VICTIM'S PAGES  Justice will only be served when those who are not injured by crime feel as indignant as those who are. [Solon: c. 639 - c. 559 BC]

Because our pages are growing we have decided to add a Search Engine that may help you find the topic you are looking for. Please enter your KEYWORD in the space provided below then press the Start Search button.

This project is brought to you by DOVE [Dignity Of Victims Everywhere] an online nonprofit organization in Western Washington State. We are dedicated to serving victims of violent crime everywhere.

Our mission statement is simply a two word thesis: " VICTIMS FIRST "

My son Patrick, age 13, was murdered in the early hours of May 1, 1983, as close as anyone can tell; This crime remains one of King County Washington's unsolved homicides. These pages are to share with you, the information and experiences that we have gathered over the years as victims and victim advocates. These are the media we will use to help in your journey along the path of the victim/survivor.

This website will provide to you with no small amount of information and resources. If you find what is written here interesting, informative and helpful, please pass the word to others. If you wish to download information visit our download table where you will find the necessary text files for downloading. This work is driven by the need to share and help others through the devastating tragedy of violent crime.

We frequently use the terms 'Victims' and 'Survivor.' Both terms are used to define those who have suffered from, or as a result of, violent crime.

Click the envelope icon below to send us e-mail. As you visit our other pages you will find e-mail addresses for you to post to our individual contributors. We usually respond in less than 12 hours. 

Dick's book, The Value of a Smile is now available for purchase at Booksurge.com, an amazon.com publishing company; also available through R.R. Bowker's Books in Print and Global Books in Print, Baker and Taylor, Alibris and other outlets including European and Spanish. Below are brief descriptions and a victim advocate's review: Please click any BOOK TITLE on this page to read more about the book and/or to make a purchase.

1. The Value Of A Smile began on yellow legal pads, May 18, 1983 as my wife Katherine and I sat at the Dining Room Table waiting for a call from the Medical Examiner to verify that the remains found that afternoon near Juanita High School were those of our missing thirteen year old son Patrick, who appeared to be the victim of homicidal violence. Dental records were needed to identify the remains.

 We were oblivious to the impact of this violence on our family and even less aware of the path that homicide investigations take. Not knowing how important this information might become, we decided to make notes to jog our memories and to avoid forgetting important details that may be needed later to determine what happened, who killed him, and why. Our notes began from the time we last saw Patrick and spoke to him, to this painful, antagonizing early morning vigil. This proved to be an important decision because as time passed grief and ultimately Post Traumatic Stress Disorder set in and our memories became clouded by the protective fog that accompanies tragic events such as these. Although Patrick’s case remains unsolved at this writing, we still hold out hope that one day we will find the answers we have so desperately prayed for over these many years.

 In writing this book I was forced think long and hard about what our family experienced and the relationship that exists with other homicide surviving families and individuals; this led me to the subtitle Victimization 101. While writing two research papers for the 9^th International Symposium on Victimology on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder I came to an even broader and deeper understanding and a clearer vision of the relationships that exist in most homicide surviving families.

The following is paraphrased from the book:

2. As we were about to enter the room, the reverence and finality of the moment was overwhelming. Memories of that afternoon still linger, bringing forth that same emotion even many years later. The realization that this was to be the last physical connection with an important part of our lives was by then all too real. A child is something that no parent ever wants to give up. We knew that never again, would we touch or hold him. We could never share in his pain or his troubles; he would never ask us for the car keys or share with him the joys of becoming a parent. We couldn't wipe away his tears when pain or adversity visited. Never again could we use our parental wisdom to guide him to the right path. A brutal act of violence had torn all this . . . and more from our lives. Patrick was alone when he died. We were forced to accept a finality that no parent ever wants. We knew that lying in that small room off the corridor, was the physical remains of an important and vital part of our lives. We each knew in our own way that when we left that small room, all that would remain were memories.

VICTIM'S INFORMATION

Our pages contain articles and information relating to more specific crimes and website contributors. Several crimes are not listed because we do not have volunteer contributors to handle them. We prefer to have victim information staffed by victims of specific crimes.

If you need help and can't find a resource here or on our other pages please e-mail us and we will help if possible. Please include the type of crime and location [city and state] where you need the help and we will respond as quickly as possible.

SUPPORT AND HELP

The following links will take you directly to our resources pages where you will find our resources for help and support for all victims and survivors.

The following link is shared as an uplifting and inspirational journey for our visitors. It will take a little time for it to download but you will find the journey well worth the time it takes

http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/abbey/224/blessing.html

The following link is for the latest updates on the progress of the
National Crime Victims Constitutional Amendment

Our website is hosted by

Date This Page Was Last Updated
04/16/2008

Copyright DOVE [Dignity of Victims Everywhere]; 2004;