Life’s Short

People say that life is short and not to waste it on the little things of life. I learned that the hard way. Death is something that people go through all the time, but most people when they think of death, think of older people that were sick or old and couldn't go on any longer. Normally, they don't think of a 14 year old girl and her family. In January 2002, Alexandra Wake was a victim of a murder-suicide that involved three generations of a family in Ardmore, Pa where I grew up. Her stepfather Michael Burgess shot his wife, in-laws, stepdaughter Alexandra, and then turned the gun on himself. This event will forever have affect on how I live my life.

I was sitting at home and I was watching the news. A story came on with the headlines, "Whole family in Ardmore killed by angry step-father". I didn't think anything of it because I knew it could not have been anyone I knew. But I stayed and watched. I will never forget the story. The police received a 911 call from Alexandra about 5:50 p.m. She gave the address and said, "Get the police down here!" Then there was a scream. The line went dead. Police arrived at the home, not far from the police station, within minutes. They found Jimmy Watkins, Alex's grandfather, in the backyard, bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. Jeffrey Lewis who was a next-door neighbor heard Jimmy calling for help. He was heard saying, "Jeff, Jeff, I'm back here. Help" Before Lewis could help his friend, police ordered him back inside. From his dining room window, Jeff could see Michael Burgess lying on his side. Mr. Watkins told police, "Mike Burgess shot me." Then when the police officers entered the house, they found the bodies of Juanita and Sandra Watkins in the kitchen, and Alexandra was in her bedroom on the second floor. All were shot at least twice. The police took Jimmy Watkins to the hospital and soon he was pronounced dead.

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