"It's interesting, five years ago, we wouldn't think about this happening," said a Buckingham County resident and Longwood University junior commuter student, who wished her name to be kept anonymous for her safety. She is referring to the recent Appomattox murders that occurred on Jan. 19, where eight people were killed in a remote location of the county, just miles from the Prince Edward County line.
The eight victims were Lauralee Sipe, Speight's sister; Dwayne Sipe, Speight's brother-in-law; 15-year-old Morgan Dobyns, Lauralee's daughter; 4-year-old Joshua Sipe, son of Lauralee and Dwayne; Dobyns' friend, 15-year-old Emily Quarles, Dobyns' friend; 16-year-old Ronald "Bo" Scruggs, Quarles' boyfriend; and 43-year-olds Karen and Jonathan Quarles', Emily's parents. The shooter is believed to be 39-year-old Christopher Speight, a relative to four of the victims.
This student, along with sophomore Tracy Lynn Davis, also a resident of Buckingham Co., both have a common connection to the murders. The two are familiar with one of the victims, Ronald "Bo" Scruggs.
The commuter student said she knew Scruggs when they both attended Buckingham County High School, but never had a great deal of interaction with him. "We never really spoke in class or anything." Her family is friends with Scruggs' family. When asked if the murders have greatly affected her life, she said, "I haven't really thought about [the killings] very much. I've thought about [Scruggs'] family and if they will have a chance to talk to this guy," she added.
"When I first became aware of the situation, I was just in shock because it was hitting so close to home for me," said Davis. "Now, I have many thoughts about what happened. I am sorry for the families and all of those that [the killings] affected." Davis said she was "confused" how such a criminal act could be committed.
It was nearly four months to the day of the Appomattox rampage that Farmville endured its own tragedy. On Sept. 18, 2009, Farmville Police discovered four bodies at 505 First Avenue. The bodies were later identified as Longwood University Professor Debra Kelley; her estranged husband, Pastor Mark Niederbrock; their daughter Emma Niederbrock; and Emma's friend, Melanie Grace Wells who was visiting from W. Va.
The correlations between the two cases are apparent in multiple aspects. First of all, both Appomattox and Farmville are two small towns in central Virginia with roughly the same population. Neither has a high crime rate or a history of mass crimes. Upon arrival at Kelley's home, police believe Mark Niederbrock was murdered by McCroskey. In the Appomattox case, both Karen and Jonathan Quarles were gunned down by Speight after coming to see their daughter, according to reports by WRIC News, based out of Richmond, VA.
Both Longwood students said the killings made them question the apparent upswing in violent activity in small towns. Growing up in Buckingham Co., just north of Farmville, they are familiar with the concept of what many see as small town USA. Davis has lived county all of her life and said that she "loves it there."
The students admitted to feeling safe in Buckingham Co. Davis said the killings reminded her that these kinds of events could occur anywhere, not just in a metropolitan atmosphere. "While it does make me a little more cautious and more aware of my surroundings, it does not force me to live in a state of fear."
The commuter student said her habits have changed somewhat thanks to the recent crimes. "I use to leave my keys in the truck, but since these things have happened, I don't."
Davis admits though that the idea of rural living is not what it used to be. "A lot of people are choosing to move into places that are not as hectic as the city." She noted it is too early to tell if crimes such as the ones that occurred in Appomattox and Farmville are coincidence or an alarming statistic that society cannot ignore.
Fifth District of Virginia Congressman Tom Perriello called the Appomattox events "an unspeakable tragedy." He said in a statement from Appomattox News Online that the "community cannot continue to brush this problem under the rug."
"Smaller crimes always seem to lead to these larger crimes," agreed the commuter student. She said the only way to stop senseless killings is to catch criminals before their deeds are completed. "It bothers me people on the news said they saw this guy had issues before and they didn't report it. I think he had this planned for a while. I definitely think it was premeditated," she said.
"I just worry for the younger people. How's this going to change when they grow up?"
She said the violent crimes seem more and more like a trend that is continuously developing. She, like Davis, said the influx of "more diverse people" entering into rural areas is offsetting the balance of community closeness. "You never know who is who anymore.
