THE DAY AFTER JENNNIFER'S "CELEBRATION OF LIFE"

THIS IS A PICTURE OF JENNIFER , ME, DAVE AND JILL SCHULTZE THE DAY JENNIFER BECAME A SERGEANT OF THE CITY OF OLATHE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THIS WAS TAKEN IN JUNE, 2006.  THIS WAS BEFORE NATALIE BRIGHT CAME BACK INTO HER LIFE.  THIS WAS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST DAYS IN MY  DAUGHTER'S LIFE.

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DECEMBER 1, 2010

TRUTH

The check that Natalie Bright wrote was dated December 1, 2010 and the amount was $200.00 for "babysitting 11/14-11 - 11/30/10".  The last day I physically kept Owen all day was the day Jennifer Morgan died (11/24/10).  I still have the check.  I received this hurtful piece of trash after my grandson loses his mom and this note let me know Natalie Bright intended for him to lose me and his grandpa as well.  I knew Natalie Bright was an uncaring and mean person and this only confirmed it.  I had called her a couple of times before Jennifer Morgan's service and asked if I could see Owen.  I was told "NO" both times.  I asked to talk to him on the phone and the answer was "NO".

I had just attended my daughter's funeral on the 30th.  She mailed the note and check December 2, 2010.  So, I assume she had been to the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department Human Resources Department on the day following Jennifer's service December 1, 2010.  I know now this little visit was to confirm that Natalie Bright was the sole beneficiary on all of Jennifer Morgan's policies with the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department.

Jennifer and I never discussed any of her benefits.  The only thing she ever said was she had money of her own. 

Captain Greg O'Halloran came to our house the day after Jennifer's service December 1, 2010 because he had called and we did not feel like answering the phone especially to him, so he just took it upon himself to come to the house.  I think basically he was told by Chief Steve Menke, City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department, to make sure I wasn't going to cause any trouble.  He intimated that's what they all wanted to know and he was going to take care of it (me).  He finally left with no commitment from me.  I had just attended the debacle of a funeral service for my baby and their only worry was me and causing trouble.


At this moment in time it was so clear that Natalie Bright, Danny Bright, Gail Fagen, Sarah Tackett, Bill Wall, Greg O'Halloran and Chief Steve Menke did not now or ever care one bit about Jennifer Morgan and that is when I vowed to fight to get to see Owen Bright, my grandson, Jennifer's son and see about getting some visitation with him.

On December 3, 2010 I received the above note and check from Natalie Bright.  My husband and I knew from the tone of the note Natalie Bright intended to keep him from ever seeing us again.  The next day we made an appointment with a lawyer, Lisa Brunner a gay and lesbian rights attorney in Kansas City, Missouri.  She was recommended by Jill Schultze, Jennifer's childhood friend.  Lisa Brunner would meet with us at our home on December 7, 2010 to discuss a "Grandparents Rights" case.

On December 6, 2010 Anita Dickey and Mary Miller, who worked in the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department Human Resources Department called.  I looked at the caller I.D. and it came up "City of Olathe" and for just a split second I thought they made a mistake and Jennifer was really alive and I really mean for a split second I had hope.

This is an aside from my story, but as I think of different things about Jennifer I will insert them in this blog.  And, if I should die before I get to see my grandson again, I want him to read this blog and know some things about his real mother Jennifer Morgan.

When Jennifer was born, I had been bleeding for a long time.  I called my mother and asked her what I should do.  Well, the obvious answer was CALL THE DOCTOR, which I did.  My mother picked me up and we went to the hospital.  The placenta was coming first so they induced labor and I had her in about 3 hours.  They put me out because they thought I might lose her.

She came out perfect except for one minor detail.  She was completely pigeon toed.  When she was about 4 months old I was instructed by my pediatrician to take her to The Dickson & Dively Clinic.  They were orthopedists.  They gave me a prescription for "special shoes and a special bar" that attached to the shoes after I put them on her.  We got the shoes that looked like casts.  They were awful.  She had to wear them all the time and when she went down for a nap or for the night I had to attach a metal bar to the bottom of the shoes which held her feet apart at a horizontal position as to straighten her feet.  She could only lay on her back or stomach.  To me that was unusual and cruel treatment of my child.  I had to do that until her feet showed signs of straightening out.  Needless to say, Jennifer screamed bloody murder every time I got the "bar" out.  However, after about 4 months, her feet straightened out and we got to put the bar away and continue wearing those awful shoes.

I also want to tell you about a basketball team Jennifer played on.  They were called the "Kansas Belles".  The teams consisted of all the top area players from various high schools.  The girls gave Jennifer a nickname.  It was "CUJO".  If any of you remember the movie you will know what that name signifies.  Jennifer played basketball like a "rabid dog" that wouldn't quit until it was put down.

See the following:

Her nickname followed her until she quit playing ball for any team.  I did call her CUJO for a long time and so did her friends.

That was the kind of girl/woman Jennifer Morgan was.  So, you can imagine the "SPIRIT" flowing out of her after her 3 year tenure with Natalie Bright, Danny Bright, Gail Fagen and Sarah Tackett. And her 17 years with Captain (at that time) Greg O'Halloran, Chief Steve Menke  and the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department.

Next blog will pick up from December 6, 2010.

THE PURPLE BOX

LOVE AT FIRST SITE

TRUTH

The first time Jennifer ever saw the "purple box" was when Dave bought my engagement ring.  This particular "purple box" was from Helzberg Diamonds at Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas.  That was in 1985.  From then on, every birthday, Christmas and any other special occasions, if we had money or not, Jennifer got something in a "purple box" up until the day she died.

One time we got her a pair of silver hoop earrings that she loved.  She never told me but somehow she lost one earring and she didn't know where.  So she went to Helzberg and bought another pair, so I wouldn't know.  I didn't find this out because she voluntarily told me, it was because I was moving furniture one day and low and behold, I found the silver hoop earring under the leg of a chair.  The next time she came over I had it laying on the kitchen counter.  When she saw it she tried to palm it without saying a word.  She saw me looking at her and laughing and asked totally without guile, what is this?  Needless to say, she figured out that I knew what had happened and that she bought another pair of earrings and that I thought it was the epitome of sneaky but also so very sweet that she didn't want me to know she lost one earring.  How funny it was at our house and she never said a thing.

So, the point of this particular story is that Natalie Bright, her girlfriend, Sarah Tackett and her mother, Gail Fagen have every gift Jennifer Morgan ever got that was in a beloved "Purple Box" from Helzberg Diamonds.

Dave's mom, Katherine Szymula died in 2000.  She had an engagement ring she could no longer wear because of her arthritic fingers and knuckles.  It was a beautiful diamond ring.  Not worth a whole lot of money but it had sentimental value.  Dave gave it to Jennifer after his mom died.  Guess who has it now?  If you guessed Natalie Bright and her posse, you got it right along with everything our daughter owned in her 39 years on this earth.  Every photo album of her child hood, grade and high school years, mementos, letters, cards---everything!!  I am sure all the paper materials are in the trash as Natalie Bright wouldn't risk Owen Bright finding out things about his mom, Jennifer.

Natalie Bright has her cars, furniture, clothes, jewelry and anything else of value.  She not only stole her life and her son, she stole who Jennifer was.  There's nothing left of my daughter but her son.  And in my opinion, Natalie Bright will ruin him if she hasn't already, when his money runs out.

They also took every flower arrangement, plant and sympathy card that people sent to Jennifer's service.  Natalie Bright's step-father, Pat Fagen and half-brother Sean Fagen cared so much about Jennifer that they didn't bother to show up for the service.

Danny Bright and his husband Kevin Niekamp showed up late with Owen Bright in tow and whisked him off to a waiting room so Natalie Bright could dress him up in a suit, tie and patent leather shoes that made one wonder if she really wanted him to look like 2 year old "man".  Jennifer would have been so embarrassed and sad that he was put on display like that.  I got to hold him that day for about 30 seconds while Danny Bright grabbed him out of my arms. I only got to give him a kiss and wipe away a tear that was on his face.  Owen spends a lot of time with Danny Bright and his husband, Kevin Niekamp.  It doesn't matter that they are gay.  What matters is what Owen is exposed to and what kind of role models they are.  Later on I will tell you how the Judge in our legal case ruled that the con artists: Danny Bright and Gail Fagen were more credible than I am.

Check out these two sites.   You be the judge.

http://dannybrightphoto.com

http://coitusmagazine.tumblr.com/post/28728104175/scott-b-by-danny-bright-for-coitus-online-new

THIS IS JENNIFER'S DOG - JAKE

 Jake was given to Jennifer by Tiere Erickson who was living with Jennifer before Natalie Bright waltzed back into Jennifer's life.  Jennifer loved this dog.  Jake was very good with Owen Bright.  Supposedly, Owen was allergic to dogs, cats, tomatoes and soy milk according to a real or fake document produced by Natalie Bright from Doctor Oplotnik.  However, Jennifer never got rid of Jake.  We have cats and Natalie Bright and Jennifer knew we had cats.  Natalie Bright bought cat toys for Owen because he liked to play with them here when I took care of him. (We couldn't one-up Natalie Bright's striving to always vie for Owen's undaunted affection).  Later on, she will claim she had no knowledge that we had cats.  I never fed Owen Bright tomatoes, so I don't know if he was really allergic to them, however as it turned out Owen Bright was allergic to whole and skim milk, so we had to buy him SOY MILK which according to the Doctor's real or fake document he had an allergy to SOY.

We found out after Jennifer died, Natalie Bright got rid of Jake, when Owen had had him for 3 years.  Supposedly is was because of Owen's allergies.  God only knows, and probably Sarah Tackett, Gail Fagen, Danny Bright and Kevin Niekamp what Natalie Bright did with and to Jake.

THANKSGIVING DAY 2010

THE VERY LAST PICTURE OF JENNIFER

TRUTH

This picture was taken around October 10, 2010 when Dave and I went with Jennifer Morgan, Owen Bright and Natalie Bright to the Pumpkin Patch in Gardner, Kansas.  This is the last picture I have of Jennifer before she died.  I remember how she gave it to me.  She dropped Owen off one morning and she said that Natalie had given it to her that morning and told her that "she didn't want it" so maybe Jennifer's mother wanted the "ugly thing".

Natalie Bright kept the goading and taunting up until the last minute.  I remember when Jennifer gave me the picture, she was crying.  The only thing wrong with this picture is the unflattering pose by me.  Jennifer and Owen Bright were two of the most beautiful people ever.  Priceless.  My kid and her kid, mom and son. A little less than a month, our baby was dead and Natalie Bright had no intention of letting us see Owen Bright.

The day after she died was Thanksgiving.  I don't remember how Dave and I got through that day.  It's a blank.  Whether we ate or watched TV is also a blank.  Somehow we lived through it and woke up Friday morning November 26, 2010. 

We realized there would be a service for Jennifer and we did not have any appropriate clothes.  It shouldn't have been important but it was to us to show proper respect for Jennifer and to make her proud.  I sent Dave to the mall with a list of what I wanted him to buy and he had to buy a suit, shoes etc.  This was Friday the day after Thanksgiving.  I knew he would be gone a long time as this was the busiest shopping day of the year.

I called my sister, Connie Russell whom I hadn't had a connection for quite some time because of other family dynamics.  I told her Dave was going to buy us clothes and I didn't want to be alone and asked if she could come to the house.  She did and brought my nieces Amy Hiesberger and Wendy Macrorie who I had also not had a connection with, except for Jennifer telling me about them whenever she would see them.

We sat and talked for hours about Jennifer and the last 3 years of her life and all the time before Natalie Bright came into the picture.  They were extremely comforting to me and it was sorta like the years we weren't in contact faded away.  At least, that's what I thought.  I haven't asked them since that day what they felt about it.  I don't know if I could have made it through that day without their company.

Dave got home late and had done a wonderful job picking out clothes for me at Dillard's.  He bought me a black sweater, skirt, dark hose and a beautiful pair of heels.  He bought himself a suit and shoes.  Dave is like that.  When there is a crisis, I want to run and hide.  He always takes care of everything.  When he came in he took a good look at me and said "do you realize your shirt is wrong-side-out and your flannel pants are on backward"?  Truth be told, I had on two different socks and hadn't combed my hair either.  My family didn't comment even if they did notice.  They had brought soups and bread from Panera which reminded me I hadn't eaten since Tuesday.  My family left after a while and Dave and I were alone again and totally bereft.  We watched some TV that night and did eat some of the soup.

Turns out Natalie Bright or her mother called Dave's cell phone while he was gone and asked if we wanted to come and see Jennif'er's body at the funeral home.  She was at Penwell-Gable Funeral Home in Olathe.  I didn't want to see her that way, after all that was not her in spirit.  Natalie Bright also called several other people.  One of which was my ex-husband of over 30 years.  Yes, the one who wanted nothing to do with my daughter during her growing up years and after.  Not until he realized Jennifer was a cop and was on TV during a case she was working on, then and only then did he express any interest in her or her son Owen Bright's life.  Natalie Bright and her mother, Gail Fagen thought it would be funny if they appointed him as my liaison to the funeral arrangements.  I was told by my niece Amy that Natalie Bright had spent an hour alone with Jennifer's body according to Natalie Bright's mother Gail Fagen.   Please remember, Natalie Bright and her mother Gail Fagen were under the impression they were going to inherit a sizable amount of money from Jennifer.  I will explain in more detail later.

Saturday, November 27, 2010.  As usual, Dave and I were getting through the day with coffee and cleaning the kitchen.  Around 12:00 pm.  Natalie Bright's mother Gail Fagen called to tell us they were going to plan Jennifer's service in little over an hour and asked if we wanted to be a part of it.  I told her we definitely wanted to come.  I specifically asked her if they could keep my grandson, Owen Bright awake and not put him down for his nap so we could see him before this meeting.  She said "of course".

We had less than an hour to shower, dress and drive to Olathe to Jennifer's house.  When we got there we respectfully knocked and rang the doorbell.  Gail Fagen answered the door.  I asked where Owen was and she said, "he is upstairs down for his nap with Natalie Bright laying down with him".  I told her I really wanted to see him and again she said, "I will go upstairs and see if Natalie will allow it".  After a while we were told "Natalie said we could have 5 minutes to see him and then we would have to leave".  Dave and I went upstairs and opened his bedroom door to a pitch black room.  I turned on the light to see Natalie Bright forcing Owen to lay on the bed.  The minute he saw us he took my hand and started showing me his toys.  He gave me a big sloppy kiss and hug.  I asked him if he knew who Dave was and he said, it's "Boppa".  Of course we were not allowed to be left alone with him.  Natalie would not leave, so we got barely 5 minutes and the minute we were ushered out by Gail Fagen, Owen started to scream and cry and did not stop.  Finally, Natalie Bright came downstairs and sent her brother Danny Bright into his room.  Owen never stopped crying.

This is the child that I took care of from the minute he was born to this day.  I am sure he wondered where his mother, grandmother and grandfather were during these horrible days.  To prove Natalie Bright's hateful personality, she later on put Jennifer's house up for sale.  She took Owen out of his school, got rid of his dog, brought her girlfriend Sarah Tackett into Jennifer's house to live and naturally, we never got to see him again except at Jennifer's service.  What a wonderful mother Natalie Bright is!!!

This "planning meeting" was a total farce.  Attendees were, Gayla Rapp, the Johnson County, Kansas Sheriff's Department chaplain, Jill Schultze (Jennifer's childhood friend) Gail Fagen and Natalie Bright.  Danny Bright didn't show his face again.  He was upstairs with Owen.  There was a City of Olathe Police Department liaison that appeared for a while to consult with Natalie Bright and Gail Fagen at one point in time, but did  not address us at any time.

During the meeting Natalie Bright burst out with her anguished voice, "oh why did Jenny do this, I can't believe she would leave Owen".  Very calmly I said, "she did it because of the way she was being treated and because you were leaving her and taking Owen".  Complete silence.  Natalie Bright then burst off the sofa where she was engulfed by Gayla Rapp and Gail Fagen, and ran to the garage screaming "I don't have to listen to this".  Well, she asked and I answered.  I was extremely tired of her and her family acting like they were so hurt that Jennifer was dead.  They could barely stifle their victory.

Just in case, nobody figured this out yet, Natalie Bright was with Jennifer Morgan a little more or less than 3 years and some odd months.  Nine months of that time Jennifer was pregnant and miserable.  This was a perfect con job.  You will find out just how perfect they thought it was until they got their wake-up call.

During the rest of the meeting after Natalie was comforted by Gayla Rapp and cajoled into sitting through the rest of the "planning" of the service for Jennifer they decided Gayla Rapp would tell stories about Jennifer (whom she had never met) and several speakers to be determined later would conduct a celebration of life with a picture slide show and music playing by an organ player.  The only thing I said was "no organ player, Jennifer would hate that".  So they settled on Jill Schultze putting some of Jennifer's favorite songs playing in the background at the service.

Later on I found out from Captain Greg O'Halloran that in Jennifer's personnel file she requested what she wanted at her service in case she died on the job or otherwise.  She wanted to be cremated, (which I knew).  She wanted no chaplain, no dress blues from the Department, no speakers and basically no "celebration of life".  However, Natalie Bright and her mother Gail Fagen did not honor any of those wishes.  Totally the opposite.  The College Church of the Nazarene was booked for a full fledged "circus".  That's why earlier I said, we should have planned and taken care of the service.  It would not have been a total slap in the face to Jennifer's wishes.

Jennifer's service was planned for the following Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6 days after her death.  This is how it went.

Detective Bill Wall with the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department, who was supposedly Jennifer's long time friend and turned on her on the last day she was at the Department, was one of the speakers at the service.  He gets up in front of the auditorium and screams "SUICIDE was not who Jenny was".  Without any warning, I heard these words from this turncoat who was so worried that Sarah Tackett was unhappy with the situation at work that he told Jennifer not to come to his office to talk anymore because it made dear Sarah Tackett uncomfortable.  The next speaker was Steve James.  I don't remember what he said.  It must have be innocuous or I would have remembered.  Next was Chief of the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department, Steve Menke.  Praised Jennifer for her work and time at the Department.  Short and sweet and totally unsentimental.  Again, the whole drama was a theatrical moment for Natalie Bright and Gail Fagen.  All the officers from various Police Departments and the Sheriff's Department filed through the family line and gave their condolences.  Natalie Bright shown like a bright star of a comedy of errors.  All the while thinking, she couldn't wait to get to the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department's Human Resources Department to claim her prizes.  That was either Monday, November 29, 2010 before the service or Wednesday, December 1, the day after the service.

She thought she had a home run.  Instead, later on, as you will learn from my blog she got served a strike.

NOVEMBER 24, 2010 - LATER THAT EVENING

 NO TIME FOR ONE SINGLE THOUGHT

TRUTH

THIS IS A PICTURE OF JENNIFER WITH MY GRANDPA AND HER GREAT GRANDPA.  JENNIFER WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD.  THIS WAS TAKEN AT MY GRANDPARENT'S 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

 That night Dave and I were shell shocked and so devastated there were no words to console us.  We tried to discuss and understand what was happening.  I kept thinking if it really was Jennifer they found and she was in heaven maybe she was with my Grandpa.  I was always his favorite and Jennifer was his beautiful little girl.

I don't remember the time, but Chief Steve Menke called and offered his condolences.  He also told me they were bringing Jennifer back to K.U. Medical Center where they would be doing an autopsy and that it would be performed that night.

This information was extremely hard to come to terms with.  My baby being cut open by her piers without my saying goodbye and hugging her.  I had to remember that my Jenny was not really there but in heaven.  You have to steel your heart and feelings from the gory details that were going to be a detailed account about her body and belongings.

After 17 years on the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department, Chief Menke could not talk longer than two minutes.  This guy was so full of himself he didn't realize that at one time I cleaned his house, did their laundry and changed their bed.  His wife, Kendra, who was a dispatcher for the Department (no nepotism there) at the time, hired me on Jennifer's recommendation, to clean their home.  In fact Chief Menke had actually spoken to me on several occasions while I was cleaning.  Every space in their house was covered with Glamour Shots of Kendra Menke.  In retrospect, I should not have been surprised at his dismissive behavior.  After all, he also knew as did the whole Olathe Police Department that Jennifer's depression was caused by Natalie Bright and her full blown affair with Sarah Tackett and that Jennifer had been demoted the day before.

The only other call we got that night was from Captain Greg O'Halloran.  Who was going to handle the funeral arrangements?  Who should they release "the body" to?

Dave and I struggled with the answer.  In retrospect again, we should have taken care of the arrangements and Jennifer's wishes would have been followed, had we known them then, but I was too depleted of energy and Dave couldn't do it alone, so we left it up  to the Olathe Police Department and unfortunately Natalie Bright and her mother Gail Fagen, to handle the details.  We thought that Jennifer's wishes would be carried out, whatever they were.  Natalie Bright and Gail Fagen thought they were home free and rich.  So, we thought it was only right since they caused Jennifer's death they should handle her death.  After all, Jennifer's body was cremated but her soul and spirit were in heaven.

I don't know what time we went to bed that night or how long I slept. 

This is a picture of Jennifer in her varsity basketball uniform when she played for Shawnee Mission West high school.  Following is a story of a recurring dream concerning one of her games I will never forget.

I do remember snippets of different dreams I had that night and in the nights following Jennifer's death.  I worked downtown off of Southwest Boulevard during Jennifer's first years in high school.  I had to beg for time off to get to go to some of her basketball games.  Since her biological father was never interested in her sports or anything else and I had not met my future husband yet and no one else was really interested, I felt that I should be there and wanted to watch her play.

It's funny how some things you remember so vividly it's scary.  That day I had on a white wool suit and high heels.  It had been snowing all day and I left work around 2:30 to get to Shawnee Mission West High School by game time.  My car struggled to get up the Southwest Boulevard hill to get to the Plaza, but once there I made good time to get to the school before game time.  I don't remember who they were playing, but Jennifer was the high scorer in the game.  She particularly excelled at 3 pointers.  Her team was ahead by 2 points and the clock was running down.  There was about 1/2 minute left on the clock and Jennifer had the ball.  She started dribbling the ball so close to the ground I thought it wouldn't continue to bounce.  She was incredible the way she controlled the ball so no one could steal it.  The clock ran out and Jennifer's team won.  I remember jumping up and cheering so loud with pride for this oh so talented kid.  My kid.

This dream or re-enactment played out that night as it has so many times since.

The next morning I woke up feeling like I had run into a tree.  Then the realization hit.  My baby was dead and my grandson gone.  This was Thanksgiving Day, 2010.  Families were worrying about cooking the turkey and dressing and dinner guests, while we were mourning the end of Jennifer's life and our life as we knew it.  

HEARTS CAN PHYSICALLY BREAK

THIS IS A NOTE THAT JENNIFER WROTE TO ME ONE MORNING AFTER WE HAD A DISAGREEMENT THE NIGHT BEFORE.  SHE WAS STILL IN GRADE SCHOOL.  SHE HAD ONE OF THE MOST TENDER HEARTS I HAVE EVER KNOWN.  SHE WROTE ME NOTES AND CARDS HER WHOLE LIFE.  AS I SAID IN ONE OF HER MEMORIALS - SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THE WAY SHE WAS TREATED IN THIS LIFE AND I AM SURE SHE IS CHERISHED WHERE SHE IS NOW.


TODAY IS MARCH 7, 2014
TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN JENNIFER'S 43 BIRTHDAY


DAVE AND MOM LOVES YOU BABY

NOVEMBER 24, 2010



TRUTH



My husband and I went to the front door to let Captain Greg O'Halloran, of the Olathe, Kansas Police Department and another officer in the house with the hope that they located Jennifer and she was okay.



Captain O'Halloran said they had found my baby and she was dead.  I can't describe or put into words what that felt like.  I thought I was going to faint.  Everything went fuzzy and my chest felt so tight that I could not breathe.  And then an ache in my chest felt like someone had their hand on my heart and was trying to pull it out.  I became incredibly cold and wished I would turn to stone.  The house began to rotate as though a tornado was upon us.  I heard Owen yell from the kitchen and I came back to that front hall where we were all standing.


As soon as I walked into the kitchen and saw that perfect little face with ketchup all over him, I wanted to scream that they had made a horrible mistake.  Owen's mother was not dead, they were wrong.  But I didn't scream.  I sat down with him as he finished his lunch.  I was shaking uncontrollably and I told him grandma was cold.  I sat with him until he was finished with his lunch.  I took him potty and got him ready for his nap.  We did our usual ritual before nap time.  After he was done in the potty he brushed his teeth with his Thomas the Train electric toothbrush and washed his hands with his purple foaming soap.  We went to round up his dinosaurs so they would be by his bed when he got up.  Had to call grandpa into his room for kisses.  I kissed him and told him I loved "grandma's baby".  His little eyes fluttered and he was asleep.  Only then did I sit by his bed and silently sobbed into my hands.  I cried for Jennifer and her broken heart and for our baby, Owen who would never know how much she loved him.  And I cried for Dave and I knowing we would never see Jennifer alive again and knew we would have to fight to ever get to see Owen again.  I was right.


I finally got up and went into the living room where Dave and O'Halloran and the other officer was.  My first question was were they sure it was Jenny.  There was no doubt.  I asked them if Natalie Bright had anything to do with it and where was she at this time.  They said that she had nothing directly to do with it and that she was at the City of Olathe, Kansas Police Department.


I asked them to tell us what happened.  Evidently, when Jennifer left work on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at noon she drove to Hillsdale Lake in Miami County, Kansas.  She parked on Jayhawker Drive.  They said she smoked and drank orange pop for hours.  She had the car running and the radio on.  She lined up her Olathe, Kansas Police Department Badge on the dashboard along with her phone and wallet.  Though they could not pinpoint the exact hour, Jennifer lifted her gun to her right temple and pulled the trigger.


All I wanted was for them to leave and leave us alone.  Jennifer could not stand Captain Greg O'Halloran and for him to be the one sitting there discussing her death with us was something she never would have wanted.  But they didn't leave.  Seems like they were there for hours telling us not to talk to any reporters or TV stations that might contact us. 


The phone rang, it was Natalie Bright.  Her first question was "how could Jenny do this"?  She told me she loved me and I almost threw-up.  I was being stared at by O'Halloran, so I said "I love you too" and hung up.  I was praised for saying that so as not to cause trouble.  Like Natalie Bright mattered.  For Dave and I Natalie Bright was the devil that walked among us.  Our baby was dead and we had to make sure we didn't hurt Natalie Bright.  They said she had contacted her brother, Danny Bright so he could come and be with her.  I always have wondered if they gave each other the high-five when he got there.


O'Halloran asked us if we wanted to take care of the funeral services.  That was the furthest thing from our mind.  He also asked if we could keep Owen possibly all night and I was thankful for that.  As you will find out later, we didn't have the chance to keep him.


They needed to leave so my husband and I could be alone.  Owen was still asleep.  They finally left.  I don't recall what time.


Dave and I were sitting on the sofa holding hands when we heard a truck in our driveway.  It was Natalie Bright and some woman we didn't know named Alicia Duncan.  They charged into the house and Natalie Bright sat on the floor and started her "act" of trying to cry.  She took one look at my face and changed from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.  The transformation took less than a second.  She asked me if Jennifer told me that her brother, my son was in jail at the adult detention center where Natalie worked.  I responded with, I didn't know and Jennifer wouldn't have told me because she didn't want me to worry.


With that, Owen woke up and walked in with his blanket.  Natalie Bright grabbed him and didn't let us kiss him goodbye, and she left.