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HOME OF 2002 TRAGEDY MAY BECOME HOUSE OF HOPE

The Child Advocacy Center hopes to locate to 502 North Grove Street.

By Jon Mayhew
LINCOLNTON

The two-story blue house on the corner of Bonview Avenue and
North Grove Street in Lincolnton is a constant reminder of a
seven-year-old tragedy. Members of the Child Advocacy Center,
however, hope to turn the monument from one of tragedy in
November 2002 to a “house of hope” for abused children.

“We’re trying to buy the house for the child advocacy center,”
said CAC staff member Cathy Davis, who cited the increase in
child abuse cases in Lincoln County.

In January 2009 alone, there were 80 reports of child abuse in
Lincoln County.

Earlier this week, Davis said the CAC was attempting to get a
grant from the Timken Foundation to purchase the house.

The CAC ran into an unexpected road block this week during the
City of Lincolnton planning board meeting, when the board voted
to deny the rezoning request that would allow the Child
Advocacy Center to operate out of the residence.

Now their recommendation goes to the Lincolnton City Council,
where the Council is expected to make a final decision on the
request at their April meeting.

Davis said she was surprised by the reaction of members of the
public that attended the meeting. In preparation for the meeting,
Davis tried to talk with neighbors living around the house.

“I really thought we were good-to-go on this,” said Davis.

The house, currently owned by Lincolnton resident Shirley
Smith, was the site for a double murder/suicide on November 1,
2002.

Around 6:30am, Kevin Morrison broke into the upstairs
apartment at 504 North Grove Street, which was occupied by his
estranged wife, Gael Cassidy, and her daughter, Amanda
Barnhardt.

Barnhardt, 13, was able to get her younger brother out of the
apartment. The little girl also attempted to call 911 but was shot
dead – along with her mother – before Morrison killed himself.

According to officer Kameron Keener, the little boy ran
downstairs where Shirley Smith lived. Smith, who heard the
shootings upstairs, whisked the boy across the road.

“By the time (then) Chief (Terry) Burgin and highway patrolman
Jack Ferree made entry, the little girl and mother were already
dead, along with the suspect,” said Keener.

The upstairs of the house has sat empty over the years; Smith,
meantime, put the house up for sale over the last couple of
years and has moved to another part of Lincolnton.

Smith said she doesn’t want to talk about what happened but
hoped the CAC would be able to purchase the home.

CAC supporter Larry Cagle, owner of Woodmill Winery in Vale,
expressed his disappointment in a telephone interview with The
Carolina Scoop.

“I’m just incensed by this,” said Cagle. “We’re talking about the
children in Lincoln County who are abused.”

Cagle said he plans on calling city officials regarding this recent
setback.

Davis, meantime, remained optimistic that the vote on Thursday,
April 2, would come in the CAC’s favor.

“The house would be perfect,” said Davis.

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