GUARDIANS | PART ONE When evil came through the door A missing necklace and a nagging suspicion led a North woman to a painful revelation about her mother’s death. Now, over a dozen families are facing the unthinkable truth about their own loved ones.

By Charles Scudder Published Dec. 3, 2019

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PENSACOLA SHOOTING Events GUARDIANS|PART ONE before attack When evil came traced

Official: Gunman had through the door hosted party to watch massshooting videos

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON Amissing necklace and anagging suspicion led aNorth Texas woman TheAssociated Press PENSACOLA,Fla. —The to apainful revelation about her mother’s death. Now, overadozen Saudi student who fatally shot three people at aU.S. naval families arefacing the unthinkable truth about their own loved ones. base in Floridahosted adin­ ner party earlier in the week where he and three others watched videos of mass shoot­ ings, aU.S. official said Satur­ day. Officials investigating the deadly attack were working to determine whether it was mo­ tivated by terrorism, and both PresidentDonald Trump and Defense SecretaryMarkEsper indicated thattheywould re­ viewpoliciesgoverning for­ eign militarytraining in the United States. Theofficial who spokeSat­ urdaysaid one of the three students who attended the dinner party hosted by the at­ tacker recorded video from outside the classroom build­ ing while the shooting was takingplace. Twoother Saudi

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ELECTIONS’20 GOP in Shannon Gleason Dion kisses the graves of her parents, Doris and Jerry,atRestland Memorial Park in Dallas. The previous daymarked three yearssinceDoris wasfound dead in herapartment at TheTradition­Prestonwood. it to win Atwo­part series StorybyCHARLESSCUDDER Photography by LYNDAM.GONZÁLEZ StaffWriter Staff Photographer ’em back heyfound 92­year­old Doris Glea­ Shannonapproached the gurney, leaned over and NorthTexans intent on son lying near thedining room ta­ kissedher mother’scold forehead. regaining state House ble. She asked about the jewelryher mother had been seats lost to Dems in ’18 “She’s here,”anemployee told Do­ wearing. Thefuneral workers pointed to the counter, ris’ daughter Shannon, who had where they’dplaced Doris’ wedding rings. By JAMES BARRAGÁN Austin Bureau been searchingthe apartment for Whatabout the gold necklace,the one with the [email protected] her.“She’s gone.” guardian angel? Doris wore it everyday,everynight, T Luisa del Rosal is adream Shannon turnedand sawher mother’s dark slacks, all the time. Shannon had an identical one around her candidate for Dallas County suedeshoes, gray blouse.She sank into asofa and own neck. Republicans. didn’t move. There was no necklace, theysaid. She’s amillennial, aLatina Soon, twoDallaspoliceofficersarrived at TheTra­ Shannon found Doris’ purse and dug through it. and an immigrant. She’s also a traditional pro­business Re­ dition­Prestonwood, aluxurysenior living complexin No necklace —and no cash.Her husband Eric joined publican who describes her­ FarNorth Dallas. Natural causes, theysaid.Asad but in the search. Rings and other jewelry were missing self as “pro­life.” unsurprising ending. from an antique box in the bedroom, too. “I’maconservative Repub­ As funeral workers prepared to takeDoris away, Ericfound aphone and dialed 911. lican and I’maproud one,”she said. “I want to talk about all the things we’vedone that have led to prosperity.” Continued on Page 20A But del Rosal faces several challenges next year as she runs for aseatinthe Texas House. She’s up against an in­ cumbent Democrat,John Turner,whose moderateap­

.. proach and yeoman work eth­ ic during his first session in the Legislature impressed ... Breezy and mild LATE SCORES ARTS &LIFE WORLD manyinhis districtand kept Forresults from last him out of the political fights night’s games, go to Andy Hanson’s ‘fame’ photography Iran, U.S. exchange prisoners ... thatengulfed other freshman sportsdaydfw.com/ is featured in new exhibitionatSMU An American scholar heldfor three years on Democrats. M H 70 scores. Over the decades, as Dallas became astopover espionage charges in Iran is freed in aprisoner L 48 Many Dallas CountyRe­ for the rich and famous —Andy Warhol, Cary exchange, abreakthrough in the tense relations publicans are facing the same Metro,backpage INSIDE Grant, Audrey Hepburn —photographer Andy between the countries. 14A ©2019, Lottery 2A Jumble 11D Hanson wasonthe spot with his camera. Now, a test as theylook to win back Focus 3A Travel 14EK large exhibition of his work is on displayat METRO seats theylost in 2018,orat Nation 4,9A Puzzles 10,15E least hold on to the seats they Southern Methodist University. 6E Private archivecharts architect’s work World 14­15A Homes 1H still have. Thefields will be set Weather 16B Jobs 1J Also: Foraspecial #DMNWrappingpaper insert, Architect George Dahl designed more ofDallas please turn to Pages 8­9E. Personal Tech 5D Editorials 2P than mostofusknow, Robert Wilonskywrites. 1B See DEMOCRATS Page 16A

A1 M12­08­2019 Set:20:57:33 Sent by:[email protected] News CYMAYELLBLANACGENTOWK A 20A Sunday, December 8, 2019 Mdallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.comMSunday, December 8, 2019 21A

GUARDIANS | PART ONE GUARDIANS | PART ONE

e try to find somewhere they’ll be tak­ Shown in her en care of, where the food is good and Carrollton home, Shannon Glea­ they’ll be comfortable. Somewhere W son Dion was that has a knitting club and throws holiday parties. the first to Sometimes the move is their idea. Often, it’s not. discover after The best of us bring groceries, fix the computer her mother’s body was found and take them to church, as Shannon Gleason in October 2016 Dion did faithfully through her mother’s final that some of her years. jewelry — We understand, as Shannon did, that this will including a cherished gold likely be their last chapter. Even in places of com­ necklace with a fort — especially in places of comfort — death finds guardian angel away in. —was missing. When that day comes, we reassure ourselves that it was peaceful. Natural. Even if there was pain, we hope it was brief. But what if that’s not what happens? What if the truth is something else entirely and you don’t even know it? Today, at least 13 families in North Texas are coping with the shock of learning that their loved ones’ seemingly peaceful deaths were anything but. A half­dozen more are awaiting confirmation of their worst fears about their own relatives. No one recognized evil when it visited — not the families, not the cops, and not the posh senior liv­ ing homes where grandmothers stopped showing up for water aerobics. Shannon didn’t see it at first. But from those first hours in her mother’s apartment on the day before Halloween 2016, she just had a feeling something wasn’t right.

erry and Doris Gleason married in Dallas in With her ever­present gold angel hanging behind another charm on her necklace, Shannon drives to Restland Memorial Park to attend to her parents’ graves. She visits monthly to bring fresh flowers and clean their marker. Jerry and Doris Gleason died within a year of each other, in November 2015 and October 2016. 1954. Their two daughters were born here but raised in Connecticut, where Jerry J Jurors took less than three hours to find Antho­ ports at The Tradition­Prestonwood. floor but didn’t find the man. worked in the oil business. Shannon and her sister, ny guilty. He was sentenced to 99 years in state The records arrived in the mail after many Before leaving, the officer told staff “to tighten Nancy, moved back to North Texas after high prison. But after just a few years, it became clear weeks, a thick stack of documents with informa­ security and possibly go door to door,” the report school. Doris and Jerry followed soon after, set­ that keeping Nancy’s attacker locked up would tion about who had called the police, what had said. tling into a pale brick house on Squireswood Drive take the entire family’s persistence. happened, and whether there were any identifi­ in Carrollton. They stayed more than 30 years, safe By the time he first came up for release in 2003, able victims or suspects. behind a tall iron gate. Doris Gleason had a day planner in which she recorded and checked off all her activities and appointments, and her hannon had found a pattern. She was con­ Nancy was dying of pancreatic cancer. Her hus­ Shannon found reports of unaccompanied Afew years ago, over dinner at their home, the daughter Shannon kept it after her mother’s death. Police determined the approximate time of Doris’ death from vinced that someone was sneaking into peo­ band, Thomas Taylor, wrote to the parole board on deaths. Suspicious­person reports. Break­ins. couple surprised Shannon and her husband with her planner activity, which showed that she had missed a party that Saturday afternoon. S ple’s apartments after they died and taking her behalf, and Anthony was denied release. Thefts. the news that they’d been looking at independent­ jewelry and other precious items. After Nancy died, the family kept fighting. First In July 2016, resident Joyce Abramowitz was living complexes. They’d found a good fit: The Tra­ died, with Doris holding his hand. They’d been On the next day in Doris’ planner, the check She wanted someone to know. She wanted ev­ in 2011, when Doris and Jerry wrote to the parole found dead in her apartment of natural causes, ac­ dition­Prestonwood. married 61 years. marks stop. eryone to know. board. Then in 2016, when Shannon helped Doris cording to the reports. Shannon had always assumed she’d have to ar­ Shannon emailed a reporter at The Dallas compose a letter and mail it in. Aweek later, her son reported that her safe had range for her parents’ care when they got older. But t took a while for Doris to begin wearing col­ hey found her that Sunday morning. Morning News. She sent the packet of documents Late that summer, they got word that Anthony been stolen. Doris and Jerry made everything easy. Several ors again, but in early 2016, she returned to Shannon sat bereft on the sofa as the in a manila envelope, but nobody followed up with would not be released, but he’d be back in front of Later that month, a woman named Juanita Pur­ months later, they moved into a two­bedroom the activities she’d always enjoyed. She went police and funeral workers went about her for an interview. This newspaper missed the I T the parole board every year from then on. dy died at The Tradition­Prestonwood of natural apartment on the third floor, with a window that back to her sit­and­sew group. She started tai chi their grim business. Her grief turned to anxiety story. “I resent that some of my mother’s last months, causes, according to the reports. Her daughter faced the front of the complex. The cost: about again and within a few weeks was winning at bingo when she realized things were missing. Afew weeks after sending her tip to The News, days were used talking about this,” Shannon said. called police a few days later, saying Purdy’s jewel­ $5,600 a month. night. After Eric called 911, the cops returned. This Shannon left comments on The Tradition­Pres­ Doris and her daughters had always been close, ry cabinet had been raided by an intruder. With ornate finishings and high­end amenities, She kept a day planner where she recorded ev­ time, they asked detailed questions. What was Do­ tonwood’s Yelp page. The one­star review posted but after that night in 1988 they took on new roles Leah Corken was found dead, natural causes, The Tradition­Prestonwood markets itself as one ery appointment, meeting and exercise class in ris’ routine? Did she have any plans? Where had by “Shannon D.” from Carrollton is still online. in each others’ lives. They thought of themselves as and her daughter called police when she couldn’t of Dallas’ premier senior living communities. Its tight script. When she completed each activity, she she been recently? A homicide detective arrived “The food and ambiance are delightful,” the re­ guardians, always wearing the gold angel necklac­ find her mother’s wedding ring. website invites residents to “surround yourself in a marked it off with a little check mark. and dusted for fingerprints. view begins. “The security is unacceptable. I urge es Nancy bought for them on a trip to Florence, It­ An unnamed woman was found dead, natural world of beauty.” On Fridays, Shannon would pick up her mother The officers filed a theft report and ordered an anyone considering living here to evaluate how aly. Even after Nancy was gone, Shannon and Do­ causes, and her daughter also called police after “It’s immaculate, it really is,” said Eric Dion, for a 10 a.m. haircut. While her mom was in the sa­ autopsy before her body could be released to the easy it is for uninvited outsiders to have unmoni­ ris wore theirs every day. finding that over $6,000 worth of jewelry and cash Shannon’s husband. “It’s made to look very homey lon, Shannon would run to Walmart and buy Do­ funeral home. tored access to residential floors.” Now, in the fall of 2016, Shannon had only her were missing. She reported at the time that she and beautiful.” ris’ groceries. Then they’d go to Frost Bank, where The initial word from the medical examiner’s necklace and far too many questions. thought paramedics might have taken the items. The Tradition­Prestonwood offers a range of Doris would withdraw enough cash to get her office came quickly: no signs of trauma. Months fter posting the review, Shannon tried to “I come from very logical parents,” she said. “My Margaret White was found dead, natural services, including assisted living and memory through the week. later, the State of Texas declared Doris Gleason had go on with her life. The family mourned genetic makeup is things have to make sense.” causes, that August. care. The Gleasons didn’t need those things. They Sunday morning was church, side by side in died of natural causes. the first anniversary of Doris’ death. Shan­ Solomon Spring, Glenna Day and Doris were all A moved into the independent­living area, which their usual pew. “Cardiac dysrhythmia,” it said on her death cer­ non continued to write and call the parole board, found dead that October, and each death was listed has an indoor pool and a spa. It offers weekly “She was my buddy,” Shannon said. tificate. “Old age.” nsatisfied with what the cops had told and Nancy’s attacker stayed in prison. as natural causes. housekeeping, an arts and crafts studio, a movie On Oct. 28, 2016, Shannon and Doris kept their If that was the case, Shannon thought, someone her, Shannon was determined to investi­ Every Sunday, Shannon went to church. She’d Then, in November, a report of a suspicious per­ theater, a library, a space for guest speakers and usual Friday appointments. Back at The Tradition, was in her mother’s apartment after she died. In­ U gate further. sit in the same pew as always, take communion and son. A black man, 5­10, 180 pounds, carrying a performances. She thought back to her first job out of college. sing — “loud, low and off key,” she likes to say. Shannon helped her mom unpack the groceries, stead of calling for help, they had robbed her. leather satchel. For the first couple of years, Shannon picked up She had been a caseworker for Dallas congress­ One evening in July 2018, Shannon and Eric re­ then turned to leave. She had sorority sisters in It didn’t make sense. Something just seemed off. The man “has been seen on numerous occasions her parents every Sunday for church. They would man Jim Collins, gathering information with a tool turned from an evening walk with their dogs to town she was excited to see. Doris told her to go Some people might have let it go. Shannon visiting the fourth floor and has stated he was there sit in the same pew — Shannon closest to the aisle, anyone can use: open records law. find a voicemail from a detective with the Plano have fun. wasn’t from that kind of family. to check for pipe leaks,” according to a police re­ Jerry in the middle, Doris on the right — every She filed a request with the Dallas Police De­ Police Department. “I love you,” they said to each other. port. The responding officer walked the fourth partment, asking for two years’ worth of police re­ Shannon called him back right away. The detec­ week without fail. After Shannon left, Doris got her planner, pull­ n November 1988, a stranger showed up at tive had seen her Yelp review and wanted to know In August 2015, Jerry had a stroke, and another ed out a pen and marked off their regular outing Nancy Gleason Taylor’s home near Highland more about her mother’s death. afew months later. Just after his 94th birthday he with a little black check mark. Park, posing as a delivery man. When Nancy I He told her to write down a name and look it up opened the door, the man dropped a package in­ later. He spelled it out just to make sure she had it side and confronted her with a .357 Magnum right. handgun. Then he made her drive him to his C­H­E­M­I­R­M­I­R. apartment before taking her on an aimless, hours­ long journey around North Texas. After Nancy’s husband reported her missing, Look for Part Two of this series police talked to a neighbor who saw Nancy drive in next Sunday’s Dallas Morning News. off with a strange man in her back seat. Shannon,

her parents and the rest of the family waited and Staff writer Charles Scudder prayed together into the evening while the police covers suburban safety and has searched. Officers found Nancy and her attacker been a reporter on the features and news desks for five years. after 1 a.m. at a motel where the man, Glen Antho­ He’s also an adjunct professor at ny, had forced her to pay for a room. UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism. At the trial the next summer, Nancy testified Email: [email protected] about her ordeal — how she felt herself tearing Twitter: @cscudder when Anthony raped her on the floor of his apart­ Staff photographer Lynda M. ment. How he made her wear her bloody under­ González covers breaking news, wear after he was done. How he drove her to the daily lifeand sports as a staff Piney Woods of East Texas, where he threatened to visual journalist. kill her and bury her in a shallow grave. Email: lynda.gonzalez @dallasnews.com Aphoto of Doris and daughter Nancy Gleason Taylor is displayed in Shannon’s home. Nancy, who died of It was the first time Shannon and her parents Shannon teams up with Cinnamon during an equine therapy session at Paws for Reflection. She says the Midlothian Twitter: @lyndamgonzalez cancer, was abducted and raped in 1988. Her family has fought to keep her attacker from being paroled. heard the horrific details. ranch, which she has attended for more than a year, is helping her heal from the tragedy of her mother’s slaying.

A20 M12­08­2019 Set: 23:04:53 A21M12­08­2019 Set: 23:04:53 Sent by: [email protected] News CYMAYELLBLANACGENTOWK A Sent by: [email protected] News MAYELLBLCYANACGENTOWK A hey found 92-year-old Doris Gleason lying near the dining room table. T“She’s here,” an employee told Doris’ daughter Shannon, who had been searching the apart- ment for her. “She’s gone.”

Shannon turned and saw her mother’s dark slacks, suede shoes, gray blouse. She sank into a sofa and didn’t move.

Soon, two Dallas police officers arrived at The Tradition-Prestonwood, a luxury senior living com- plex in Far North Dallas. Natural causes, they said. A sad but unsurprising ending.

As funeral workers prepared to take Doris away, Shannon approached the gurney, leaned over and kissed her mother’s cold forehead.

She asked about the jewelry her mother had been wearing. The funeral workers pointed to the counter, where they’d placed Doris’ wedding rings.

What about the gold necklace, the one with the guardian angel? Doris wore it every day, every night, all the time. Shannon had an identical one around her own neck.

There was no necklace, they said.

Shannon found Doris’ purse and dug through it. No necklace — and no cash. Her husband Eric joined in the search. Rings and other jewelry were missing from an antique box in the bedroom, too.

Eric found a phone and dialed 911.

e try to find somewhere they’ll be taken care of, where the food is good and they’ll be com- Wfortable. Somewhere that has a knitting club and throws holiday parties. Sometimes the move is their idea. Often, it’s not.

The best of us bring groceries, fix the computer and take them to church, as Shannon Gleason Dion did faithfully through her mother’s final years.

We understand, as Shannon did, that this will likely be their last chapter. Even in places of com- fort — especially in places of comfort — death finds a way in.

When that day comes, we reassure ourselves that it was peaceful. Natural. Even if there was pain, we Shannon Gleason Dion, shown in her Carrollton home, hope it was brief. was the first to discover after her mother’s body was found at The Tradition-Prestonwood in October 2016 that some of her jewelry was missing. (Lynda Gonza- But what if that’s not what happens? What if the lez /The Dallas Morning News) truth is something else entirely and you don’t even know it?

Today, at least 13 families in North Texas are coping with the shock of learning that their loved ones’ seemingly peaceful deaths were anything but. A half-dozen more are awaiting confirmation of their worst fears about their own relatives.

No one recognized evil when it visited — not the families, not the cops, and not the posh senior living homes where grandmothers stopped showing up for water aerobics.

Shannon didn’t see it at first. But from those first hours in her mother’s apartment on the day be- fore Halloween 2016, she just had a feeling something wasn’t right.

erry and Doris Gleason married in Dallas in 1954. Their two daughters were born here but Jraised in Connecticut, where Jerry worked in the oil business. Shannon and her sister, Nancy, moved back to North Texas after high school. Doris and Jerry followed soon after, settling into a pale brick house on Squireswood Drive in Carrollton. They stayed more than 30 years, safe behind a tall iron gate.

A few years ago, over dinner at their home, the couple surprised Shannon and her husband with the news that they’d been looking at independent-living complexes. They’d found a good fit: The Tradition-Prestonwood.

Shannon had always assumed she’d have to arrange for her parents’ care when they got older. But Doris and Jerry made everything easy. Several months later, they moved into a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor, with a window that faced the front of the complex. The cost: about $5,600 a month.

With ornate finishings and high-end amenities, The Tradition-Pres- tonwood markets itself as one of Dallas’ premier senior living com- munities. Its website invites residents to “surround yourself in a world of beauty.”

“It’s immaculate, it really is,” said Eric Dion, Shannon’s husband. “It’s made to look very homey and beautiful.”

The Tradition-Prestonwood offers a range of services, including assisted living and memory care. The Gleasons didn’t need those things. They moved into the independent-living area, which has an indoor pool and a spa. It offers weekly housekeeping, an arts and crafts studio, a movie theater, a library, a space for guest speakers Doris Gleason and performances.

For the first couple of years, Shannon picked up her parents every Sunday for church. They would sit in the same pew — Shannon closest to the aisle, Jerry in the middle, Doris on the right — every week without fail. n August 2015, Jerry had a stroke, and another a few months later. Just after his 94th birthday he Idied, with Doris holding his hand. They’d been married 61 years. It took a while for Doris to begin wearing colors again, but in early 2016, she returned to the activities she’d always enjoyed. She went back to her sit-and-sew group. She started tai chi again and within a few weeks was winning at bingo night.

She kept a day planner where she recorded every appointment, meeting and exercise class in tight script. When she completed each activity, she marked it off with a little check mark.

On Fridays, Shannon would pick up her mother for a 10 a.m. haircut. While her mom was in the salon, Shannon would run to Walmart and buy Doris’ groceries. Then they’d go to Frost Bank, where Doris would withdraw enough cash to get her through the week.

Sunday morning was church, side by side in their usual pew.

“She was my buddy,” Shannon said.

On Oct. 28, 2016, Shannon and Doris kept their usual Friday appointments. Back at The Tradition, Shannon helped her mom unpack the groceries, then turned to leave. She had sorority sisters in town she was excited to see. Doris told her to go have fun.

“I love you,” they said to each other.

After Shannon left, Doris got her planner, pulled out a pen and marked off their regular outing with a little black check mark.

On the next day in Doris’ planner, the check marks stop.

hey found her that Sunday morning. T Shannon sat bereft on the sofa as the police and funeral workers went about their grim business. Her grief turned to anxiety when she realized things were missing.

After Eric called 911, the cops returned. This time, they asked detailed questions. What was Doris’ routine? Did she have any plans? Where had she been recently? A homicide detective arrived and dusted for fingerprints.

The officers filed a theft report and ordered an autopsy before her body could be released to the funer- al home.

The initial word from the medical examiner’s office came quickly: no signs of trauma. Months later, the State of Texas declared Doris Gleason had died of natural causes.

“Cardiac dysrhythmia,” it said on her death certificate. “Old age.”

If that was the case, Shannon thought, someone was in her mother’s apartment after she died. Instead of calling for help, they had robbed her. It didn’t make sense. Something just seemed off.

Some people might have let it go. Shannon wasn’t from that kind of family.

n November 1988, a stranger showed up at Nancy Gleason Taylor’s home near Highland Park, Iposing as a delivery man. When Nancy opened the door, the man dropped a package inside and confronted her with a .357 Magnum handgun. Then he made her drive him to his apartment before taking her on an aimless, hours-long journey around North Texas.

After Nancy’s husband reported her missing, police talked to a neighbor who saw Nancy drive off with a strange man in her back seat. Shannon, her parents and the rest of the family waited and prayed together into the evening while the police searched. Officers found Nancy and her attacker after 1 a.m. at a motel where the man, Glen Anthony, had forced her to pay for a room.

At the trial the next summer, Nancy testified about her ordeal — how she felt herself tearing when Anthony raped her on the floor of his apartment. How he made her wear her bloody underwear after he was done. How he drove her to the Piney Woods of East Texas, where he threatened to kill her and bury her in a shallow grave.

It was the first time Shannon and her parents heard the horrific details.

Jurors took less than three hours to find Anthony guilty. He was sentenced to 99 years in state pris- on. But after just a few years, it became clear that keeping Nancy’s attacker locked up would take the entire family’s persistence.

By the time he first came up for release in 2003, Nancy was dying of pancreatic cancer. Her husband, Thomas Taylor, wrote to the parole board on her behalf, and Anthony was denied release.

After Nancy died, the family kept fighting. First in 2011, when Doris and Jerry wrote to the parole board. Then in 2016, when Shannon helped Doris compose a letter and mail it in.

Late that summer, they got word that Anthony would not be released, but he’d be back in front of the parole board every year from then on.

“I resent that some of my mother’s last months, days were used talking about this,” Shannon said.

Doris and her daughters had always been close, but after that night in 1988 they took on new roles in each others’ lives. They thought of themselves as A photo of Doris Gleason and daughter Nancy Gleason guardians, always wearing the gold angel necklac- Taylor is displayed in Shannon’s home in Carrollton. Nancy, es Nancy bought for them on a trip to Florence, who died of pancreatic cancer, was abducted and raped in 1988. Her family has fought to keep her attacker, who was Italy. Even after Nancy was gone, Shannon and sentenced to 99 years in prison, from being paroled. Doris wore theirs every day. (Lynda Gonzalez /The Dallas Morning News) Now, in the fall of 2016, Shannon had only her necklace and far too many questions.

“I come from very logical parents,” she said. “My genetic makeup is things have to make sense.”

Unsatisfied with what the cops had told her, Shannon was determined to investigate further. She thought back to her first job out of college. She had been a caseworker for Dallas congressman Jim Collins, gathering information with a tool anyone can use: open records law.

She filed a request with the Dallas Police Department, asking for two years’ worth of police reports at The Tradition-Prestonwood.

The records arrived in the mail after many weeks, a thick stack of documents with information about who had called the police, what had happened, and whether there were any identifiable victims or suspects.

Shannon found reports of unaccompanied deaths. Suspicious-person reports. Break-ins. Thefts.

In July 2016, resident Joyce Abramowitz was found dead in her apartment of natural causes, accord- ing to the reports.

A week later, her son reported that her safe had been stolen.

Later that month, a woman named Juanita Purdy died at The Tradition-Prestonwood of natural caus- es, according to the reports. Her daughter called police a few days later, saying Purdy’s jewelry cabi- net had been raided by an intruder.

Leah Corken was found dead, natural causes, and her daughter called police when she couldn’t find her mother’s wedding ring.

An unnamed woman was found dead, natural causes, and her daughter also called police after finding that over $6,000 worth of jewelry and cash were missing. She reported at the time that she thought paramedics might have taken the items.

Margaret White was found dead, natural causes, that August.

Solomon Spring, Glenna Day and Doris were all found dead that October, and each death was listed as natural causes.

Then, in November, a report of a suspicious person. A black man, 5-10, 180 pounds, carrying a leather satchel.

The man “has been seen on numerous occasions visiting the fourth floor and has stated he was there to check for pipe leaks,” according to a police report. The responding officer walked the fourth floor but didn’t find the man.

Before leaving, the officer told staff “to tighten security and possibly go door to door,” the report said. hannon had found a pattern. She was convinced that someone was sneaking into people’s apart- Sments after they died and taking jewelry and other precious items. She wanted someone to know. She wanted everyone to know.

Shannon emailed a reporter at The Dallas Morning News. She sent the packet of documents in a ma- nila envelope, but nobody followed up with her for an interview. This newspaper missed the story.

A few weeks after sending her tip to The News, Shannon left comments on The Tradition-Preston- wood’s Yelp page. The one-star review posted by “Shannon D.” from Carrollton is still online.

“The food and ambiance are delightful,” the review begins. “The security is unacceptable. I urge anyone considering living here to evaluate how easy it is for uninvited outsiders to have unmonitored access to residential floors.”

fter posting the review, Shannon tried to go on with her life. The family mourned the first anni- Aversary of Doris’ death. Shannon continued to write and call the parole board, and Nancy’s at- tacker stayed in prison.

Every Sunday, Shannon went to church. She’d sit in the same pew as always, take communion and sing — “loud, low and off key,” she likes to say.

One evening in July 2018, Shannon and Eric returned from an evening walk with their dogs to find a voicemail from a detective with the Plano Police Department.

Shannon called him back right away. The detective had seen her Yelp review and wanted to know more about her mother’s death.

He told her to write down a name and look it up later. He spelled it out just to make sure she had it right.

C-H-E-M-I-R-M-I-R. GUARDIANS | PART TWO

Leaving a trail of death Nearly two years after her mother died, Shannon Gleason Dion got a shocking call from a detective. She learned that Doris had likely been murdered by a serial killer.

By Charles Scudder Published Dec. 4, 2019

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IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

GUARDIANS|PART TWO Trump, Nearly twoyears after her mother died, Shannon Gleason Dion allies gotashocking call from adetective. She learned thatDoris had likelybeen murdered by aserial killer. target Dems As vote set, pressureon moderates who flipped districts president won

FROM WIRE REPORTS With the House on course BillyChemirmir has been charged withkilling two womenatThe Tradition­Prestonwood,aluxury senior living complex in FarNorthDallas. Six other families are wait­ to vote on the impeachment of ingfor proof that he murdered theirloved onesatthe facility duringathree­month span in 2016. President Donald Trump this week, Trump and his allies or Shannon Gleason Dion, the call came in Shestarted to breathe again. She opened hereyes. Flankedbyofficials from Frisco police andthe Collin have trained their sights on the Democratswho represent July 2018. Paramedics were all around. Afriend had found her Countydistrictattorney’soffice, Plano Police Chief districts thatsupported the F Her92­year­oldmother,Doris Gleason, and called 911. Gregory W. Rushin announced a“verylargeand president in 2016. haddied nearly twoyears earlier at TheTradition­ ThePlano woman told police about the man, complexinvestigation”involving cases in at least As public opinion on Trump’s impeachment re­ Prestonwood, aluxurysenior living facilityinFar whathe’d said, whathe’d done. fourcities: Plano, Frisco, Dallas and Richardson. mains splintered and mostly NorthDallas. “Old age,”the death certificate had Adiamond ring and wedding band were missing “This is terribly disturbing,”hesaid. “We’regoing stagnant, more than half of said. fromher left hand, and $270 in cash was gone. to makeeveryattempt to identify all the victims in the 31 Democratstargeted by No one could explain whyjewelrywas missing Plano police collected fourpillows, acomforter the communities across the metroplextofully inves­ Trump haven’t said yethow they’ll vote, but Democratic fromthe apartment. No one knewwhy Doris wasn’t and aplush giraffe doll. They found acigarettebutt tigatethis case.” leadership has signaled they wearing theguardian angel necklace she never took and loggedthatasevidence, too. expectatmost six to 10 defec­ off. But Shannon had done her own sleuthing. She’d Police looked for similar incidents andfound one tors. illy Chemirmir was born in Kenya’sRiftVal­ Photo illustration by Michael Hogue/Staff Artist Democratic Rep. Jeff Van learned that jewelryhad been stolen from the apart­ fromParkviewElderly Assisted Living in Frisco, an­ ley, between the major cities of Eldoretand Police believeBilly Chemirmir (left) killed19North Texassenior citizens, 18 of whom are pictured. He has beenindicted in 12 DrewofNew Jersey, whohas ments of other residents who had died. other senior living facility, theprevious October. Nakuru,in1972. According to the Daily Na­ deathsand in attacksontwo womenwho survived. The native of Kenya, in jail withbail set at $16.2 million,says he’s innocent. long opposed House Demo­ B She had posted thatinformation in aYelp review A93­year old woman had opened the door to find crats’ impeachment effort, has tion,one of the country’slargest newspapers, he discussed switching parties in of TheTradition­Prestonwood. awell­dressed man. He said he was amaintenance movedtothe UnitedStates in the late1990s afterhis hink aboutaloved one you’ve lost. May­ ameeting with Trump, an ad­ “The food and ambiance are delightful,”Shannon worker.Hethrewher from her walker and put apil­ older sister gotvisas for him and twoother siblings. be agrandmother,or your father, or a ministration official said Sat­ hadwritten. “The securityisunacceptable.” lowover her face, muffling her screams. Although it was widely reported after his arrest urday. NowPlanopolice DetectiveJon Hoffman was on Shethought she was going to die. She began to beloved aunt. Theofficial, who was not that Chemirmir is an unauthorized immigrant, he is thephone. He had seenthe Yelp reviewand wanted pray. Youbelieve the end was peaceful and authorized to discuss the pri­ apermanent U.S. resident.Ifconvicted, he could Leaving vateconversation and spoke to meetwith Shannon the next dayabout acase he Theman gotup, rifled through the apartment, face deportation. painless. You’ve planned the funeral, on condition of anonymity, was working on. Before he hung up, he toldher to and left.She pushed an emergencyalertbutton and In NorthTexas,the Chemirmir family owns sev­ made sure the estate was settled. You’ve confirmed thatVan Drewmet T with Trump in the White look up aname: Billy Chemirmir. acaretaker came to help her up. eral senior living homes in McKinneyand Allen. No moved belongings into storage, or sold them, or said fi­ House on Friday. To the cops, the attacks on the woman in Frisco suspiciousdeaths have been reported at those facili­ Drew, serving his first term and the woman in Plano seemedtoo similar to be co­ nal goodbyes on the curb. Maybe you’ve cried alone in in Congress, is one of his par­ ties in the past five years, according to the Collin incidence. atrail the carwhen thatone song comeson and makes you ty’s more endangered lawmak­ No onecouldexplainwhy jewelrywas Countymedical examiner’s office. Therelatives who ers in next November’s elec­ Police found areportofasuspicious vehicle —a remember. operatethem did not respond to multiplerequests tions. Hissouthern NewJer­ missing fromthe apartment. silver Nissan Altima —atthe Plano senior living forcomment. Now. Imagine you getacall, as muchas twoyears seydistrictnarrowly favored complex. Thesame car was connected to atrespass­ Trump in 2016. No oneknewwhy Doriswasn’twearing It is unclear if Chemirmirworked for those later.Police want you to come to the station. They say On Saturdaymorning, ing chargefrom twoyears earlier at aDallas senior homes. But Rushin said Chemirmir had “health care what you were toldabout the deathwas wrong. Trump quoted conservative the guardianangel necklaceshe never living complex. experience”and suggested thatheused it in “target­ of death pundit Jason Meister,who ze­ Itsdriver: Billy Chemirmir. They wanttoadd your loved one’s name to alist of roed in on those Democrats ing and exploiting seniors.” during an appearance on Fox took off. ButShannon had doneher Police showed the Frisco woman aphoto lineup. Chemirmir was married in Denton Countyin Atwo­part series victimsof aman who could be among the most prolific &Friends. She “couldn’t sweartoit,”but was prettysure that 2004. Hiswife filed for divorce twoyears later,say­ Story by CHARLESSCUDDER serialkillers in Texashistory. StaffWriter “There are 31 House Demo­ ownsleuthing. Chemirmir was the attacker. cratsinTrump won Congres­ ingshe didn’t know where he was. She tried calling PhotographybyLYNDA M. GONZÁLEZ All of this —the similar attacks, the silver Nissan, family members and previous employers and StaffPhotographer Continued on Page 20A sional Districts,”Trumptweet­ ed Meister as saying. “Those the possible ID —convinced Plano police theyhad a searched for him online, but couldn’t trackhim Forsolong, something about her mother’sdeath suspectinthe March 19 attack on the Plano woman. down, according to courtdocuments. Thedivorce See MODERATE Page 18A hadn’t madesense to Shannon. Noweverything They setupsurveillance at Chemirmir’s apartment was finalized in October 2006. clicked. in FarNorth Dallas the next day. He wasarrestedin2010onachargeofdriving At home, she kept papers about the loose ends of Around6p.m.,Chemirmir came home. Plano Of­ while intoxicated in Addison, andserved 18 months’ Beautiful day! BUSINESS IN TODAY’S PAPER U.S.­MEXICO­CANADAAGREEMENT hermother’s estate. Among them were the Dallas ficer William Knight, a20­year veteran, sawhim probation. He picked up asecond DWI in Dallasin Three giants lost Check out the policereports she’d received after filing apublic re­ toss something into adumpster.Knight arrested 2011,didn’t show up forcourtand ended upwitha Te xas lost threebusiness icons this cords request. Many of thedocuments bore the Chemirmir on outstandingwarrants and read him H 72 year.Their deaths are areminder that year’s best photos President’s trade pactisshifting warrantfor his arrest. L 47 success is not just about money. 1D Home­delivery subscribers will name of someone who had died, supposedly of natu­ hisrights. Chemirmir was gripping jewelry and cash Thenextyear,heand his girlfriend argued about find the glossymagazine Photos Metro,backpage ralcauses, and been robbed. as the officer handcuffed him. him cominghome drunk from astrip club, accord­ METRO of the Year intoday’s edition, Texas GOP,amid some grumbles INSIDE filled with JoyceAbramowitz. Juanita Purdy.LeahCorken. With Chemirmir under arrest, Knight walked to ing topolice records. She tried to walk away,but he Lottery 2A Jumble 9D Fireatnew Rangers ballpark memorable Republicans warm to deal along House Democratsand arare endorse­ MargaretWhite. Solomon Spring. Glenna Day. the dumpster and peered in. He found ajewelrybox. Nation 4, 9­11A Puzzles 10,15E beganpunchingher in the face. He then beather in Afire brokeout Saturdayafternoon images ment from the country’smost influential DorisGleason. Inside was apiece of paper with aname: Lu ThiHar­ Focus 8A Travel 1­4,12­4E inside the new Rangers ballpark. from with Democrats, business, labor labor union. the head with apot and kicked her inthe back. When World 14­15,17,19A Homes 1H The extent of thedamagewas un­ throughout That head­snapping partnership Shannon had alist of victims. She had connected ris. she called 911, he grabbed aknife and began stabbing Personal Tech 4D Editorials 2P known. 1, 7B the year by By TOMBENNING comes courtesy of President Donald thedots.She just didn’t knowitwas murder. Dallas police were sent to check on Harris, 81, at the Dallas Washington Bureau ared leather loveseat. ©2019,The Dallas Morning News Trump. Morning [email protected] her home afew miles away.Inthe bedroom, they ARTS &LIFE TheRepublican has succeeded in re­ He was still there, angry, when police arrived. News found her lying on the bed, dead. Seeing red in San Antonio photogra­ WASHINGTON —Republicans in shaping —indramatic fashion —his ere is how the police figured it out: They arrested him again. Architecture critic Mark Lamster calls phy staff. Texas and beyond are poised to supporta party’s views on cross­border commerce, On March 19,2018, a91­year­oldwom­ Apillow on the bed was smeared with lipstick. He pleadedguiltyinexchangefor a70­daysen­

.. San Antonio’s RubyCity arugged revamped NorthAmerican trade pact an opened the door of her apartment at Chemirmir was charged with capital murder in tence in the Dallas CountyJail. architectural jewel. 1E that’searned gushing praise from top See TEXANS Page 23A H Preston Place Retirement CommunityinPlano. Harris’ death, and would later be charged with the ... attacks on the twoCollin Countywomen. Aman was standing in the hallway. He was tall, arly in 2016,Chemirmir was spotted on the strong. Given thatpattern, police kept digging. Anycase

... propertyofEdgemere, ahigh­end senior liv­ of an unaccompanied death —thatis, when the per­ “Gotothe bed,”hesaid. “Don’t fight me.” ing complexinDallas. When confronted, he M son had died alone —thatlinedupwith areportof E Give thegiftof giving. He forced his wayinto the bedroom. He grabbeda gave hisname as Benjamin Koitaba and was told to missing jewelryhad to be re­examined. Deaths listed pillowand pushed it over her face. She struggled to leave. Dallas police instructed the stafftocall back if as natural causes mayhavebeen murders. Contactusfor tax-wise giving solutions, breatheashepushed down harder. he trespassed again. Wheregiving thrives Three days after Chemirmir’sarrest, Plano police Slowly,darkness crept in. According to police reports andcourtdocuments, to gift appreciatedassetsortoset up a called reporters to department headquarters. [email protected]|214-750-4226 But then. it’s thefirst time police knowofthatChemirmirwas charitable fund foryourfamily or business. www.CFTexas.org/DMNgive

A1 M12­15­2019 Set:21:03:34 A20 M12­15­2019 Set:22:09:37 Sent by:[email protected] News CYMAYELLBLANACGENTOWK A Sent by:[email protected] News MAYELLBLCYANACGENTOWK A The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.comMSunday, December 15, 2019 21A 22A Sunday, December15, 2019 Mdallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News GUARDIANS | PART TWO GUARDIANS |PARTTWO

at a senior living center. From firstdeath to final arrest: hannon sued The Tradition­Preston­ That June, Edgemere staff called police and HowpoliceinvestigatedBilly wood after detectives reopened her said the suspicious man was back. Chemirmir S mother’s case. The language of the suit showed officers his wallet, which had IDs for Chemirmir’s alleged killing spree echoed the themes of her Yelp review. Benjamin Koitaba and Billy Chemirmir. The of­ Chemirmir, the suit said, “had gained access ficers charged him with criminal trespass. He ATTACK LOCATIONS to the apartment as a result of failure by [The 1. Edgemere, Dallas 3 FRISCO was sentenced to 70 days in the county jail but 2. TheTradition-Prestonwood, Dallas 121 Tradition] to exercise reasonable care in provid­ was released on good behavior after just 12. 3. Parkview, Frisco ing security for the premises.” 4. PrestonPlaceRetirement 289 Police have since re­examined the deaths Aseries of other suits — all in cases in which Community,Plano 5 75 that happened at Edgemere during the period 5. Carolyn MacPhee home,Plano NDT Chemirmir has not been charged — include 6. Rosemary Curtis home,Dallas 4 PLANO Chemirmir was hanging around there. Phyllis 7. CusterTrail Condominiums, PGBT more damning allegations. Payne, 91, and Phoebe Perry, 94, died within a Richardson They claim that police would not have 2 8 month of each other, seemingly of natural 8. Lu ThiHarris home,Dallas 7 brushed aside the deaths as natural if The Tradi­ causes. But now police say Chemirmir killed tion had been more forthcoming. Death resulting in capital DALLAS 635 murder indictment both women and stole their jewelry. 6 “Unimaginably, at no point in time during After he served his jail stint for trespassing at Unindicted death 1 the string of murders and robberies does The Edgemere, Chemirmir went to The Tradition­ Attack Tradition share plainly relevant information Prestonwood, police say. with the families of the victims, the residents He has been charged with murdering two 2016 who are still in danger, or the police who were women there. One was Norma French, 85, who viewing each death through a skewed, incom­ died Oct. 8, 2016. She was the unnamed woman May14, 2016: Edgemere plete lens due to The Tradition’s failure to dis­ Phyllis Payne dies. from Shannon’s records request, the one who close,” the suits claim. June 5, 2016: Edgemere was missing over $6,000 in jewelry. Phoebe Perry dies. June 18,2016: Tradition Senior Living, which has facilities The other was Shannon’s mother, Doris Edgemere in Houston and Dallas, was founded by Jona­ Billy Chemirmir is Gleason, who died three weeks later. Shannon arrestedonsuspicion of than Perlman, a graduate of Baylor University wouldn’t find out how she died for 20 more July 18, 2016: The criminal trespassand and Southern Methodist University Dedman Tradition-Prestonwood failuretoshowID. He’s months. JoyceAmbramowitz dies. sentenced to 70 days in School of Law and a former big­league pitcher. Six other families are waiting for proof that the Dallas County Jail, Neither he nor the company has commented on July 31, 2016: The butisreleasedafter 12 Chemirmir murdered their loved ones at The Tradition-Prestonwood forgood behavior. the allegations, releasing the same prepared Tradition­Prestonwood in a three­month span Juanita Purdydies. statement when asked about each of the law­

in 2016. They have filed civil lawsuits against the Aug. 19,2016: The suits. Aug. 28, 2016: The Tradition-Prestonwood facility, saying police have named him as the “The Tradition­Prestonwood regards all our Loren Adair (from left), MJ Jennings and Shannon GleasonDion, all of whosemothers police believe were killed by BillyChemirmir, have formed atight bond,along Tradition-Prestonwood Leah Corken dies. killer. Margaret Whitedies. residents as family,” the statement reads. “The with Ellen French House, whosemother died under the same circumstances. They arefocused on lobbying for new laws for theprotection of senior citizens. Joyce Abramowitz, 82, died July 18. Chemir­ Oct. 1, 2016: The Tradition­Prestonwood relied on the investiga­ Tradition-Prestonwood mir had been released from jail eight days earli­ Oct. 8, 2016: The tions of the Dallas police, its detectives, and oth­ Tradition-Prestonwood Solomon Spring dies. tookamonthafter her mother died for her to realize ago. AT AGLANCE er. er reputable, established governmental entities. Norma French dies. thatalargecacheofjewelrywas missing.She had al­ To her,they’re TheRapist and TheMurderer. The victims, from 2016 to 2018 Juanita Purdy, 82, died July 31. Oct. 15, 2016: The …The Tradition­Prestonwood has cooperated Tradition-Prestonwood ways kept it in acoffee can in the fridge. She has faith in the prosecutorswho are prepar­ Authorities havelinked Billy Chemirmir to 19 deaths in Leah Corken, 83, died Aug. 19. Oct. 29,2016: The Glenna Daydies. with authorities and will continue to do so.” “I can’teven sayit,”Loren said, her voice cracking. ingfor Chemirmir’strial. In July,Dallas County Dallas and Collin counties, including those in which he Margaret White, 86, died Aug. 28. Tradition-Prestonwood For the families that have sued, mediation Doris Gleason dies. “Hehad to have asked her where it was.” DistrictAttorneyJohn Creuzot’s office said it would has not been indicted but in which civil lawsuits have Solomon Spring, 89, died Oct. 1. Nov. 13, 2016: The has been a painstaking process, lawyers say. been filed. Photo of Mary Brooks wasnot available. “Don’t even think about that,”Shannon said, seekthe death penaltyinthe death of Lu ThiHarris. Glenna Day, 87, died Oct. 15. 2017 Tradition-Prestonwood Survivors have been left feeling exhausted and Suspicious person reaching over and gripping Loren’s hand. “I have the Aconviction in anyone of the dozen killingsChe­ Spring is the only male victim publicly linked matchingChemirmir’s overwhelmed. same things. Don’t think about it.It’sOK.” mirmirhas been charged with will mean at least life to Chemirmir. He was found in a pool of blood description spottedat Shannon’s suit settled in August. As part of TheTradition- Thewomen don’t doubt thatChemirmir killed in prison without parole. Then Shannon won’t have with a gash on the back of his head, a bloody the agreement, she can’t discuss details. Prestonwood. Police their mothers. But getting the justicesystem to say to constantly relive it all, as she does in Nancy’scase. lamp on the floor nearby. Police were told he urge the facility “to tighten security and so is along, grinding process. She found out in August thather sister’s attacker was on blood thinners, which may have ac­ possibly go doorto ne day not long ago, Shannon got a call Each woman gotthatshocking call from adetec­ willstaylocked up in Amarillo until at least next counted for the gruesome scene. They marked it door.” DORIS CAROLYN LU THI from an 806 area code — Amarillo. tive.Each waited for the cause of death to be amend­ August. as a natural death at the time, and suggested he WASSERMAN MACPHEE HARRIS O Immediately, she knew it was the Wil­ ed.Each feared thatthe medical examiner would list Though relieved, she also realized thathis next slipped and hit his head. liam P. Clements Unit of the Texas Department the cause as “undetermined” —apurgatorythey paroleboard hearing could happen close to Che­ In November, a man matching Chemirmir’s of Criminal Justice, where her sister’s attacker is couldn’t imagine living with. mirmir’strial. Thecases could convergeagain, leav­ description was spotted at The Tradition carry­ still in prison. After the homicide rulings came through,each ingShannon feeling trapped between the stories of ing a leather satchel, according to police re­ She has tried to compartmentalize, to silo waited for agrand jurytodecidewhether Chemir­ twowomen who trusted astranger on their door­ ports. Nancy’s awful ordeal from their mother’s death. mir should be charged with the crime. MJ,whose step. Then there’s a break in the timeline. From There is only so much Shannon can handle. mother’s deathcertificate was amended in early Oc­ “Mymom and my sister both opened their doors October 2016 to October 2017, no victims have Some days, it all collides. tober,isstill waiting for the indictment. to evil,” Shannon said. “Theywere trusting andnot GLENNA PHOEBE MARTHA yet been identified in criminal indictments or BILLY CHEMIRMIR She talked to the man from the parole board Through it all, they’ve had to mourn theirmoth­ suspicious and something came to theirdoor and DAY PERRY WILLIAMS civil lawsuits. for a half­hour, explaining what had happened ers again andagain, all while reckoning with feel­ they opened and letitin.” The known attacks resumed on Oct. 29, 2017, to her sister, how the trial and the years after on­ ings of anger and guilt. at Parkview in Frisco. That’s when police say Oct. 29,2017: ly made the pain worse, how losing her mother “I just keep saying, ‘I’msorry, I’msorry, I’msosor­ Chemirmir pushed the Frisco woman from her ParkviewinFrisco nSundays, Shannon spends time at the AFriscowoman survives so violently brought back all the old hurt. ry,’ ”MJsaid. walker and tried to smother her. attack after ablack playground her mother helped plan at “What else do you want to tell me?” the man “Oh, yeah,”Shannon said. “‘I’msorryIdidn’t pro­ His rate of killing started to pick up in late man claiming to be a Church of the Holy Communion in Far maintenanceworker asked. O tectyou from this.’” NorthDallas. She remembers Doris standing on a 2017, police say. forced his way intoher “What else do you need to hear to keep him little rise with the bishop as they imagined what it DORIS MARGARET MINNIE Minnie Campbell, 84, died Oct. 31 at Plano’s home and tried to smother locked up?” Shannon said, sitting cross­legged her with apillow. would look like. GLEASON WHITE CAMPBELL Preston Place apartments. Oct. 31, 2017: Preston on her bed. Through it all, they’vehad to mourn Last spring,Shannonand her husband, Eric, Doris Wasserman, 90, died Dec. 23 at The PlaceRetirement After the call, she sat in her living room shak­ Community bought atree forthe playground. TheChinese pis­ Tradition­Prestonwood. Chemirmir has not Minnie Campbell dies. ing softly, trying to think about what’s next. their mothers againand again, tache will bloom red each October near the anni­ been indicted in her death, but her family has “It makes me remember all the things I’ve sued The Tradition, saying she was also a victim. Dec. 23, 2017: The all while reckoning with versaryofDoris’ death. At its base, the tree has a Tradition-Prestonwood lost,” she said. “At some point, I’ve got to grieve largebrick marker: Carolyn MacPhee, 81, died at her Plano home Doris Wasserman dies. my mom. I’m still putting that on the back shelf. feelings of anger and guilt. THIS TREE IS GIVEN on Dec. 31. I’m not ready for that yet.” IN LOVING MEMORYOF In a 60­day stretch at the beginning of 2018, ANN PHYLLIS JUANITA Dec. 31, 2017: police say, Chemirmir attacked seven more peo­ DORISGLEASON CONKLIN PAYNE PURDY Privatehome hannon has made a group of friends who “I’vesaid thatsomuch,”Lorensaid. “‘I’msosorry ple, killing six. Jan. 19,2018: 20188 Carolyn MacPhee dies. NowShannon sits there, acool breeze moving know exactly what her year has been like. Rosemary Curtis, 75, died at her northwest Privatehome thishappened.’” thelimbs softly.Agroup of boys runs up and asks Rosemary Curtis dies. She calls them her sisters. Dallas home on Jan. 19. Jan. 31, 2018: CusterTrail S Thefour women are making it theirmissionto her to check the Rangers score. She pulls outher March 4, 2018: Preston Condominiums Ellen French House, whose mother was Nor­ lobby for newlawsprotecting seniors. Awhile back, Mary Brooks, 88, died at her Richardson Mary Brooks dies. phonetolook. PlaceRetirement ma French, knew something was wrong when they metwith state Rep. Julie Johnson and state apartment on Jan. 31. Community One of the boys spots abig blue ring on Shan­ Martha Williams dies. she saw her mother’s bruised finger, like some­ Sen.Nathan Johnson, both Dallas Democrats, to Martha Williams, 80, died at Preston Place March 9, 2018: Preston non’s right hand. PlaceRetirement one had ripped the wedding ring right off her push forlawsrequiring securityatindependent se­ on March 4. March18, 2018:Preston “Whatkind of stone is that?” he asks. Community hand. nior living communities. MIRIAM NORMA ROSEMARY Miriam Nelson, 81, died at Preston Place on PlaceRetirement Miriam Nelson dies. “Thatisablue topaz,”Shannonreplies. “My Community MJ Jennings, whose mother was Leah Cor­ NELSON FRENCH CURTIS March 9. “Something needed to change; Iwanted my mother used to have one likethis.” Ann Conklin dies. ken, lives a half­mile from The Tradition­Pres­ Ann Conklin, 82, died at Preston Place on mother’sfriends safer than she had been,”Shannon No one has been able to track down Doris’ topaz March 19,2018: Preston tonwood and not far from where the alleged March 18. March 20,2018: PlaceRetirement said. ring. Thegold necklace, too, is likely gone forever. Community killer lived. “Chemirmirville,” she calls it now, The Plano woman survived the attack at Privatehome Together,theyare starting afoundation to sup­ So Shannon has been buying back similar pieces, Lu ThiHarris dies. APlano woman survives and she wants to move. porttheir activism.They’ve named it SOSS: Secure Preston Place on March 19. an attack in which aman one at atime. Theblue ring is just the latest. Loren Adair, whose mother was Phyllis The attack on that woman helped lead detec­ forced his way intoher Our Seniors Safety. Informed of the score, the boys scamper off. March 20,2018: apartment and tried to Payne, goes into the garage now when the grief tives to Lu Thi Harris, killed on March 20. Rancho Palisades smother her.Police Shannon watches them play. She thinks of her is too much to handle. She sits in her car and In all, Chemirmir has been indicted in 12 Apartments identify Chemirmir as a hannon doesn’t use Chemirmir’s name. mother.She reaches up to her neckline andtouches Plano policebegin to suspect based on the closes the door before she screams, so she won’t JOYCE SOLOMON LEAH deaths. The cases are largely circumstantial be­ watchChemirmir’s woman’sdescription of Just likeshe doesn’t use the nameofthe thegold chain. Theguardian angel, she knows, is ABRAM­ SPRING CORKEN upset her blue­heeler mix, Scout, inside. cause it is difficult, so long after the fact, to get Dallas apartment. her attacker. manwho attacked her sister all those years still there. OWITZ Chemirmir arrives home The four are in nearly constant communica­ S physical evidence that the victims were smoth­ around 6p.m. Police tion. They talk on the phone every day. They text ered. see him dispose of a jewelry boxtaken from each other late at night. They compare the prog­ He has been named as a suspect in seven oth­ Harris’ home,and they ress of their mothers’ civil and criminal cases. er deaths, plus the attacks on the two Collin arresthim on Staff writer Charles Scudder covers suburban safety and has been a Staff photographer Lynda M. González covers breaking news, daily outstanding warrants. They show off their jewelry — the heirlooms reporter onthe features and newsdesks for fiveyears. He’salso an lifeand sports as astaff visual journalist. County women who survived. He’scharged with they wear, the ones they still have left. adjunct professor at UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism. That’s 21 alleged victims in under two years. capital murder the next Email: lynda.gonzalez @dallasnews.com dayand booked into SOURCE: Dallas police; Dallas Not long ago, they got together to talk about Email: [email protected] Twitter:@lyndamgonzalez Chemirmir, in jail in lieu of $16.2 million bail, Morning News research the Dallas County Jail. everything they’ve gone through. Loren said it Twitter:@cscudder says he’s innocent. John Hancock/Staff Artist

A21M12­15­2019 Set: 22:09:37 A22 M12­15­2019 Set:22:09:37 Sent by: [email protected] News CYMAYELLBLANACGENTOWK A Sent by:[email protected] News CYMAYELLBLANACGENTOWK A hink about a loved one you’ve lost. Maybe a grandmother, or your father, or a beloved aunt. TYou believe the end was peaceful and painless. You’ve planned the funeral, made sure the es- tate was settled. You’ve moved belongings into storage, or sold them, or said final goodbyes on the curb. Maybe you’ve cried alone in the car when that one song comes on and makes you remember.

Now. Imagine you get a call, as much as two years later. Police want you to come to the station. They say what you were told about the death was wrong.

They want to add your loved one’s name to a list of victims of a man who could be among the most prolific serial killers in Texas history.

or Shannon Gleason Dion, the call came in July 2018. FHer 92-year-old mother, Doris Gleason, had died nearly two years earlier at The Tradi- tion-Prestonwood, a luxury senior living facility in Far North Dallas. “Old age,” the death certifi- cate had said.

No one could explain why jewelry was missing from the apartment. No one knew why Doris wasn’t wearing the guardian angel necklace she never took off. But Shannon had done her own sleuthing. She’d learned that jewelry had been stolen from the apartments of other residents who had died.

She had posted that information in a Yelp review of The Tradition-Prestonwood.

“The food and ambiance are delightful,” Shannon had written. “The security is unacceptable.”

Now Plano police Detective Jon Hoffman was on the phone. He had seen the Yelp review and wanted to meet with Shannon the next day about a case he was working on. Before he hung up, he told her to look up a name: Billy Chemirmir.

For so long, something about her mother’s death hadn’t made sense to Shannon. Now everything clicked.

At home, she kept papers about the loose ends of her mother’s estate. Among them were the Dal- las police reports she’d received after filing a public records request. Many of the documents bore the name of someone who had died, supposedly of natural causes, and been robbed.

Joyce Abramowitz. Juanita Purdy. Leah Corken. Margaret White. Solomon Spring. Glenna Day.

Doris Gleason.

Shannon had a list of victims. She had connected the dots. She just didn’t know it was murder.

ere is how the police figured it out: HOn March 19, 2018, a 91-year-old woman opened the door of her apartment at Preston Place Retirement Community in Plano. A man was standing in the hallway. He was tall, strong.

“Go to the bed,” he said. “Don’t fight me.”

He forced his way into the bedroom. He grabbed a pillow and pushed it over her face. She strug- gled to breathe as he pushed down harder.

Slowly, darkness crept in.

But then.

She started to breathe again. She opened her eyes. Paramedics were all around. A friend had found her and called 911.

The Plano woman told police about the man, what he’d said, what he’d done.

A diamond ring and wedding band were missing from her left hand, and $270 in cash was gone.

Plano police collected four pillows, a comforter and a plush giraffe doll. They found a cigarette butt and logged that as evidence, too.

Police looked for similar incidents and found one from Parkview Elderly Assisted Living in Frisco, another senior living facility, the previous October.

A 93-year old woman had opened the door to find a well-dressed man. He said he was a mainte- nance worker. He threw her from her walker and put a pillow over her face, muffling her screams.

She thought she was going to die. She began to pray.

The man got up, rifled through the apartment, and left. She pushed an emergency alert button and a caretaker came to help her up.

To the cops, the attacks on the woman in Frisco and the woman in Plano seemed too similar to be coincidence.

Police found a report of a suspicious vehicle — a silver Nissan Altima — at the Plano senior living complex. The same car was connected to a trespassing charge from two years earlier at a Dallas senior living complex.

Its driver: Billy Chemirmir.

Police showed the Frisco woman a photo lineup. She “couldn’t swear to it,” but was pretty sure that Chemirmir was the attacker.

All of this — the similar attacks, the silver Nissan, the possible ID — convinced Plano police they had a suspect in the March 19 attack on the Plano woman. They set up surveillance at Chemirmir’s apartment in Far North Dallas the next day. Around 6 p.m., Chemirmir came home. Plano Officer William Knight, a 20-year veteran, saw him toss something into a dumpster. Knight arrested Chemirmir on outstanding warrants and read him his rights. Chemirmir was gripping jewelry and cash as the officer handcuffed him.

With Chemirmir under arrest, Knight walked to the dumpster and peered in. He found a jewelry box. Inside was a piece of paper with a name: Lu Thi Harris.

Dallas police were sent to check on Harris, 81, at her home a few miles away. In the bedroom, they found her lying on the bed, dead.

A pillow on the bed was smeared with lipstick.

Chemirmir was charged with capital murder in Harris’ death, and would later be charged with the attacks on the two Collin County women.

Given that pattern, police kept digging. Any case of an unaccompanied death — that is, when the person had died alone — that lined up with a report of missing jewelry had to be re-examined. Deaths listed as natural causes may have been murders.

Three days after Chemirmir’s arrest, Plano police called reporters to department headquarters. Flanked by officials from Frisco police and the Collin County district attorney’s office, Plano Police Chief Gregory W. Rushin announced a “very large and complex investigation” involving cases in at least four cities: Plano, Frisco, Dallas and Richardson.

“This is terribly disturbing,” he said. “We’re going to make every attempt to identify all the victims in the communities across the metroplex to fully investigate this case.”

illy Chemirmir was born in Kenya’s Rift Valley, between the major cities of Eldoret and Nakuru, Bin 1972. According to the Daily Nation, one of the country’s largest newspapers, he moved to the United States in the late 1990s after his older sister got visas for him and two other siblings.

Although it was widely reported after his arrest that Chemirmir is an unauthorized immigrant, he is a permanent U.S. resident. If convicted, he could face deportation.

In North Texas, the Chemirmir family owns several senior living homes in McKinney and Allen. No suspicious deaths have been reported at those facilities in the past five years, according to the Collin County medical examiner’s office. The relatives who operate them did not respond to multiple re- quests for comment.

It is unclear if Chemirmir worked for those homes. But Rushin said Chemirmir had “health care expe- rience” and suggested that he used it in “targeting and exploiting seniors.”

Chemirmir was married in Denton County in 2004. His wife filed for divorce two years later, say- ing she didn’t know where he was. She tried calling family members and previous employers and searched for him online, but couldn’t track him down, according to court documents. The divorce was finalized in October 2006. He was arrested in 2010 on a charge of driving while intoxicated in Addison, and served 18 months’ probation. He picked up a second DWI in Dallas in 2011, didn’t show up for court and ended up with a warrant for his arrest.

The next year, he and his girlfriend argued about him coming home drunk from a strip club, accord- ing to police records. She tried to walk away, but he began punching her in the face. He then beat her in the head with a pot and kicked her in the back. When she called 911, he grabbed a knife and began stabbing a red leather loveseat.

He was still there, angry, when police arrived. They arrested him again.

He pleaded guilty in exchange for a 70-day sentence in the Dallas County Jail.

arly in 2016, Chemirmir was spotted on the property of Edgemere, a high-end senior living com- Eplex in Dallas. When confronted, he gave his name as Benjamin Koitaba, and was told to leave. Dallas police instructed the staff to call back if he trespassed again.

According to police reports and court documents, it’s the first time police know of that Chemirmir was at a senior living center.

That June, Edgemere staff called police and said the suspicious man was back. Chemirmir showed officers his wallet, which had IDs for Benjamin Koitaba and Billy Chemirmir. The officers charged him with criminal trespass. He was sentenced to 70 days in the county jail but was released on good be- havior after just 12.

Police have since re-examined the deaths that happened at Edgemere during the period Chemirmir was hanging around there. Phyllis Payne, 91, and Phoebe Perry, 94, died within a month of each other, seemingly of natural causes. But now police say Chemirmir killed both women and stole their jewelry.

After he served his jail stint for trespassing at Edgemere, Chemirmir went to The Tradition-Preston- wood, police say.

He has been charged with murdering two women there. One was Norma French, 85, who died Oct. 8, 2016. She was the unnamed woman from Shannon’s records request, the one who was missing over $6,000 in jewelry.

The other was Shannon’s mother, Doris Gleason, who died three weeks later. Shannon wouldn’t find out how she died for 20 more months.

Six other families are waiting for proof that Chemirmir murdered their loved ones at The Tradi- tion-Prestonwood in a three-month span in 2016. They have filed civil lawsuits against the facility, saying police have named him as the killer.

Joyce Abramowitz, 82, died July 18. Chemirmir had been released from jail eight days earlier. Juanita Purdy, 82, died July 31.

Leah Corken, 83, died Aug. 19.

Margaret White, 86, died Aug. 28.

Solomon Spring, 89, died Oct. 1.

Glenna Day, 87, died Oct. 15.

Spring is the only male victim publicly linked to Chemirmir. He was found in a pool of blood with a gash on the back of his head, a bloody lamp on the floor nearby. Police were told he was on blood thinners, which may have accounted for the gruesome scene. They marked it as a natural death at the time, and suggested he slipped and hit his head.

In November, a man matching Chemirmir’s description was spotted at The Tradition carrying a leath- er satchel, according to police reports.

Then there’s a break in the timeline. From October 2016 to October 2017, no victims have yet been identified in criminal indictments or civil lawsuits.

The known attacks resumed on Oct. 29, 2017, at Parkview in Frisco. That’s when police say Chemirmir pushed the Frisco woman from her walker and tried to smother her.

His rate of killing started to pick up in late 2017, police say.

Minnie Campbell, 84, died Oct. 31 at Plano’s Preston Place apartments.

Doris Wasserman, 90, died Dec. 23 at The Tradition-Prestonwood. Chemirmir has not been indicted in her death, but her family has sued The Tradition, saying she was also a victim.

Carolyn MacPhee, 81, died at her Plano home on Dec. 31.

In a 60-day stretch at the beginning of 2018, police say, Chemirmir attacked seven more people, kill- ing six.

Rosemary Curtis, 75, died at her northwest Dallas home on Jan. 19.

Mary Brooks, 88, died at her Richardson apartment on Jan. 31.

Martha Williams, 80, died at Preston Place on March 4.

Miriam Nelson, 81, died at Preston Place on March 9.

Ann Conklin, 82, died at Preston Place on March 18. The Plano woman survived the attack at Preston Place on March 19.

The attack on that woman helped lead detectives to Lu Thi Harris, killed on March 20. In all, Chemirmir has been indicted in 12 deaths. The cases are largely circumstantial because it is difficult, so long after the fact, to get physical evidence that the victims were smothered.

He has been named as a suspect in seven other deaths, plus the attacks on the two Collin County women who survived.

That’s 21 alleged victims in under two years. Chemirmir, in jail in lieu of $16.2 million bail, says he’s innocent.

hannon sued The Tradition-Prestonwood after detectives reopened her mother’s case. The lan- Sguage of the suit echoed the themes of her Yelp review. Chemirmir, the suit said, “had gained access to the apartment as a result of failure by [The Tradition] to exercise reasonable care in providing security for the premises.”

A series of other suits — all in cases in which Chemirmir has not been charged — include more damn- ing allegations.

They claim that police would not have brushed aside the deaths as natural if The Tradition had been more forthcoming.

“Unimaginably, at no point in time during the string of murders and robberies does The Tradition share plainly relevant information with the families of the victims, the residents who are still in dan- ger, or the police who were viewing each death through a skewed, incomplete lens due to The Tradi- tion’s failure to disclose,” the suits claim.

Tradition Senior Living, which has facilities in Houston and Dallas, was founded by Jonathan Perl- man, a graduate of Baylor University and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a former big-league pitcher. Neither he nor the company has commented on the allegations, releasing the same prepared statement when asked about each of the lawsuits.

“The Tradition-Prestonwood regards all our residents as family,” the statement reads. “The Tradi- tion-Prestonwood relied on the investigations of the Dallas police, its detectives, and other reputable, established governmental entities … The Tradition-Prestonwood has cooperated with authorities and will continue to do so.”

For the families that have sued, mediation has been a painstaking process, lawyers say. Survivors have been left feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

Shannon’s suit settled in August. As part of the agreement, she can’t discuss details.

ne day not long ago, Shannon got a call from an 806 area code — Amarillo. Immediately, she Oknew it was the William P. Clements Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where her sister’s attacker is still in prison. She has tried to compartmentalize, to silo Nancy’s awful ordeal from their mother’s death. There is only so much Shannon can handle. Some days, it all collides.

She talked to the man from the parole board for a half-hour, explaining what had happened to her sister, how the trial and the years after only made the pain worse, how losing her mother so violently brought back all the old hurt.

“What else do you want to tell me?” the man asked.

“What else do you need to hear to keep him locked up?” Shannon said, sitting cross-legged on her bed.

After the call, she sat in her living room shaking softly, trying to think about what’s next.

“It makes me remember all the things I’ve lost,” she said. “At some point, I’ve got to grieve my mom. I’m still putting that on the back shelf. I’m not ready for that yet.”

hannon has made a group of friends who know exactly what her year has been like. She calls them Sher sisters. Ellen French House, whose mother was Norma French, knew something was wrong when she saw her mother’s bruised finger, like someone had ripped the wedding ring right off her hand.

MJ Jennings, whose mother was Leah Corken, lives a half-mile from The Tradition-Prestonwood and not far from where the alleged killer lived. “Chemirmirville,” she calls it now, and she wants to move.

Loren Adair, whose mother was Phyllis Payne, goes into the garage now when the grief is too much to handle. She sits in her car and closes the door before she screams, so she won’t upset her blue-heeler mix, Scout, inside.

The four are in nearly constant communication. They talk on the phone every day. They text each other late at night. They compare the progress of their mothers’ civil and criminal cases. They show off their jewelry — the heirlooms they wear, the ones they still have left.

Not long ago, they got together to talk about ev- erything they’ve gone through. Loren said it took a Loren Adair (from left), MJ Jennings and Shannon month after her mother died for her to realize that a Gleason Dion, all of whose mothers police investi- large cache of jewelry was missing. She had always gators believe were killed by Billy Chemirmir, have kept it in a coffee can in the fridge. formed a tight bond, along with Ellen French House, whose mother died under the same circumstances. The four stay in touch constantly and are focused on “I can’t even say it,” Loren said, her voice cracking. lobbying for new laws for the protection of senior citi- “He had to have asked her where it was.” zens. (Lynda Gonzalez /The Dallas Morning News) “Don’t even think about that,” Shannon said, reaching over and gripping Loren’s hand. “I have the same things. Don’t think about it. It’s OK.”

The women don’t doubt that Chemirmir killed their mothers. But getting the justice system to say so is a long, grinding process.

Each woman got that shocking call from a detective. Each waited for the cause of death to be amend- ed. Each feared that the medical examiner would list the cause as “undetermined” — a purgatory they couldn’t imagine living with.

After the homicide rulings came through, each waited for a grand jury to decide whether Chemirmir should be charged with the crime. MJ, whose mother’s death certificate was amended in early Octo- ber, is still waiting for the indictment.

Through it all, they’ve had to mourn their mothers again and again, all while reckoning with feelings of anger and guilt.

“I just keep saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,’” MJ said.

“Oh, yeah,” Shannon said. “‘I’m sorry I didn’t protect you from this.’”

“I’ve said that so much,” Loren said. “‘I’m so sorry this happened.’”

The four women are making it their mission to lobby for new laws protecting seniors. A while back, they met with state Rep. Julie Johnson and state Sen. Nathan Johnson, both Dallas Democrats, to push for laws requiring security at independent senior living communities.

“Something needed to change; I wanted my mother’s friends safer than she had been,” Shannon said.

Together, they are starting a foundation to support their activism. They’ve named it SOSS: Secure Our Seniors Safety.

hannon doesn’t use Chemirmir’s name. SJust like she doesn’t use the name of the man who attacked her sister all those years ago. To her, they’re The Rapist and The Murderer.

She has faith in the prosecutors who are preparing for Chemirmir’s trial. In July, Dallas County Dis- trict Attorney John Creuzot’s office said it would seek the death penalty in the death of Lu Thi Harris.

A conviction in any one of the dozen killings he’s been charged with will mean at least life in prison without parole. Then Shannon won’t have to constantly relive it all, as she does in Nancy’s case.

She found out in August that her sister’s attacker will stay locked up in Amarillo until at least next August. Though relieved, she also realized that his next parole board hearing could happen close to Chemirmir’s trial. The cases could converge again, leaving Shannon feeling trapped between the sto- ries of two women who trusted a stranger on their doorstep.

“My mom and my sister both opened their doors to evil,” Shannon said. “They were trusting and not suspicious and something came to their door and they opened and let it in.”

n Sundays, Shannon spends time at the playground her mother helped plan at Church of the Holy OCommunion in Far North Dallas. She remembers Doris standing on a little rise with the bishop as they imagined what it would look like.

Last spring, Shannon and her husband, Eric, bought a tree for the playground. The Chinese pistache will bloom red each October near the anniversary of Doris’ death. At its base, the tree has a large brick marker:

THIS TREE IS GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF DORIS GLEASON

Now Shannon sits there, a cool breeze moving the limbs softly. A group of boys runs up and asks her to check the Rangers score. She pulls out her phone to look.

One of the boys spots a big blue ring on Shannon’s right hand.

“What kind of stone is that?” he asks.

“That is a blue topaz,” Shannon replies. “My mother used to have one like this.”

No one has been able to track down Doris’ topaz ring. The gold necklace, too, is likely gone forever.

So Shannon has been buying back similar pieces, one at a time. The blue ring is just the latest.

Informed of the score, the boys scamper off. Shannon watches them play. She thinks of her mother. She reaches up to her neckline and touches the gold chain. The guardian angel, she knows, is still there.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated when Billy Chemirmir was arrested for tres- passing at Edgemere in Dallas. He was arrested in June 2016.