I could have prevented this from happening,had I been more receptive and listened to my sons' when they had told me they wanted to go with Samantha because some girls ,especially Liz ,had threatened to beat her up if they saw her at the park.I was ,as usual too busy ,to really listen or should I say "hear" what my children were telling me.I ,in my heart know that had I let them go with Samantha it could and most likely would have been prevented.She would be enjoying life today,I feel.I am still filled with deep regret over this happening.Her father is such a virtuous ,god fearing, fair and compassionate, loving man that while even at his beautiful childs calling and funeral ,I had confessed to him my involvement or accountability that he, purely out of love to relieve me of my neverending guilt and pain, put his hand on my shoulder as i was crying and said"Clayton,my dad brought me up a strong man, it wasnt your fault."Although I still have many issues in my life from the incident, Scott had been empathetic enough to me to save my own life as i was grief stricken and had intention of ending my own life.I thank him for that as it would have, as well left my children, fatherless,as well and kept the sadness going.He was a great man .Samantha was a wonderful little girl as also her brother Scotty a fine young man.My heart still aches for this family to no end. Im sorry.I am still so, so very sorry....Clayton McCowan Richmond Indiana
