The Doppelgangers: Part 5 Cottonwood Jam

By David Ray

On the outskirts of a peaceful Amish community in Delaware County, Ohio, a married gay couple, Filipe-Jean and Richard and an old blind witch named Adrianna Holstein, settle in. The married gay couple also open up a Curio shop, where strange and unexplained things begin happening which forever changes the local residents and the Amish community.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rushmore Press LLC
• Release date: Nov 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781956696752

David Ray

Dr. David D. Ray is the founding pastor of the River of Life Church in Abilene, Texas. He has served in pastoral ministry for thirty-six years in West Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Asbury University, his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. David and his wife, Kay, have two grown children and four grandchildren. This is his third book.

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ISBN 978-1-956696-74-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-956696-75-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by David Ray

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Rushmore Press LLC

1 800 460 9188

www.rushmorepress.com

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Introduction

A Special Word

Cottonwood Jam

I Richard & Filipé Jean

II Odd Feelings

III The Visit

IV Cold Quietness

V Midnight Return

VI Raging Storms

VII Elder Ansel Crimple

VIII Lock Jaw

IX The Showdown

X Take a Soul

XI A Kidnapping

XII The Trunk

XIII Night Call

XIV Voodoo Child

XV The Blind Killing the Blind

PREFACE

In this installment of The Doppelgangers, the setting is in Delaware County, Ohio, in an Amish community. The purpose of this book is not to demean the life of the Amish, but rather to tell a fictional story, which takes place near an Amish Community. I believe that an artist owes it to his or her audience to be as complete as they can in their work and to tell all phases of a story.

If singing a song about love, it should be something that anyone can relate to. If painting a scene, it should have as many colors and many different ideas as possible to catch everyone’s eye. So, within this story, you will read about the Amish, gay couples, straight couples living and interacting in everyday situations and with normal day-to-day stresses, all in a fictional setting.

My purpose was not to make fun of nor to demean anyone or anyone’s lifestyle. As always my goal is to tell a story, to entertain, to scare the pants or skirts or both off of you, and to make you wonder what will happen next.

David Ray

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following for making this project what it is, as well as the following:

To my Lord and Savior always!

To my wife Jackie, for putting up with the long seemingly weird hours that I keep in the studio.

To the Rushmore Press family for this opportunity, may our journey together be a great one. A special shout out to Michael Yang you wouldn’t give up until I became a partner.

To my children, David, Sarai, Elizabeth, and Aaron.

To my mother, Betty Fleming, and my sisters Seriata and Mary and brothers Tony and Michael, and all of my many cousins, nieces, nephews, uncles, and friends.

Lastly, I wish to thank the many friends and fans who support me through reading what I write . . . Thanks!

DEDICATION

I would like to personally dedicate this project to all of those who are dedicated to love, life, peace, and the brotherhood of all men.

Also, to those who are interested in tearing down all of the ‘good things, hopefully, in time you too will come to an understanding that you are also a part of the good and bad you allow to happen in your lifetime.

– David Ray

INTRODUCTION

This story is not a story about the Amish, but rather to tell this story, we need to go back to the very beginning. We need to start with the two men who moved into Amish country, outside of Delaware County, Ohio. We need to start with Filipe´Jean Carrington, Richard Butler, an old blind woman, and the entire Delaware Amish community.

The Amish are generally private people and often find all the attention and curiosity about their lifestyle disturbing. They do not like having their pictures taken, because they believe that the taking of photographs where someone is recognizable is forbidden by the Biblical prohibition against making any ‘graven image.’

Old Amish women and girls wear modest dresses made from a solid-colored fabric with long sleeves and a full skirt, not shorter than halfway between knee and floor. The belief is that it presents pure Amish women and one who helps keep a man’s thoughts pure by not giving him something to distract his thoughts.

Amish children attend one-room schoolhouses through the eighth grade, and very few attend any grades beyond the eighth grade. Worship services are held every other week in one of the member’s homes. Socializing is an important part of their life, so, one week they have worship service, and the other week they have what is known as visiting week.

The Amish have a strong sense of community spirit and often come to the aid of those in need, no matter the hour of disaster. Their ‘barn-raisings’ are good examples. Neighbors freely give of their time and their skills to help one another. If you have never seen a ‘barn raising’ it is a good example of brotherly love.

While the adult males mass together to build one of the best wooden structures, the women are preparing a delicious noon-day meal, sometimes served outdoors, if the weather permits. The children play games and run all errands. But they also have an exciting day as spectators at an utterly amazing project of brotherly love, building a barn in one day.

The residents would drive for miles, giving up an entire Saturday whenever they heard that there was going to be an Amish barn raising, just to get a glimpse of what man should be, but no crowds gathered in Delaware County.

Everything was truly peaceful and amazingly serene between the Amish and the residents until the emergence of a married gay couple who bought a house and opened up a curio shop next to this Amish community, something unheard of, and bizarre. Today nothing exists of those residents except for a vacant house, an empty lot, and an Amish community void of leadership and direction.

Richard and Filipe´Jean, a gay married couple, opened an unusual curio shop in the heart of Amish country. What makes this so unusual is that the shelves never seem to be empty, even though the customers who walk away from the curio shop have their arms loaded. To look at this little shop, one would think that it was an example of a ‘quaint’ shop, but the residents of this Amish community and the customers in northwestern Ohio say otherwise.

Strange things started happening, disturbing sightings and unexplained disappearances. Unsolved murders and mysterious plagues rocked the Amish community and the surrounding local community with no reasonable conclusions from local law enforcement.

The only constant is, one clue, two simple words which were painted on a billboard and whispered by the residents was the name:

Cottonwood Jam!

A SPECIAL WORD

To all of the thousands of men, women, and children who lost a loved one or a friend to the Coronavirus & to all who are still suffering the effects of COVID-19.

A sincere prayer is offered up to God, your heartbreak will be mended.

The creator of heaven and earth is the mender of broken hearts.

…Come and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Hosea 6:1

COTTONWOOD JAM

Cottonwood Jam is not a place or a time, nor is it something that can be grasped by casual reasoning or intellect. Cottonwood Jam just is. The residents of Delaware County, Ohio, and the Amish living in the nearby community had never imagined or even heard the words Cottonwood Jam, but they would soon be consumed with it, and what it brings.

In September of 2017, the Amish community and the residents of Delaware County, Ohio were rocked by the emergence of a married gay couple and an odd old blind woman named Adrianna Holstein. The strange and bizarre events which followed were devastating, to say the least.

Because of the belief system of the Amish, no photographs or news media were ever allowed to cover the events which drove a wedge in between the two communities, and which also bought them back together again. The Amish children attend one-room schoolhouses through the eighth grade.

Socializing is an important part of their life. They have a strong sense of community spirit and often come to the aid of those in need. Their barn-raisings are a good example. Neighbors freely give of their time and their skills to help one another.

They are generally private people and often find all the attention and curiosity about their lifestyle disturbing. They believe that the taking of photographs where someone is recognizable is forbidden by the Biblical prohibition against making any graven image.

The Amish’s devotion to family and community and their strong work ethics are good examples for our larger society. Old women and girls wear modest dresses made from solid-colored fabric with long sleeves and a full skirt (not shorter than halfway between knee and floor). If you’ve never been to an Amish community and spent any significant time with some of its members, you might come away with the Amish way of life as being desirable to many and a perfect example of a breath of fresh air compared to our hectic, tech-obsessed lives, but there are many horror stories locked away behind those picturesque farms and hidden inside of the back horse-drawn buggies.

Twenty miles west of Delaware County, Ohio is home to one of the largest Amish communities in the Mid-West. However, there was a time the Amish filled the County of Delaware. There was a time when the residents of Delaware County frequented the Amish communities in search of what they considered bargains.

Many members of the Amish community believe being part of their community means growing up with limited education, and dreams. Studying usually stops after the eighth grade, being forced to use medieval-style medical treatments and adhering to outdated attitudes towards dating and marriage.

The Amish believe that hair holds a special significance for them, and they are pretty specific about the styles men and women should have. Amish men wear long beards because married men are forbidden from shaving them off, so to see a grown Amish man with a clean-shaven look is just asking for a scandal.

Likewise, Amish women have the Rapunzel syndrome of growing their hair out (but they keep all of their hair hidden under bonnets).

The Amish prefer to stay to themselves; they would much rather be left alone. The Amish have recognized the importance of bartering with the non-Amish, in Amish stores outside of town. The Amish understand that some things take money to survive, so they make loaves of bread, dairy products, furniture, and many other household items for sale in the store.

Because of their beliefs and the way that the Amish prefer to live their lives, there is truly little outside interference into Amish matters. The Mafia and the Amish are not two terms you would ever expect to hear in the same breath, but true enough, there was a real-life mob within Amish country.

The head Amish mob boss, named Peter Lefoniah or Packer Peter, may not have committed the kind of crimes that was depicted in the movie, The Godfather; but the justice handed out by the Amish Mafia was just as real and just as deadly.

Peter led a gang of forty-three local Amish enforcers known as ‘The Group’, who made it their sworn duty to preserve the Amish way of life, at all cost, even if they had to pronounce judgment on one of their family members.

Here is where the crooked part comes in, Peter himself had more than his share of troubles with the local Sheriff’s office as well as rumors of his sexual misconduct with some of the young women in his community. Many stories of missing young girls circulated within the community, along with some of the other enforcers.

Charges ranged from drinking and plowing their horse and buggies in ditches and into public property, signs, and structures as well as facing other charges for general drunken behavior and disorderly conduct.

Many of the fellow enforcers were also slapped with hit and run charges, kidnapping charges, and assault on residents with deadly weapons. These men were more dangerous than your average garden variety criminal because for starters, these men appeared to be model citizens and their jurisdiction was on Amish land, where law enforcement is rarely called upon, notwithstanding, there are no phones allowed in Amish country for the average Amish citizen!

Even if you managed to get to a phone, to complain about the Amish mob was inviting severe repercussions for your family. Outside of walking to school or an occasional buggy ride into town the Amish stay within their communities. Everything and everyone seemed to be trapped in some sort of time warp except one particular Amish boy name Linsten Schmidt.

Linsten Schmidt was your typical ten-year-old Amish boy, with a blank facial expression. Wearing the typical Amish black felt hat, dark pants, and suit jacket, white shirt with suspenders, sitting on a bench eating homemade taffy and swaying from side to side staring at a vacant lot, which was once stood a curio shop, called Cottonwood Jam.

CHAPTER I

Richard & Filipé Jean

It was an unseasonably crisp morning. The rain had fallen the previous night as Richard Butler and Filipe´Jean Carrington awakened at the crowing of one of the roosters on one of the nearby Amish farms. Filipe´Jean stepped into the bathroom to remind Richard that he promised to run with him that morning. After a couple of sips from his protein drink, Richard joined Filipe´Jean out on the porch for their morning run, before opening their shop.

It was a typical day in Amish country in Delaware County, Ohio. The usual cow shit smells and the odor from the horse manure, which the horses deposited in the middle of the road, mixed with the fallen rain, was now steaming, and waiting to travel into someone’s nose.

The Amish do not permit the use of tractors in their fields, and the old order Amish groups do use modern farm equipment pulled by teams of horses or mules. These old order groups do not own or operate automobiles, believing that cars would provide easier access to the ways of the world.

Richard and Filipe´Jean would often see horses and buggies on the local roads during their morning runs. They figured out that the best time to run is in the early mornings before the Amish drive their horses and buggies into town and to neighboring farms, that way they avoided stepping in all the horse droppings. They live a simple, peaceful lifestyle, but their peacefulness is not without its seemingly backward ways.

Of all their beliefs, sex is extremely high on their list of do’s and don’ts, and homosexuality is a topic not tolerated by the Amish.

The Amish population outside of Delaware County has almost tripled. While many of the residents moved closer to Columbus, to take advantage of the job market and the newer homes. Their separation from the rest of society and their way of life helped to strengthen and solidify their foothold in Delaware County.

It was a mystery with many people moving to Columbus, and the Amish communities tripling in numbers, why a married gay couple would move into the area. Richard and Filipe´Jean were no strangers to people staring at them, nor were they ashamed of who they were, and yet it was a bit of a mystery why they up and left Toronto and moved into the heart of Amish country, in Ohio.

was a native of Saskatchewan Canada and Richard from bordering Nunavut. They just bought a brand new house in Ontario. As they were moving their stuff into their new house, their neighbors directly across the street walked over to introduce themselves. Both were males and both were gay, just like Richard and Filipe´Jean.

The first guy introduced himself as Michael. Michael was about six feet tall, two hundred and thirty chubby pounds, short brown hair, and blue eyes. The other guy introduced himself in a feminine voice as Terrence.

Terrence was five-foot-eight inches tall and also chubby. He had short blonde hair and blue eyes. After a short conversation, it didn’t take long for Richard and Filipe ´Jean to realize Terrence was the female in the relationship. Richard and Filipe´Jean were happy to have a gay couple as their neighbors.

Not often did they have the pleasure of having a gay couple as neighbors, it made living in a community much easier. One of the neighbors in their previous neighborhood was a straight couple who bought a lot of problems. They had to deal with the looks, whispers, and even a petition was drawn up against them, of which Richard and Filipe´Jean eventually moved to avoid the hassle.

Michael and Terrence were quiet, polite, and never bothered anyone. With Terrence and Michael as their new neighbors, they were relieved, to say the least.

A couple of months into their move, Filipe´Jean and Richard had taken their boat to the lake for the weekend. When they came home, Richard pulled their boat into the driveway and began washing it to get ready for their next trip. Terrence was across the street working in his garage.

He walked over and said…

How was your trip?

Richard replied…

Hotter than hell, but well worth it.

They engaged in a few more minutes of small talk and then Terrence walked back over to his garage. It was still about a hundred degrees at home and Richard was sweating like crazy, so he took his shirt off and continued to wash the boat. He glanced over toward Terrence and Michael’s garage a few times and noticed Terrence staring at him.

Richard did not want to cause any difficulties with his and Filipe ´Jean’s relationship, as Filipe´Jean could be downright insanely jealous, so Richard continued doing boat preparations. Strangely, he caught himself thinking about Terrence watching him when suddenly, from behind him he heard Filipe´ Jean clearing his throat, saying…

We’re not going to start that again, are we…You gave me your word.

After finishing with the boat, Richard put the cleaning bucket away and went into the house with Filipe ´Jean. After assuring Filipe´Jean of his feelings for him, Richard went upstairs to take a shower.

During dinner, they both had a few cocktails and talked about everything from their new home to their plan for opening their own business. Just mostly small talk. Halfway into dinner, Richard told Filipe ´Jean…

I‘m sure you‘ve figured out by now that we are inseparable.

Filipe´Jean chuckled and said…

Yeah, I figured it out the first time we met.

Richard went on to explain how he wanted to move to the Midwest, a good distance from everyone, and how moving near an Amish community was perfect for them, because of the problems with homophobes in the city. Friday, June the thirteenth, Filipe´Jean had to go home to Saskatchewan, to wrap up some business while Richard remained in Ontario.

Friday around eight-thirty, while Richard was sitting on the sofa watching television, there was a knock at the door. When Richard got up to look through the peephole to see who it was, He saw Michael and Terrence. Wondering what they could possibly want, Richard, opened the door, saying…

Good evening, and what do I owe for this pleasure?

Terrence, who was closest to the door said…

May we come in?

Standing back and ushering them in, Richard responded, saying…

Excuse my manners—Filipe´Jean and I rarely get visitors—but yes, come in and make yourself home.

Terrence and Michael walked into the dimly lit living room, as Michael held up a large bottle of wine looking around the room, saying…

Thought we could have a few glasses of wine; and where is that partner of yours?

Taking the bottle of wine from Michael and took the corkscrew from the cabinet drawer, Richard replied…

He’s away for a few days settling some personal business.

And he left you all to your lonesome, he knows there are some people who would love to get at you?

Terrence said as he passed Michael a glass of wine and sitting on the sofa.

Richard poured himself a glass of wine and turned the lighting up a little and saying…

I don’t know why anyone would want to get at me, I’m not advertising my merchandise to anyone.

Moving closer to Richard, Terrence softly said…, Well, we can see the signals you’re sending.

After a few glasses of wine, Richard found himself for a few minutes excited by the interest that Terrence and Michael were showering on him, but then the thought of betraying Filipe´Jean and how that would hurt him flooded his mind. Just then Terrence who was sitting on Richard’s left and Michael who was on his right moved closer to Richard touching and rubbing his legs.

Richard began squirming and tried multiple times to get up off the sofa, only to be restrained by Michael and Terrence. Without any warning, Terrence grabbed Richard’s face and started kissing him, while Michael started unbuckling his pants.

Richard tried to make both of them stop, but a small bit of himself was so excited that his struggling was nothing to speak of. Just then, Michael and Terrence were starting to become more and more aggressive to the point that it was uncomfortable, and Richard began crying out…

Stop! This is enough!

Michael and Terrence thought Richards cries were a code for…

I love it More…more!

Michael and Terrence’s intentions were to forcibly have sex with Richard against his will. The wine which Michael and Terrence bought over, was laced with Ketamine, the drug that makes you feel detached from reality.

Richard’s head fell back onto the sofa. Michael and Terrence’s aggression started turning violent, like wild animals, they began tearing and undressing Richard when suddenly Richard sluggishly started to come to.

Richard was still in no condition to fight off Michael and Terrence. Just as Michael and Terrence were about to have their way with Richard, his head snapped forward and his eyes turned solid white. Richard opened his mouth and in a deep demonic echoing tone, Richard yelled…

Noooo!

Then with a loud clap of his hands, Michael and Terrence went flying off of Richard, across the room against the wall nearest the front door. Frightened and panic-stricken, Michael and Terrence scrambled to their feet and bolted out the door with Richard slowly in pursuit. Out into the night which had started turning into a gulley-washer as Michael and Terrence ran across the street and into their home.

Meanwhile, Richard was approaching Michael and Terrence’s walkway leading to their house, walking in almost as if he were stalking them. Michael and Terrence shut and bolted the door, but it suddenly began shaking and rattling, and then it stopped, and all was quiet again. Just then, as the rain began intensifying, there was a loud pop of thunder, and Michael and Terrence’s front door violently flew open.

With an almost dazed and possessed look in his eyes, Richard slowly and laboriously entered their living room, as the door slowly closed behind him. The storm lasted for several hours, and no one heard the screams of horror coming from Michael and Terrence.

Several days later when Filipe´Jean returned home from Saskatchewan, he was met with the ‘Xpresspost’ coming down his street and stopping across from him and Richard’s house. Filipe´Jean pulled into their carport and as he was unloading his luggage from the trunk, he turned in time to see Richard coming from their house. After a ‘welcome home’ embrace, Filipe´Jean asked…

What are the goings-on over there? Isn’t that…

Richard interrupted Filipe´Jean saying…

Yes, Michael and Terrence’s place.

While Filipe´Jean and Richard were watching the Xpresspost, along with the rest of the neighbors on the street, several Mounties approached Richard and Filipe´Jean, saying…

Morning. I am Constable Francis, and this is Constable Rakes, may we ask you two a couple of questions?

Filipe´Jean looked over at Richard and then back to the constables, saying…

I don’t know what I can help you with because I just returned from being in Saskatchewan for the past three days.

Pulling out his notepad, Constable Rakes asked…

Were you both out of town?

Putting Filipe ´Jean’s luggage on the walkway, Richard replied…

No! I was here all weekend, but I didn’t hear or see anything till you all arrived this morning.

Then Constable Francis asked…

You say you were home all weekend; did you see either of the two gentlemen who lived across from you?

Richard replied…

No! I mean I saw the blonde-haired chubby guy, getting out of his car on Friday…but that’s it. We had a bad storm Friday evening and I spent most of Saturday & Sunday out back.

Then Constable Rakes asked…

Is that something that you do—spending all day in the backyard?

Turning to Constable Rakes, Richard responded…

Uh, yes. We have a garden and a screen-in patio, and we often spend all of our outdoor time in the back.

You said you saw one of the men on Friday, but you were out back all three days.

Constable Rakes said as he continued writing in his notepad.

No, on Friday my partner here left for Saskatchewan, and I drove into town to the ABM to get a spot of change. I picked up a double-double and came straight home, and that’s when I saw the blonde-haired guy.

Handing Filipe´Jean and Richard their cards, Constable Francis said…

Well, if anything comes to mind pick up the tele, will you?

Both Constables left walking to question the other neighbors of Michael and Terrence when Filipe´Jean grabbed his luggage and headed inside. Richard was close behind when Filipe´Jean turned around and asked Richard…, You want to tell me what happened this weekend. I tried calling you, but you did not answer your phone. You didn’t do anything did you, I mean to our neighbors?

Richard told Filipe´Jean all that had happened and how he ended up in the backyard the next morning without any recollection of the previous night. Richard related to Filipe´Jean that all he could remember was following Michael and Terrence out the front door. Filipe´Jean told Richard that the best thing they could do was to say nothing to anyone about anything. Richard stood looking out the patio window, saying…

You know when they come back to question you, that they know something.

Filipe´Jean asked…

And just what are you mumbling about over there?

Turning and walking up to Filipe´Jean, Richard replied…

The coppers, when they come back to question someone a second or third time, it’s because they know something, and they want to want the guilty person to squirm.

Richard gave Filipe´Jean a hug, who said…

You are just being silly; you know that don’t cha?

Over the next several weeks, the Mounties had increased their presence in Richard and Filipe ´Jean’s neighborhood, even to the point of bringing in digging equipment. What gave the Mounties a tip that Michael and Terrence were murdered and buried in their backyard were several clues.

For one, Michael and Terrence’s identification, was in the living room as were their cars parked in the garage, and their cell phones were in their perspective chargers. All that was missing was for one of the neighbors to come along and say that they remembered seeing something, which is precisely what happened.

Fifty-nine-year-old Dorothy Margren informed the Mounties that she recalled the night of the storm several weeks past. The storm had awakened her and as she looked out of her bedroom window she saw Michael and Terrence running across the street from Filipe´Jean and Richard’s house.

She stated she didn’t recall it as odd, because after all, it was raining, and she recalled Michael and Terrence slipping and falling in the wet grass. Constable Francis and Rakes, stood on the porch of Filipe´Jean and Richard, knocking, and ringing the doorbell when they decided to go around back to see if they were in.

As they approached the back patio screen, they could hear both Richard and Filipe´Jean talking. Constables Rakes and Francis announced themselves and approached the patio door, saying…

We hope that we did not disturb you. But we have a couple of questions that we need to ask you, may we come in?

Richard got up to let them in while Filipe´Jean was heading to the kitchen, saying…

I’m mixing up some Canadian coolers; does everyone want one?

As Constable Rakes and Francis took a seat, Constable Rakes turned to Richard saying…

We don’t want to be a bother, but we have several follow-up questions for you, and then we’ll be off.

Just at that time, Filipe´Jean came into the room carrying a picture of Canadian Coolers and four glasses, saying…

I hope these aren’t too strong, with you being on duty and all of that.

Taking a sip and shaking his head, constable Rakes asked…

We just want to be clear about a couple of details. Several days ago, you told us that you only saw Michael and Terrence while you were coming home from the ABM. What time was that?

Setting his glass down on the table, Richard replied…

It was, shortly after five in the evening.

Are you positive about the time?

Constable Francis asked…

"Yes. I have the ABM receipt in the car if you want to check that.

I saw them heading to their car and I went inside and lit the fire pit, poured a couple of glasses of wine, and fell asleep in the patio lounger, waiting on Filipe´Jean to call me."

Richard replied as he shifted in his chair. Constable Rakes replied…

I have the feeling that you’re lying to us. I’m confused. I’m confused because you say you only saw your neighbors once and yet your other neighbor which lives beside you said she saw Michael and Terrence running from your house the night of the storm.

Filipe´Jean butted in saying…

Perhaps, they came over, like Richard said he was asleep in the back and didn’t hear them and the door.

Turning, and addressing Filipe´Jean, Constable Francis replied…

But we thought that you said that you were not here!

Rubbing Richard’s back in a show of moral support, Filipe´Jean responded…

It seems to me that you doubt that Richard is telling the truth. Richard’s answer to your question sounded reasonable to me.

Constable Rakes asked Richard one final question, asking…

At any time, were you ever in Michael’s and Terrence’s home? And please be careful when you answer that.

Richard finished off his drink and then said…

I don’t have to think or be careful because I was in their house.

Constable Rakes and Francis thanked Richard for his time and as they were leaving, said…

If you think of anything else, please call for us at the station.

The bones were partly charred, and authorities believed they were the bones of Michael and Terrence. On August fourteen, the bones were identified as Michael and Terrence’s by dental records. An autopsy could not determine the cause of death. About a week after Terrence and Michael’s disappearance, Michael’s parents received a phone call from an unidentified man who said…

I know who did it.

And hung up. The same man called almost every Wednesday afternoon and said either that he knew who killed Michael and Terrence or where their bodies were buried. The calls were usually brief and usually occurred when Michael’s mother was home alone. In April, the man called during the evening; Michael’s father, Scott answered, and the calls suddenly stopped.

Michael and Terrence’s remains were found in August, both families started receiving calls again. The Mounties installed voice recorders at both of the residences. They were not able to trace the calls, however, because the man never stayed on the line long enough.

A possible motivation in Michael and Terrence’s murder surfaced in June. An unidentified man called the front desk at the Delaware County Leger.

The paper had run a story that day about the case. The managing editor told police the man said…

He killed them. He killed those two young men.

The editor also said the caller knew exactly who killed them and where their bodies were buried. Because every bit of information had to be checked out and confirmed, the local Mounted police ordered massive digging on Terrence and Michael’s backyard.

After two days of digging, which turned up nothing, the Mounted police bought in cadaver K-9’s to assist, when two of the three K-9’s discovered something buried under some heavily mulched area along the fence line of the property.

When police began digging, they uncovered the bodies of Michael and Terrence. The autopsy revealed that both men were castrated, but the cause of death was, ‘Blunt Force Trauma to the head. Now the Mounties had something solid but needed to talk with the mystery caller.

The caller, through the newspaper, arranged to talk with the Mounties, but only by way of telephone. The phone conversation revealed that the constables needed to look at the house directly across from the victims because on the night of the murders, he observed a man following both victims from that house.

The Mounties, while they had uncovered both bodies, they had little to no evidence produced at Terrence and Michael’s house. Over the next week, Constable Rakes and Constable Francis questioned Richard both at his home and once at police headquarters.

Neither interrogations provided any new information, and still, Constable Francis and Constable Rakes felt something didn’t fit with Richard’s account of that night. The Constables continued watching Richard and Filipe ´Jean’s house over the next ten days until they came across a bloody fireplace poker in the same area where the bodies were buried.

Going back to Terrence and Michael’s house, they examined the fireplace area and made a startling discovery. A brass poker was missing from the fireplace set. Not only was the poker missing, but the position where the poker sat, was behind the brass shovel and the brass broom.

The significance of this was…if the poker was used to commit the murders, then whoever used the poker, had to have touched the broom and or the shovel. With this information, Constable Rakes and Constable Francis went to Chief Superintendent Massey for an order to have Richard fingerprinted.

The evidence on the poker as well as that of the brass shovel from Terrence and Michael’s house was a spot-on match with Richard’s fingerprints. Richard was placed under arrest and taken to Mounties headquarters and charged with the murder of Terrence and Michael.

Canadian law is often swift, but in this case, Richard sat in the Winster Mounty station for seven months awaiting trial. A week before his trial was to begin, Filipe´Jean came to the Mounty station, seeking permission to give Richard a charm bracelet, because it was his birthday.

Normally such a request would have been denied, but since the bracelet posed no danger, seeing that it was four inches in length and had two wooden-fashioned trinkets on it, the Chief Superintendent permitted it. Little did he know it, but that would end up being a very costly mistake.

On the day of Richard’s trial, he sat in the courtroom twisting and playing with the bracelet when the ‘Crown Prosecutor’ stood saying…

Your worship! We are here for your consideration of case number 33584, the County of Wilshire vs Wegemil Rit.

Richard sat in the court as the Crown Prosecutor and the defense Solicitor presented preliminary motions and briefs regarding the case. Richard’s eye caught Filipe´Jean, who smiled and winked. At precisely four p.m., the judge struck his gavel and said…

Court is dismissed until tomorrow morning at nine.

With that everyone stood and began filing out of the court. The police came to the front and escorted the accused man, Wegemil Rit out of the courtroom. Everyone had filed out of the court except Richard and Filipe´Jean until a court official came in saying…

I am locking the doors to the court, so you two had best be leaving now.

Richard and Filipe´Jean hugged and slowly walked out of the courthouse as the court official closed and locked the courtroom behind them. Richard and Filipe´Jean remained in Ontario for another six months before moving to Delaware County, Ohio, and opening their dream business, a curio shop.

For Richard and Filipe´Jean to open a curio shop so close to Amish country was a mystery. The Amish rarely purchased anything that they did not grow or make. However, for the most part, they have accepted the influx of tourism as something they cannot change. Also, tourism provides them with a chance to sell many of their products, as the Amish have realized profits from the tourists.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were to be big a weekend for Richard and Filipe´Jean, with the purchase of a curio shop in the heart 0f Amish country, in between Lewis Center and Delaware County, Ohio north of Columbus, they were counting on the tourist who visits Amish country, to be their sole customers. After a year of remodeling and a week of unpacking the various items which were stored in the local U storage center, it was time for the grand opening.

Richard and Filipe´Jean were not counting on the Amish for their revenue, but rather those who enjoyed scouring the Amish villages in search of bargains and farm-fresh products.

The name of Filipe´Jean and Richard’s curio shop was called Cottonwood Jam. Cottonwood Jam boasted of having rare and hard-to-find items, as well as the shop, is a ‘down-home’ feeling.

Once