Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 131, Ed. 1 Friday, April 15, 2011 Page: 3 of 12
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Sweetwater Reporter
Friday, April 15, 2011 ■ Page 3
Son: Mom cried NY river plunge 'terrible mistake'
MICHAEL HILL
Associated Press
NEWBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — A suicidal mother who
loaded her four children into a minivan and drove off
a boat ramp into the frigid Hudson River changed her
mind as the van sank and cried "I made a mistake,
I made a terrible mistake," said her lo-year-old son,
who survived by crawling out a window and swimming
ashore.
Lashanda Armstrong had warned in a cryptic Facebook
message just before the fatal plunge: "I'm so sorry every-
one forgive me please for what 1 n gonna do.... This Is
It!!!!"
Her lo-year-old son, the only survivor as his mother
and three siblings drowned, says she had told the chil-
dren, "You're going to die with me,' but then tried,
too late, to back out the river, according to a woman
who found the sopping wet boy.
Meave Ryan was driving past the boat ramp in
Newburgh, about 6o miles north of New York City, on
Tuesday evening when she spotted the boy, La'Shaun
Armstrong, waving his arms.
Ryan said the boy told her that his mother had had a
"big, big argument about my stepdad's cheating on her,"
then piled the four children in the minivan and sped into
the river.
Ryan told The Associated Press on Thursday that
La'Shaun said Armstrong had held him and the other
kids — boys ages 5 and 2 and an 11-month-old girl — as
the minivan began sinking.
"She was ho ing on to all of them and said, 'If I'm
going to die, you're all going to die with me.'" Ryan said.
She said that two or three times."
But as the vehicle sank, La'Shaun broke free of his
mother's grasp and clambered out a window.
Ryan said: While he was doing that, he heard his
mother saying, 'I made a mistake, I made a terrible
mistake.' And she tried to reverse the car out, but at that
time it was too late. He said, 'Mommy, I'm going to go
get help,' and she said, 'OK.' And that was the last ie
leard from his mother."
Ryan drove the boy to a nearby fire station. Rescuers
immediately went to the river, but it was too late: They
found the van about 25 yards from shore in 8 feet of
water. Lashanda Armstrong and three children were
dead.
Ryan's account conforms to reports from police, who
say Armstrong was involved in a domestic incident at
her apartment Tuesday evening and within minutes had
plunged off a boat ramp int< the river just a half-mile
fro 11 r apartment in a hard-luck section of the city.
The Facebook message, posted from Armstrong's
BlackBerry, was obtained by MidHudsonNews.com. It
posted on her page at 7:13 p.m. Tuesday, about a half-
hour before she drove into the river.
"I don't know if we'll ever find out what Lashanda
Armstrong was thinking when she left that home and
drove to the river," Newburgh police Chief Michael
Ferrara said.
Lt. Bruce Campbell said police had heard from at
least two witnesses who said they saw a minivan speed
through an intersection at the boat launch's entrance
fast enough that the vehicle appeared to bottom out on
the bumpy pavement.
'She went through it at a pretty good pace," Campbell
said.
The witnesses, 1 orists who had stopped at a stop
Guelker
Continued from pagel
States. They finally moved to the US and Elizabeth was
born here. She often chided her brothers, telling them,
"I am the only one of us that can run for President!" Mrs.
Guelker is proud of her heritage and thankful she was
born in the United States.
Mrs Guelker attended college, married, had her fam-
ily and became a teacher for many years. She is retired,
w orks in several organizations, and delights everyone by
relating how happy she is to be a natui oorn American
citizen. She is most patriotic and tells friends and audi-
ences how blessed Americans are to live in this wonder-
ful country.
At the close of her speech, the Lions graciously rose to
give her a standing ovation.
Rain
Continued from page
to area mayors.
The document cited that
the West Texas area is in
dire need of rain and that
three area lakes are at very
low levels. As a result of
the drought, according to
the proclamation, extreme
fire hazards are in place
and have led to many fires
that have devastated the
region.
"I...do hereby proclaim
Sunday, April 17, 2011 as
'A Day of Prayer for Rain'
and invite all of our peo-
Fire
Continued from pagel
evacuees were allowed to
return shortly before 11
p.m. Thursday, when the
winds shifted and the threat
eased. Nobody was hurt.
The Texas Forest Service
says Highway 70, Highway
92 and County Road 413
were closed over fires in
Fisher, Kent and Stonewall
counties. The roads
reopened late Thursday.
More than 200,000
acres, mainly in West Texas,
burned this week during
dry, windy conditions.
sign, "just thought it was kids driving fast or acting up,"
he said. They apparently didn't see what happened next,
he said.
Campbell said police believe Armstrong hit the water
going 15 to 20 mph. There was no substantial damage
to the vehicle's front end, and the airbags didn't deploy^
he said.
A stream of people w ent to the boat ramp Thursday,
and friends and neighbors gathered to try to process the
tragedy.
Ashonti George, 21, laid a red rose on the doorway
to Armstrong's apartment Thursday morning. The two
women were in the same math class at Orange County
Community College. George, of Newburgh, said that
Armstrong usually was an attentive student but wasn't
herself during a Tuesday morning test.
'She was off," George said. "She didn't seem like her-
self. She seemed angry — off. That's the best way I can
explain it."
People lit candles near the spot where the van entered
the water. Natasha Colon and Nicole Callahan, both
mothers from Newburgh, were among the mourners.
'I just wanted to say a prayer for them and for the boy
who going to go through j ot," Colon said.
Callahan added: "They were innocent babies."
Jay Vandervort, a Newburgh resident who said he was
a friend of Armstrong's, also stopped by the boat ramp.
He said he last saw her about a month ago.
"She just seemed happy-go-lucky, like everything's
good," he said.
A few dozen people gathered on the landing Thursday
evening next to the makeshift shrine to offer up prayers
for the family and toss handfuls of symbolically cleans-
ing salt into the river.
Armstrong's aunt had called police at about 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday to report a domestic incident at her niece's
apartment. By the time police got there, she was gone.
Besides Armstrong, Landen Pierre, 5, Lance Pierre, 2,
and 11-month-old Laianna Pierre died.
Earlier that day, Armstrong appeared stressed when
she picked up the children at the Young and Unique
Christian Development Child Care, said Shaniesha
Strange, supervisor in the infant room.
Police questioned the man they identified as the father
of the three dead children. Jean Pierre, but did not give
details. He apparently didn't live with the mother and
children and could not immediately be located for com-
ment.
Police on Thursday confirmed that Pierre was charged
with child endangerment in February when a boy who
died in the minivan was found wandering the streets
half-naked after 1 a.m. No further details were released
by police, and the status of the case was not immediately
available.
Hetty Minatee, another teacher at the day care center*
said Armstrong had enrolled the four children there in
September. At first, Jean Pierre would come in with
Armstrong and sometimes would pick up the kids.
"A couple weeks ago, she came in a little upset,"
Minatee said. She said, 'Miss Minatee, I don't want the
father to pick the kids up or have any contact with them.
She said she was trying to get a court order so he could
never see the kids again."
La'Shaun is staxing with the aunt, Angela Gilliam.
He's "doing fine," Gilliam said.
"She was a good mother. She was going through some
stuff," Gilliam said of her niece. "Nobody knows what
my niece went through."
She would not elaborate.
The boy told Ryan that Armstrong made a cellphone
call to her mother as she sped toward the water, asking
for forgiveness
Ryan said La'Shaun blames himself for never teaching
his siblings how to swim.
Ryan said she kissed him on the head before she left
ail' told him, "You're in my prayers."
Associated Press writers Mary Esch and Chris Carola
in Albany, N.Y., contributed to this report.
Fake officer linked to
East Texas burglaries
pie of all denominations
to pray in their churches
and in their homes for this
beautiful heavenly gift,"
Mayor Wortham stated on
the proclamation.
The proclamation was
signed by the mayor and
given the seal of the city.
GILMER, Texas (AP) -
An East Texas man found
with stolen law enforce-
ment badges is accused
of posing as an officer to
burglarize homes.
Edward Charles Lee was
in the Jpshur County Jail
on Friday on charges of
impersonating a public
servant and possession of
a firearm by a felon.
No attorney was listed
for Lee, with bond set at
$150,000. Lee also was
held on a federal detainer.
Further details were not
immediately available.
Sheriffs Capt. Gary
Roberts told the Longview
News-Journal that a resi-
dent on April 4 confronted
a man in his house and the
person falsely claimed to
be a law officer. The hom-
eowner wrote down the
license plate of the man's
vehicle. Lee was arrested
April 7.
Investigators have
recovered more than
$30,000 worth of stolen
property.
Obituaries
JUANITA M. DICKERSON
Funeral services for Juanita M. Dickerson, 82, of
Sweetwater, are pending with McCoy Funeral Home.
Dickerson died Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Abilene.
Announcements
Torres Account
An account has been set up at First Financial Bank
to help pay for the medical expenses of Coralyn Torres.
Account #10110050571
Confederate History Display
Mike Brigg: will have a special history display at the
County-City Library during the month of Apr which is
Confederate History Mon The display will be set up
on the bulletin board in the front of the brary.
Reece Whitteker Medical Fund
An account has been established at Roscoe State
Bank, Sweetwater Branch, for the benefit of Robert and
Scarlett Whitteker. The fund is being opened to defray
the cost of meals and hotel stays for the Whittekers to
assist with their son Reece during his recent surgery and
upcoming rehabilitation in Austin. Reece was severely
injured in a diving accident which caused damage to his
neck and spinal cord. To make a contribution you may
go by either the Roscoe or Sw eetwater location. You may
also mail the donation to Roscoe State Bank, P.O. Box
317, Sweetwater, Texas, 79556.
Sweetwater Christian School
Sweetwater Christian School is currently enrolling 3,
4 and 5 year-olds for the 2011-2012 schoc year. Varied
schedules are available o suit the needs of families.
Call 325-235-5501 or go by 509 Locust Street for more
information.
Connie Oflutt at Sassy Fox
A benefit account has been set up for Connie Offutt,
hairdresser at Sassy Fox, at Texas National Bank under
account number 567833. All donations are greatly
appreciated. She will be out of the salon for medical
reasons.
Life After Loss Series
West Texas Rehab's Hospice rf the Big Country will
be providing a 6-part series called "Life After Loss" for
individuals who have lost loved ones in the past two
years. This is open to the public. The goal is to provide
participants with appropriate information and peer
support through the grieving process. Most people who
attend find the information and support tremendously
helpful. It starts Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the First
Financial Bank Building located at 201 Elm, Sweetwater
from 10-11:30 a.m. RSVP to Shronda Shannon at 325
793 5489 or sshannon@wtrc.com.
MIDDAY ON WALL STREET
Today's Trading
Change
DOW
12,329.72
+44.57
NASDAQ
2,758.33
-1.89
S&P
1,319.86
+5.34
General Motors
30.71
+0.13
Ford Motor Co.
14.82
+0.01
AT&T
30.33
+0.04
Pepsico, Inc.
66.49
-0.21
T85G Corp.
15.99
-0.12
Archer-Daniels
35.15
+0.11
GE
20.17
+0.17
Deere & Co.
93.45
-0.81
McDonalds Corp.
76.74
-0.33
Chevron Texaco
104.52
-0.36
Exxon Mobil
83.46
+0.02
Fst. Fin. Bnkshs.
51.24
-0.08
Coca-Cola
68.00
-0.31
Dell
14.87
-0.08
SW Airlines
11.58
-0.02
Microsoft
25.29
-0.13
Sears Holdings Co.
77.50
-0.74
Cisco
17.20
+0.03
Wal-Mart
53.32
-0.18
Johnson & Johnson
60.35
+0.33
King Carpet
24 Hr. Fire & Water Restoration
Air Duct Cleaning
Big Selection Show Room & Full Line In Stock!
♦Laminate ♦Carpet
♦Tile ♦Hardwood
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Next Day Installation On In Stock Items
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Residential & Commercial Remodeling
Construction From the Foundation To Roof!
Foundation Repair Conversions
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Room Additions Fencing & More...
3707 College Ave. • Snyder, TX
235-1173
Looking for a job?
TRY A CAREER!
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THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 131, Ed. 1 Friday, April 15, 2011, newspaper, April 15, 2011; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229447/m1/3/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.