MISSING 18 HOURS

MISSING 18 HOURS AND WAS NOT REPORTED

TRUTH

As I said in my last post Natalie Bright called me around 4:30 pm on November 23, 2010 and asked if I had talked to Jennifer that day.  She also called later in the evening and told me she was going to Olathe Lake to look for her and to the Olathe, KS Police Department to look for her.  I don't know if she did or not or if she was trying to get an alibi so if anyone asked, I would tell them about the conversation.

I will go into more about the Police Department later, but I must say that several people noticed she was gone at noon and her gun was missing.  No one called me and to this day I firmly believe they had an idea of the outcome and did absolutely nothing about it.

I stayed up most of that night trying to call Jennifer.  Early the next morning, November 24, 2010 I called Natalie Bright and she still had not heard from Jennifer and hadn't reported her missing to the Olathe, KS Police Department.  She told me she was going to work and she was going to drop Owen Bright off at our house as usual before going.

Instead of going to her job at the Johnson County Sheriffs Department, she went to the Olathe, KS Police Department and reported Jennifer missing.  They put an APB out on Jennifer's car license plate.

November 24, 2010.  Times were a blur then as they are now.  I can only guesstimate the hours of that devastating day.  Around 9:00 am Captain Greg O'Halloran (remember he was hosting one of the meetings Jennifer had the day before)  and Detective Bill Wall came to our house.  They told us that Natalie Bright filed a missing person report on Jennifer.  They asked us for a timeline of the last time we saw Jennifer.  The last time we saw Jennifer was November 22, two days before when she came to pick up Owen.  They asked my husband to search the house, which I thought was moronic because she could not have gotten into the house without us knowing.  After my husband looked around the house, he drove throughout the neighborhood.  No Jennifer. 

They left and said they would contact us if they heard anything.  They also asked me to call everybody I could think of who Jennifer might have contacted.  I called her long time friend Jill Schultze.  I called my sister Connie Russell.  I called Jennifer's ex-husband, Matt Morgan,  I called my uncle Father John Eldringhoff.  No one had seen or talked to Jennifer.

Around 11:00 am they came back, except Bill Wall (supposedly one of Jennifer's longest friends) did not come it was another Officer.  Remember, I had my grandson, Jennifer's son here on that day and he was having lunch in the kitchen watching cartoons.  I always sat with him during his lunch so he was extremely confused as to why these people were here.  My husband Dave and I knew it had to be bad news.  And, unfortunately we were right.

HOW MUCH BULLYING COULD YOU TAKE?

         

EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT THRESHOLD

TRUTH

Jennifer went through quite a long rough time.  Her dad and I tried to help her the best that we could.  She was in such turmoil trying to decide what to do about her relationship with Natalie Bright plus her threatened position with the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department.

She started seeing an Employee Assistance Professional Therapist in November, 2010.  She would usually go after work while I took care of my grandson, Owen Bright.  Around the 15th of the month she came to our house and spent the night along with Owen.  We talked about everything till early in the morning.  This 39 year old woman sat on my lap and cried like a child who had been wounded beyond repair.  When she stopped she had used up all the tears any person could have and she was exhausted.

She told me and her dad if anything ever happened to her to get Owen Bright's adoption nullified.  She made us promise her that we would.  I asked her if she was afraid of Natalie Bright, Gail Fagen and Danny Bright and she said she was.  (Later we would find out she had hidden a gun under her mattress) in her bedroom.

Her therapist told her to be very careful around Natalie Bright and to take Owen and get out of the house.  According to Jennifer the therapist thought Bright was a "narcissist" and a "sociopath".

On November 22, 2010 Jennifer attended a Seminar given at the Olathe, Kansas Police Department.  The subject of the Seminar was suicide.  Natalie Bright and Jennifer had a huge fight that same day.  When Jennifer came to pick up Owen that day she looked gaunt and totally beat up emotionally.  We talked about the fight they had and she said everything was definitely over between them.  I can only assume this therapist wrote a prescription for Celexa.

On November 23, 2010 Jennifer went to work and attended 2 meetings with her direct supervisor, Capt. Greg O'Halloran and another high ranking member of the Olathe, Kansas police department.  One meeting concerned demoting Jennifer back to patrol and the other meeting, I have no idea what it was about, however, it must have been horrible because after the meeting Jennifer changed into street clothes and walked out of the Olathe, Kansas Department around noon that day.

About 4:30pm on November 23, 2010 I received a call.  It was Natalie Bright asking me if I had talked to Jennifer that day.  I had not talked to her as my grandson, Owen Bright went to Goddard School on Tuesday and Thursday and this happened to be a Tuesday and I would have talked to Jennifer later on in the evening.  I thought it strange at the time, this was the first time Natalie had ever called me and Jennifer would not have been home at 4:30 anyway.

I immediately called every number I had for Jennifer with no answer.  I had a very bad feeling about the situation.

Just so everyone will know this is a picture of Jennifer and her baby Owen Bright, that is so poignant and beautiful of both of them, I just can't believe we lost both of them.

This is about all I can write for now.  I'm sure you know what my next blog will be about.

CALCULATED PLANNING

CONTINUATION OF DUPED & LIED TO & CHEATED ON

TRUTH

In my last blog, I gave you a little background information about Jennifer so you could understand her personality and lust for life.  She was not one to be depressed or morose about anything that happened to her.  If she fell down, she would get right back up and start over again. 

This blog will describe my daughter's demeanor and downfall.  This could happen to anyone.  Heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender.  White, Black, Hispanic  - any race.  Female or male.  Adult or child.  THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING ARE HORRIFYING AND ANYONE CAN BE SCARED TO DEATH!! 

This totally normal levelheaded girl let Natalie Bright, Danny Bright and Gail Fagen drive her to the depths of sadness and total desperation.

When Natalie Bright went from shift work on September 7, 2009 to Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm was when I kept Jennifer's son, Owen Bright Monday through Friday 7:15am -6:30+pm or much later depending on the situation.  This lasted till May, 2010 (9 months of constant care).

Now, Natalie Bright was free every evening to be home with Jennifer and Owen.  Gail Fagen, Natalie Bright's mother, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa was visiting almost every weekend and Natalie Bright's brother, Danny Bright and his husband, Kevin Niekamp were also visiting often and took up a lot of Jennifer and Owen's life.  This situation set the stage for the constant bullying and abuse Jennifer received.  She was verbally abused.  Threatened.  Humiliated at home and at the Olathe Police Department.  She was told she needed to lose weight, pay attention to her skin, that she was not a good mother, and asked to give up her parental rights "because in Natalie Bright's opinion" Jennifer was not fit to be his mother.

It was either feast or famine.  In other words they either double-teamed Jennifer or completely left her alone with Owen.  If she wanted to talk to Natalie Bright, she would have to schedule an appointment (even though they lived in the same house).  Natalie Bright and her family orchestrated the schedule.

Natalie Bright decided she was going to play basketball every Monday night.  So, she did.  They fought about it, but it did no good.  Natalie signed up for continuing sessions of basketball.  Jennifer didn't know everyone on the team, (all women) but it was intimated that Sarah Tackett, Natalie Bright's lover, was indeed on the team. 

Natalie Bright started going out to lunch with unknown people and spending money and really keeping close watch on the bank accounts.  Jennifer didn't know if she had account in her name only.  I don't know if she did to this day or not.

Jennifer went on Facebook to check on a previous girlfriend, Tierre Erickson, who had cancer.  Natalie Bright forbid Jennifer to get on Facebook and made her promise not to use Facebook or any other social media so she could isolate her from other people. 

It was probably the Summer of 2010 when I specifically remember Jennifer trying to get out from under Natalie's thumb.  In June, Natalie Bright wanted to take Owen to Des Moines, Iowa because her family was involved with go-cart or ATV racing.  Jennifer did not want to go, so she told Natalie Bright she didn't feel well.  Jennifer followed Natalie half way to Des Moines so she could make sure Owen Bright was okay and supposedly Gail Fagen, Natalie's mother met her and followed her the rest of the way.

I want to interject here how hard it was to see my daughter being bullied daily and hourly for months.  Jennifer and I talked when she brought Owen to our house and picked him up.  She also called at least once during the day to check on him.  Natalie Bright never called once.  Through Jennifer I was told not to buy Owen certain toys because Natalie was the only person to be able to play certain games with Owen.  This was so totally absurd. 

I asked Jennifer if she wanted me to talk to Natalie Bright to try to find out why she was treating Jennifer so bad.  Jennifer told me that it would only get worse for her if I talked to her.

I don't know if I mentioned earlier in my blogs, but Natalie Bright majored in Psychology and Sociology in college.  She knew how to mentally beat someone down.  Jennifer went to work at the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department and had to see Sarah Tackett, Natalie Bright's lover everyday and go home every night to a cesspool of criticism and/or complete silence.  Natalie spent a lot of time in her own room (man cave) playing games, downloading songs and mapping out how long Jennifer would last together in the same house.

Anyway, back to June of 2010.  After Jennifer followed Bright half way to Des Moines she came over to our house.   She specifically wanted to sit by our pool and read a new book on "How to parent a 3 year old".  Owen Bright would turn 3 the following February, 2010.  The book was a hardback and fairly thick.  Jennifer read the whole book in a couple of hours.  Natalie Bright called on Jennifer's cell phone while she was here.  She didn't answer instead went to a quiet place on the patio to call her back so Natalie Bright wouldn't know Jennifer was at our house.

Jennifer brought hair color over so I could re-frost her hair.  I was shocked at how her hair felt.  I asked her how long it had been since she had washed it.  She said she didn't remember.  It was then that she told me she didn't have time to brush her teeth, wash her hair or do personal things that we all take for granted.  She was so occupied with taking care of Owen and the house and the job and putting up with her situation, that she forgot about herself.  We talked while I did her hair and I told her she would have to start taking care of herself for Owen's sake.  Her hair turned out really nice and uplifted her spirits some.  She took a shower for a long time while she was here and honestly looked so much better by the day's end.  I asked her what she was going to do when Natalie Bright got home and noticed that Jennifer's hair was done.  Jennifer said she probably wouldn't notice.  Well, Natalie Bright did notice and all hell broke loose. 

DEATH OF A FREE SPIRIT

EFFECTS OF CONTROLLING & BULLYING PEOPLE

TRUTH

Jennifer held a full-time job at the Olathe Police Department.  She worked there for approximately 17 years.  She started as Patrol Officer.  She later became a Detective, a Field Training Officer, a member of the Tactical Support Unit, the Metropolitan Homicide Squad, a Background Investigator and Police Recruiter. She was a Certified Polygraph Examiner for the State of Kansas.  She also received multiple awards, most revered the Olathe Police Department Merit Award in 2004 and 2010.  How appropriate to receive that award and be threatened with a demotion in the same year.  All because of Natalie Bright and her affair with Sarah Tackett and the havoc it reeked within the department.

Jennifer kept a beautiful home and did all the house work, lawn upkeep, prepared meals, laundry, did all of the grocery shopping and took wonderful care of her son.  Natalie Bright did absolutely nothing domestic.  Jennifer said that Natalie Bright wanted to be Owen's friend (ergo: that's why Natalie and her family called him "Buddy" instead of Owen.  I often wondered what would have actually occurred if Natalie Bright had been loving and sincere about wanting a family and been a contributing member of that family.

As far back as I can remember Jennifer was always willing to try something new.  On the first day of kindergarten, I took her to school and picked her up and she said to me "that was fun Mom, but I'm glad its over and I won't have to go back".  The look on her beautiful little face when I explained the situation was priceless.  Huge tears began to run down her cheeks when she realized what I was saying and that she would have to go back.

This is a picture of Jennifer and her brother, John who she adored.  John was 5 and Jennifer 3 years old.  This was at Christmas time, thus the packages they were holding.  Her hair was completely blond and in my opinion, they were both good looking and perfectly normal kids.

From that time on she tried every sport she could go out for.  Soccer, softball, tennis (was offered a tennis scholarship), varsity basketball (Wichita State was interested in her), volleyball and she would have tried football if she could.  She excelled in her work at school.  She went to Shawnee Mission West high school and after graduation, commuted from Lenexa, Kansas to Lawrence, Kansas to attend Kansas University. 

Jennifer had several jobs in which she also excelled.  She had an excellent work ethic and was a valued employee where ever she was employed.

When she worked at MC Sports she met her future husband, Matt Morgan.  They got married in 1993.  They lived in an apartment for a while and eventually bought a house.  Matt worshiped the ground Jennifer walked on.  It was during their time together that Jennifer decided to go to the Police Academy.  She graduated in the top of her class and became a Olathe, Kansas police officer.

I would guess that she always aspired to be a "LAW-WOMAN".  Here she is with her brother John, all decked out with their six guns.  John was 6 and Jennifer 4 years old.

Things went as we supposed they would.  Jennifer was harassed by some of her male counterparts from day one.  She weathered every verbal assault and every slight to advance to be Sergeant in 2006.  She loved her job even though she was constantly challenged.

Matt Morgan and Jennifer were married almost 6 years and it ended with both of them being brokenhearted.  Jennifer realized that she was a lesbian somewhere along the line and did not want Matt to be deprived of what she called a "normal" life.

I remember she called my husband, her dad - Dave and asked if she could come over to our house and stay for a while.  I was gone at the time.  She came over with some clothes and we sat in the kitchen for the longest time and she told me crying uncontrollably that she was gay.  I told her we loved her and supported her in every way, even though I wished it wasn't the case because at that time gay and lesbian people weren't treated as well as they are today, especially at the Police Department and that proved to be true.  As I said earlier, she weathered that storm too.  She was still our daughter and it didn't matter that she preferred women.

Her first encounter was with a woman named Michelle Becker.  Michelle moved to Olathe, Kansas from St. Louis, Missouri (if I recall correctly).  They were together for a short period of time and then Jennifer moved on to other relationships.

She wasn't with anyone in particular for a while then she met someone special (I won't mention her name because to my current knowledge, she hasn't come out to her family).  They bought a house together and were with each other for almost 5 years.  That relationship was good but hard for Jennifer because this woman went home every Christmas and Jennifer could not participate for fear of the family finding out their daughter was gay.

That brings us to the time Natalie Bright unfortunately walked into Jennifer's life.

So we will leave it here, until the next blog.

DUPED & LIED TO & CHEATED ON

TRUTH

A little more than a week before Owen Bright was born, (February 7, 2008) Jennifer went to Krigel & Krigel law offices and signed her Last Will and Testament.  At the time, Natalie Bright and Gail Fagen happened to be with her.  Everything Jennifer had was left to Natalie Bright.  If she did not survive Jennifer, Gail Fagen (Natalie's mother), was the beneficiary Trustee and Owen's guardian.  If she did not survive Jennifer or could not accept the responsibility of Owen's care then Pat Fagen (Natalie Bright's) stepfather would be named.  How coincidental is it that it all was taken care of before Owen's birth?  In case Jennifer did not survive delivery of her son, the Bright's and Fagen's had it all.  I did not have any knowledge of what was in Jennifer's Last Will & Testament.  We never discussed it.

As soon as Jennifer delivered Owen Bright subtle changes occurred at first and as time went on the changes in Jennifer were monumental.  After 6 months, Natalie Bright adopted Owen Bright in Kansas City, Missouri (this will be discussed in future blogs).  He had to reside with Jennifer and Natalie for the 6 months prior to the adoption.  Problem is they lived in Kansas the whole time and should not have been able to adopt in Missouri.  Jennifer said they had a "special judge" that worked with their attorneys (Krigel & Krigel). After the adoption Jennifer and Natalie bought a new house with the equity Jennifer had in her previous home.  Jennifer made almost $80,000.00 a year as opposed to Natalie's salary which was $46,000.00.  (This is public knowledge on the internet at http://www.kansasopengov.org/LocalGovt/CityPayrolls/OlathePayroll/tabid/2178/Default.aspx).  If Jennifer had not made that much money, they would not have qualified for the loan.

I cannot remember if Jennifer gave Natalie Bright her Dodge Ram truck before Owen was born, but Natalie Bright decided that her Jeep rag top would not be a suitable car for Owen to ride in, so Jennifer bought a Chevy Suburban so Natalie could have the truck.

So now Natalie Bright has a house fully furnished with new furniture that she could have never bought on her own, a new car (which she never would have qualified for) several joint bank accounts and made sure she was the beneficiary in Jennifer's Will as well as the beneficiary on Jennifer's policies with the Olathe Police Department.

After Jennifer's Will was signed and the adoption was final the tables really started to turn on Jennifer.  As soon as Owen was potty trained, learned to feed himself, was walking and talking somewhat Natalie Bright, Gail Fagen and Danny Bright were starting to show their true colors.

Gail Fagen was constantly at Jennifer's house especially weekends.  Danny Bright was out of town for a while, then moved back to Kansas City to marry his boyfriend (Kevin Niekamp) who had previously been cheating on him.  Natalie Bright and Gail Fagen would go shopping, do lunch, bar hop, go to dinner, etc. and leave Jennifer at home.

Jennifer asked me on many occasions how someone could change so fast and turn into the hateful people that they were.  I had no answer except that they had been that way to start with.  They were just acting at first until they got what they wanted.

I can't remember what month it was but Natalie moved out of the Master Bedroom she shared with Jennifer into another room in the house (Jennifer called it the "Man Cave").  She also did not wear the ring Jennifer gave to her.  Natalie purchased a "throw away" phone.  She had that phone and another phone that she slept with and carried constantly.  She urged Jennifer to go to the gym and work out and learn to go places by herself and possibly get a second job so Natalie could stay home with Owen.  Natalie Bright wanted to take vacations, have dates, play basketball but not with Jennifer.  She told Jennifer that she wasn't interested in her anymore and that they could still be friends.  She packed her bags on several occasions and would leave only to come back a few hours later to witness Jennifer's reactions.  Natalie later told Jennifer she would live in the house with Owen and Jennifer could either stay or leave, but they would have to keep getting Jennifer's support.  Also, that Sarah Tackett would be welcome at their house at any time.

More bizarre behavior in my next blog.

Conceived

Supposedly, after the third insemination Jennifer conceived her child in June, 2007 - after being back with N. Bright 2 months.  As mentioned earlier once the pregnancy was established Jennifer was being watched by the Bright family to the extent that she was constantly under surveillance.  We were suspicious of their motives early on, but kept it to ourselves.

We got a call early February 15, 2008 from N. Bright telling us that Jennifer was in labor at Olathe Medical Center and Jennifer was asking for us.  We went straight to the hospital and was with her and Natalie in the labor room until Owen Bright was born.  My husband held the recorder that chronicled his birth and one of the first pictures in his Baby Book was me holding him.  Jennifer's doctor, Dr. Rita Oplotnik spent a good deal of time stitching her up after the birth.  I only mention this now, because later on in a future Blog you will hear of the lies told in the Court Room about how this day progressed.

I stayed with Jennifer after the birth while my husband went home with Natalie to take care of their dogs.  Sitting in the room with her she told the nurse that I would be taking care of Owen after she went back to work.  When the nurse left, she confided to me that they would be using a "day care" provider so Owen would not get too attached to me and put Natalie's family at a disadvantage.  She also told me Natalie's brother, Danny Bright was living in the basement of their house and that Natalie's mother, Gail Fagen was on her way from Des Moines in the next few days after Owen's birth so she could orchestrate his care with them.   She apologized for this situation, but this is what Natalie wanted.

I sat with her until Natalie and my husband got back to the hospital and we went to get them lunch and dinner later that night.  We left the hospital around 7:00 pm when her friends Jill and Amy came to see her and Owen. 

Jennifer came home the next evening and after that is when things changed for the worst.

Jennifer stayed home for about 2 months for maternity leave.  When I was free, I went and sat with Owen so she could get some rest on many occasions.   I brought food various times.  Got diapers, medicine or whatever she needed.

After she went back to work at the Olathe Police Department, I kept my grandchild at our house almost every weekend so Jennifer could get things done at home.  Natalie was on shift work and was not home on an 8-5 schedule as Jennifer was.  When Owen was with me, I would keep schedules of diaper changes, bottles, etc. for both of them so they would know what he was doing.

During the week he went to Day Care at a place in Olathe, Kansas name Jackie's Day Care.  On the days Natalie Bright had off, she would stay home with him and this is how it went until January, 2009.

Jennifer called Monday,the morning of January 5, 2009 and asked me to keep Owen that day.  I did not work on Monday so I did keep him.  When she brought him over she asked me if I would take care of him all week every week as Jackie's Day Care was reported to the SRS for violations at the facility.  I agreed to take care of him and absolutely loved the idea.  I quit what I was doing and took care of him all the time.  Usually 3 or 4 days a week and most weekends.  Natalie Bright still kept him on her days off which was the same arrangement they had with his aforementioned care giver.  Jennifer and Natalie paid me what little I was making in my other job, so I could maintain some sort of income.

In September, 2009 Natalie Bright started working 8:00-5:00 weekly and the weekends off.  I kept Owen 5 days a week until May 6, 2010.  Jennifer enrolled Owen in pre-school at Goddard School 2 days a week on Tuesday and Thursdays so he could get used to other kids.  I continued to keep him all other days including the days he was sick and could not go to Goddard.  

My girl had great plans for her child and none of it coincided with what Natalie Bright and Gail Fagen and Danny Bright wanted.  For instance, Jennifer told me that she couldn't wait for Owen to get big enough to have a first Christmas Tree and wake up on Christmas morning to find that Santa had been there and left presents under the tree.  She wanted her own traditions to hand down to him.  That never happened.  She was allowed no tree and any and all holiday's were to be spent in Des Moines with the Bright and Fagen families. 

So many of Jennifer's dreams for this little boy would not come true.  I could go on and on about the way her self confidence was broken and then totally shattered by days and nights of criticism by Natalie Bright and her family, but by now you should get the picture. 

I cannot say for absolutely sure when Natalie Bright started having a relationship with another woman by the name of Sarah Tackett, who worked under Jennifer at the Olathe Police Department.  Natalie Bright worked at the Olathe Police Department with Jennifer and Tackett for a length of time then Bright got a job with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department because fraternization within ranks at the Olathe Police Department was frowned upon.  I could go back in my calendars and try to pinpoint the exact time but that is not important.  What is important is that every employee in both Departments were well aware of the situation and that together with the humiliation Jennifer felt at home and at work led to the eventual outcome.  If I could guess when Bright and Tackett got together, I would say at least a year, if not longer, before Jennifer found out for sure what was going on.