Wayne & Kathy Harris' son is widely seen as the . Tom and I had brought a number of Dylans childhood stuffed animals, and we placed them in the coffin so they rested against his cheeks and neck. Despite being tormented by guilt, Sue says she is finally in a better place, and has 'plenty to be thankful for'. Failed to delete memorial. Byron indicated he is no longer living at the residence but returned to the residence when he heard about the incident at Columbine. Done. Back to society. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. He was too late, however, to be useful as a mediator. Dylan Klebold and Ryan Harris killed 13 people at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999. It was to be a private, secret affair, with a few trusted friends. While hundreds of mourners crowded today's televised funeral for 17-year-old Rachel Scott, a victim of the attack, Klebold's low-key service at a mortuary 20 miles northeast of Littleton was. and our He and his friend Eric Harris. "I learned how fear can take hold of a community. Harris was born in Wichita, Kansas, on April 9, 1981. Again, Byron indicated that Dylans behavior was normal and that again he wore a black trench coat to act like a bad ass. Again, Byron indicated that he was not familiar with anything his brother was doing but returned to the house when he had heard about the news about Columbine High School. On April 20, 1999, when Sue Klebold heard about a shooting incident at Columbine High School, her thoughts immediately turned to her 17-year-old son, Dylan, who was a senior there. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. His father was very enraged that day, asking who would give his son a gun. This was considered one of the worst school shootings to occur at that time. Marxhausen probably speaks for both men when he says the toll Columbine has taken on his life is incalculable. We never taught any prejudice in our home. Dylan Klebold had been accepted by the University of Arizona and planned to attend this fall. April 24, 1999 'I remember thinking everything was good,' she said. "God, who knows about suffering and pain and loss, wants to reach out to you," he told the grieving parents, according to news accounts. Their teenage son, along with his classmate Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and a teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999. There was his mother Susans favorite story: One afternoon, Dylan, age 10, came running back from the creek with a pile of leeches. Under normal circumstances, this would bring out a barrage of arguments & pouting, but going fishing was not an everyday thing. When asked about his relationship with Dylan, Byron indicated that he was not very close to Dylan since he moved out in July of 1997. contrasting symbol, because it is so true & means so much the battle between good & bad never ends Here we ponder on the tragedy of Dylan Klebold. When your 17-year-old son has just perpetrated what was then the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, killing 12 students and one teacher and wounding 24 others before he and classmate Eric. 'If I saw Dylan face to face and I could ask him anything, I would ask him to forgive me for not being the mom that he deserved,' said Sue. A Navy pilot in Vietnam, Kirsten had seen horrors. How to trick yourself slim: Top nutritionist reveals her tips including shrinking your cutlery, sniffing Meghan's (very expensive) date night look! Dylan's friends said he had never been on a date; he may never even have asked a. Dylan was in an open coffin, with beanie babies lining his head (this helped to cover trauma caused by the gunshot wound). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. At today's memorial service, he said, "I listened for 45 minutes to people talk about Dylan, and I listened to [the parents'] own self-evaluation of how they thought they were raising him. When he came back in September, "it was clear this wasn't my church anymore," he says. Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10972/dylan-bennet-klebold. She also fell into the preachers arms and cried,she had lost her baby and all that ran through her head is that she hadnt been a good mother. He was the second child of Thomas and Susan and the brother of Byron, three years older. Rabbi Raymond Zwerin of Denvers Temple Sinai might have been speaking on behalf of many area Jews when he questioned the apparent media fascination with the issue. For months Sue was in denial about what her her son had done: 'They said the boys did all these terrible things. Note: what appears to be his white hair streak birth mark. By then my brother & father would have all the food and coolers ready, & they would be packing, ready to go. In 2003, Kirsten relinquished his pulpit, though he remains the senior pastor at West Bowles. His family and few friends shared memories, the happy ones about Dylan the Boy Scout, Dylan the Little Leaguer, Dylan the wrestler. God, who knows about suffering and pain and loss, wants to reach out to you, he told the grieving parents, according to news accounts. Queen Letizia of Spain is polished in a recycled Reiss skirt as she joins King Felipe VI at Repli-Kate! And so when a desperate Tom Klebold phoned, the pastora liberal-minded Lutheranagreed to arrange a private service. . The family from my church related how great it was to have Dylan at their house and how he wrestled with their son. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Sue Klebold, whose son Dylan, 17, went on a shooting rampage with his friend Eric Harris, 18, at their high school in Colorado in 1999, says she still thinks about the victims every day.. Marxhausen described them as "very good people, fine people" who have been shocked by the disclosures. O Absalom my son, my son! ", But at West Bowles, the Cassie legend was not thenand is not nowa matter of debate. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Eric David Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold were a pair of school shooters, bombers, and mass murderers responsible for the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School Massacre in Columbine, Colorado, which killed thirteen people and wounded 21 others before ending with both of their suicides. As he preached, Marxhausen could see Dylan, laid out before him in an open coffin. Apr 25, 1999 at 12:00 am. I honestly believe he would had just lived his life if he didn't meet Eric. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Over the next 10 years, Kirsten's persistent evangelicalism would make him the target of accusations that he was exploiting a tragedy. It took the mother six months to fully acknowledge the extent of her son's crimes, with police having to show Sue evidence that proved the massacre was premeditated. I never went swimming, but the water was an escape in itself. Marxhausen and Kirsten (and their colleagues) were engaged in spiritual triage, tending to hundreds of traumatized families. We've received your submission. [Dylan] never talked that way to me. After the killing: How parents of attackers cope. Eric was the stronger personality, student Dan Holsey told the Denver Post. There was an error deleting this problem. Nature shared the secret serenity with someone who was actually observant enough to notice. Upon arrival at the funeral home I met Tom Klebold and his other son Byron. She is the author of A Mother's Reckoning, a book about the signs she missed of Dylan's mental state. As a boy, he was in the Boy. "She said yes with her life. The comments below have not been moderated. -- b. 2017-10-26 17:38:07. Each funeral was special in its own way, just like the person who was buried. Dylan Bennet Klebold. 'Because you think, "how can I possibly feel happy when this terrible thing has happened? I didnt know their last name, said Debbie Wilde, who lives two doors away. Don Marxhausen said of the parents, Thomas and Susan Klebold. They were always preempted, never extemporaneously brought out by my father the night before his intended day of relaxation. Im Jewish., Similarly, Susan Klebolds cousin, Skip Yassenoff, indicated to the Denver Post last week that Dylan Klebolds act must have been very difficult for [Susan], for any average American parent but particularly for someone brought up Jewish.. Across the road from Klebolds upscale cedar-and-glass home, neighbor Tammi Trojan, 15, remembered the playmate she met seven years ago. Cross in remembrance of Dylan Klebold, who w. Friend Eric Harris went on shooting spree at Columbine High School killing 13 & ending in their. 'I was exposed to all the horrible things people believed to be true about us,' she said. The two approached her, asked if she 'still believed in God' and when she said yes, killed her . There is a July 1999 article in a magazine called "The Director which is a publication for professionals in the mortuary biz. George Kirsten was in Israel on the day of the shootings; immediately, he turned around to come home. Getty, AP, AP, AFP/Getty. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He said Klebold's remains are to be cremated and that funeral arrangements for Harris are still being worked out. Both are from Columbus, Ohio and went to Ohio State University. Who'll find love on our blind date? Of course I wish these horrible things never happened, but certainly I'm grateful I've reached a place where life is okay and there's plenty to be thankful for.'. Since existence has known, the 'fight' between good & evil has continued. We were formal with each other, but he was grateful for my presence. Here are the seven best ways to wear them this spring. Wed Nov 30, 2016 8:35 am. Sucks for everyone else. 'I had been grieving so much for this lost previous child and remembering who he was and that was the point I realised who he was to the rest of the world, everything died in my world, God died, my belief in truth in what my family was. He wrestles with those memories to this day. There's where you screwed up!' Would I do a funeral for his son? cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. His mother on the other hand wondered how he could be anti-Semitic, as he was half Jewish and she being full. Her friend Mindy Pollack, 17, said she would attend services for Eric Harris, her former next-door neighbor, but only out of respect for his parents. Verify and try again. Topics. Harris and Dylan Klebold "were obviously crazy and lost," she added. Despite his son's murderous behavior and treachery, David mourns his death. Dylans funeral was an open casket. On April 20, 1999, two disturbed teenage boys Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris began a killing rampage at Columbine High School in the suburban town of Littleton, Colorado. A small mountain of beanie babies was piled around the boys head, covering the self-administered wound that killed him. She's spent years excavating every detail of her family life, trying to understand what she could have done to prevent her son's violence. Yet the Rev. On Thursday, April 22, Tom Klebold called and asked for help. On top of killing innocent people Dylan and Eric did the shittiest thing ever to their families. I never liked coffee, but I loved the smell. 'Then you start to feel guilty, because as soon as you begin to feel happy, you begin to hate yourself. The telecast comes nearly 17 years after the tragedy and on the eve of . The media circus had begun, and Tom, on the best of days, is a private person. "I was becoming somewhat toxic with my visibility and extrovertedness.". Cast, Reel, etc. All we have in the house is a BB gun to shoot the woodpeckers. Crime scene photos showing the bodies of Columbine Shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. . I smoothed Dylans hair and kissed his forehead, searching his face for clues and finding none. Time to bait. "We rely heavily on scripture," says Kirsten, "and on the premise that Christ is the ultimate forgiver, the ultimate lover, and that only through him can we know the Lord.". The funeral home and chapel where Dylan Klebolds private viewing took place in Denver,Colorado. Within one hour, 18-year-old Harris and his 17-year-old accomplice Dylan Klebold - a fellow Columbine student and Brown's friend since the first grade - were both dead. This thread is for pictures of Dylan. We will miss you and we thank you for the joy and love you brought us, it read. Dylan Klebold's diaries were just sad. On April 20, 1999, two disturbed teenage boys Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris began a killing rampage at Columbine High School in the suburban town of Littleton, Colorado. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014. . Who wants to begin?. He is half Jewish as I am all Jewish. So it went for a half an hour or more. His on-again-off-again friend Eric Harris had . In the days since the attack, police, parents, students and others here and across the country have wondered what motivated the pair, what toxic mix of influences and experiences left them so enraged and hopeless. But thats enough, Columbine HS student Katie Kirk, 15, said bitterly of the idea. Mi incredulidad se transform en tristeza cuando me di cuenta que John Tomlin, un chico de mi iglesia, muri en la biblioteca ese da. ", "Our sadness and grief over his death and this tragedy are indescribable," the statement said, and the Klebolds again apologized "to all those who have also suffered a loss of their loved one, and we continue to pray for the recovery of those who were injured. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Subject: Dylan Klebold. It seemed back then that when the world changed, these mountains would never move. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Marxhausen believes firmly in a loving, forgiving God and a nuanced approach to questions of salvation. 'But at this stage in my life, I guess I would say, yes, I am. How the Princess of Wales recreated her 2006 outfit from Prince William's Sandhurst graduation Behind-the-scenes at fashion week with the Spencers! Byron went on to state that Dylan enjoyed playing games on the internet. The West Bowles congregation filled the Bernall's living room the week after April 20, praying and crying and praying some more. Sue Klebold broke down in tears as she remembered the funeral of her son Dylan He was one of the teens behind the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999 Dylan ended the shooting which saw. Strong lady, can't imagine how she got through that. Eric David Harris (April 9, 1981 - April 20, 1999) and Dylan Bennet Klebold (/ k l i b o l d /; September 11, 1981 - April 20, 1999) were an American mass murder duo who perpetrated the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. "Cassie Bernall deserved to have a book written about her, but if there was reason to believe that it wasn't truthful, then it's a disservice to her memory and to the community. Weve updated the security on the site. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Dylan Klebold helped perpetrate one of the bloodiest school shootings in history, indelibly etching the name Columbine into our collective memories. His long, skinny body fit awkwardly into the cardboard casket where it would lie until cremation. "They keep asking themselves, 'What happened? It's definitely exciting to get to take a look into the minds of . In youth-group meetings, kids mourned that they could not be in heaven with her, says Craig Nason, who was a friend of Cassie's and is now the West Bowles young-adult pastor. This browser does not support getting your location. As I walked into the incredibly tension-filled room, I knew that the service I had prepared was not appropriate. One family jumped in and talked about how much they loved Dylan. I'm going to kill you all. Sorry! Comment. The further Kirsten got from the tragedy, though, the more he began to crack. Sue Klebold is the mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the two shooters who committed the Columbine High School massacre, murdering 12 students and a teacher. My disbelief turned into sadness as I learned that John Tomlin, a boy from my church, Foothills Bible Church, died in the library that day. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. It was horrifying to see him in that mode. GREAT NEWS! While hundreds of mourners crowded today's televised funeral for 17-year-old Rachel Scott, a victim of the attack, Klebold's low-key service at a mortuary 20 miles northeast of Littleton was attended by his parents, his older brother and 10 others, Marxhausen said. The drives up to the mountains were always peaceful, a certain halcyon hibernating within the tall peaks & the armies of pine trees. Sue contacted me to ask for my help in arranging the cremation and private memorial service for her son. Marxhausen now lives south of Littleton in Highlands Ranch with his wife, and he ministers to a tiny, rural congregation in mountainous Idaho Springs. 'Somehow we were lesser human beings we were evil, we were people who did not know how to raise children, there were a world of people who hated us.'. I would dine on fancy breakfast cuisine, otherwise know as Cocoa Puffs. A Klebold attorney issued a statement after today's service for Dylan, "who we loved as much as we knew how to love a child. That unfamiliar expression was perhaps the only thing that allowed us to get through that first, horrific, unreal moment. Nothing made sense. "People were missing the big point," says Kirsten. Similarly, Marxhausen said, the Klebolds are right to grieve their son's death, despite the momentous tragedy he helped cause. But if the parents knew what was going on in the home, with bombs being made, my attitude would change, obviously., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 'THAT JERK' PROSECUTOR TRIGGERS MRS. B'S FURY; EXCLUSIVE, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Here's details; After a 3rd brief shooting duel with the cops, Harris sat down, with his back against the bookshelf, he placed the grip of his shotgun between. When he came back in September, it was clear this wasnt my church anymore, he says. Cassie Bernall, a Columbine junior, had been shot in cold blood as she crouched under a library table, and word was that in her final seconds she answered her murderer's question and affirmed her belief in God. Byron and Tom and I held one anothers hands, and together we held Dylans. According to Kirsten, the church's youth pastor at the time approached the Bernalls about writing a book on Cassie's life, her descent into sin and her acceptance of Jesus. Thats where I think I started getting in trouble with my church, says Marxhausen. This is a carousel with slides. ", The two couples, declining to speak publicly, have issued statements expressing sorrow for the school attack and asking to be left alone by reporters. DENVER Dylan Klebold, one of two suspects in last weeks bloodbath at Columbine High School, led a life of contradictions. Klebold and Harris were social outcasts in the halls of Columbine, but so are a lot of students in a lot of schools. Except for issuing a statement last week expressing sorrow at their sons actions, the Klebolds have refused all media requests for comments or interviews. April 24, 1999 Add to your scrapbook. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Its weird, so weird. Dylan says that as far back as the Foothills Day Care center he hated the "stuck-up" kids who he felt hated him. Chaplain, Adams County Jail, Colorado. The funeral was held at Heritage Christian Center. He admired Hitler, yet his great-great grandfather was a respected Jewish philanthropist in Ohio. ", "Florida school shooting among 10 deadliest in modern US history", "13 Victims killed at Columbine High School", "Injured and Survivors of the Columbine High School shooting", Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (Colorado), "Remembering the 13 victims of Columbine High School massacre 20 years on", "Crosses for Harris, Klebold join 13 others", "Authorities say Columbine shooters acted alone", "Columbine killers' diaries offer chilling insight", "Troubled Children: Dealing with Anger and Depression", "KMFDM And Rammstein Speak Out About Columbine", "An Old Debate Emerges in Wake of School Shooting", "Transcript of the Columbine "Basement Tapes", "Columbine Revisited: Myths and Realities About the BullyingSchool Shootings Connection", "Drug and chemical blood-level data 2001", "Was School Shooter Eric Harris Taking Luvox? But the public's only glimpse into their psyches has been through the blurry lens of their schoolmates whose perceptions of the two varied widely. What happened? On April 20, 1999, I watched the television in disbelief as the tragic events unfolded at Columbine High School. Monarch is radiant in blue on a tour Bea's blooming! She came into my arms and sobbed and shook. Theyre nice people., Harris and Dylan Klebold were obviously crazy and lost, she added. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. This has nothing to do with religion or the failure of religion., As for Klebolds Jewish forebears, the rabbi said simply, Im sure the grandfather and great-grandfather are twisting in their graves., Neo-Nazism contributed to Littleton massacre, Nobel: Bob Dylan or Philip Roth? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. On the way out I asked the lawyer how should I respond to the media. Addeddate. Jackie Collins taught me everything I know. But he didn't feel like he fit in at Columbine High School in Colorado. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Dylan was remembered as a Cub Scout who attended church with his family. Answer (1 of 3): Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds to their heads in the library a little after noon. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Lets not blame religion for this. As the months passed, new evidence began to show that it had not, in fact, been Cassie who "said yes." After Dylan's funeral, he described the killer's parents as "the loneliest people on the planet" to The Denver Post. On the Sunday between Dylan's funeral and Cassie's, 70,000 mourners gathered in a parking lot to listen to Franklin Graham, among others, proclaim the gospel. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Eileen Zajac. He could barely speak in front of a stranger, especially a girl. Dylan was in an open coffin, with beanie babies lining his head (this helped to cover trauma caused by the gunshot wound). Columbine would open the floodgates of Kirsten's memory. _____ LITTLETON, Colo. Friends, neighbors and classmates are grappling with conflicting feelings over whether to attend the funerals of the two Trench Coat killers. Bnai Chaim, the Jewish congregation nearest to where the Klebolds reside in Littleton, has apparently never had contact with the family. I didnt know he could do this. Marxhausen believes firmly in a loving, forgiving God and a nuanced approach to questions of salvation. On Tuesday, as the Columbine massacre was already under way, the father apparently contacted authorities, suspecting his son was involved in the shootings. Marxhausen probably speaks for both men when he says the toll Columbine has taken on his life is incalculable. contrasting symbol, because it is so true & means so much the battle between good & bad never ends Here we ponder on the tragedy of Dylan Klebold. There was a problem getting your location. Don Marxhausen believed that Dylans parents deserved to hear the message of Gods grace. "This is Cassie's graduation day," he began. Since existence has known, the 'fight' between good & evil has continued. Kirsten takes comfort in riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on mountain highways, and still goes to the VA hospital weekly for therapy. The expression on Dylan's face was unfamiliar, which Byron later confessed made it easier for him. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. But I wouldnt blame the parents.. It was Saturday, four days after the shootings. Sigh. "These parents have been tearing their insides out, trying to understand what the heck happened," said Marxhausen, who has been the family's pastor at St. Philip Lutheran Church here since last summer. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Dylan was vulnerable in many ways - unquestionably emotionally immature, depressed, possibly suffering from a more serious mood or personality disorder. His mother considered herself Jewish, yet the family belonged to a Lutheran church. Marxhausen hated the whole thing. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Until recently, Sue was on the Mortuary Science Program Advisory Committee and made certain that the program functioned under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Video screengrab Harris & Klebold 'Hitman' video screengrab. Milton and his wife, Charlotte, who was not Jewish, raised their daughter Susan Dylan Klebolds mother as a Jew. The Washington Post Company. Failed to remove flower. Death date: 20 April, 1999, Tuesday. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. He stated that Dylan did wear a black trench coat and that he acted like he was tough. When asked about friends, Byron was only familiar with three, Zack, Eric and Nate. Susan Klebold, former director of disability services at Arapahoe Community College, also works as assistant director of Access to Employment Projects for the Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System in Denver. Exhausted by the tragedy, Marxhausen took a three-month sabbatical. She also fell into the preachers arms and cried,she had lost her baby and all that ran through her head is that she hadnt been a good mother. Dylan Bennet KleboldDecoding Just a Day. -police interview with Byron JC-001-010524 & 25. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds to their heads in the library a little after noon. His father Wayne was a U.S. Air Force transport pilot . His hands were folded on his chest, and stuffed animals surrounded him. 'He was just there in a cardboard box and they allowed us each to have a few minutes with him,' said Sue. You absorb everyone elses pain, and after a while that catches up to you, big time. Still, he concedes, he left when his church needed him most. For the past 19 years, Sue Klebold, has tried and tried to make sense of what happened. Please enter your email and password to sign in. My fav. 'For the first time I got it,' Sue said. They are picturedexamine a sawed-off shotgun at a makeshift shooting range the year of the shooting. Because I know that suffering is going on and I feel somehow it's unjust to be happy. How do you preside over the funeral of a 17-year-old boy who went to school one Tuesday morning and, with his good buddy Eric Harris, massacred 13 people just for fun? Harris' family did not. Wayne & Kathy Harris are the parents of infamous Columbine HS shooter, Eric Harris. Copyright 1999 Sue Klebolds son Dylan Klebold was one of the two teenagers behind the school shooting at Columbine High School, Colorado, in 1999. On Saturday, the Denver Rocky Mountain News carried an interview with her hairdresser, Dee Grantz, who said that Susan had spoken to her about her shock at her sons deed.