MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN-THE WILLIAM MILLER STORY: HAYDEN BEING OUT ON BAIL STIRS EMOTIONS

Monday, November 24, 2008

HAYDEN BEING OUT ON BAIL STIRS EMOTIONS

Potential witness, victim's family angry Hayden out on bail Case starting to take its toll on those close to victim, By GREG KATSKI Staff Writer -Washington Daily News 11/19/2008

ANGER AND DISAPPOINTMENT : two emotionally strained words that sum up the feelings of Marine Corps Sgt. William "Billy" Miller's family, as well as a potential witness in the case, about former Belhaven Police Chief George Hayden posting bail. Hayden, who is charged in the Sept. 16, 1972 shooting death of Miller, was released on a $350,000 bond from Onslow County Jail on Nov. 7. Vickie Babbitt, Miller's wife at the time of his death, is also charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Shortly after Hayden posted bail, Bonnie Sharp, a key witness in the case, contacted the Jacksonville Daily News, according to the paper's crime reporter, Lindell Kay. Sharp used to babysit Miller and Babbitt's infant daughter, Wendy, before Miller's death. Sharp confirmed that she was the previously unidentified witness that provided information to the Onslow County Sheriff's Office to break the case. She came forward after reading an article in the Aug. 10 edition of the Jacksonville Daily News about the unsolved homicide, according to an article in the paper. Sharp said she chose to speak to the Jacksonville Daily News after Hayden was released because the defendants in the case knew who she was. Sharp told the Jacksonville Daily News that she is afraid of Hayden and that keeping her information about the case secret has affected her mentally, emotionally and physically, said an article in the paper. The case has also taken its toll on Sharron Aguilar, Miller's oldest sister. Aguilar has been at the forefront of the 36 year investigation into her younger brother's death. She was deeply disturbed by news that Hayden would be granted release on bond, and even more upset when he made bond one month later. To ease the pain of the news from Hayden's bond hearing on Oct. 2, she started a blog in memory of her beloved brother and to track his case, which has been 36 years in the making. The blog, miraclesstillhappen36yearslater.blogspot.com, features pictures of Miller from childhood to the Marine Corps, news articles about the cold case, and heart wrenching comments from the family. The blog has been dominated lately with commentary on Hayden's release. Aguilar is worried that the Onslow County District Court system might be playing favorites. She said the system seems like a league of "good ol' boys," and Hayden's just part of the gang. "Was he given a little better favor because he was the chief of police?" said Aguilar. Hayden served as Belhaven's police chief for about seven years. Prior to his stint in Belhaven, he was Cape Carteret's chief. "I'm questioning everything," she said. "You know, one of the things the judge took into consideration was that (Hayden) had never been in trouble before. Well shoot, how do we know what he did? Maybe he just didn't get caught. He was the chief of police." Aguilar said that Hayden's bail, set at $350,000, was not enough. Now Miller's sister hopes that Babbit, who is still in pretrial confinement, will turn on Hayden. Even still, Aguilar feels no remorse for her former sister-in-law. "For that case, I have no sensitivity for (Vickie)," she said. "Supposedly, (Hayden) talked her into it. But she stood there while he was murdered." Aguilar said that her family is very upset and vocal about Hayden's release, but "I'm still positive that this is going to have the outcome that we're looking for." Aguilar's daughter, Deanna Shirley, said that the news of Hayden's arrest and subsequent release has worn on her mother. "Emotionally, the last couple of months has kind of taken a toll on her," said Shirley. "Maybe it's a little overwhelming for her right now." Shirley said that her mother has never let up on the case for 36 years. As the oldest of six children, Aguilar took it upon herself to find Miller's killer. "My mom has kind of been the one to take charge," said Shirley. "And I think, for her mother's sake, she wanted to find the killers and finally put an end to it." What Shirley recalls most is the enduring effect Miller's death had on her grandmother, his mother, Emily Miller Captain. After her husband died of a heart attack at 39 years old, Miller Captain was left with four children to take care of. Shortly after his death, her three sons joined the Marines. Then Miller was killed, not at war, but at home in Jacksonville. Determined to not let her mother down, Aguilar began her 36 year quest to find her brother's killer. "She never did let up," Shirley said. "As long as I can remember, she was always pushing to find someone that would listen to her." Aguilar refused to let up even when her own daughter cast doubts. "We came to a point where I told her, 'We don't have a famous name and we don't have a lot of money, and a lot of times it's just not that interesting.'" said Shirley. But the cold case proved interesting, and intriguing, and upsetting the more people found out. " There's so many people involved," said Shirley. "You take two people that did this horrible thing, and look at all the other people that are involved in it."

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AS A VICTIM, ALL I WANT IS TO BE TREATED AS GOOD AS THE CRIMINAL

SPIRITS

SPIRITS BY Lisa-
A friend of Tamara wrote the following poem after seeing our blog. She understands the grief, as her father took her mothers life and his own when she was a teen. Bless her.

I believe no one ever really dies, our spirits float to heavenly skies. Within our hearts their life shall dwell, with cherished memories for us to tell. We can see them in the family face, God's chain of life we must embrace. For they are gone but have not truly died, For through our lives their spirits glide.

FOR WENDY, TAMARA AND KIMBERLY

FOR OUR DADDY
Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was "Daddy's Day" at school, and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class. To introduce their daddy as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare. each of them was searching, for a man who wasn't there. "Where's her daddy at?!" she heard a boy call out. "She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, "Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day." The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom. and looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique. "My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, Since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone. Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart" With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. "I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far You see he was a Marine and died just this past year When bad people hurt him and taught my family to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away." And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side. "I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.. But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing that heaven is never too far They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire lifetime to forget them.

TO ALL WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES WITH CASES GONE COLD

We welcome all viewers to our blog and invite everyone to leave their thoughts and comments. If you’re leaving a comment on our blog and want to point to a link on your own or someone else’s site that is relevant , then please feel free to do so., This adds to the conversation and improves the blog.

The victims of cold cases are called "The forgotten Victims"
As it is now, agencies do not have the funds or man power to dedicate to these cases. Countless families are experiencing the grief of not knowing where their loved ones are or having a loved one murdered and no one brought to justice for closure.

I am here to beg for these families, my family’s lives were forever changed , as are all families of the victims. I have spent half my life pursuing justice for my brother, when I would call the agencies, they would state that the case was open, but no one working it at the time. Families are struggling for closure, "They are NOT the forgotten victims"

Help me in fighting the fight, Billy’s story is proof that you should never give up, write to your senators and congressmen; ask them to help agencies, to provide more funds and manpower for cold cases, they are in terrible need. Cold cases are put on a back burner - Houston just stated in the news that they have no funds for Cold Cases, this is a disgrace! Continue your fight, don't take no for an answer!
Someone out there saw or heard something, your time will
come, after all, it took us 36 years.

www.ColdCasesGroup.com

A SENSELESS MURDER EFFECTS COUNTLESS INNOCENT VICTIMS

MURDER THE ULTIMATE SIN ONE CAN COMMIT AGAINST THEIR FELLOW MAN

Our family, who has experienced the violent death of a loved one, has been forever changed into a ‘new normal,'" "We can never go back to how things were, we have to integrate this tragic loss into our lives and move on without our loved one.

Do not say we will have closure, closure is a word better suited for roads, for repairs or doors. It applies to factories and retail stores, which there have been too many recently, but it's a bad fit for murders and its victims.

This story proves miracles still happen:36 years after William's death, two people are arrested and sitting in Onslow County jail, thanks to Sherriff Ed Brown, Detective Hardy and NCIS, they all worked together for this result. The person accused of firing the shots was a fellow Marine at the time and a personal friend, who went on to retire from the Marines and become a Police Chief. What a disgrace to Proud Marine brothers, shooting a defenseless man in the back, that really took guts! This marine that he shot, served two tours of Viet Nam, had two brothers David and Charley, also Marines serve in Viet Nam and a dad Bill who served in IwoJima as a Marine. A proud family of Marines. Justice will be carried out for these two cowards.