CCC Community Loss

I’m reposting a message from community member KathleenL here about the loss of her son. Please wish her well through these tough times.

To my friends here at CCC –
My silence has been forced:
On September 8th, 2010 my first born was taken from me, the rest of his family, and a multitude of friends. My beautiful gift from God, Ethan James Dorand Kline, was born 19 years ago — May 21, 1991 in Spokane, Washington and had his live cut short in Prague, Oklahoma.
(Yes, this is Isabelle’s James, if you have read any of the Standing Up).

If you are a news buff… you will find stories about his demise under Ethan Kline (my maiden name) and Ethan Walton (his birth name). Ethan’s personal identity was as a Kline. (things that will be unvaled in the Standing Up saga)

Many of the articles have had inaccuracies, like many sensational cases… and this ‎Egregious crime is causing a public outcry. Read if you must, which I know we all must. Guard your heart and your soul as you do read about these things. It is not a pretty case.

The good news is–
Charges have been filed (9-17-2010) 1st Degree Murder and the Death Penalty has been requested on the guy who killed my son; 6 or 7 more charges have been filed on the guy and his sister for the things done to the other victim (the gal my son brought home to introduce to his family just this summer — yes, this beauty was going to be our daughter-in-law before the year’s end). The DA said the next year to year and a half will be one of the roughest roads down which this family and all of my son’s friends will have to travel, but it looks like there is a good man fighting to hold the guy responsible for taking Ethan from us and those who hurt his girl (our girl).

Although only living 19 years on this earth does not seem to leave a lot of time for productivity… but oh how wrong people will be if they think that. My son’s funeral and the notes he (we) have received are proof that our son touched so, so many lives from cost to cost and in two countries. I am proud to be his mom. I am proud that I made him give me a kiss on the cheek every time I dropped him off at football or wrestling, or swim practice. Yes, it was always in front of all of the guys and gals on the teams. But many of those boys and girls showed up to honor their friend, and moreover they further honored him by not hiding that they loved him too. They cried with us and hugged on us because Ethan was not afraid to show his emotions. Ethan was a good friend to people. Even if he’d only known them a short bit, many of them knew that if his life had been longer he would have still been their friend. That, that is a gift that my son was able to give many, many people. His dad (stepdad) and I are proud, as his grandparents are, that our boy was that way.

As you look around and see loved ones you might be angry with… don’t let it fester. My son and I had a disagreement this summer that has kept him silent for a couple of months… Yes, this means, at first, I thought he died mad at me. This is untrue, as I have now been able to breath and speak with our not-quiet daughter-in-law. And I praise God for that. But I would have liked to never have those thoughts.

Know, as I am sure Ethan knows, I will be working through the rest of my life writing about the wonderful affect my over 6 foot tall “baby” boy had on me, had on others. Sometimes I think it will be the only way I can get though this, but non-the-less, it is what we writers do. Honor via the words.

Go hug all of your kids and other loved ones and… kiss them in public and make them kiss you too, through the embarrassment out the window — they will get over it. Because Ethan really liked it that I did not let him get away without showing all of his friends I loved him, even in front of the high school.

Lovingly,
Kathleen Kline Livingston

~~~

Updates:

As family and friends gather strength each time a court date comes and goes we know, at the least, the wheels of justice are moving. Patience will be a blessing at these times as legal wrangling play out. — Kathleen

Oct 16, 2010 — Plea Bargaining hearing.
“There will be no plea bargain in this case,” The D.A.

Oct. 26, 2010 — Preliminary Hearing
Evidence only, no testimony.
Held with extended results:

Jan. 25, 2011 — next hearing set
“The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 25, 2011 at 9:00.  This is a hearing for the state to put on evidence to show a crime was committed and that the defendants are the ones that did it.  Evidence will be presented.” Directly from the D.A.’s office.