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Teen who helped family escape from van is among those killed in Texas floods

Teen who helped family escape from van is among those killed in Texas floods

9 News12-07-2025
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Mollie Sylvester Schaffer had been married to her husband, Randy, for 57 years when the Houston couple travelled to an annual get-together with friends on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas . She was killed in the catastrophic flash floods that so far have claimed the lives of 120 people. They include a budding eight-year-old actress and twin sisters from Dallas. Mollie Sylvester Schaffer had been married to her husband, Randy, for 57 years when the Houston couple travelled to an annual get-together with friends on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas. (Facebook) The flooding originated from the fast-moving waters of the Guadalupe River on the Fourth of July. Authorities say search and rescue efforts are still underway, including for campers missing from a summer camp for girls. Malaya Grace Hammond, 17, of Marble Falls, was in a van with her family on their way to a Christian summer camp on Saturday. It was dark and raining, and they were unable to see that a bridge had washed out in Travis County. Hammond was able to open a door, allowing the family to escape, but she was swept away by floodwaters, family friends said. She was found on Monday. An avid lover of the arts, she expressed her creativity through painting, dancing and singing, according to her obituary. Hammond was able to open a door, allowing the family to escape, but she was swept away by floodwaters, family friends said (Supplied) "Her ability to harmonise, I think matched her ability to harmonise with others," her father, Matthew Hammond, said in a video posted on Thursday on Facebook. "She felt that harmony was our natural state." Odessa Police Officer Bailey Martin was killed in the July 4 Texas floods near Kerrville. He was on a family trip to the Guadalupe River, the police department said. Bailey's father, Bobby, and stepmother Amanda were also killed in the flood, according a release from the city of Odessa. His girlfriend, Jayda Floyd, has been missing since the morning of July 5. Martin was a native of Odessa who hoped to become a detective, according to a post on the department's Facebook's page profiling recruits. Odessa Police Officer Bailey Martin was killed in the July 4 Texas floods near Kerrville. (Facebook) "I wanted to join because the world we live in is always changing and I wanted to do everything I can to be part of my community as it grows, allowing me to preserve the peace and safety," Martin said in the post. His body was escorted back to Odessa by a procession of police and other emergency vehicles on Wednesday. The department asked residents to replace their porch lights with blue bulbs for the rest of the week in honour of Martin. Mollie Sylvester Schaffer, 76, of Houston, and her husband were at an annual reunion with best friends at the River Inn, on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt. The couple, married for 57 years, evacuated early July Fourth in her SUV. She attempted to drive up a hill. But as the water rose, the vehicle started floating and the doors wouldn't open, her husband, Randy Schaffer, posted on Monday on Facebook. "Mollie lowered the front windows and said to dive out feet first. I tried, but my seat was low, the window was high, and I fell back into the seat. The last words she ever spoke were, 'You have to push harder,'" he wrote. "I pushed as hard as I could and went out the window." Randy Schaffer said he was able to wrap his arms around a pole and climb up until his head was above water. He looked for his wife, but she had been swept into the river. Her body was recovered on Sunday. "She wouldn't leave the car until she was sure that I had done so. She saved my life. It wasn't my day to die. I wish that it hadn't been hers," he wrote. Renee Smajstrla, a eight-year-old straight-A student from Ingram, Texas, who had played a role in her school's production of The Wizard of Oz , was one of the victims who died in the flash floods at Camp Mystic, her family said. Renee had just completed second grade and aspired to play the lead role in an upcoming camp production, according to a funeral home obituary. At school, she played The Lullaby League munchkin in The Wizard of Oz . Renee Smajstrla, a eight-year-old straight-A student from Ingram, Texas was one of the victims who died in the flash floods at Camp Mystic. (Shawn Salta via CNN Newsource) "Renee was a great classmate, friend and teammate," the obituary said. "Being an athlete but a cheerleader at heart, Renee often found herself rooting for both teams." Her uncle posted a photo on Facebook of Renee smiling at camp the day before the July 4 floods. "She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic," he wrote. Sally Sample Graves, 91, was killed in the Texas flood when her home was swept away by the rampaging waters, her family said. Graves was with her son and his dog, granddaughter Sarah Sample said in an Instagram post. "A powerful 30 ft wave destroyed her home, sweeping her and our dad downstream," Sample wrote. Graves' son and his dog survived. Sally Sample Graves, 91, was killed in the Texas flood when her home was swept away by the rampaging waters, her family said. (Supplied) "We find solace knowing our dad was with her until the very end; caring for her as he has for years," Sample added in her post. "Her unwavering dedication to family has left an indelible mark on our lives." Graves spent her life performing "innumerable, quiet acts of service," according to a funeral home obituary. "Sally was known for her sharp intellect, quick wit, and gracious spirit," the obituary read. "A consummate host, she had a special way of making others feel welcome and cared for, creating a beautiful home filled with laughter and hospitality." Mary Kate Jacobe, an eight-year-old from Houston described by her family as "tiny but mighty," was a camper at Camp Mystic killed in the July 4 flooding. Jacobe's family described the girl as having a "smile that melted your heart." "Mary Kate, our Sissy, was the baby of our large family and was most certainly our angel on Earth," her family said in a statement. "We are utterly shattered and forever changed by the loss of our girl." A damaged building at Camp Mystic, Texas (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images via CNN ) Joyce Catherine Badon, Ella Cahill and Reese Manchaca had been friends since high school. The three gathered for the July Fourth holiday with Cahill's boyfriend at a home in Hunt, along the Guadalupe River. All three young women were killed. "At 4am this morning, a flash flood came through and washed their cars away," Badon's mother, Kellye Badon, posted on Facebook on July 4. "It happened so quickly with so much water, they could not get in the attic." She said Cahill's boyfriend, who remains missing, called his dad as it was happening, then got washed away with Cahill and Manchaca. Kellye Badon said her daughter was the last person heard from on that call before the phone went dead. Badon, 21, of Beaumont, was a senior architecture student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. "A beloved daughter, friend, and classmate, Joyce was passionate about using her artistry and talent to impact the world, and had recently helped redesign donation centers for Goodwill," the school said in an email. Manchaca was a recent graduate of Caney Creek High School in Conroe. The Conroe Independent School District, where her mother is a long time employee, was offering "Forever in our Hearts" T-shirts featuring images of Texas and angel's wings, with proceeds going to the family. Cahill's sister, Mackenzie Hodulik, asked people to keep her sister's memory in their hearts. "It's not fair," Hodulik posted on Facebook on Tuesday. "She needed more time. We all needed more time with her. I'm mad, sad, but at peace knowing she isn't suffering anymore. There are no words for this kind of pain." Mary Grace Baker, who had recently celebrated her first Holy Communion, was among the victims at Camp Mystic from the flash foods, her school announced. "Mary Grace was a bright light in our close-knit school family, known for her kindness and friendship to all, her joyful spirit and her love for her faith and family," St. Anne Catholic School in Beaumont said on its Facebook page. People gather for a vigil for flood victims in Kerrville, Texas. (AP) "Her giggle was contagious, as was her spirit." Mary Grace had just completed second grade. The school's post described her as a "girls' girl who loved pink sparkles and bows in her signature angelic ringlet curls." The school asked its community to place pink ribbons in trees in honour of Mary Grace after she went missing following the floods. Father and fiance Julian Ryan of Ingram, Texas, lost his life while saving his family during the flooding and helping them escape. In an interview with KHOU, his fiancée Christina Wilson said that the 27-year-old severed an artery in his arm when he broke a window get her, their children and his mother to the roof. Julian Ryan's final words to his mother as floodwaters quickly engulfed their trailer home were simply, "I love you." (GoFundMe) "He looked at me and the kids and my mother-in-law and he was like, 'Sorry, I'm not gonna make it. I love y'all," Wilson said. "Julian jumped into action to protect and save his family and get them to safety. Julian gave his life for his family, passing as a true hero," Joseph Rounsley and Jennifer Mercer wrote on a GoFundMe for Ryan's family. James and Cindy Rushing were camping along the Guadalupe River at the HTR TX Hill Country Campground on the Fourth of July when the flooding struck. "The amount of grief my family is feeling is immeasurable," their son, James Evan Rushing, wrote in a social media post. "My parents have been found, and they are unfortunately gone. My heart is broken into pieces." After the flooding, their daughter, Tamra Blasius, visited their campsite and found nothing left. "Everything gone — their camper, their truck, their belongings — completely washed away. There was no sign that anyone had ever been there. It was absolutely gut-wrenching," she wrote in a social media post on Saturday. On Monday, she wrote that her "worst fears were confirmed — my parents were found and identified, but tragically, they did not survive." Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence were eight-year-old sisters from Dallas who were among the victims killed by the flooding at Camp Mystic. The girls had just finished second grade, their parents said. "Hanna and Rebecca brought so much joy to us, to their big sister Harper, and to so many others," John and Lacy Lawrence said in a statement. "We will find ways to keep that joy, and to continue to spread it for them. "But we are devastated that the bond we shared with them, and that they shared with each other, is now frozen in time. " David Lawrence, the girls' grandfather and former publisher of the Miami Herald , said "it has been an unimaginable time for all of us." He said the girls gave their family, including their sister, joy. "They and that joy can never be forgotten," he said in a statement. University Park Elementary School, where Hanna and Rebecca attended, said on its website that "numerous" students were in the Texas Hill Country during the flooding and had to evacuate. The school did not immediately respond to a message left on Monday morning. "We are deeply saddened to report the loss of multiple students, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of the families deeply affected by this unimaginable tragedy," the school said on its site. Reece Zunker was described as "a passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach" by Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas. "His unwavering dedication to our students, athletes, and the Tivy community touched countless lives and will never be forgotten," the school posted online on Sunday. Paula Zunker was a former teacher at the school. "The care and impact she shared with her students continue to be felt, even years later," the post said. The couple's young children, Lyle and Holland, were still missing, the school said. The family had been staying at a river house in Hunt. Among the dead is Dick Eastland, the Camp Mystic director. Paige Sumner, a former camper, described him in a column in the local paper, The Kerrville Daily Times , as "the father figure to all of us while we were away from home." Sumner spent one summer working in the camp office, balancing accounts for the commissary, where campers bought snacks and other essentials like stamps. A man removes bedding from sleeping quarters at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas (AP) She wrote that her desk was outside Eastland's office. "He still put campers first in every situation," wrote Sumner, who is now the head of philanthropy at a community center in Kerrville. "If an issue of any kind that needed attention came over the walkie-talkie, even a camper with a minor injury or the dreaded snake in the river, he would bolt out of the office and jump in a golf cart to get there as fast as he could." Eastland's grandson, George Eastland, wrote in an Instagram post that his grandfather showed him what a strong Christian man looks like. "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for," he wrote. In her column, Sumner noted that the camp had plans for rain. "Usually," she explained, "it means they deliver a special breakfast of sweet rolls to each cabin or singing songs in the Rec Hall. This level of flooding was unprecedented." In a brief telephone call as she grappled with the flood's aftermath at her own office, Sumner was reluctant to add more than she wrote in the column, saying the camp wanted privacy for the families. "We are still holding out hope," she said. "They are broken; they are in shock." Chloe Childress was among the counsellors at Camp Mystic who died in the devastating floods. Childress, 19, "lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith," her family said in a statement. Chloe Childress was among the counsellors at Camp Mystic who died in the devastating floods. (Supplied) "Returning as a counsellor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic," her family said. Childress had just graduated from the Kinkaid School in Houston, which praised her as deeply invested in her community. "Chloe had a remarkable way of making people feel seen. She was wise beyond her years, with a steady compassion that settled a room," Jonathan Eads, the head of the school, said in a letter to the school's community on Sunday. "Whether it was sharing her own challenges to ease someone's burden or quietly cheering a teammate or classmate through a tough day, Chloe made space for others to feel safe, valued, and brave." Janie Hunt, a relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, was just nine years old. Her mother, Anne Hunt, confirmed her death to CNN, while her grandmother Margaret Hunt confirmed it to The Kansas City Star . The Chiefs franchise declined to comment. But Clark Hunt's wife, Tavia Hunt, posted on Instagram and urged people to rely on their faith. "If your heart is broken, I assure you God is near," Tavia Hunt, wrote in the post. "He is gentle with your wounds. And He is still worthy — even when your soul is struggling to believe it. The last time Tanya Burwick's family heard from her was a frantic phone call about the floodwaters as she headed to work at a Walmart early on Friday in the San Angelo area. When Burwick didn't show up for work, her employer filed a missing persons report and sent a colleague to look for her. Police investigating the 62-year-old's disappearance found Burwick's unoccupied SUV fully submerged later that day. Her body was found the next morning blocks from the vehicle. "She lit up the room and had a laugh that made other people laugh," said Lindsey Burwick, who added that her mom was a beloved parent, grandparent and colleague to many. She and her brother Zac said the day was especially difficult because it happened on July Fourth as they were working at a fireworks stand that's been in the family for generations. As word of Tanya Burwick's disappearance spread, people from Blackwell, a small community of about 250 people, showed up to the stand that's run out of a trailer painted orange. "People came to our aid," Lindsey Burwick said. Police in San Angelo said more than 12,000 houses, barns and other buildings have been affected by the floods in the community of roughly 100,000 people. "We ask that the public continue to keep the Burwick family in their thoughts and prayers as they navigate this heartbreaking tragedy," the San Angelo Police Department said in a Facebook post. Jane Ragsdale, 68, devoted her life to the Heart O'the Hills Camp, a summer camp for girls in Texas Hill Country. Jane Ragsdale, 68, devoted her life to the Heart O'the Hills Camp, a summer camp for girls in Texas Hill Country. (Supplied) She was a camper and counsellor there herself in the 1970s before becoming a co-owner. By the 1980s, she was director of the camp in Hunt. "She was the heart of The Heart," the camp said in a statement. "She was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place. She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important." Since the camp was between sessions, no children were staying there when the floodwaters rose. The camp's facilities, directly in the path of the flood, were extensively damaged and access to the site remained difficult, according to camp officials. The camp has been in existence since the 1950s. Camp officials said Ragsdale would be remembered for her strength and wisdom. "We are heartbroken. But above all, we are grateful," the camp said. "Grateful to have known her, to have learned from her, and to carry her light forward." In a 2015 oral history for the Kerr County Historical Commission, Ragsdale, whose first name was Cynthie, but went by her middle name Jane, talked about how her father was also a camp director and how much she enjoyed her experiences. "I loved every minute of camp from the first time I stepped foot in one," she recalled. Videos of Ragsdale strumming a guitar and singing to campers during a recent session were posted in a memorial on the camp's Facebook page: "Life is good today. So keep singing 'til we meet, again." Eight-year-old Sarah Marsh from Alabama had been attending Camp Mystic in Texas, a longtime Christian girls camp in Hunt where several others were killed in the floods. Marsh was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary in suburban Birmingham. "This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community," Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch said in a Facebook post. "Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her." He said the community — where about 20,000 people reside — would rally behind the Marsh family as they grieved. Her parents declined an interview request on Sunday "as they mourn this unbearable loss," the girl's grandmother, Debbie Ford Marsh, told The Associated Press in an email. "We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives. She will live on in our hearts forever!" Marsh wrote on Facebook. "We love you so much, sweet Sarah!" She declined further comment. US Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama also noted the girl's tragic death. "We continue to pray for the victims' loved ones, the survivors, those who are still missing, and our brave first responders as search and rescue efforts continue in Texas," she said in a post on social media platform X. Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, both students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, had been staying alongside the Guadalupe River when their cabin was swept away, according to the school. Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, both students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, had been staying alongside the Guadalupe River when their cabin was swept away, according to the school. (Courtesy RJ Harber via CNN Newsource) Pastor Joshua J. Whitfield of St. Rita Catholic Community, which shares a campus with the school, said the girls' parents, Annie and RJ Harber, were staying in a different cabin and were safe. However, their grandparents were unaccounted for. Annie Harber has been a long time teacher at the school. "This tragedy has touched every corner of our hearts," the church said in a statement on Sunday. Blair, who was enrolled in advanced classes, was involved in numerous school activities from volleyball and basketball to speech and drama. Brooke was a rising sixth grader and a student athlete in volleyball and lacrosse, among other sports. She also participated in speech and drama, according to the church. Both were remembered for their kind hearts and warm personalities. "We will honor Blair and Brooke's lives, the light they shared, and the joy they brought to everyone who knew them," Whitfield wrote in a Saturday letter to parishioners. "And we will surround Annie, RJ, and their extended family with the strength and support of our St. Rita community." The church held a special prayer service on Saturday afternoon and offered counselling. "Please keep the Harber family in your prayers during this time of profound grief," Whitfield wrote. "May our faith, our love, and our St. Rita community be a source of strength and comfort in the days ahead." USA
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Is this the way to treat a police hero?
Is this the way to treat a police hero?

Sydney Morning Herald

time2 hours ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Is this the way to treat a police hero?

While the taste of the online contribution could be questioned, it would not surprise Wayne's 83 Facebook followers. He posts on police matters, his political views and his climate change scepticism. But to local police, none of whom would have been in the job and many who would not have been born when he risked his life for the uniform they now wear (OK, they were in plain clothes, but I'm on a roll) it was a matter needing immediate action. The Victorian police are experts at responding to an emergency, but on the non-urgent they often move with the speed of a sea snail in an algae bloom. But the issue of Sherwell's Facebook post became a priority; a search warrant was issued by a Melbourne magistrate at 6.55pm the following day. (Wayne had already removed the post.) I went to the Victorian Crimes Act (1958) to see if posting on Facebook is a criminal offence. It covers arson, fraud, kidnapping, bigamy and even trading with pirates but nothing about ex-cops posting crime scene photos. The warrant tells us the story. 'SHERWELL is committing the offence of unauthorised access to the use of or disclosure of police information by members or former members of Victoria Police Personnel, Section 228 of the Victoria Police Act. Use Telecommunications devices to harass/cause offence. Section 85ZE (a) of the Commonwealth Crimes Act 1914.' First thing on Tuesday the four-person arrest team mustered at the Ararat police station to drive 80 kilometres to deal with the 75-year-old ex-cop. A matter that could have been handled with a gentle chat was now a formal investigation. 'I couldn't believe there were four detectives standing there to deal with such a minor issue,' Sherwell says. 'I have to say their behaviour was exemplary. They were professional and courteous. To be honest, I felt they were a little embarrassed.' They asked about the photos. Sherwell told them he was given a crime scene photo-book by the homicide squad as a keepsake. They seized the book and took his mobile phone. They drove him to the local station, where he was cautioned, formally video interviewed, photographed and fingerprinted. The case of the Country Bandit was one of a series of police shootings examined by then coroner Hal Hallenstein. His findings went a way to changing police culture and developing a safety-first approach to reduce risks to police and suspects. He was critical of the police response in some of the cases he examined, but this is what he said about Sherwell. 'It is notable that throughout the sequence of events Constable Sherwell not only acted with exemplary restraint and self-control but also remained mindful of the safety of those members who, as motorists, drove unwittingly into a theatre of mortal combat. Constable Sherwell has earned both respect and commendation.' On December 9, 1994, Sherwell was presented with the Police Valour Medal at the Police Academy by then chief commissioner Neil Comrie. Three days later he was given a civic reception at St Arnaud – the same town where police now apparently think he is public enemy No.1. After the inquest, I was approached by senior police who wanted the whole story told of the police shootings. I was officially provided with all material handed to the coroner – transcripts, video reconstructions and crime scene photos, including the ones Sherwell put online. They were published in the 1994 book Silent War, and in the ABC documentary Trigger Point, which means Sherwell wasn't disclosing anything. The offence under the Victoria Police Act is designed to stop crooks being tipped off by corrupt cops, not to catch police heroes recalling events that changed their lives. The act refers to the use of police information to, 'Endanger the life, safety of any person, commit or assist in the commission of an indictable offence or, impede or interfere with the administration of justice.' The maximum penalty is six years in the slot. Give me a spell. Before Wayne Sherwell became a person of police interest and an alleged criminal, what did he do to create this fuss? On June 29, 1988, Constable Sherwell drove about 15 kilometres from his home base at St Arnaud to set up a speed radar site. He was one up, a practice now banned because of the danger. At 9.45am he zapped a silver Mazda 626 hatchback travelling towards St Arnaud at 128km/h. He stepped out and flagged it down. The driver said he wasn't carrying his licence, then gave his name as Phillip Gould, a vet from Bendigo. When Sherwell did a police check and there appeared to be no such person, 'Gould' leant into the car, saying he would find identification, emerging with a sawn-off .22 rifle, telling the ambushed cop, 'Put your f---ing hands on the roof'. The man took Sherwell's police revolver from his holster and now had two guns. 'I thought it was now or never, as I felt he was going to kill me,' Sherwell later told police. He spun around and grabbed both the gunman's hands, struggling to keep both barrels from his head. He had the smarts to put the webbing of his hand between the hammer and the pin of his revolver so it couldn't be fired. They wrestled themselves to a standstill and the gunman told him to release his grip. Sherwell told him: 'I can't do that. If I lose my firearm I lose my job. I've got four kids and a wife to support. So I can't afford to give up my gun and lose my job. Give it to me, Mr Gould, before things go too far.' Finally, the constable grabbed both guns. Sherwell stuck the sawn-off rifle in his waistband and pointed his revolver at the man, ordering him to lie flat on the ground. The man refused, and when Sherwell headed towards the police car to radio for help, the man blocked his way. 'I then fired a shot from my police revolver into the air in an attempt to scare him off, and hoped someone may hear it and call the police to give me some assistance. 'He backed off a little and repeated: 'Go on, shoot me.'' When Sherwell made the protected side of the police car to call for back-up, Gould grabbed a sawn-off shotgun from his car and pointed it at the police officer, who fired two shots from his .38 revolver, killing the offender. His identity was quickly found to be Ian William Turner, the 'Country Bandit' who had a hidden armoury at his Shepparton home and was responsible for five regional bank armed robberies. Sherwell was a hero but for years his actions remained under scrutiny during the long-running police shootings inquest. I was there on the day Hallenstein delivered his findings and saw the relief on the country cop's face when he was vindicated. As in the cases of many cops involved in police shootings, it didn't end there. Even though Sherwell did everything he could not to kill the man who wanted to kill him, there were troubled times ahead. There were flashbacks, cold sweats, broken sleep, marriage difficulties and mental fatigue. He paid an enormous price, one that clearly those who want him charged don't understand. Wayne can be stubborn and difficult, but he is no criminal. He deserves respect, not a rap-sheet. Two days after his arrest, one of the detectives returned his mobile phone. 'He took me to the local cafe and bought me a cappuccino. I think he shook my hand four times,' Wayne says. When new Chief Commissioner Mike Bush enters the Victoria Police Centre, if he glances to his left he will see an Honour Board that includes the name Sherwell, R.W., registered number 24318. When he takes the lift to his office on the top floor, he should call for the file into the Sherwell investigation. And throw it in the bin.

Is this the way to treat a police hero?
Is this the way to treat a police hero?

The Age

time2 hours ago

  • The Age

Is this the way to treat a police hero?

While the taste of the online contribution could be questioned, it would not surprise Wayne's 83 Facebook followers. He posts on police matters, his political views and his climate change scepticism. But to local police, none of whom would have been in the job and many who would not have been born when he risked his life for the uniform they now wear (OK, they were in plain clothes, but I'm on a roll) it was a matter needing immediate action. The Victorian police are experts at responding to an emergency, but on the non-urgent they often move with the speed of a sea snail in an algae bloom. But the issue of Sherwell's Facebook post became a priority; a search warrant was issued by a Melbourne magistrate at 6.55pm the following day. (Wayne had already removed the post.) I went to the Victorian Crimes Act (1958) to see if posting on Facebook is a criminal offence. It covers arson, fraud, kidnapping, bigamy and even trading with pirates but nothing about ex-cops posting crime scene photos. The warrant tells us the story. 'SHERWELL is committing the offence of unauthorised access to the use of or disclosure of police information by members or former members of Victoria Police Personnel, Section 228 of the Victoria Police Act. Use Telecommunications devices to harass/cause offence. Section 85ZE (a) of the Commonwealth Crimes Act 1914.' First thing on Tuesday the four-person arrest team mustered at the Ararat police station to drive 80 kilometres to deal with the 75-year-old ex-cop. A matter that could have been handled with a gentle chat was now a formal investigation. 'I couldn't believe there were four detectives standing there to deal with such a minor issue,' Sherwell says. 'I have to say their behaviour was exemplary. They were professional and courteous. To be honest, I felt they were a little embarrassed.' They asked about the photos. Sherwell told them he was given a crime scene photo-book by the homicide squad as a keepsake. They seized the book and took his mobile phone. They drove him to the local station, where he was cautioned, formally video interviewed, photographed and fingerprinted. The case of the Country Bandit was one of a series of police shootings examined by then coroner Hal Hallenstein. His findings went a way to changing police culture and developing a safety-first approach to reduce risks to police and suspects. He was critical of the police response in some of the cases he examined, but this is what he said about Sherwell. 'It is notable that throughout the sequence of events Constable Sherwell not only acted with exemplary restraint and self-control but also remained mindful of the safety of those members who, as motorists, drove unwittingly into a theatre of mortal combat. Constable Sherwell has earned both respect and commendation.' On December 9, 1994, Sherwell was presented with the Police Valour Medal at the Police Academy by then chief commissioner Neil Comrie. Three days later he was given a civic reception at St Arnaud – the same town where police now apparently think he is public enemy No.1. After the inquest, I was approached by senior police who wanted the whole story told of the police shootings. I was officially provided with all material handed to the coroner – transcripts, video reconstructions and crime scene photos, including the ones Sherwell put online. They were published in the 1994 book Silent War, and in the ABC documentary Trigger Point, which means Sherwell wasn't disclosing anything. The offence under the Victoria Police Act is designed to stop crooks being tipped off by corrupt cops, not to catch police heroes recalling events that changed their lives. The act refers to the use of police information to, 'Endanger the life, safety of any person, commit or assist in the commission of an indictable offence or, impede or interfere with the administration of justice.' The maximum penalty is six years in the slot. Give me a spell. Before Wayne Sherwell became a person of police interest and an alleged criminal, what did he do to create this fuss? On June 29, 1988, Constable Sherwell drove about 15 kilometres from his home base at St Arnaud to set up a speed radar site. He was one up, a practice now banned because of the danger. At 9.45am he zapped a silver Mazda 626 hatchback travelling towards St Arnaud at 128km/h. He stepped out and flagged it down. The driver said he wasn't carrying his licence, then gave his name as Phillip Gould, a vet from Bendigo. When Sherwell did a police check and there appeared to be no such person, 'Gould' leant into the car, saying he would find identification, emerging with a sawn-off .22 rifle, telling the ambushed cop, 'Put your f---ing hands on the roof'. The man took Sherwell's police revolver from his holster and now had two guns. 'I thought it was now or never, as I felt he was going to kill me,' Sherwell later told police. He spun around and grabbed both the gunman's hands, struggling to keep both barrels from his head. He had the smarts to put the webbing of his hand between the hammer and the pin of his revolver so it couldn't be fired. They wrestled themselves to a standstill and the gunman told him to release his grip. Sherwell told him: 'I can't do that. If I lose my firearm I lose my job. I've got four kids and a wife to support. So I can't afford to give up my gun and lose my job. Give it to me, Mr Gould, before things go too far.' Finally, the constable grabbed both guns. Sherwell stuck the sawn-off rifle in his waistband and pointed his revolver at the man, ordering him to lie flat on the ground. The man refused, and when Sherwell headed towards the police car to radio for help, the man blocked his way. 'I then fired a shot from my police revolver into the air in an attempt to scare him off, and hoped someone may hear it and call the police to give me some assistance. 'He backed off a little and repeated: 'Go on, shoot me.'' When Sherwell made the protected side of the police car to call for back-up, Gould grabbed a sawn-off shotgun from his car and pointed it at the police officer, who fired two shots from his .38 revolver, killing the offender. His identity was quickly found to be Ian William Turner, the 'Country Bandit' who had a hidden armoury at his Shepparton home and was responsible for five regional bank armed robberies. Sherwell was a hero but for years his actions remained under scrutiny during the long-running police shootings inquest. I was there on the day Hallenstein delivered his findings and saw the relief on the country cop's face when he was vindicated. As in the cases of many cops involved in police shootings, it didn't end there. Even though Sherwell did everything he could not to kill the man who wanted to kill him, there were troubled times ahead. There were flashbacks, cold sweats, broken sleep, marriage difficulties and mental fatigue. He paid an enormous price, one that clearly those who want him charged don't understand. Wayne can be stubborn and difficult, but he is no criminal. He deserves respect, not a rap-sheet. Two days after his arrest, one of the detectives returned his mobile phone. 'He took me to the local cafe and bought me a cappuccino. I think he shook my hand four times,' Wayne says. When new Chief Commissioner Mike Bush enters the Victoria Police Centre, if he glances to his left he will see an Honour Board that includes the name Sherwell, R.W., registered number 24318. When he takes the lift to his office on the top floor, he should call for the file into the Sherwell investigation. And throw it in the bin.

'Beyond unhinged': Mum sends flurry of furious texts to babysitter who ordered DoorDash while watching her kids
'Beyond unhinged': Mum sends flurry of furious texts to babysitter who ordered DoorDash while watching her kids

Sky News AU

time8 hours ago

  • Sky News AU

'Beyond unhinged': Mum sends flurry of furious texts to babysitter who ordered DoorDash while watching her kids

A babysitter has shared a brutal text exchange with a furious parent after she was sacked from a job for ordering food delivery during her shift. The young woman, who has chosen to keep her identity private, took to social media platform Reddit to share a text exchange with a client after a recent babysitting job. Sharing screenshots of the messages in the popular forum 'Am I Overreacting?', the babysitter wanted to know who was in the wrong in the scenario. "I ordered DoorDash while babysitting because I hadn't eaten since lunch and was getting a headache and they were two hours late,' she wrote. 'The kids were asleep, the food was left on the porch, and I stepped outside for 10 seconds to grab it. "The mum told me she was uncomfortable that someone came to the door and that I 'left the kids alone'. 'When I got home I was told they can't trust me anymore and I was fired.' Screenshots from the exchange reveal the moment the babysitter's late night munching was exposed via the home's Ring camera security system. "Hey, our Ring just showed someone at the door. Was something delivered?" the mum asked. "Yes, I didn't eat dinner so I ordered DoorDash," the babysitter replied. The babysitter then explained that they opted to order the meal because the mum, who was originally set to return at 8:00pm, changed her ETA to 11:30pm at the last minute. "Okay, we'll talk when we get home, but I'm really concerned that you would do that without asking first,' the outraged parent shot back. 'I would never be okay with a stranger coming to the door while my kids are sleeping. I really wish you had asked me before doing that.' The mother said she 'got why' the babysitter was hungry but suggested she should have 'eaten from the cabinet' instead. Despite the mother's concern about her children's safety, the babysitter revealed that the concerned parent had originally contacted her for work via Facebook. 'Mind you, this is someone who found me on Facebook, barely asked me anything before hiring me, and had no issue leaving her two kids under two with a total stranger but a food delivery on the porch is somehow a big deal?,' she wrote. Hundreds of commenters responded to the exchange with the overwhelming majority of users siding with the babysitter. 'They are majorly over reacting. You didn't leave them alone while you got your food, you opened the door, grabbed it, and then locked everything behind you,' one supporter wrote. 'That's beyond unhinged. I wouldn't sit for them again and I say that as a mum and former babysitter,' another user agreed.

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