![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jrtomJeremy Scully, a friend of mine from the U of Oregon, died of a gunshot wound to the head last Thursday morning*. Circumstances suggest that he was killed, possibly after stopping to help someone as he was driving to a friend's house.
I say that Jeremy was my friend, not because I knew him particularly well,but because it's the kind of person he was: a friend to those whom he knew. He was a good, kind, caring person, and it is a tragedy for everyone that knew him (including my friends![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gwyd and karjack, among others) that he's gone.
The irony that his good nature may have provided the circumstances in which someone killed him--in broad daylight, no less--has not escaped me.
I don't want to say "R.I.P." (requiescat in pace, "rest in peace"), because from what I know of him, Jeremy was nowhere near being done with his life and had no intention of (or interest in) resting anywhere.
Jeremy, if you're still anywhere other than in our memories of you, I expect that you're rounding up a good bunch of kids that want to improve their pole-vaulting, and I'm sure you've already finally been given that permanent teaching position.
UPDATE: sigh. Apparently there's something weird going on. The report (now tagged in one of the news articles as from "a woman identifying herself as his girlfriend") saying that the body found was identified as his was apparently mistaken. Or something. More details here:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/394901.html
and here:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/394901.html
The story below was taken from this article:
http://www.komotv.com/news/18356494.html
which I am reprinting below (without permission) because I have no idea how long KOMO keeps its articles around.
Other articles may be found here:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=%22jeremy+scully%22&btnG=Search
(again, until they get flushed).
Note that as of this writing (29 April 2008, 14:10 PDT) some of the articles referenced above state that the identity of the body found has not yet been established. The source below says it has, though. I'd like to be wrong, but at this point it seems unlikely.)
If more data become available, I'll append it to this post, or create a new one.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The body found near the abandoned car of the missing high school coach has been confirmed as that of the coach himself.
Jeremy Scully, 38, disappeared while driving from his Bellingham apartment to a friend's house in Alger. Sully's girlfriend said investigators informed her on Monday night that the man found shot to death has been identified as Scully.
"(He was) the love of my life and I'm going to miss him very much," Robbin Goldsby said tearfully.
Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt said the body was found Sunday by hikers in a rugged area of Blanchard Mountain. The hikers reported the discovery to a Whatcom County sheriff's deputy who was in the area searching for Scully. Reichardt said the case was being investigated as a homicide.
Scully's car was found abandoned Saturday afternoon on Interstate 5 near Lake Samish, about 8 miles from where the body was located the next day.
Bellingham Police Department spokesman Lt. Steve Felmley said there were no signs of foul play at the scene where the car was left, with its door ajar and keys in the ignition.
Goldsby said she won't be able to rest until her questions are answered and due justice is served.
"I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to get through just the next few days, not to mention the rest of my life," she said.
Scully coached pole vault at Ferndale High School for eight years. He also worked as a substitute teacher at the school and helped coach pole vaulting at Western Washington University.
Goldsby said Scully often talked about his days with the students, and followed each one's progress closely.
"(Scully was) one of our Ferndale family members, part of our community, and that hurts, that hurts a lot," said Vic Randall, athletic director at Ferndale High School.
"I've coached track for 21 years and I've never worked with somebody so passionate," Ferndale High track coach Ted Genger said. "I've never worked with someone so responsible. He was always the first coach to get there and the last coach to leave, day in and day out."
Goldsby said she wants someone to step forward with answers.
Investigators said Scully was shot in the head, most likely in broad daylight. Goldsby is convinced someone saw something.
"I've done a lot of crying, trying to make deals with God," she said.
If things have meaning because we invest meaning in them...what meaning shall I give to this?
UPDATE 2 (21 March 2009): A. Nony Mouse commented below several days ago with an update. I don't really have anything to add to that.
On another topic: I don't mind anonymous comments; not everyone has an LJ account. However, because of the nature of a couple of recent comments, I have now set up screening for anonymous comments...and I'll be keeping a closer eye on comments in general. Offensive, uncivil, or disrespectful comments will not be allowed.
I say that Jeremy was my friend, not because I knew him particularly well,but because it's the kind of person he was: a friend to those whom he knew. He was a good, kind, caring person, and it is a tragedy for everyone that knew him (including my friends
gwyd and karjack, among others) that he's gone.The irony that his good nature may have provided the circumstances in which someone killed him--in broad daylight, no less--has not escaped me.
I don't want to say "R.I.P." (requiescat in pace, "rest in peace"), because from what I know of him, Jeremy was nowhere near being done with his life and had no intention of (or interest in) resting anywhere.
Jeremy, if you're still anywhere other than in our memories of you, I expect that you're rounding up a good bunch of kids that want to improve their pole-vaulting, and I'm sure you've already finally been given that permanent teaching position.
UPDATE: sigh. Apparently there's something weird going on. The report (now tagged in one of the news articles as from "a woman identifying herself as his girlfriend") saying that the body found was identified as his was apparently mistaken. Or something. More details here:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/394901.html
and here:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/394901.html
The story below was taken from this article:
http://www.komotv.com/news/18356494.html
which I am reprinting below (without permission) because I have no idea how long KOMO keeps its articles around.
Other articles may be found here:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=%22jeremy+scully%22&btnG=Search
(again, until they get flushed).
Note that as of this writing (29 April 2008, 14:10 PDT) some of the articles referenced above state that the identity of the body found has not yet been established. The source below says it has, though. I'd like to be wrong, but at this point it seems unlikely.)
If more data become available, I'll append it to this post, or create a new one.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The body found near the abandoned car of the missing high school coach has been confirmed as that of the coach himself.
Jeremy Scully, 38, disappeared while driving from his Bellingham apartment to a friend's house in Alger. Sully's girlfriend said investigators informed her on Monday night that the man found shot to death has been identified as Scully.
"(He was) the love of my life and I'm going to miss him very much," Robbin Goldsby said tearfully.
Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt said the body was found Sunday by hikers in a rugged area of Blanchard Mountain. The hikers reported the discovery to a Whatcom County sheriff's deputy who was in the area searching for Scully. Reichardt said the case was being investigated as a homicide.
Scully's car was found abandoned Saturday afternoon on Interstate 5 near Lake Samish, about 8 miles from where the body was located the next day.
Bellingham Police Department spokesman Lt. Steve Felmley said there were no signs of foul play at the scene where the car was left, with its door ajar and keys in the ignition.
Goldsby said she won't be able to rest until her questions are answered and due justice is served.
"I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to get through just the next few days, not to mention the rest of my life," she said.
Scully coached pole vault at Ferndale High School for eight years. He also worked as a substitute teacher at the school and helped coach pole vaulting at Western Washington University.
Goldsby said Scully often talked about his days with the students, and followed each one's progress closely.
"(Scully was) one of our Ferndale family members, part of our community, and that hurts, that hurts a lot," said Vic Randall, athletic director at Ferndale High School.
"I've coached track for 21 years and I've never worked with somebody so passionate," Ferndale High track coach Ted Genger said. "I've never worked with someone so responsible. He was always the first coach to get there and the last coach to leave, day in and day out."
Goldsby said she wants someone to step forward with answers.
Investigators said Scully was shot in the head, most likely in broad daylight. Goldsby is convinced someone saw something.
"I've done a lot of crying, trying to make deals with God," she said.
If things have meaning because we invest meaning in them...what meaning shall I give to this?
UPDATE 2 (21 March 2009): A. Nony Mouse commented below several days ago with an update. I don't really have anything to add to that.
On another topic: I don't mind anonymous comments; not everyone has an LJ account. However, because of the nature of a couple of recent comments, I have now set up screening for anonymous comments...and I'll be keeping a closer eye on comments in general. Offensive, uncivil, or disrespectful comments will not be allowed.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 29 April 2008 21:42 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 30 April 2008 00:53 (UTC)Scully was very dear to everyone who knew him in the pole vault community and he will be greatly missed.
Sympathy
Date: 30 April 2008 01:14 (UTC)Meeting tonight
Date: 30 April 2008 16:30 (UTC)We plan to meet tonight to shoot the bull and whatnot, no game. If anyone in the Bellingham/Ferndale area is interested in stopping by, contact me via email:
binky@bgonet.com
or through my blog:
http://binky.bgonet.com
(no subject)
Date: 30 April 2008 17:04 (UTC)I'm sorry for your loss. I do know how you feel, a friend of mine was murdered by a psycho serial killer at the age of 38.
finding a song to use to mourn
Date: 2 May 2008 01:48 (UTC)Every once in a while I'd see her smile
And she'd turn my day around
A girl with those eyes
Could stare through the lies
And see what my heart was saying
Think of Laura but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Laura laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
A friend of a friend
A friend to the end
That's the kind of girl she was
Taken away so young
Taken away without a warning
Think of Laura but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Laura laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
I know you and you're here
In every day we live
I know her and she's here
I can feel her when I sing
Hey Laura, where are you now
Are you far away from here
I don't think so
I think you're here
Taking our tears away
Think of Laura but laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
When you think of Laura laugh don't cry
I know she'd want it that way
Well I know she'd want it that way
Hey Laura, hey Laura, I know
you'd want it that way
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christopher_cross/think_of_laura.html
Jeremy
Date: 25 May 2008 00:59 (UTC)Mr. Scully
Date: 5 November 2008 01:01 (UTC)mostly the kids on the track team, like me.
it was a really sad day when we found out that it
was infact him...we also had a track meet that day.
and on our arms we wrote "run, jump, sprint- for scully"
Track wont be the same...
Update of what happened.
Date: 13 March 2009 21:44 (UTC)MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Prosecutors in Skagit County, Wash., have charged an Oregon man with first-degree murder in the slaying of a school track coach who reportedly was involved in a "swinger" lifestyle that included the defendant's wife.
Kenneth McBride was arrested Wednesday at his home in Lebanon, Ore.
He lived in Skagit County when Jeremy Scully, an assistant track coach and substitute teacher, was shot to death in April 2008.
Detectives served a search warrant at the home of McBride and his wife, Venessa, after Scully's body was found. They seized several firearms, among other items.
Court documents say Venessa McBride gave birth to a child in January 2009.
The documents say the child would have been conceived during a period when she had sexual encounters only with Kenneth McBride and Scully, and Kenneth McBride had undergone a vasectomy.