act is so horrific there is another part of me that screams she should have known better, must have known better, and did it anyway.

I found this report on Fox News Orlando. Jessica Luecke was in that same class, and always sat beside Charlie. I had forgotten that Charlie was in Junior Navy ROTC.

Friend Speaks Out About Teen Suspect in Florida Murder Case

Jessica Luecke sits in front of her family's Frederick County home and shakes her head - finding it hard to imagine how her best friend in high school could now be facing murder charges in central Florida's most sensational murder case in years.

"I didn't believe it at first," said the 18-year-old Luecke. "It took a long time to settle in. And then I was pretty upset about it."

Charlie Kay Ely is one of six people charged in the murder of 15-year-old Seath Jackson, who was savagely beaten and then shot to death inside Ely's Summerfield, Fla. home on April 17.

"It was crazy knowing she was my best friend and yet she's in jail for possibly her whole life,” Luecke said.

Source: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpps/new...42511_12919905

Watch the video. Seeing Charlie like that is very disturbing.

This is sad on so many levels. Right now my 14 year old son is up in his room asleep. Tomorrow he will want me to play a game with him, or help him exercise, or take him to the store and buy him something. What do I tell my son about the world we live in, when a kid, a former student of mine, lured someone only one year older than my son into a house where she knew others were waiting to kill him? How do I ever let him go out on his own?

I wish I could go down there and find Charlie, go see her, just to try and hear it from her own mouth. What happened to you? How could you do this monstrous thing? Maybe then I could find some peace with it.

My friend Mike called this a “Manson style killing”. He may be correct on that. But such evil, my god. What kind of world are we sending our children out into?

 

[Wayte]

You know, I have a theory about people. See, most people have a sort of line. And if you're above that line, you get treated well. They're respectful, kind, seem totally decent. But if you're below that line, it's like they're a whole different person. They spit, they insult. They wouldn't care if you were dead. That's what I saw in this tale; you were above that line, the victim was far below it.

And as for sending children into this world....we can't really make it nicer, just make the next generation strong and smart enough to handle it. Nothing more.

 

[AV1611VET]

What do I tell my son about the world we live in, when a kid, a former student of mine, lured someone only one year older than my son into a house where she knew others were waiting to kill him?

You can be sure, Gawron, that your son will see your shock and learn from it.

In fact, your shock at what happened will impact him more than anything you say to him, and he will respect you for your stand against what happened.

Evil has a way of popping up in the most unlikely places, and can turn the most naive and innocent person into a criminal.

Use what happened to show your son that verses such as Jeremiah 17:9 are just as true today as when it was written.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I hope this helps --

P.S. I still remember how my mother reacted when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald, and it was shown on the news.

She about went to pieces, and from that point, I learned just how much she truly hated evil.

 

[revanneosl]

Gawron, I don't have any words of sage advice for you, but I am going to be praying for you in the days & weeks to come as you seek to come to terms with this.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I debated with myself for a long time as whether or not to post what follows on this website. But I am having such trouble grasping this in context, I finally decided to go ahead. If this is in the wrong section and the Mods see fit to move it somewhere else, all I ask is a notification of where it went.

In my time as a public high school teacher I have suffered all of the &#8220;usual&#8221; calamities which unfortunately befall some students. A few female students have become pregnant as young as seventeen, one was arrested for armed robbery, a male student for drug dealing. I have had two of my students die, one due to illness and the other the victim of a shooting. But I swear, I do not know what to make of this. I just found out about this tonight, and I absolutely do not know what to make of this event, and am having a hard time assimilating it. <snip>..............

My friend Mike called this a &#8220;Manson style killing&#8221;. He may be correct on that. But such evil, my god. What kind of world are we sending our children out into?

Thanks for the link to this thread you left me on my profile board. I rarely venture into this part of CF and not sure I have an answer.

I lived during the time of Manson and the Jim Jones massacre so this is really nothing new to me.

Violent movies and online video games, parents too busy or not caring about their children, influence of other kids at school, worldwide web, cell phones and too many other factors to mention are perhaps contributing to this.

But Jesus also prophecied this would happen and we can only pray for those that have been caught up in the web of evilness and at some point turn to our Lord Jesus for guidance, comfort and love.
God bless
Steve

Matt 24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

 

[AV1611VET]

6 People, 5 Teens Held In Brutal Beating, Shooting & Burning Death Of 15-Yr Old Boy - YouTube

 

[EdwinWillers]

My friend Mike called this a “Manson style killing”. He may be correct on that. But such evil, my god. What kind of world are we sending our children out into?

Thank you for posting this Gawron.

I don't know what to say either. My wife and I were never blessed with children; but so often do we consider ourselves blessed for not having had any either - when we see this sort of stuff going on around us, the sort of world this world seems to be becoming. We simply can't imagine having to deal with the very fear and trepidation for our own kid's well-being that you are feeling right now.

So much seems to be a function of those with whom they associate.

For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
My son, fear the LORD and the king;
Do not associate with those who are given to change,
For their calamity will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that comes from both of them? (Proverbs 24:20ff).

It seems the best parents can do these days is watch closely their children's friends, those with whom they associate regularly... My nieces span either side of Charlie's age and God be praised, they did not encounter such evil as directly as this. But such is not the case with all.

I like AV1611's comments - and echo them. The world in which we live hasn't really changed, the presence and nature of the evil around us is ever-present, always waiting "for a more opportune time" (Luke 4:13) in which to ensnare and assail the innocent with its evil. How a parent responds to evil is probably the best lesson they can give on the subject to their kids - and that when they demonstrate how important it is to turn to God when evil has succeeded anywhere.

7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. (Psalm 37)

 

[DaisyDay]

I wish I could go down there and find Charlie, go see her, just to try and hear it from her own mouth. What happened to you? How could you do this monstrous thing? Maybe then I could find some peace with it.

Why don't you? I expect she has precious few friends at this point and, as time goes on, will have fewer still. If it's too far to travel, you could try writing her a letter, begin a correspondence. Seems to me, she's going to have a lot of time to fill and this might be good for her, just for someone she knows to ask, "What happened?" Her answer will probably change over time, with introspection.

I really do think you should contact her. I don't know what you would have to lose here. If she doesn't answer, well, maybe she will if you try again in a month or a year. At best, you would gain some insight and you may be performing a great kindness.

If you do decide to do this, I am interested in hearing more. I hope you will share any insight you glean.

 

[Gawron]

Thanks for the responses all, I appreciate it.

Somewhere during the night part of what I was feeling coalesced into a thought I can articulate. There is a part of me which feels personally ashamed, in that, for whatever reason, I didn’t have a more positive impact on Charlie’s life when I had the opportunity to do so. I don’t know what would have mattered or if it would have made any difference, like I said I really don’t know anything. This is so beyond my personal experience I just can’t get my head around it.

 

[AV1611VET]

Thanks for the responses all, I appreciate it.

Somewhere during the night part of what I was feeling coalesced into a thought I can articulate. There is a part of me which feels personally ashamed, in that, for whatever reason, I didn’t have a more positive impact on Charlie’s life when I had the opportunity to do so. I don’t know what would have mattered or if it would have made any difference, like I said I really don’t know anything. This is so beyond my personal experience I just can’t get my head around it.

Hindsight is always 20/20, Gawron.

If you had the opportunity to give Charlie the Gospel, but didn't, you had no way of knowing what she was going to go and do.

Don't beat yourself to death over this, just pick up the pieces and move on; you're much smarter and wiser now, eh?

 

[lordbt]

What struck me about this story--other than the obvious tragedy of the whole thing--was where were the parents? Charlie is 17, living alone, from a broken home, married to a man now in prison; the other female is 15 with a 19 year old boyfriend; and the only true adult in the picture, the step father of two of the boys does what when he learns of the murder? Helps his step kids dispose of the remains. Unbelievable.

For what it is worth, Gawron, I would tell your son about the case and how you feel about it, if you havent already. The gruesome images that Charlie was permitted to look away from during her trial is what the public should see. We spend the whole first part of our childs lives protecting and shielding them from evil. At some point they reach the age where they need to meet that evil head on. This case might be that opportunity.

What are the lessons? There are consequences to bad decisions, even for minors, that can impact them the rest of their lives. The 15 year old is dead and gone. His suffering is over. Charlie is going to suffer the consequences of her actions for the rest of her life. One can only imagine the number of times she will cry herself to sleep at night wishing there was some why to turn back the clock, or hope to awaken to find it was all a bad dream. But that is not going to happen. Her life is ruined, but she is going to have to go on living it anyway, clinging to whatever scraps of pleasure a person with a guilty conscience can gather from the inside of a prison cell. It doesnt get a whole lot sadder than that.

The other lesson is the invaluability of parents who actually give a crap about their offspring. Once you have that covered, all you can do is hope for the best.

 

[Gawron]

Again, thanks for the responses. As I think about this so many questions come to mind. I mean, I look at the composite mug-shots of all six of the accused and my initial reaction is the same as it has always been in light of such an event. Disgust, revulsion, disdain, and a complete lack of sympathy for those who would commit such a heinous act. But then there is one face which stares back at me and gives me pause. I have to wonder, knowing her and her background, who else in that line-up may be worthy of some sympathy, perhaps? Some thought of redemption?

At some point they reach the age where they need to meet that evil head on.

In Charlie’s case I guess one of two things must be true. Either she was far more naive and impressionable than even I ever thought and when she met evil it rolled right over her, or she was inherently evil herself and none of us ever saw it. It is probably more nuanced than that, but that aside for the moment I would prefer to believe the former to be true.

I don’t know. In the state of Florida Charlie’s verdict carries an automatic sentence of life in prison. She will still face a sentencing hearing, and in Florida a conviction of murder in the first degree carries the possibility of death.

She deserves to be punished for her role in this. Of that there is no question and I would never suggest otherwise. I will wait to see the results of the sentencing hearing before commenting further.

 

[rambot]

Sorry about your connection to this sad story Gawron

What kind of world are we sending our children out into?

The kind we create, and allow to be created.

 

[keith99]

<edit>

The student you described could also be called the good girl, the compliant student. This attitude is rewarded in our educational system.

If this complaince becomes too ingrained and the compliant individual falls under the influence of the wromng people bad things can happen.

 

[AV1611VET]

I think Gawron is sharing a reality check with us, and I'm grateful for that.

It's one thing to read about what happened in the news, but it's another to meet someone who knew these people personally, and to have them share their innermost feelings with us.

 

[revanneosl]

<edit>
We are discussing our Brother Gawron's reaction to discovering that a young person ,to whom he related as a teacher, later committed a heinous crime.

We are discussing the degree to which we in the caring professions (pastors, teachers, therapists, scout masters, etc.) can be thrown for a loop by finding out that our hard work and good examples may have little to no effect upon the people to whom we have devoted our lives.

It can be devastating.

<edit>

 

[Gawron]

<edit>

The student you described could also be called the good girl, the compliant student. This attitude is rewarded in our educational system.

If this complaince becomes too ingrained and the compliant individual falls under the influence of the wrong people bad things can happen.

I understand what you are saying. At least I think I do. My one point of contention perhaps is I don't view those students who come to school and follow the rules and try to get an education as being "compliant". At least not in the negative sense your comment seems to imply.

Any teacher worth anything is going to encourage dissent in the form of critical thinking. But a student telling me to take my assignment and shove it up my backside isn't simply expressing dissent. That is part of my dilemma, in that Charlie was never like that.

I get your last point. Producing sheep should never be the goal of either parents or teachers.

 

[Gawron]

Posted by revanneosl:

"We are discussing our Brother Gawron's reaction to discovering that a young person ,to whom he related as a teacher, later committed a heinous crime.

Yes. Regardless of what some may say about it, this hit me pretty hard. Now let me state the obvious and say I am not looking for any sympathy for me or for Charlie. I just know there are some smart people on this website, some who I have come to respect over time, and I wanted their input because I have been having a hard time getting my head around this.

A few years back I had a friend, a fellow teacher, who I really liked. We got along very well and her students and mine at times made little jokes about how we sometimes appeared to be more than just friends. We weren't, we were just friends, but one day some of her students started to come to me and say they were glad she had at least one friend.

I missed the signs. We left for Thanksgiving break that term and five days later when I came back to school Beth wasn't there. She had killed herself. That was hard. In some ways this is worse, because regardless of how I feel about what Charlie did, I know her life is just as effectively over.

"It can be devastating."

It isn't what you wish for your students, to be sure.

 

[llb003]

I too know Charlie Kay and she is not an evil monster. She is an emotionally needy, vulnerable young woman, product of an abusive childhood, ridiculed behind her back in high school due to having lost an eye due to abuse, and no doubt she is approval-seeking and overly compliant. I can't imagine her ever hurting anyone had she not gotten swept up in the stupid melodrama of the violent young people who turned her home into a free motel. No one is saying that she shouldn't be held accountable for her part in the crime, although she was not one of the actual killers. I believe her when she says she helped lure the kid to the home because she was afraid. The leader, Bargo, apparently waved a gun around on a daily basis and if Charlie says he threatened her, I believe her. I had assumed that if convicted she would serve a few years and then get out and have a chance to redeem her life, but now I am reading in the online news accounts that first degree murder conviction in Florida carries a mandatory life sentence without parole. This is unbelievable, and totally unjust in Charlie's case. I read that she is going to appeal, and I wish her luck. She did a stupid wrong thing but does not deserve to never again see free daylight. I think Christ, the prince of peace, forgiveness, and compassion, would see it this way as well.

 

[Gawron]

I believe her when she says she helped lure the kid to the home because she was afraid.

This is one of the points I am having a problem with. If she were simply afraid, when she was out of the house waiting to meet the boy others were waiting to kill, that was her opportunity to get out. Why she didn't take it I don't feel can simply be passed off as being emotionally needy and vulnerable.

I am guessing you were one of her friends. I was aware of her background at the time but never really discussed it with her because I knew another teacher at the school was. I didn't want to "pile on" so I tried to keep her focused and look out for her where I could.

This is all very sad.