by Madelyn Fogarty madelynfogarty@yahoo.com

Residents in the peaceful Village of Emington were shocked last Friday as news quickly spread that a local family of five, including three young children, had died as the result of an apparent murder/suicide.

“It is a very, very sad day,” EmingtonMayor Dan Delaney told The Paper after helping to put tape up to cordon off the crime scene area.

Dead at the scene of single and multiple gunshot wounds were Sara McMeen, 30; Daniel T. Warren, 29; Skyler Lemke, 8; Ian Lemke 7; and Maggie Warren, 10 months.

According to the police investigation report released on Monday, the children's mother, Sara McMeen, was the sole shooter of all four victims before taking her own life with a self inflicted gunshot wound. All victims were found outside the family’s home with the exception of Daniel Warren whose body was inside the house. Police recovered a 40-caliber semi-automatic hand gun that had been in the possession of McMeen and was still lying next to her hand. All shell casings found at the scene matched the caliber of the handgun recovered. The autopsy report showed evidence of soot on her hands.

An eyewitness account to reporters from neighbor Annelise Fiedler indicated that several gunshots were heard before Fiedler stepped outside her home and witnessed Sara

McMeen standing over her ten month old daughter, Maggie, in the family’s backyard.

"I asked her, 'Is everything all right?'" Fiedler told reporters. "She said, 'No, every- thing is not all right.'" According to Fiedler, McMeen then shot her baby daughter. Fiedler ran for help.

No other eyewitness accounts to the shootings have been presented, and investigators are still trying to piece together what might have led up to this tragic incident including the actions and whereabouts of Sara McMeen and Dan Warren during the 24 to 48 hours prior to the killings. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who had contact with McMeen or Warren to call Detective Sgt. Earl Dutko at 815-844-2774 or 815-844-0911.

Amidst rumors of possible motives, Livingston County Sheriff Martin Meredith told reporters that the police had been called to the residence only one time prior to the December 16 shootings, in August, for reasons of child custody and exchange of children. According to Livingston County Coroner Burke, there were neither bruises nor any signs of physical abuse present on the bodies. Questions regarding psychological issues with Sara McMeen were disregarded by Sheriff Meredith as “all speculation” at this point.

Regarding current increased patrols in the Emington and Livingston county area, Meredith assured the public that they are safe. “This is a sole incident, but we still want residents of Livingston County to know that they are safe and we are out here just as we are every day,” stated Meredith.

A statement from Sheriff Meredith said EMS of Emington first responded to the crime scene. Campus, Cullom Ambulance Service, Dwight EMS, Forrest, Strawn, Wing, and Duffy Ambulance then arrived and found victims without signs of life. Livingston County Coroner Michael P. Burke pronounced all five victims deceased at the scene. Sheriff Meredith called the scene “gut wrenching.”

According to neighbors, Sara McMeen and boyfriend Daniel Warren lived together with the three children, having moved to the rental house at the 104 South Street location in Emington just months earlier. Neighbor Darlene Lithgow, who was not home at the time of the incident, called the family “quiet.”

“They were nice people,” Lithgow told The Paper. “They kept to themselves.”

Second grader Skyler Lemke and First Grader Ian Lemke were students at Saunemin Grade School. According to sources, school had released early on Friday, at 2 p.m., with students looking forward to the Christmas holidays. Within minutes of arriv- ing home from school, the tragedy took place with emergency personnel responding to a 2:36 p.m. call for help.

“We feel like we have been hit so hard,” said Saunemin school teacher Shelly Beyers, as the school has also felt the loss of two other students in recent years. Beyers indi- cated that the school had arranged to have counselors available to help the school’s approximately 130 PreK – 8th grade students cope.

Skyler and Ian’s father, Brad Lemke of Ottawa, was

not reached for comment. Emington resident Jennifer Billingsley and a neighbor, who requested his name be kept private, knew Skyler and Ian, but knew lit- tle about McMeen and Warren. They described the chil- dren as friendly and well known in the small community where all the children played together. Billingsley said the community is “devastated.”

“It’s a shock,” Billingsley told The Paper. “There really is no word for it. It is something you see on TV or in movies.”

A distraught Mayor Delaney told The Paper, “The biggest thing we have

ever had happen was a dog bite. If this can happen here, it can happen anywhere.” Delaney has been Emington’s mayor for 24 years.

Sara McMeen’s mother, Cynthia McMeen of rural Dwight, released a statement saying the family realizes “this tragic incident affects not only their family, but other families as well. The family is drawing together during this time, relying on God, and grieving.” Cynthia McMeen asked for prayers and privacy.

As members of this quiet rural community of approximately 150 people struggled for ways to cope with this horrific and unthinkable tragedy, many came together for a prayer service on Saturday morning at Emington’s only church, the United Church of Christ.

“The important part for those of us here is that God is here to comfort,” said Minister Pam Gansch-Boytche. “God will walk through these horrible, dark times with those who grieve and mourn”.