Family, friends gather to remember victims of Cape Girardeau shootings

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- If Jamie Lynn Orman were alive today, members of her family say, she'd be getting ready to celebrate her favorite holiday, Halloween, and her fourth son Joey's first birthday.

Never did the family imagine that their sister, mother, daughter and aunt would be dead and those accused in her killing would still be awaiting trial. Orman, her 15-year-old son Derrick and unborn son Joey were shot and killed at a home on Missouri Avenue in Cape Girardeau on Oct. 27 last year.

As family and around 100 friends gathered at the Perryville City Park on Wednesday for a candlelight vigil held in remembrance of Orman and her boys, many of them contemplated why all of it had to happen.

"Some days I know she's gone and I'll never see her again, other days I still don't believe it," said Orman's mother, Terry Bettis. "Then other days, I just ask why, even though I know why and it doesn't help."

Hatred, jealousy and greed, Bettis said, are why her daughter and grandchildren were killed.

Family, friends, and around 100 community members hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday in Perryville City Park in remembrance of Jamie Lynn Orman, her son Derrick, and unborn child Joey who were killed Oct. 27, 2009, in Cape Girardeau (Laura Simon)

Arrested after the killings were Ryan Patterson, Samuel "Ray Ray" Hughes and Michelle Lawrence, the estranged spouse of Orman's boyfriend John Lawrence.

Investigators involved in the case have said Michelle Lawrence initiated a plot to kill her husband and burn down their home to collect insurance money. Court testimony has indicated Hughes and Patterson allegedly entered the Missouri Avenue residence to kill him. Instead, Patterson allegedly shot Derrick, then Orman. John Lawrence was not home at the time.

Hughes, charged with three counts of second-degree murder, burglary and attempted arson, and Patterson, charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of burglary, have trials set for next year. Lawrence, charged with conspiracy to commit murder, has a court date set for next month.

For Kelly Yates, Orman's older sister, and several other family members, attending the court hearings has been a way to ensure that justice is served in the case. About four months ago, Yates began a criminal justice course in order to better understand court proceedings and actions taken by the prosecution and defense.

"To see that they get through the court system and, once found guilty, that they're punished to the full extent of the law, that's important to us," Yates said. "It's not going to bring my sisters and nephews back but it's all we can give them."

Terry Bettis, mother of Jamie Lynn Orman, holds vigil for her daughter, grandson Derrick and Jamie's unborn child Joey, who were killed Oct. 27, 2009, in Cape Girardeau. Family, friends and around 100 community members lit candles Wednesday in Perryville City Park in remembrance of Orman and her sons. (Laura Simon)

Before working through more than 30 pretrial motions with defense attorneys before Circuit Court Judge William L. Syler this summer, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle announced in court he'd be seeking the death penalty for Patterson. Although Orman's family was expecting the decision, Yates said it was one of the most significant moments in court this past year.

"We waited and waited for that. That was a good moment to get that news," Yates said. "I wish they could all have that punishment, but they can't."

After charges against Lawrence were filed, Yates and other family members, including Bruce Orman, father of Jamie Orman's children, began research to write a letter to state representatives explaining why the sentence for conspiracy to commit murder is too lenient.

Since then, they've been drafting the Orman Law, which would change the maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit murder. Yates said they'd like to see it become 25 years to life in prison, rather than five to 15 years in prison.

Rep. Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, is sponsoring the bill and hopes to present it immediately when the House of Representatives goes back in session next year.

"There'll have to be a public hearing to hear the pros and cons of it, but initially I'm supportive of it," Tilley said. "If you have a mastermind that moves all the pawns around and it results in someone's murder, I think they should be treated no differently. I think you're just as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger."

'Loved her job'

Bettis, who drove from her residence just north of Atlanta, remembers seeing her daughter exactly a year before she was killed. Orman had just moved into an apartment in Jackson and seemed happy, Bettis said.

Working as a nurse's aide at Saint Francis Medical Center, Orman was liked by her co-workers, according to Yates.

"She loved her job. She'd been there a little over a year" and was at Southeast Missouri Hospital before that, Yates said.

More than her job and anything else, Orman loved her sons, Bettis and Yates said.

"Ninety five percent of the pictures I see of Jamie, she's smiling," Bettis said. "Her boys were everything to her."

At 15, Derrick was always busy with school or with friends, so Yates remembers stealing a hug or two from him whenever she could. He loved to skateboard, she said, but was starting to like riding bikes.

"He didn't smile too often, it was more a grin. I love the pictures we have of him smiling," Yates said.

While the candlelight vigil was meant to remember and celebrate the lives of Orman and her sons, Bruce Orman told those in attendance that it didn't mean they had to say goodbye.

"They'll always be around. They'll always hear us," he said.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

800 City Park Drive, Perryville, MO

1224 Missouri Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO