BRYAN, EMILY, REBECCA AND ZACH STAY - 14, 9, 7 and 4 yo (7/14) - / Charged: Ex-Uncle, Ron Lee Haskell - Spring, TX

Man suspected in slaughter of 6, including 4 children, surrenders after Houston-area standoff

The shooting happened near Spring, Texas in northern Harris County on Wednesday afternoon. One 15-year-old victim survived after getting a bullet to the head. Four children were among the dead.

BY  Sasha Goldstein
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Published: Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 8:17 PM/Updated: Thursday, July 10, 2014, 1:25 AM

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP Law enforcement officers surround the suspected gunman in a massacre that left six people dead, including four children, in a Houston suburb. 

Six people, including four children, were shot dead and a 15-year-old girl survived a bullet to the head in a grisly massacre Wednesday afternoon at a home in suburban Houston, police said.

The suspected killer, still armed and reportedly an uncle of some of the victims, held officers at bay for hours in a cul-de-sac some three miles from the Spring, Texas crime scene. He surrendered around 10 p.m. local time as police closed in.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP Law enforcement officers surround a shooting suspect in his car Wednesday. 

"It appears this stems from a domestic issue with a breakup in the family from what our witness has told us," Assistant Chief Deputy Constable Mark Herman of the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office told reporters.
The man was described as in his 30s and 'cool as a cucumber,' police said.  



Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP
The man, described as in his 30s, fled the bloody scene to kill more family members, police said. But officers intercepted his gray sedan, which led dozens of patrol cars on a slow-speed chase until the suspect was cornered in the cul-de-sac.
SWAT vehicles have surrounded the car and even began to ram it.  
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ABC13
Five people died at the scene while a sixth, a child, died at a hospital, the Harris County Sheriff's Office Said. The survivor, a 15-year-old girl, called 911 after being shot in the head and warned cops the armed man was headed to kill other family members.


Standoff with suspected Texas shooter
Harris County Sheriff's deputies are in a standoff with a suspect in Spring, Texas near Houston. The standoff is just three miles from a shooting left at least five...



The wounded girl was flown to the hospital and is in critical condition. It’s unclear what, exactly, sparked the massacre at 711 Leaflet Lane near Interstate 45 and Cypresswood Drive.


Dozens of police trained their guns on the suspected killer, who sat in his car, during an hours-long standoff. Two SWAT vehicles arrived and surrounded the gray sedan, which was squeezed from the front and the rear by the trucks. Police evacuated homes around the scene during the operation.

The suspect was described as a man in his 30s with a beard who was "cool as a cucumber" and was "just sitting in his car looking out at us" when cops approached, Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Gilliland told the Associated Press.

The shooting happened near Lemm Elementary School.



http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/gunman-suburban-houston-standoff-5-dead-2-children-wounded-harris-county-shooting-article-1.1861082

Six killed, including four children, in Houston-area shooting

BY DANIEL KRAMER, HOUSTON Texas
Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:54am EDT

(Reuters) - A gunman shot six people to death, four of them children, in what appeared to be a domestic dispute in a Houston, Texas, suburb late on Wednesday then fled the scene before surrendering to police after a standoff, a police official said.

Harris County Constable Ron Hickman told reporters after the suspect's arrest the victims ranged from 4 to 40 years of age, and preliminary information indicated two of the dead were children adopted by the gunman and his estranged wife.

Hickman added that the violence stemmed from "obviously a domestic situation that went south, probably a divorce or separation."

The victims were two boys, ages 4 and 14, two girls, ages 7 and 9, and a man and woman, ages 39 and 33, a police spokesman said. The shooting occurred in the middle-class Houston suburb of Spring.

A 15-year-old girl who also was shot but survived provided police with the name of the suspect and where he was believed to be going after he fled the scene. This enabled officers to head him off before he arrived at the home of another family, police said.

A constable at the scene told Reuters the 15-year-old had said the shooter was a family member. He said it did not appear he was the father of the children.

CNN citing Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Thomas Gilliland said all of the children were either biological or adopted children of the suspect. Reuters could not independently confirm the report.

Police did not release the names of the suspect and the victims or a possible motive. He could be charged as soon as Thursday.

"We don't know why this happened," nearby resident Paul Anthony Slawinski told Reuters. "This man, his wife, and children were the definition of compassion and charity."

After the shooting, the gunman led police on a nearly half-hour pursuit capped by a standoff in a residential cul-de-sac a few miles from the scene of the slayings.

Streaming video footage from local television station KTRK showed the suspect's car sandwiched between two trucks where the chase ended, with more than a dozen police vehicles nearby.

After a four-hour interlude in which the suspect was seen placing a gun to his head, he walked out of the vehicle with his hands raised, then laid down on the ground to be taken into custody.

Five of the victims were found dead on the scene, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. Two others were flown by helicopter to an area hospital, but one, a child, later died while the other was listed in critical condition, the sheriff's office said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/10/us-usa-shooting-texas-idUSKBN0FF04320140710

Texas man charged with capital murder for shooting dead six

BY DANIEL KRAMER, SPRING Texas
Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:21am EDT

Excerpt:

(Reuters) - A Texas man was charged with capital murder on Thursday in the shooting deaths of six people, including four children, in a domestic dispute in suburban Houston, authorities said.

Ron Lee Haskell, 33, was being held without bond and has not spoken with police since he was taken into custody on Wednesday night after the shooting in Spring, Texas, they said.

...

"Mr. Haskell was married to a relative of the victims," said Mark Herman, the assistant chief deputy for the Harris County Constable Precinct 4 office.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/10/us-usa-shooting-texas-idUSKBN0FF04320140710

How a 15-Year-Old Stopped More Killings in Texas

Jul 10, 2014, 7:02 AM ET
By RHEANA MURRAY, Digital Reporter

The Texas gunman who killed six people was out to murder more family members, police said, and a wounded 15-year-old at the house stopped him from causing even more carnage.

The 15-year-old was allegedly shot by the gunman, but managed to tell police who he was before she was rushed via helicopter to a hospital, where she was in critical condition, according to authorities. She is the lone survivor of Wednesday's bloody rampage at a home in Spring, Texas.

The teen managed to dial 911 after she was shot - telling police that the man shot four of her siblings ages 4 to 13 and two adults before fleeing the house to try to kill her grandparents.

"She was able to provide us the name of the person who shot them, where he was going next," Constable Ron Hickman said during a press conference late Wednesday. The constable had initially said the gunman was her father, but authorities backed away from that statement early today, saying the relationship was unclear.

Police called the girl their "only clue" in finding the shooter, who is now in custody. She also placed the 911 call that alerted police of the shooting, which happened late afternoon in a quiet neighborhood in the Houston area.

His victims were all family members. Four of them were children, two boys ages 4 and 13 and two girls ages 7 and 9. Some of the children were adopted, police said.

The children's mother was out of state at the time of the shootings, police added.

The children were being cared by two other family members -- a 33-year-old woman and 39-year-old male, who were also killed. They were husband and wife, but it was not immediately clear how they were related to the suspect or the children.

The alleged gunman, who was caught after an hours-long stand-off with police, was out for even more blood.

"The grandparents were also targets," another police offer said at the press conference. "Fortunately, they were brought out of the house before that happened."

Detectives will interview the suspect, who surrendered after very intense hostage negotiations, to learn more about what triggered the rampage.

Editor’s Note: This story has been changed to reflect that the Harris County Sheriff’s Office this morning identified the suspect in the Texas shooting as Ron Haskell, 34. The Constable’s Office previously identified a different person as the suspect to ABC News. That individual’s name has been removed from this story.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/alleged-gunmans-daughter-stopped-killings/story?id=24499280

Texas Shooting Suspect Collapses In Court

Friday, July 11 2014, 01:27 PM MDT
MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press
RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI, Associated Press

SPRING, Texas (AP) A man accused of killing six members of his ex-wife's family, including four children, has collapsed in court as a prosecutor recited the charges against him.

A shackled Ronald Lee Haskell was standing before a state district judge Friday during a probable cause hearing when he fell to the ground. Deputies lifted him to his feet and the 33-year-old Haskell stood for about another minute before collapsing again.

He was lifted into a chair and wheeled from the courtroom. His court-appointed attorney, Doug Durham, says it appeared Haskell fainted. He says Haskell is being treated at the Harris County jail.

Durham says the defense will focus on Haskell's mental health.

Authorities say Haskell was searching for his ex-wife Wednesday when he shot the family in their suburban Houston home.

http://kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/texas-shooting-suspect-collapses-court-12515.shtml

Was Texas Shooting Suspect Ronald Haskell Seeking Vengeance?

BY ERIK ORTIZ
1 hour ago

Rage and despair defined Ronald Lee Haskell’s life in recent years, boiling over during fights with his wife and even after their messy breakup. But did his inner demons — and a possible taste for vengeance — drive him to murder six members of his ex-wife’s family?

Investigators in Harris County, Texas, haven’t said what triggered the shocking slayings Wednesday of parents Stephen and Katie Stay and four of their young children, although they believe they were caught in a domestic dispute between Haskell and his ex-wife. One of the Stay children, 15-year-old Cassidy, survived the attack and called 911.

Haskell now faces capital murder charges, and appeared for the first time in court Friday shaking and then collapsing before bailiffs had to usher him out in a wheelchair.

“Obviously the evidence is very compelling that he was responsible for the deaths of these children and his ex-wife's sister and her husband,” Haskell’s court-appointed attorney, Doug Durham, later said. “It’s a terrible tragedy. The question is: Is he legally responsible from a criminal standpoint?”

Defense lawyers are trying to determine the state of Haskell’s mental health as police continue to sift through the evidence and pinpoint what led to the twisted turn of events.

What happened in the home?

Haskell, 33, was disguised as a FedEx delivery worker when he went to the suburban Houston home of his ex-wife’s sister, Katie Stay, on Wednesday afternoon, police said. Oldest child Cassidy was home alone and answered the door. She told Haskell her parents weren’t home. He later returned, forcing his way in and tying Cassidy up, police said.

Minutes later, her parents and her four siblings, ages 4 to 13, returned. Haskell allegedly tied them up as well, and demanded to know the whereabouts of his ex-wife, Melannie Lyon. They said they didn’t know, and they were each shot in the back of the head. The bullet for Cassidy only grazed her, and she played dead until the gunman fled, she told police.

The critically wounded teenager was able to identify him to police as her ex-uncle, and said he was planning to drive to her grandparents’ home and kill them. Police, however, tracked him down and he was arrested after a 20-minute police chase and a three-hour standoff. Around 10 p.m., Haskell got out of his car, fell to his knees and surrendered.

Where is Haskell’s ex-wife and did her family know Haskell was pursuing them?

Melannie Lyon’s sister, Katie Stay, was the one who convinced her to leave Cache County, Utah, where she was living with Haskell and their four children, and move to Spring, Texas, relatives told NBC News. Around that time, Lyon had filed a protective order against Haskell and was planning to file for divorce after more than a decade of marriage.

Lyon ended up living with her parents in Spring. It’s unclear, however, where she and her children were at the time of the shootings. She has not appeared publicly or commented since the incident.

It doesn't appear that her family knew Haskell was headed for Texas. When he arrived at the Stay home, Cassidy didn't even recognize her ex-uncle right away, police said.

Did Haskell have run-ins with law enforcement before?

Several times in different capacities. One of his earliest arrests was in 2008 on suspicion of domestic violence, simple assault and committing an act of violence in front of children. Melannie Lyon told police her husband dragged her out of their bedroom by her hair and hit her in the side of the head.

Haskell said he had only pushed his wife, and that he was stressed from his job. Two of the couple’s children were ages 3 and 5 at the time. Haskell pleaded guilty to an assault charge in the case.

In 2009, Haskell flagged down a police officer saying that his wife had left the family and he believed she was going to harm herself. He called back and said he found his wife and was taking her to the hospital, records show.

As recently as July 2, Haskell allegedly choked his mother and threatened to kill her. Court documents say Haskell was upset that she was talking to his ex-wife. Karla Haskell reported to police her son “told me he was going to kill me, my family and any officer who stops him.” She filed a domestic violence protective order, and San Diego County Sheriff's Department detectives looked for Haskell for several days but never found him, the department said this week.

Last October, a protective order filed by Lyon was dismissed when the couple agreed to a mutual restraining order and custody arrangements for their children. The judge said Ron Lee Haskell’s visits would have to be supervised by a psychologist.

Haskell had been living with his parents in San Marcos, California, before he traveled to Texas this week. He and his parents have a history of domestic disturbances, police records show.

Did Haskell have a history with guns?

Karla Haskell told police that her son stole her husband’s guns during a previous domestic violence incident. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confiscated those firearms.

Did he show signs of instability?

Despite all of the run-ins with police, he never received proper mental health treatment, his lawyer said. There was a time last year when Haskell was going through his divorce and his brother became worried. He asked authorities to perform a welfare check. But the brother spoke with Haskell and called back police asking them not to investigate, according to court documents.

Earlier in his life, Haskell appeared to have an ordinary upbringing. He went to high school in Alaska, played on the football team and was even voted prom king and class clown his senior year, according to The Alaska Dispatch.

He was quoted in his yearbook: “Why did they pick me to be class clown? I think it’s because I'm so darn good looking.”

Will prosecutors seek the death penalty?

It hasn’t been ruled out. Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson will decide soon what punishment he will pursue, prosecutors said Friday. Meanwhile, Haskell’s defense attorney said they would review whether he would plead not guilty by reason of insanity. He continues to be held without bond.

“The focus of my defense with Mr. Haskell is his mental condition. Our laws say a person suffering from mental illness is not criminally responsible,” said Durham, his attorney.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/texas-family-killings/was-texas-shooting-suspect-ronald-haskell-seeking-vengeance-n153811

The girl who moved a nation: Strangers donate more than $295,000 to heroine, 15, who saved her grandparents after uncle 'shot dead her family in Houston massacre'

○ Cassidy Stay survived Ronald Haskell's alleged July 9 shooting rampage
○ Haskell, 33, is accused of tying up and executing Katie and Stephen Stay, and four of their children aged 4 to 14
○ More than $295k has been raised through GoFundMe for the teen
○ Cassidy and grandfather Roger Lyon attended a memorial event at Lemm Elementary School in Texas on Saturday
○ It marked Cassidy's first public appearance since the tragedy

By DAILY MAIL REPORTERS
PUBLISHED: 15:17 EST, 14 July 2014
UPDATED: 05:18 EST, 15 July 2014

Generous strangers struck by her bravery have raised more than $295,000 for the heroic Texas teen who watched in horror as her ex-uncle allegedly executed her parents and four siblings at her family home last week.

Cassidy Stay, 15, survived the July 9 massacre by playing dead when a bullet grazed her head, before calling police - an action which saved the lives of her grandparents, who Ron Haskell was intent on killing next.

Inspired by the teenager's smiling stoicism, despite losing her entire family, thousands of supporters around the world have donated nearly $300,000 to an online GoFundMe campaign called 'Stay Strong' to assist her.

The 'Stay Family Tragedy - Cassidy Stay Fund' went live on Thursday, the day after the massacre, and within 24 hours approached $150,000.

'We had no idea that it would be the official site for that the family,' Jody Dellinger, one of the founders of the site, told Community Impact News. 'The outpouring just dumbfounds me when you have a tragedy like this.'

On Saturday, Cassidy and her grandfather Robert Lyon attended a celebration of life organized in Spring to remember their slain loved ones.

After taking a deep breath, a smiling Cassidy mounted the stage to address more than 400 people who came out to pay tribute to her parents and siblings, as seen in a video of the event recorded by Click2Houston.

She began by thanking those people who have been praying for her and the entire Stay family, and the first responders and medical personnel who took care of her.

With her voice slightly cracking, Cassidy said: 'I'm feeling a lot better and I'm on a very straightforward path to a full recovery.'  

Before continuing her prepared remarks, the brave young woman drew another deep breath and then proceeded to quote from one of her favorite books in the Harry Potter series.

'In the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore says, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest times if one only remembers to turn on the light,”’ she told the audience, wiping away tears.

In a voice filled with emotion, Cassidy Stay then told those in attendance she is certain that she and her family will be reunited someday.

'I know that my mom, dad, Bryan, Emily, Becca, and Zach are in a much better place, and that I'll be able to see them again one day,' she said.

Cassidy then flashed a smile and exclaimed, 'Stay Strong,' which has become a rallying cry for the girl's family and the Spring community.

Before the event at Lemm Elementary School, Cassidy helped release 600 colorful balloons into the air - 100 for each slain member of her family.

Katie Stay, 34, her husband, Stephen, 39, and four of their five children between the ages of 4 and 14 were shot dead in their suburban Houston home last Wednesday.

Ronald Haskell, 33, has been charged with capital murder in connection to the massacre.

During his first court appearance Friday, a disheveled-looking Haskell with handcuffs on his wrists collapsed in twice as a prosecutor read out details of the crime.

The heavyset man had to be lifted into a wheelchair and removed from the courtroom.

Authorities have said Haskell was searching for his ex-wife, Katie Stay's sister, Melanie, when he came to the Stays' home in Spring.

He tied up the family and put them face-down on the floor before shooting each in the back of the head, according to investigators. The family had refused to say where Haskell could find his ex-wife.

Investigators said that Cassidy suffered a skull fracture from a bullet graze but survived by playing dead to call 911 and warn police that Haskell planned to shoot other relatives.

Haskell was eventually cornered in front of the home of Cassidy's grandparents and taken into custody.

Al Barker, the lawyer who represented Melanie Lyon in her divorce from Haskell, has revealed to MailOnline that Haskell's ex-wife believes their split after 11 torturous years of marriage was to blame for the tragedy.

The attorney relayed a conversation he had this week with Melanie's mother, who told him that after learning the news of her sister and nephews' deaths her daughter said: 'She had to pay the ultimate price for freedom.'

Those who knew the Haskells have said that the couple had a rocky marriage, and that Melanie was desperate to get away from her husband who allegedly beat her in front of their children.

Haskell pleaded guilty to simple assault in a domestic violence-related incident in 2008, according to Utah state court records.

Court documents show that both Hasekll's mother and sister had requested restraining orders against him following domestic violence incidents that took place in November 2013 and as recently as last week.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2692030/The-girl-moved-nation-Strangers-donate-295-000-heroine-15-saved-grandparents-uncle-shot-dead-family-Houston-massacre.html#ixzz37Y4oYWHG

Visitation held for Stay family members killed during mass shooting
On the same day, Chick-Fil-A held fundraisers to donate proceeds to family

Author: Ryan Korsgard, Reporter, and Courtney Gilmore, Reporter
Published On: Jul 15 2014 07:21:58 AM CDT  
Updated On: Jul 15 2014 06:45:56 PM CDT

Houston - Six white caskets assembled in the front of the chapel at the Klein Funeral Home on Champion Forest Drive in northwest Harris County Tuesday show the magnitude of the Stay family tragedy nearly one week ago.

Relatives welcomed friends and family at visitation Tuesday night. Each casket has a picture of the family, along with flowers and a ribbon with each of the names.  It is a moving tribute to the six who were all killed inside their own home.

The family allowed a camera into Klein Funeral Home before the service to photograph the assembly. Local 2 was told the family wanted the community to see the love and support they have felt.

The visitation continued until 9:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Hafer.

Fundraiser to help Stay family

Chick-fil-A restaurants around the Houston area teamed up to help a family who went through an unthinkable tragedy.

Until 8 p.m. Tuesday, 40 restaurant locations offered a special promotion to support a special teenage girl. Cassidy Stay lost six members of her family when a disgruntled ex in-law shot and killed her parents, two brothers and two sisters. The 15-year-old was also shot, but managed to play dead until the gunman, Ronald Lee Haskell, left.

Cassidy was able to save her grandparents' lives by telling authorities Haskell was heading to their home. She lost part of a finger, but made a miraculous recovery and was able to speak to a crowd of supporters Saturday about her dearly-departed family.

"I know that my mom, dad, Bryan, Emily, Becca and Zach are in a much better place and that I'll be able to see them again one day," she said.

While Cassidy prepares to say goodbye to her family, Houstonians are supporting her in every way possible and Chick-fil-A has stepped up in a big way.

They are donating up to 20 percent of all sales made between 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday.

"You're giving back to some people who lost a lot of loved ones," said Travis Clark.

Myra Conejo has been personally touched by the company's generous giving.

"Chick-fil-A, I'm such a loyal supporter. My dad had brain surgery and he had a tumor and they let us do a fundraiser and get 10 percent of the cost to help pay for some of his medical bills," Conejo said.

You do have to mention the Stay family when you order your meal.

A GoFundMe site for the Stay Family has raised more than $325,000.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/visitation-held-for-stay-family-members-killed-during-mass-shooting/26959284

Funeral held for parents, four children in Texas

By Linda Talbot
For LDS Church News
Published: Thursday, July 17 2014 3:13 p.m. MDT

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After funeral for Stephen and Kathie Stay and four of their children caskets are prepared for loading into waiting hearses.

Funeral is held for parents and four children who were murdered in their home. A 15-year-old daughter survived the attack on the family.

The LDS Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The publication's content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - The front of the program for the funeral service read: “The Stay Family. Stephen, Katie, Cassidy, Bryan, Emily, Rebecca & Zachary. Est. Dec 27th 1997-Eternity. Families Can Be Together Forever.” Six of the family members were eulogized and honored Wednesday, July 16, at 2 p.m. at the Hafer Road LDS Chapel in Houston, Texas, while Cassidy, 15, the eldest of the children and sole survivor, surrounded by relatives, mourned and remembered.

Stephen and Katie Stay and four of their children were shot to death July 9, allegedly by the ex-husband of a sister to Katie Stay. Cassidy, who was wounded, played dead until the gunman left. She called 911, an action that authorities believe saved the lives of her grandparents and other relatives.

Amid laughter and tears the lives of the deceased members of the Stay family were celebrated. Six matching white caskets stretched across the entire front of the chapel, each topped with a spray of flowers in vivid colors. Poster-sized close-up photos of the couple and each of the four children were placed on the stand behind the caskets, a smiling reminder of the eternal nature of families. Family members filled the center section of the chapel and were joined by first responders from the Harris County EMS and Sheriff’s Department. Over 1,200 friends and neighbors crowded into the Hafer Road chapel, while the service was broadcast to a nearby elementary school and also to the Louetta chapel.

Stephen, 39, son of Thomas and Joyce Stay, was the youngest born to his parents. Stephen grew up on a 20-acre California orange grove and learned the value of hard work, love at home and service. He served a Cambodian and Laotian-speaking mission in Texas. “Love at home was not just a phrase on a wall, it was what he lived,” said a brother, Roger Stay. “He was eternally committed to Katie.”

Katie Lyon Stay, 34, daughter of Roger and Kelly Lyon, was the oldest of six siblings. She was noted for loving to throw parties, talented in crafts, always caring for others and holding extended family together. Aubrey Westwood, a sister of Katie, told of how Katie and another sister, Melanie, would carpool with their children. On the way to school, the song they played the most was “It’s a Good Day to Have a Good Day,” by LDS artist Hilary Weeks. “That is what Katie would want us to remember today,” Sister Westwood said.

In 2009 the family moved to Spring, a northern suburb of Houston. Stephen served as elders quorum president and both he and Katie were service oriented. Just recently after visiting with a neighbor, Katie asked if she could come back and help weed, and she did. The family was actively involved in T-ball for special needs children.

Bryan, 13, was a deacon, loved to pass the sacrament and enjoyed Scouting, music and his tablet.

Emily, 9, who was in choir, loved to sing and adored Hello Kitty.

Rebecca, 7, or “Becca-boo,” watched out for Zach and was full of life. Because she was so petite, she worried that when Zach grew bigger than she was, she would be the last child.

Zachary, 4, loved super heroes of all kinds and joined with Dad and sister Cassidy in an affinity for crazy cat videos.

Katie Stay’s father, Roger Lyon, asked in the invocation that “we know of the good” that can come from this tragedy and to “be good neighbors as they were.”

“The one thing we’ve learned through this is that the world is a good place,” said Randy Cousins, an uncle, as he presented the life sketch during the service.

Bishop Scott McBride of the Westfield Ward reminisced about each of the family members. Speaking to Cassidy, Bishop McBride said, “You have a family of guardian angels and a family in this community who love you, looking over you.”

He thanked the first responders along with the Church and community members who have come forward to help. In response to those asking what they can do, Bishop McBride said, “I would ask everyone here to seek out ways to help each other.”

Elder Bradley D. Foster of the Second Quorum of the Seventy told Cassidy, “I’ve been asked to represent Church members all over the world who mourn with you.” Elder Foster shared a letter to Cassidy from the First Presidency. He added, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. Cassidy, you are a sermon. In a world that doesn’t believe in families – you are teaching them that families can be together forever.”

A private interment followed the 90-minute funeral service.



http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865607097/Funeral-held-for-parents-four-children-in-Texas.html

Stay family murder suspect misses court appearance due to evaluation

Author: Kelci Johnston, News Associate Producer
Published On: Aug 18 2014 07:03:36 AM CDT  
Updated On: Aug 18 2014 10:11:38 AM CDT

HOUSTON - Ronald Haskell, the man accused of killing six members of his ex-wife's family and injuring a 15-year-old girl, was not present for a scheduled court appearance Monday morning.

Officials said he did not appear before a judge because he was being evaluated.

The last time Haskell was in court, he collapsed to the floor after hearing the capital murder charge and the evidence against him.

His attorney, Doug Durham, has said he will explore an insanity defense.

Police said Stephen Stay, his wife Katie, Bryan, Rebecca, Emily and Thomas were killed July 9th by a man who had previously walked away from a mental health facility.

It's not clear when Haskell walked away.

Haskell is currently on a mental health floor of the Harris County Jail.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/stay-family-murder-suspect-expected-in-court-today/27580654