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Mom 'calm' in call to 911 - diaries, Bible sought to shed light on her thoughts, boys' deaths
The Dallas Morning News ^ | May 12, 2003 | By LEE HANCOCK / The Dallas Morning News

Posted on 05/12/2003 11:19:09 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP

Mom 'calm' in call to 911

Diaries, Bible sought to shed light on her thoughts, boys' deaths

05/12/2003

By LEE HANCOCK / The Dallas Morning News

TYLER – Sunday was to be First Assembly of God's special Mother's Day celebration, but the congregation instead gathered to mourn the inexplicable – a tragedy in which two children were bludgeoned to death with rocks, allegedly by their mother, a member of the church's choir.

Hundreds filled the pews, some calling out encouragement, many dabbing their eyes as pastor Gary Bell talked of the pain of losing two of his young nephews and a third nephew's effort to cling to life.

He talked of his sister-in-law, Deanna LaJune "Dee" Laney, who was jailed a few blocks away on charges of capital murder. She reported her children's deaths in a 911 call described Sunday as calm and peaceful.

*
Handout
Deanna LaJune Laney
"We don't excuse what has happened. This is a brutal and horrific incident," he said. "But we all believe as family that it wasn't our Dee that did this to her children."

Ms. Laney, 38, was arrested early Saturday at her rural Smith County home near Tyler after telling the 911 dispatcher that she'd smashed in her sons' heads with rocks.

'Almost little girlish'

Sheriff J.B. Smith said Ms. Laney used her cellphone to report that God ordered her to kill her sons. He said she talked for more than 20 minutes, her voice "almost little girlish" as she gave the badly rattled dispatcher detailed instructions to her home. Sheriff Smith said Ms. Laney also called her older sons by name as she told the dispatcher how to find their bodies "near the swing" in her front yard.

"She was very calm, very peaceful," he said.

Sheriff Smith and other officials have said the incident is eerily reminiscent of the 2001 Houston case in which Andrea Yates calmly called 911 to report that she'd just drowned her five children. Ms. Yates, who told authorities that she killed her children because she feared they would otherwise be damned to hell, is serving a life sentence for the deaths.

A deputy sent to the Smith County home found the bodies of 6-year-old Luke Allen Laney and 8-year-old Joshua Laney lying in the front yard with bloody rocks the size of dinner plates on their chests.

Ms. Laney's youngest son, 14-month-old Aaron, was discovered in his crib, still breathing despite a massive open skull fracture and a pillow over his head, authorities said. A deputy found Ms. Laney wandering dazed in her back yard, her pajamas spattered with drying blood.

Relatives said the youngest son was in stable condition Sunday at Children's Medical Center of Dallas.

The boys' father, 44-year-old Keith Laney, slept through the attacks, awakening as the sheriff's deputy sent to investigate the 911 call searched the couple's neat brick home, authorities said.

Ms. Laney was being held Sunday in the Smith County Jail in lieu of bail totaling $3 million. She signed papers after her arrest seeking a court-appointed attorney. Sheriff Smith said two lawyers and her brother-in-law, the pastor, visited her during the weekend, and she remains under a suicide watch.

Mood swings reported

"She's had real quick mood swings. The jailer describes her as just peaks and valleys," Sheriff Smith said. "She's sometimes incoherent, sometimes lays in the fetal position, sometimes walks around her cell singing gospel music.

"Sometimes she prays. Sometimes she seems to realize what she's done and says, 'Oh no!' Then she just looks with a blank stare on her face," the sheriff said Sunday.

Investigators remained at the family home in New Chapel Hill, seven miles southeast of Tyler. Authorities said it might be Wednesday before they finish searching the premises.

What was she thinking?

"We're looking for anything she might have written, any diaries, birthday cards, their computer, any highlights in a Bible that might shed some light on what she was thinking," Smith County sheriff's Maj. Mike Lusk said.

Friends and neighbors have described Ms. Laney, a longtime church member, as an intensely devout woman who sang in a gospel group with three of her sisters. She often appeared in the choir during the church's weekly Sunday morning broadcasts on a Tyler television station.

She home-schooled her sons and was known in her modest, working-class neighborhood for closely supervising the oldest two, allowing them to play only with a younger cousin, who lived across the street.

Neighbors said Mr. Laney, who runs an air-compressor repair shop on nearby State Highway 64, is a hard worker who often took his older sons to play and help with chores at the family's small farm in nearby Arp, where he keeps a small herd of cattle.

Night before slayings

"At the present time, we don't have a clue what was in her head," Sheriff Smith said. "Their home was neat. The landscaping was all beautiful. Their friends that we've interviewed have said there was no indication, even the night before, of anything. They went out for dinner the night before with their kids."

Investigators said they have not been able to talk with Mr. Laney, who remained in Dallas on Sunday to be near his comatose son. They hoped to interview him Monday.

Mr. Bell told reporters outside his church that the Laney family "is one of the last you'd think this would ever happen to."

"They were a model family, hardworking, very spiritual. But in a moment of passion, and weakness, it seems, this tragedy unfolded," he said.

In his brief Sunday sermon, Mr. Bell said the church would stand with Ms. Laney, as well as with her grieving husband and their families. He told congregants that he'd already visited Ms. Laney in jail because he is her pastor as well as her brother-in-law.

Hurt and confusion

"All I can say is that I expressed our hurt and confusion over why and how this could happen, but also acknowledged our continuing love," he said.

He also repeatedly urged the congregation not to speculate about the case or discuss it with the media.

Authorities said a major focus of their investigation would be trying to unravel what could've prompted Ms. Laney to think God wanted her to kill her children. They said they have had no indication that Ms. Laney was on any medication or had a history of psychiatric problems.

Investigators also will review video recordings of the church's Sunday services, which air locally a week after taping.

In the service shown Sunday, Mr. Bell talked about the world's increasing terrorism and violence as signs of the imminence of the Antichrist, Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ.

The hourlong sermon pointedly referred to a string of high-profile crimes in the United States, including the kidnapping of Salt Lake City teenager Elizabeth Smart, the slaying of pregnant woman Laci Peterson in California and a case reported last month in The Washington Post of two parents accused of decapitating their three children.

"I'm sure there will be people who will resist the death penalty because it was a moment of insanity, so the death penalty will be cruel to people who kill their innocent children," Mr. Bell said of the case reported in The Post. "You explain that logic to me."

But on this Sunday, after the somber congregation flocked past a church sign that read, "a mother's heart is a child's schoolroom," Mr. Bell implored them to avoid "theologizing and judgmentalism."

Pastor Derwood Dubose of Hurst, district director for the North Texas Conference of Assemblies of God, spoke to the congregation by phone, telling them that Ms. Laney had been "overcome by some force we cannot fully identify," leaving family and friends with "a hurt that only time and God can heal."

Mr. Bell thanked congregants for all their calls, visits and offers of help, adding, "The main thing we need is prayer."

"It's a time of mourning," he told reporters after he and more than a dozen of the Laneys' other family members filed out of the church sanctuary. "It always happens to someone else, then when it comes this close to home, you begin to empathize with other people.

"The truth is, nobody knows exactly what happened at this point except Dee."

E-mail lhancock@dallasnews.com


Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/051203dntexkidsslain.3de72.html


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: children; murder; newchapelhill; rockbashing; texas; tyler
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Comment #81 Removed by Moderator

To: MeeknMing
"I'm sure there will be people who will resist the death penalty because it was a moment of insanity, so the death penalty will be cruel to people who kill their innocent children," Mr. Bell said of the case reported in The Post. "You explain that logic to me."

Amazing how quickly someone can say the above and then turn around and ask for prayer & forgiveness. The children killed and the child wounded are STILL innocent. THAT is cruel.

82 posted on 05/12/2003 4:19:12 PM PDT by cgk (Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive.)
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To: Blzbba
Hopefully, she'll take responsibility for her actions, rather than take the liberal way of assigning blame to someone/something else.

Her behavior in jail would say different. She's already starting the insanity defense, which I will never accept as a true defense.

83 posted on 05/12/2003 4:22:11 PM PDT by cgk (Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive.)
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To: MeeknMing
And don't forget the woman/husband who decapitated her children in south TX just a month or 2 back. Another horrible tragedy. My heart weeps and weeps for these innocent babies.
84 posted on 05/12/2003 4:23:16 PM PDT by cgk (Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive.)
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To: MineralMan
Didn't you state recently you are an atheist? Or was that someone else?
85 posted on 05/12/2003 4:26:29 PM PDT by cgk (Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive.)
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To: cgk
She's already starting the insanity defense, which I will never accept as a true defense.

The call to the cops here (like Andrea Yates' call to the cops) was proof enough that she knew right from wrong, and was thus not legally insane.

She'll spend life in prison, just like Yates.

86 posted on 05/12/2003 4:26:57 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: kuma
If I remember correctly, the deputies on scene think she woke the 2 older children up and lead them out into the backyard in the middle of the night one at a time, which would explaing why the father "slept through" the whole thing. The boys were found in the backyard about 30 feet apart. The 14 month old was sleeping in his crib. She bludgeoned him while he slept. Horrid. This poor father will never sleep well again.
87 posted on 05/12/2003 4:42:31 PM PDT by cgk (Liberal truisms are the useless children of hindsight.)
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To: John H K
She wasn't responsible for her actions

Are you being sarcastic?

88 posted on 05/12/2003 4:44:42 PM PDT by cgk (Liberal truisms are the useless children of hindsight.)
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To: borkrules; Catspaw
Send her to her Maker, perhaps He can forgive her. I can't. And won't.

Oh, my God! Are you actually suggesting this woman be killed?

You are evil evil EVIL!!!!

89 posted on 05/12/2003 4:51:08 PM PDT by Houmatt (Ouija boards!)
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To: sinkspur
The call to the cops here (like Andrea Yates' call to the cops) was proof enough that she knew right from wrong, and was thus not legally insane.

She'll spend life in prison, just like Yates.

I agree with you, Sinky. Given that Texas defines legal insanity very narrowly, she'll be found sane, probably after she's medicated. But given what I heard the sheriff say about her behavior, it's going to be a mitigating factor in whether they go for the death penalty, or if they do, will mitigate with the jury, just like Yates.

90 posted on 05/12/2003 5:05:19 PM PDT by Catspaw
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To: ohiopyle
This statement sounds as ludicrous as anti-gunners

Because a few evil people have done bad things with guns it is the guns fault.

Because a few evil people have gone to Charismatic/Pentacostal churches now they are evil.

Following that logic every denomination is evil.

Obviously someone is letting their particular denomination's doctrinal views lead them to assumptions. Also the reason why I refer to myself as a follower of Christ not some denomination.
The Catholics have a problem with priest homosexual pedophiles. I blame the individuals not all Catholics. However there are plenty of people on FR that have spewed their denominational Hatred on all Catholics because of it. You sound just like them.

How about we blame the Murderer for the Murder. The Rapist for Rape. Leave God-fearing Law-abiding people out of it.
91 posted on 05/12/2003 5:12:25 PM PDT by kuma
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To: Catspaw
Oh, I don't even expect the DA to ask for the death penalty, especially if the trial remains in Tyler.

Another apocalyptic religious connection to a homicide.

What I didn't know until reading this thread was that the A of G discourages psychotropic drugs.

Not good.

92 posted on 05/12/2003 5:17:32 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: kuma
How about we blame the Murderer for the Murder.

She'll pay the penalty for sure.

But this is not an evil woman; this is a nutty woman who happened to belong to a church that discouraged her use of antidepressants. I'll wager, as time goes on, we find out that this woman was, in fact, severely depressed and could have benefitted from treatment.

Like Christian Science, a denomination that refuses to recognize modern medicine (and thus ridicules the intellect of human beings) is a scandal to God Himself.

93 posted on 05/12/2003 5:23:01 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: sinkspur
Excuse me please supply a direct quote. Not just *gasp* suspicions that this particular church she went to DID in FACT tell her not to take medication.

So far all I can tell is that is the unfounded Accusation of some on this thread.

Sorry. Just not gonna buy into all the evil A of G's and all their evil congregants line.
94 posted on 05/12/2003 5:33:47 PM PDT by kuma
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To: sinkspur
Just to clarify. There are several denominations in my town. I have visited and will continue to visit many of them in the spirit of fellowship not walls. The particular Assemblies of God church in this town has a women with epilepsy and her husband who is schizophrenic attending their church. I knew her personally from a woman's ministry. At one point her husband STOPPED taking his meds and STOPPED coming to church. Everyone was trying to get him to do the opposite.

So much for all of you attacking the favorite evil denomination of the week.
95 posted on 05/12/2003 5:39:12 PM PDT by kuma
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To: mabelkitty
An anti-depressant given to a manic depressive can send them into a psychotic episode. I know, I have a family member it happened to.

He thought the living room was Auschwitz, and attacked the ER doctor because he thought he was in Walmart, and they wouldn't let him leave.

I've seen it. IF that is what happened, it is true insanity, like you see in the movies.
96 posted on 05/12/2003 5:48:13 PM PDT by I still care (America is great because it is good. When it ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.)
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To: sinkspur
I was in an AofG for years. The pastor never advised against such medication, in fact he encouraged proper medical treatment.

My guess is that she is bipolar, and severely bipolar people often self-medicate, via drugs and alcohol, to try and gain control. It makes perfect sense to me that a person seeking control over their life would seek it out in religion. I see a lot of bipolar people going to church in desparation - but usually unless they get medicated, they leave disappointed. God does help us, but their perceptions are so skewed and their rationality so impaired that they usually cause problems and end up causing problems.

And bipolar people can become psychotic - really psychotic, especially if medicated incorrectly. Anti depressants can definately cause manic psychosis.
97 posted on 05/12/2003 5:57:13 PM PDT by I still care (America is great because it is good. When it ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.)
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To: kuma
Evil is not something, evil is someone. Satan's favorite hangout is the Church. He already has the world.
98 posted on 05/12/2003 5:58:25 PM PDT by WVNan
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To: sinkspur
whoops - meant to type, end up causing problems and leaving.
99 posted on 05/12/2003 6:00:01 PM PDT by I still care (America is great because it is good. When it ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.)
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Directly from the article.

"They said they have had no indication that Ms. Laney was on any medication or had a history of psychiatric problems."

She didn't start babbling like a little girl till she murdered her children.

Now all of a sudden she has been mentally ill and discouraged from taking meds by the evil AofG and their evil congregants.

Nope. Just a murderer.
100 posted on 05/12/2003 6:06:08 PM PDT by kuma
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