Now, I will go into the whole "her family was desperately poor". I do not believe the police at the time meant for people to get the idea that Kathy's family was in dire straits or that they weren't good people. There were some things going on at the time that made things difficult for Nora (Kathy's mother). I think this is all they were trying to say.
Kathy's father had recently died. So, this is why he isn't mentioned in the stories about Kathy and it's always just her mother being mentioned. So, Nora is a widow with a little girl and a toddler (Kathy's little brother Kelly). Kathy helped Nora a lot. I think Nora wanted Kathy to have fun as much as possible. So, she let her go skating and gave her some money for Krispy Kreme (this is a donut shop). It was only $1, but that is actually more than enough for a little girl to get some treats at Krispy Kreme in 1969.
Kathy lived in Woodbine which was working class to middle class. I do think perhaps their house was a little smaller than some. The neighborhood overall had enough kids whose parents could spare some money to go and risk their lives by riding the roller drome bus for a day of skating (obviously, for most this turned out well and was a fun experience... I have a very dim view of that bus due to Kathy and the 8 year old boy who was raped).
Part of the idea may have come from the fact that Kathy had handmedown skates. The skates were in excellent condition. Another one of my cousins who was older gave them to her, but I don't think that cousin had been able to use them much at all before she out grew them. Since no one expected Kathy to die and she was only 12, and buying her brand new skates might result in the exact same scenario... her outgrowing them. I thought most people with kids did this sort of thing? Or even adults. Why go out and spend money on something new when you have a thing right at hand that is as good as new? You can use that money some other way.
I don't know if Nora really would have been able to afford new skates just then, but if Kathy had been able to continue with skating.. Someone would have gotten her a pair. Meanwhile, she was happy with the pair she had been given.
Also, I think of my cousin who gave her the skates. Part of the reason Kathy wanted to go out that night was because of the skates. Here she thought she was sharing something nice with her little cousin and tragedy happens. It is really almost too much to think about... which is why we have let this go on by.
I really wouldn't care if people thought some people in my family were poor except people draw strange conclusions based on that idea. Kathy and her family as well as my family in general are NOT white trash. I know anyone would say that, but I've never been called that by anyone who personally knew me. I don't know anyone in my family who has been called that either (by people who have met us).
Kathy was well liked by the other kids in her neighborhood and at her school from everything I've heard. Other parents had no problems with letting their beloved children be friends with Kathy.
Kathy was a good little girl who left people heartbroken to this day. She was thrown down in weeds like she was trash. I do not think the police ever wanted anyone to think ill of her. I maybe think they were just saying Nora couldn't hire private detectives or offer rewards. And she couldn't.
I know it sounds practically insane to say it, but the amount of death and tragedy that has gone on in my family from the mid 60s until now has really distracted people. Most, people have gotten sick and died. There have been a few other things.. accidents, murder, suicide. But, mostly long grueling illnesses. I don't like to talk about it because everyone has problems, everyone has grief. And a lot of it isn't really anyone's fault.
But, maybe if all of that hadn't happened, we would have rallied up a big reward or courted the media or figured out how to hire investigators. But, while all of these things were going on, we did have to live day to day... people had to get educations, go to work, try to work on relationships with people who were still alive. I'm not trying to be all dramatic... our lives haven't been grinding misery or anything. But, when I look over it, I see what happened.
I just hope before everyone who knew Kathy dies, we can see justice in her case. She was a good girl. I don't know what happened that night, but she would have been cautious and she wouldn't have wanted to upset her mother. I think this is why the people the police have looked at are people who were around the neighborhood. Kathy saw them all of the time. She was a sweet girl who carried a Bible in her purse. She didn't know how evil some people could be.
I thank God that the little 8 year old boy knew what happened to Kathy because he did manage to escape with his life. He was a victim of Edward Warner Adcox according to the interview given by Micky Miller of the Metro Nashville Police.
