Posted on 03/24/2005 12:36:32 PM PST by SmithL
ATLANTA - The woman who led authorities to suspected courthouse gunman Brian Nichols was presented with $70,000 in reward money Thursday.
Ashley Smith, a 26-year-old widowed mother of one, was held hostage for seven hours by Nichols at her suburban Atlanta home March 12 before he let her go. She then made the 911 call that led to his arrest.
"My life is testimony that God can use us even in the midst of tragedy and miracles do happen," she said.
She was lauded at a ceremony during which she received a fistful of reward checks from Gov. Sonny Perdue and law enforcement agencies.
Thomas Smith, head of the state sheriffs association, saluted her for "your courage, your strength and your perseverance."
The woman has said she spoke with Nichols for hours about her daughter, her husband's stabbing deaths years ago and her faith in God. She said she told Nichols that he might be destined to be caught so he could spread the word of God to fellow prisoners.
In all, she received $25,000 from the U.S. Marshals Office, $20,000 from the FBI, $10,000 from Perdue's office, $5,000 from the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, $5,000 from the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police and $5,000 from the city of Atlanta. She previously received $2,500 from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.
Nichols is accused of overpowering a courthouse deputy March 11, taking her gun from a lockbox and fatally shooting Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes and his court reporter, Julie Brandau, on the day Barnes was to resume Nichols' rape trial.
Nichols also is accused of killing a sheriff's deputy outside the courthouse and a federal agent while he was on the run. He surrendered after a 26-hour manhunt.
Smith's grandfather, Dick Machovec, said the family planned to hire a financial adviser to help Smith manage the money.
"Hopefully, it's going to be used for education, it's going to be used to pay off some loans, it's going to be used to give a portion of it to the Lord," he said.
Thanks for weighing in! What do you think about the strong comments against Warren by some of the other posters? I'm not a scholarly Christian nor a very devout Christian. I did try to read the book, and I did have a definite problem with one of Warren's ideas, but I'm not a crusader against the book, by any means. It's not mine to judge. My way of thinking is whatever brings someone to God is OK with me.
I know Rick. I'm a member of his congregation. Your description of him could not be further from reality.
On what do you base your opinion?
Invest it in TIAA-Cref mutual funds. It's given me 25% return so far.
I'm trying not to. :-)
Honestly, if this thread follows every other Warren thread, the usual suspects will show up and start tearing him apart. I usually avoid them, because there's just no arguing with folks who form an opinion without even knowing the man.
A 25% return in 20 years is real good. ;-)
Where on earth did that come from?
Rick's book isn't intended to replace the Scriptures. I think that's one of the common misconceptions.
Good for her. It's too bad thought that she wasn't able to shoot and terminate the SOB.
I don't know if it'll hold at 25% return...recently it's done about 20%. I'm new at this, don't know much about it, but I've been impressed.
I thought she deserved the reward. Hands down. But not to cover a small news conference as opposed to the endless hours of the crime is well shameful.
I hope the young woman finds peace and she has a new beginning for she and her child.
I have seen Rick Warren's book fisked by Christians all over the Internet. Why does he need to quote from 15 translations of the Bible (yes, I know his lame reason), many of them bad translations or paraphrases (The Message) at that? Because he's pushing an agenda, and he needs to find the "translation" that fits his agenda, that's why. He's just another wolf in sheep's clothing building his personal empire and making merchandise of the flock. The "seeker sensitive" movement, cheap grace, easy believism, and church as mall/entertainment center are all for the birds.
As for Ashley - good for her. If I were her, I would also invest the money in a house. She will be making some more money soon by way of a book and movie rights, so a financial advisor is probably a good idea.
Are you still getting those rejection letters from publishers?
All I can say is you're wrong about him. Those of us who him best know his heart.
I guess we'll all find out in the end, won't we?
Ever watch Gene Scott? I did for the laughs but he could never convert me to anything. LOL
That's what the followers of Jim Jones, Heaven's Gate, David Koresh, et al said.
You might want to suspend your emotions long enough to investigate. If you find that you still agree with Rick Warren, you may want to ask a Jew how he "feels" about Jesus - no matter how much empirical evidence of his authenticity and diety you present.
Truly, I mean no disprespect. Just trying to pull you out of the fire, as in Jude.
To compare Rick with Heavens Gate and David Koresh is insulting.
How can you expect me to listen to a word you say after that?
I'm outta here.
It's the mentality that won't listen to any opposing views that I was comparing. Are you afraid of honest debate? That's a fundamental teaching of the purpose driven movement. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ" - present your evidence and I'll present mine. Fair enough?
Most publishers can't keep up :-))
He was a hoot.
That's not debate. That's a personal attack on Rick's integrity and character.
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