In December 2011, I wrote a column that recapped several incidents of fatal violence that had happened that year in Texas County. In it, I stated that the frequency of crime-related blood-letting was not only already on the increase in rural, largely untainted places like this, but would steadily ratchet up even more as time went by.
I took a little heat because of its rather negative tone and for sharing my belief that the world is on a downward spiral with no way to turn back. The piece was titled, “There will be blood.”
Well, here we are.
For a long time, Texas County Sheriff James Sigman and I have been talking about how it was only a matter of time before something very, very bad happened within his jurisdiction involving a firearm. We were in agreement that, “it’s coming.”
Well, here we are.
I guess the magnitude – seven murders and a suicide – might be a tad bit larger than we ever envisioned. But that only bolsters the case for the unfortunate direction in which humanity is headed.
I’m not a pessimist. My wife will vouch for that.
But I’m a big-time realist, and I don’t (and can’t) see the world through rose-colored glasses. I clearly recognize what’s actual versus theatrical. And I understand the Biblical concept that there will be rebellion against God and a “falling away” prior to Christ’s return (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
I realize only one man was responsible for what happened last week in Tyrone, but I think Joe Aldridge’s door-to-door killing spree – that is now destined to live forever in infamy – is representative of the path we’re all headed down (willingly or not), and it’s similar to the path everyone was following while they scoffed at Noah just before destruction came upon them.
The Bible says in Matthew 24:12 that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” That’s happening in March 2015 – for real. Many people don’t regard human life as having much value, and their actions prove it.
Problems? Shoot ’em down. Somebody disagrees with you? Behead ’em.
What difference does it make? They’re just people and there’s plenty more where that came from.
It’s inarguable: There’s increased violence everywhere you turn. But never mind ISIS, North Korea and Boko Haram – beware your own neighborhood.
My day began last Friday with the phone ringing well before dawn. It was Houston Herald publisher Brad Gentry, who apologized for waking me up so early. Several hours later, I sent these words by email to several people I know in multiple corners of the U.S.:
Phone rang at about 5.
It was my publisher Brad.
He told me to take my camera to Highway H because there were “8 dead.”
It’s about a mile and a half from our house.
You’ve probably seen some of the photos I took.
Sheriff Sigman and I have been waiting for something like this, although maybe not to this scale.
The world’s not in good shape and it’s not going to get better.
I’m tired.
I’ve since read those words about 87 times and tears have welled up more than once. I didn’t sleep very well Friday or Saturday night because scenarios kept bouncing around in my head (not looking for sympathy – just saying).
Mere hours before a man and his .45 spread death across Tyrone, editor Jeff McNiell and I were talking last Thursday afternoon about the previous week’s murder-for-hire case in Houston. Something I said ended up being highly ironic.
“I guess we have our No. 1 online story for the year,” I said. “What could possibly top that?”
What indeed. Now I wonder what will trump the Tyrone murders – and when it will take place.
Maybe – God willing – this event will be the biggie in our lifetimes on a local level, but I think it would be naïve to rule out that a trumping could take place at any moment.
A couple of sentences from that 2011 column: “We can’t stop what’s coming, and we sure can’t hide from it. There may be some lulls and pauses, but this isn’t going away, it’s a sign of the times.”
Is there any doubt that that’s even truer now than then?
Another snippet from 2011: “Family structure is eroding beyond repair, self-glorification and gratification have become high priorities, and respect for the feelings, possessions, and even lives of others diminishes on a daily basis.”
Again – even truer now than then.
One more flashback from the 2011 piece: “The perpetrators represent a cross-section of Americana; some have been brought up in an environment where generational shortcomings are allowed to proliferate, and the difference between right and wrong is virtually unspoken and almost entirely unrecognizable, but others come from backgrounds that would be considered far more ‘stable’ and ‘safe.’”
These days, it’s almost impossible to know who you’re dealing with. The person who poses a threat isn’t necessarily the guy on TV wearing a black facial sock. It could be an acquaintance, friend, or even relative.
The good news is that none of this comes as a surprise to God. Make no mistake, He’s in complete control and it’s all part of a plan more complex than we can possibly fully comprehend that concludes with all of humanity ultimately submitting to His sovereignty (as says His Word in Romans 14:11).
With that in mind, we had best hold on tight, because the ride gets rougher the rest of the way.
Sigman summed it up perfectly during a press conference witnessed by millions last Friday when he said, “start locking your doors – the world’s changing.”
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.
March 4, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Thank you for writing this story. Unless we, as Americans and Christians stand up and put God first in our lives, this will continue to get worse
. All God wants is our love and obedience and He will bless us again.
March 5, 2015 at 11:58 am
i served in law enforcement for 50 yrs in Alaska @ wash state my father was in law enfocement in Iowa and was born in tyrone the old store in Tyrone was once owned by my grandfather and the old store at hwy h@137 was owned by my aunt @ uncle. I still have a lot of relation in texas co. that I have never met. one of my uncles was sheriff of Texas Co back in l938-l942. I feel for all of your community. and as a chritian with my heritage going back to my great grand parents burird at Ozark @ Solo. this nation that has turned away from chriistian values.and permissive society what can you expect. it is not society fault it is persnal responisibilty. with out the holy spirit in our hearts this is what happens. what his nation needs is to turn back to god through JJESUS @ a revivial through out our country. I se there was a revivial meeting at the New Hope church in Solo March 1-4 last week. how well was it attended? { could not go since I am in Washington state. That is where my grand parents are buried. I try to keep concteed to your area.
March 8, 2015 at 3:55 pm
i have lived in elma rosedale (gig Harbor area)tacoma, worked out of eatonville. worked for pierce coso. king co so. lived in seattle.edmonds, kenmore, no bend now live in the bbuckley booney lk area. when alaska iwas in the army on misle sites arond salcha hdqts was fairbanks. st tpr in anchorag soldotna and juneau went all over se alaska
July 20, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Wat do you think of your Sheriff now and his brood there’s only a couple good ones down there and I know they’re not going to to take up for his horrible ways that he has taken care of Texas County.