In the delicate tapestry of human existence, some threads shine with an uncommon radiance, their glow extending far beyond their immediate surroundings. Such was the luminance of Gerri Faye Butts, a woman whose light was prematurely extinguished but continues to glow in the hearts of those who remember her. Born on the 21st of September, 1962 in Monticello, Arkansas, Gerri Faye was the cherished daughter of Lanette and Dewey Butts. Her existence was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, to the enduring power of love, and to the invincible courage that mothers around the world display daily in the pursuit of a better future for their children.
Gerri Faye, a young, single mother of two lovely daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan, was an epitome of hard work and dedication. She was employed at Stanco Company, where she diligently crafted safety gloves, contributing her bit to the safety and well-being of others. Her commitment to her job was only rivaled by her devotion to her family and her home. An immaculate housekeeper, Gerri Faye reveled in the warmth and harmony of a well-kept household.
Among the many simple joys that Gerri Faye found in life, one was the celebration of Christmas. She had a deep affinity for the holiday season and decorating her home during this time filled her heart with an unmatched delight. The warmth of the Yuletide spirit was mirrored in her famous broccoli and cheese casserole, a beloved staple at family dinners, and a dish that bore testament to her culinary prowess.
Her small family had a penchant for pets. They were the proud caregivers of a white Pomeranian named Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. The presence of these pets added an extra dose of cheerfulness to their abode. Gerri Faye was an avid watcher of the television show "In The Heat of the Night," a testament to her desire for peace and justice.
However, the specter of Crohn's Disease cast a dark shadow over Gerri Faye's life. Despite the pain and discomfort, she bore the affliction with dignity and grace, displaying an enviable strength that inspired those around her. But an even darker storm was brewing on the horizon.
On the ill-fated day of January 27, 1992, Gerri Faye, along with her two beautiful daughters, fell victim to a heinous crime that would leave an indelible scar on the community. Their lives were brutally snuffed out by a man who had once shared their trust. Gerri Faye was found strangled to death on the couch, her last moments indicative of a struggle as evidenced by the DNA material found under her fingernails, later to be matched with their killer, Michael Kevin Hailey.
Jessica, aged 11, was found in her bed, her life choked out of her with a telephone cord. Her innocence had been grossly violated; she had been sexually assaulted. The youngest of the family, Mackenzie, aged just three, was discovered drowned in the bathtub, her life extinguished before it had barely begun.
According to Gerri's family, Hailey was dating Gerri at the time of the murder. When Gerri asked him to repay a loan of $90, he claimed inability to do so. Gerri, being a single mother struggling to provide for her daughters, demanded the money back. Hailey, overcome by a fit of rage, decided to eliminate those he saw as the source of his embarrassment, leading to the tragic murder of Gerri and her daughters.
Hailey was arrested immediately after the crime, but in an unfortunate turn of events, a grand jury declined to indict him in 1992 due to insufficient evidence. However, justice has a way of coming full circle. In 2007, almost 16 years after the incident, the case was reopened. New DNA tests, made possible by advancements in technology, confirmed Hailey's guilt beyond a doubt.
Hailey, who was already serving an 87-year prison term at the Louisiana State Penitentiary for an attempted murder conviction from 2004, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder. Sensing the gravity of the evidence against him, he pleaded guilty. The state of Texas, seeking justice for the brutal murders, pursued the death penalty against Hailey.
It took 17 long years, but justice, although delayed, was not denied. The murders of Jessica and Mackenzie were finally solved, and justice was served for them and their mother. The tragic end of Gerri Faye Butts and her daughters is a stark reminder of the evil that lurks within society. But the memory of Gerri, Jessica, and Mackenzie is not defined by their tragic end. It is defined by the love they shared, the lives they touched, and the justice they finally received.
Gerri Faye Butts, Jessica Butts, and Mackenzie Sullivan Butts, even though your lives were cut short, your spirits remain undiminished. You faced adversity with courage, enjoyed life's simple pleasures with grace, and met a tragic end with bravery. You may be gone, but you are not forgotten. Your legacy lives on, a beacon of hope in a world often marred by darkness. Rest in peace, dear souls. The world is a lesser place without you.
Written by: Alan Owen
Gerri Faye was born in Monticello, Arkansas, the daughter of Lanette and Dewey Butts. She was a very hard-working, young, single mother of two daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan. She worked at Stanco Company making safety gloves, and was also an immaculate housekeeper. She loved Christmas-time and decorating. She always made her famous broccoli and cheese casserole for family dinners. It was her favorite dish. Her little family loved their pets; a white pomeranian namee Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. Her favorite TV show was "In The Heat of the Night." She was battling Crohn's Disease when she and her two beautiful daughters were brutally murdered in their home by Kevin Hailey. DNA material found under Gerri's fingernails was matched with the killer.
She was preceded in death by her beloved father.
Gerri Faye, a young, single mother of two lovely daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan, was an epitome of hard work and dedication. She was employed at Stanco Company, where she diligently crafted safety gloves, contributing her bit to the safety and well-being of others. Her commitment to her job was only rivaled by her devotion to her family and her home. An immaculate housekeeper, Gerri Faye reveled in the warmth and harmony of a well-kept household.
Among the many simple joys that Gerri Faye found in life, one was the celebration of Christmas. She had a deep affinity for the holiday season and decorating her home during this time filled her heart with an unmatched delight. The warmth of the Yuletide spirit was mirrored in her famous broccoli and cheese casserole, a beloved staple at family dinners, and a dish that bore testament to her culinary prowess.
Her small family had a penchant for pets. They were the proud caregivers of a white Pomeranian named Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. The presence of these pets added an extra dose of cheerfulness to their abode. Gerri Faye was an avid watcher of the television show "In The Heat of the Night," a testament to her desire for peace and justice.
However, the specter of Crohn's Disease cast a dark shadow over Gerri Faye's life. Despite the pain and discomfort, she bore the affliction with dignity and grace, displaying an enviable strength that inspired those around her. But an even darker storm was brewing on the horizon.
On the ill-fated day of January 27, 1992, Gerri Faye, along with her two beautiful daughters, fell victim to a heinous crime that would leave an indelible scar on the community. Their lives were brutally snuffed out by a man who had once shared their trust. Gerri Faye was found strangled to death on the couch, her last moments indicative of a struggle as evidenced by the DNA material found under her fingernails, later to be matched with their killer, Michael Kevin Hailey.
Jessica, aged 11, was found in her bed, her life choked out of her with a telephone cord. Her innocence had been grossly violated; she had been sexually assaulted. The youngest of the family, Mackenzie, aged just three, was discovered drowned in the bathtub, her life extinguished before it had barely begun.
According to Gerri's family, Hailey was dating Gerri at the time of the murder. When Gerri asked him to repay a loan of $90, he claimed inability to do so. Gerri, being a single mother struggling to provide for her daughters, demanded the money back. Hailey, overcome by a fit of rage, decided to eliminate those he saw as the source of his embarrassment, leading to the tragic murder of Gerri and her daughters.
Hailey was arrested immediately after the crime, but in an unfortunate turn of events, a grand jury declined to indict him in 1992 due to insufficient evidence. However, justice has a way of coming full circle. In 2007, almost 16 years after the incident, the case was reopened. New DNA tests, made possible by advancements in technology, confirmed Hailey's guilt beyond a doubt.
Hailey, who was already serving an 87-year prison term at the Louisiana State Penitentiary for an attempted murder conviction from 2004, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder. Sensing the gravity of the evidence against him, he pleaded guilty. The state of Texas, seeking justice for the brutal murders, pursued the death penalty against Hailey.
It took 17 long years, but justice, although delayed, was not denied. The murders of Jessica and Mackenzie were finally solved, and justice was served for them and their mother. The tragic end of Gerri Faye Butts and her daughters is a stark reminder of the evil that lurks within society. But the memory of Gerri, Jessica, and Mackenzie is not defined by their tragic end. It is defined by the love they shared, the lives they touched, and the justice they finally received.
Gerri Faye Butts, Jessica Butts, and Mackenzie Sullivan Butts, even though your lives were cut short, your spirits remain undiminished. You faced adversity with courage, enjoyed life's simple pleasures with grace, and met a tragic end with bravery. You may be gone, but you are not forgotten. Your legacy lives on, a beacon of hope in a world often marred by darkness. Rest in peace, dear souls. The world is a lesser place without you.
Written by: Alan Owen
Gerri Faye was born in Monticello, Arkansas, the daughter of Lanette and Dewey Butts. She was a very hard-working, young, single mother of two daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan. She worked at Stanco Company making safety gloves, and was also an immaculate housekeeper. She loved Christmas-time and decorating. She always made her famous broccoli and cheese casserole for family dinners. It was her favorite dish. Her little family loved their pets; a white pomeranian namee Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. Her favorite TV show was "In The Heat of the Night." She was battling Crohn's Disease when she and her two beautiful daughters were brutally murdered in their home by Kevin Hailey. DNA material found under Gerri's fingernails was matched with the killer.
She was preceded in death by her beloved father.
In the delicate tapestry of human existence, some threads shine with an uncommon radiance, their glow extending far beyond their immediate surroundings. Such was the luminance of Gerri Faye Butts, a woman whose light was prematurely extinguished but continues to glow in the hearts of those who remember her. Born on the 21st of September, 1962 in Monticello, Arkansas, Gerri Faye was the cherished daughter of Lanette and Dewey Butts. Her existence was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, to the enduring power of love, and to the invincible courage that mothers around the world display daily in the pursuit of a better future for their children.
Gerri Faye, a young, single mother of two lovely daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan, was an epitome of hard work and dedication. She was employed at Stanco Company, where she diligently crafted safety gloves, contributing her bit to the safety and well-being of others. Her commitment to her job was only rivaled by her devotion to her family and her home. An immaculate housekeeper, Gerri Faye reveled in the warmth and harmony of a well-kept household.
Among the many simple joys that Gerri Faye found in life, one was the celebration of Christmas. She had a deep affinity for the holiday season and decorating her home during this time filled her heart with an unmatched delight. The warmth of the Yuletide spirit was mirrored in her famous broccoli and cheese casserole, a beloved staple at family dinners, and a dish that bore testament to her culinary prowess.
Her small family had a penchant for pets. They were the proud caregivers of a white Pomeranian named Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. The presence of these pets added an extra dose of cheerfulness to their abode. Gerri Faye was an avid watcher of the television show "In The Heat of the Night," a testament to her desire for peace and justice.
However, the specter of Crohn's Disease cast a dark shadow over Gerri Faye's life. Despite the pain and discomfort, she bore the affliction with dignity and grace, displaying an enviable strength that inspired those around her. But an even darker storm was brewing on the horizon.
On the ill-fated day of January 27, 1992, Gerri Faye, along with her two beautiful daughters, fell victim to a heinous crime that would leave an indelible scar on the community. Their lives were brutally snuffed out by a man who had once shared their trust. Gerri Faye was found strangled to death on the couch, her last moments indicative of a struggle as evidenced by the DNA material found under her fingernails, later to be matched with their killer, Michael Kevin Hailey.
Jessica, aged 11, was found in her bed, her life choked out of her with a telephone cord. Her innocence had been grossly violated; she had been sexually assaulted. The youngest of the family, Mackenzie, aged just three, was discovered drowned in the bathtub, her life extinguished before it had barely begun.
According to Gerri's family, Hailey was dating Gerri at the time of the murder. When Gerri asked him to repay a loan of $90, he claimed inability to do so. Gerri, being a single mother struggling to provide for her daughters, demanded the money back. Hailey, overcome by a fit of rage, decided to eliminate those he saw as the source of his embarrassment, leading to the tragic murder of Gerri and her daughters.
Hailey was arrested immediately after the crime, but in an unfortunate turn of events, a grand jury declined to indict him in 1992 due to insufficient evidence. However, justice has a way of coming full circle. In 2007, almost 16 years after the incident, the case was reopened. New DNA tests, made possible by advancements in technology, confirmed Hailey's guilt beyond a doubt.
Hailey, who was already serving an 87-year prison term at the Louisiana State Penitentiary for an attempted murder conviction from 2004, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder. Sensing the gravity of the evidence against him, he pleaded guilty. The state of Texas, seeking justice for the brutal murders, pursued the death penalty against Hailey.
It took 17 long years, but justice, although delayed, was not denied. The murders of Jessica and Mackenzie were finally solved, and justice was served for them and their mother. The tragic end of Gerri Faye Butts and her daughters is a stark reminder of the evil that lurks within society. But the memory of Gerri, Jessica, and Mackenzie is not defined by their tragic end. It is defined by the love they shared, the lives they touched, and the justice they finally received.
Gerri Faye Butts, Jessica Butts, and Mackenzie Sullivan Butts, even though your lives were cut short, your spirits remain undiminished. You faced adversity with courage, enjoyed life's simple pleasures with grace, and met a tragic end with bravery. You may be gone, but you are not forgotten. Your legacy lives on, a beacon of hope in a world often marred by darkness. Rest in peace, dear souls. The world is a lesser place without you.
Written by: Alan Owen
Gerri Faye was born in Monticello, Arkansas, the daughter of Lanette and Dewey Butts. She was a very hard-working, young, single mother of two daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan. She worked at Stanco Company making safety gloves, and was also an immaculate housekeeper. She loved Christmas-time and decorating. She always made her famous broccoli and cheese casserole for family dinners. It was her favorite dish. Her little family loved their pets; a white pomeranian namee Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. Her favorite TV show was "In The Heat of the Night." She was battling Crohn's Disease when she and her two beautiful daughters were brutally murdered in their home by Kevin Hailey. DNA material found under Gerri's fingernails was matched with the killer.
She was preceded in death by her beloved father.
Gerri Faye, a young, single mother of two lovely daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan, was an epitome of hard work and dedication. She was employed at Stanco Company, where she diligently crafted safety gloves, contributing her bit to the safety and well-being of others. Her commitment to her job was only rivaled by her devotion to her family and her home. An immaculate housekeeper, Gerri Faye reveled in the warmth and harmony of a well-kept household.
Among the many simple joys that Gerri Faye found in life, one was the celebration of Christmas. She had a deep affinity for the holiday season and decorating her home during this time filled her heart with an unmatched delight. The warmth of the Yuletide spirit was mirrored in her famous broccoli and cheese casserole, a beloved staple at family dinners, and a dish that bore testament to her culinary prowess.
Her small family had a penchant for pets. They were the proud caregivers of a white Pomeranian named Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. The presence of these pets added an extra dose of cheerfulness to their abode. Gerri Faye was an avid watcher of the television show "In The Heat of the Night," a testament to her desire for peace and justice.
However, the specter of Crohn's Disease cast a dark shadow over Gerri Faye's life. Despite the pain and discomfort, she bore the affliction with dignity and grace, displaying an enviable strength that inspired those around her. But an even darker storm was brewing on the horizon.
On the ill-fated day of January 27, 1992, Gerri Faye, along with her two beautiful daughters, fell victim to a heinous crime that would leave an indelible scar on the community. Their lives were brutally snuffed out by a man who had once shared their trust. Gerri Faye was found strangled to death on the couch, her last moments indicative of a struggle as evidenced by the DNA material found under her fingernails, later to be matched with their killer, Michael Kevin Hailey.
Jessica, aged 11, was found in her bed, her life choked out of her with a telephone cord. Her innocence had been grossly violated; she had been sexually assaulted. The youngest of the family, Mackenzie, aged just three, was discovered drowned in the bathtub, her life extinguished before it had barely begun.
According to Gerri's family, Hailey was dating Gerri at the time of the murder. When Gerri asked him to repay a loan of $90, he claimed inability to do so. Gerri, being a single mother struggling to provide for her daughters, demanded the money back. Hailey, overcome by a fit of rage, decided to eliminate those he saw as the source of his embarrassment, leading to the tragic murder of Gerri and her daughters.
Hailey was arrested immediately after the crime, but in an unfortunate turn of events, a grand jury declined to indict him in 1992 due to insufficient evidence. However, justice has a way of coming full circle. In 2007, almost 16 years after the incident, the case was reopened. New DNA tests, made possible by advancements in technology, confirmed Hailey's guilt beyond a doubt.
Hailey, who was already serving an 87-year prison term at the Louisiana State Penitentiary for an attempted murder conviction from 2004, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder. Sensing the gravity of the evidence against him, he pleaded guilty. The state of Texas, seeking justice for the brutal murders, pursued the death penalty against Hailey.
It took 17 long years, but justice, although delayed, was not denied. The murders of Jessica and Mackenzie were finally solved, and justice was served for them and their mother. The tragic end of Gerri Faye Butts and her daughters is a stark reminder of the evil that lurks within society. But the memory of Gerri, Jessica, and Mackenzie is not defined by their tragic end. It is defined by the love they shared, the lives they touched, and the justice they finally received.
Gerri Faye Butts, Jessica Butts, and Mackenzie Sullivan Butts, even though your lives were cut short, your spirits remain undiminished. You faced adversity with courage, enjoyed life's simple pleasures with grace, and met a tragic end with bravery. You may be gone, but you are not forgotten. Your legacy lives on, a beacon of hope in a world often marred by darkness. Rest in peace, dear souls. The world is a lesser place without you.
Written by: Alan Owen
Gerri Faye was born in Monticello, Arkansas, the daughter of Lanette and Dewey Butts. She was a very hard-working, young, single mother of two daughters, Jessica and Mackenzie Sullivan. She worked at Stanco Company making safety gloves, and was also an immaculate housekeeper. She loved Christmas-time and decorating. She always made her famous broccoli and cheese casserole for family dinners. It was her favorite dish. Her little family loved their pets; a white pomeranian namee Sassy, a red one named Gin Gin, and a horse named Star. Her favorite TV show was "In The Heat of the Night." She was battling Crohn's Disease when she and her two beautiful daughters were brutally murdered in their home by Kevin Hailey. DNA material found under Gerri's fingernails was matched with the killer.
She was preceded in death by her beloved father.
