ASHLAND — She remembers his yellow, staring eyes like it was yesterday.
Thirty years ago, Cindy Quay went to her sister’s house after hearing she hadn’t shown up for work that day. When she got there, she was greeted by James Middleton, her sister’s husband at the time.
Quay said she remembered looking in his eyes and seeing a blank, yellow stare. When she went upstairs, she saw her sister’s legs on a red, blanketed bed. She grew uncomfortable and left the house, notifying the police.
“I know now the comforter was red with blood,” she said.
James Middleton was sentenced to life in prison for killing Kathy Bucher-Middleton, Quay’s sister. He has gone before the parole board three times and has been denied each time.
Quay spoke about her sister and her death at an annual candlelight vigil held by Rape Crisis Domestic Violence Safe Haven as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
She was one of 10 families who attended Tuesday night’s vigil. They each lit a candle for the 10 women who have died to domestic violence in Ashland County.
Safe Haven has held the vigil for 15 years. On Tuesday, organizers placed 10 red silhouettes throughout Ashland’s Corner Park. The silhouettes represented the 10 lost and each had their names and stories attached.
Their names, attached at the bottom of this story, were read aloud during the vigil, along with a short synopsis of what happened to them.
Rebecca Jentes, Safe Haven’s executive director, said remembering their names is important.
“These women’s lives mattered,” she said to the crowd of around 50.
The vigil comes at a time when domestic violence in Ohio is on the rise.
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network said earlier this year violence was up 35% from July 2019 to June 2020.
The nonprofit provides resources for Ohio survivors through 75 member agencies covering the state’s 88 counties. Safe Haven is one of the member agencies. The network also weighs in on policy.
State lawmakers responded this year during their budget appropriations with more money earmarked for domestic violence programs.
Domestic violence programs across Ohio are set to receive a total $7.5 million over the next two years. The funding represents a 78% increase in domestic violence spending and 108% in rape crisis funding.
Safe Haven reached 6,625 people in 2020, according to an impact report. The shelter housed 37 adults and 19 children in 2020. It served 936 people with support services during that year, along with 62 domestic violence survivors that were supported with Face to Face Crisis Intervention.
The shelter shares services with Ashland University, University Hospital Samaritan and the Ashland County Common Pleas Court. In 2020, 19 people received support at AU, three at the hospital and 137 in court.
It also saw 255 support group participants and received 460 calls to its 24-hour Crisis Hotline.
The somber event Tuesday followed a Domestic Violence Awareness Month news conference in Columbus earlier in the day where the Ohio Domestic Violence Network released data that showed 2020 was a particularly deadly year for children.
The network recorded 131 deaths between July 1, 2020 and June 30, which represents a 20% rise and a 62% increase over two years. Fifteen of those deaths were children.
That number is the highest the network has ever recorded since its start six years ago. Four children died in 2020 domestic violence incidents, according to the network.
Safe Haven will continue to host similar events throughout Ashland in October to spread awareness.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse at home, call Safe Haven’s anonymous hotline at 419-289-8085.
The 10 women’s names are:
• Barb Siler. Barb was murdered on Sept. 20, 2001, by her estranged husband Brian Siler in their Nankin residence and hung in their garage. Brian is currently serving 25 years in prison after accepting a plea deal to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and five other charges.
• Lynn Jackenheimer. Lynn was last seen on July 4, 2012, when she traveled to Nags Head, N.C., with her estranged ex-boyfriend Nathan Summerfield, along with their 3-year-old son and her 13-year-old daughter. Summerfield returned to Ashland with her children three days later, but Lynn was not with him. On July 16, Lynn’s body was discovered on the Outer Banks of N.C. about 20-30 miles from where they had been vacationing. The cause of death was ruled to be strangulation and stabbing. Summerfield pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murder and is serving 30 to 39 years in prison.
• Billy Jo Campbell. Billy Jo was murdered on Nov. 6, 2014, by her boyfriend, Stephen Valentine. Valentine was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
• Crystal Houchin-Cooper. Crystal was murdered by her husband, Roy Cooper, on May 25, 2003, after telling him she wanted a divorce. He then shot himself. Crystal left behind a son and three daughters.
• Janice Smith-Spade. Janice was killed by her estranged husband, George Spade, on July 14, 1972. George fired shots at a car Janice was driving, causing her to crash in a ditch. She attempted to escape George on foot but tripped and was shot. George was sentenced to life in prison for her murder. He was released on parole on Dec. 23, 1985.
• Carolyn Moore. Carolyn was murdered on Nov. 30, 1988 by her ex-husband Lee Moore Jr. They had been granted a divorce in September of 1988, and Carolyn had also received a Court Order of Protection. Lee showed up to Carolyn’s residence and shot her in the head. Lee then took his own life. She left behind a son and daughter.
• Cathy Bucher-Middleton. Cathy was murdered on April 2, 1991 by her husband James Middleton. Her body was discovered in her home by the Ashland Sheriff’s Department after her sister notified authorities that she suspected something odd after leaving their home. James Middleton was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of being paroled in 15 years. He went before the parole board in December 2014 for the third time and was denied.
• Marty Martin-Bursley. Marty was fatally shot in the chest with a large caliber revolver by her estranged husband Glenn Bursley on the afternoon of June 9, 1992. Glenn then shot and killed himself. Marty had just called Glenn’s parents before the incident, but by the time they arrived, it was too late. Glenn and Marty’s boys were outside when the shooting took place. A motive was not determined, although the couple had a history of marital strife.
• Rachel Kiser. Rachel was murdered April 28, 2012 by her boyfriend, Bryan Emarth. Rachel was fatally shot at his residence after leaving work. Bryan was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of being paroled in 18 years.
• Charity Hlovac. Charity, 39, was shot and killed by her husband, Arick Hlovac, on July 15, 2019. He admitted to the aggravated murder of his wife and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 33 years.
