If you have a comment or a memory, you can write to me at jeanine@ripinheaven.com
Since the launch of this book and website in the summer of 2004, the many e-mails I've received have been a great source of comfort and affirmation to my family and me. I'm honored to share a few of them with you here.
The remarkable Libby Hodges, who I am proud to say has become a friend of mine, in addition to having been a wonderful friend to both Julie and Robin, offers this poem in memory of her friends:
Since You Went Away
Since you went away my heart has been torn in two and I do not know what to do because love can not bring you back. I have been thinking about the way you left me and it makes me mad to my soul! I want to know what the hell gives man the right to take what belongs to God? Man is a thief because he takes what belongs to God. I keep on keeping on and I try my very best to be strong even though I know the way you left was wrong. I remember your smile and your playful ways just like a child. The evil that took you can never win not as long as I am your friend. You all were so beautiful and smart and I will always remember you two as I make a fresh new start.I will keep you all in my heart for as far as love can travel. I will love you two Julie and Robin Kerry for always.
Dr. Richard A. Reiman, who was a professor of Robin's at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, had this to say about her:
To her credit, Robin could not reconcile herself to the prejudices and follies of the world. It is not unusual for a young person to notice these things and find fault with them. Robin stood out because she cared about the world and even the fools themselves, desperately wanted to understand the causes behind them so as to fix them, rather than existentially dismissing the world as so many young people do. Robin had a deep respect for things that aren't considered "cool" by peer-conscious students, things like education and what older people (sometimes) know. If you asked her a question, she said what she thought, period, utterly unburdened by self-consciousness.
She was a student in an Honors seminar I taught at UMSL. A couple of memories stand out. Once I asked a friend of hers in class why he wanted to go by one name rather than another. Robin rushed to his defense, "Because that's the name he likes!" That kind of courage of her convictions impressed me, but what was even more impressive was that in a split second the storm would pass and she would listen to what I had to say with the same readiness to consider it as before. In other words, she judged what people said but she did not typeor label the people themselves. Another time she arrived fifteen minutes early to class and sat quietly by herself (another thing the self-conscious might consider un-cool). I asked her what she planned to do the following year. She said she wanted to travel to Europe and learn French while studying abroad. Yet another time she wondered why the national debt increased just because American citizens bought more from foreign countries than Americans sold to foreign countries. "If Americans pay for the goods," she reasoned logically, why would the debt rise? Like Socrates himself, she had me tangled up in the inconsistencies of my answers to this question, which always seemed logical to me before, but now no longer. I promised to get back to her with a logical answer, but I was not able to come up with one that I knew would be sufficiently rigorous for her in time. I have never had a student since who demanded the same degree of clarity or who had the same intensity of respect for the subject.
That is my dominant memory of Robin, of her intensity as a person. That, and her kindness (which I have since learned, comes from her family) will always make her unforgettable.
An elementary school classmate, Kelli Thompson, wrote:
I just finished reading your book. It really moved me. I grew up in St. Louis and now live in Atlanta. I have spent many nights of my teenage years on the Chain of Rocks Bridge. The graffiti was so beautiful and the bridge itself always felt scary. I think it was the art and the fear that brought people to the CRB at night.
Your words made me smile and cry. I smiled because I remembered how Julie and Robin were in grade school. I went to St. Jerome. I was ahead of Julie. Julie and Robin, even as young gils were LEADERS, not followers. I always admired their capability to be themselves while the rest of us struggle with finding our identity.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Kelli Thompson
Robin's childhood friend, Denise, wrote:
I want to begin with telling you my name is Denise Abbott (formerly Fronczak). I graduated with Robin in 1986 from St. Jerome Catholic School. She was just not another classmate, she was my best friend since Kindergarten, until we eventually lost base when we both went to different high schools. I am not sure why we did not stay together, but to this day I regret it. Ginna (known to me as Mrs. Kerry) was so-called my 2nd mother. I went home with Robin everyday after school until my mother picked me up after work while we were in Kindergarten. My favorite memory I have of Robin was when we would have a tea party with cookies and water and would play this 45rpm album called "The Little White Duck" I still have that record. I can hear us singing it "A Little White Duck swimming in the water, A Little White Duck doing what he out to, ------" Through our grade school years, I spent most of my summers at her house and going to the civic center to swim (even though I had a pool in my backyard) and playing Pac Man and Donkey Kong on her Atari game at home. We always ate Vegetable Soup with mozzarella cheese spread on top. Julie was a year older than me; therefore, I did not get to know her as well. I do remember that Julie loved the Smurfs (little blue characters). After I saw her collection I decided collect my own. They both could play that piano, were they ever so talented. Well, I could keep going on forever, but I do not want to bore you. But I will always keep those and many more memories with me forever in my mind and heart.
I wanted to THANK YOU for writing your book A Rip in Heaven; I now feel that I have a little closure in my life. What I mean is that for past 13 years I have always wondered what really happened that night. I would have dreams, or should I say nightmares of what could have happened. I would always see and speak to Robin (a younger Robin; eighth grade age) in my dreams while no one else could see her. I would ask her to tell me what happened, but she could never tell me. I have carried around a picture of when we went to Six Flags in my purse hoping that one day they were find her. After reading your book I realized that you were not able to go to the funeral celebration, I was asked by Ginna to read the 1st reading and the responsorial psalm. I have a fear of speaking in front of people, but that day I know that Robin was there right by my side helping me.
I also received e-mails from some people who did not know my cousins, but had other connections to our case.
One that was particularly important to me came from Chief Joseph Brauer, who was a detective in St. Louis in 1991. Brauer played an integral role in arresting the men who murdered Julie and Robin, and through our correspondence, I came to realize that, while certain members of the St. Louis Police Deparment definitely earned my family's anomosity, it was easy to forget that there were also a lot of guys like Brauer in there working the trenches. Ultimately, it is Brauer and those like him that we have to thank for catching the murderers and clearing my brother's name.
I won't print my conversations with Chief Brauer here publicly, but I do want to THANK him publicly—not just for doing a fine job in 1991, but also for being open, understanding, and compassionate all these years later. So, on behalf of the Cummins family: thank you, Chief Brauer.
Another brave man to whom my family owes a debt of gratitude is the inimitable Nels Moss. I received this e-mail from another long-time fan of his, and thought I'd like to share this personal glimpse with readers:
Thanks for sharing so much of yourself and your family through your memoir. It was beautifully written. I only know Julie and Robin through your words, memories, and past news reports (thanks for clarifying). However, I do know Nels very well. Our families were always very close. I was like one of his daughters; I babysat his children, spent time at their clubhouse on the Mississippi, shared holidays with them, we lived down the street so we saw the family almost every day. Because of this, I felt compelled to tell you that during the trials, Nels called my mother and asked that she pray that those 4 (I can barely call them men here) would be convicted. It is so hard to believe that a human being could do such horrific things. And, I want to mention here that I am so sorry for your brother and was happy to read at the end that he knows this was not his fault in any way, shape or form. One night I was jumped by 3 "men" who punched me and robbed me. It was a horrible experience but one that has left me much more sensitive to someone else in any situation where they are victimized, traumatized and treated unfairly by those who do not understand, know the facts or want to.
I just wanted to share my thanks for your portayal of Nels who is a wonderful person. He really cared about the outcome and your family's plight (which is evident in your book). He has had his struggles over the years, but I know that he has only tried to do what's best and what's right. Most importantly, thank you for sharing your cousins with me and opening up yourself to so many. You are a brave woman and I'm sure your cousins would be very proud of the words you shared, the life you are living, and your journey to change the world.
Kisses and Revolution,
Jeannie (donnelly) Marlinghause
This one came from a lady who could really empathize with Tom's situation. She asked to remain anonymous:
I felt Tom's pain through your book. Being a daughter of a St. Louis City Policeman for many years, I know that what happened the night that Tom was taken in, probably really happened. I could feel the torture and the abuse, as I have witnessed it and I have been a victim of it myself. I know all of the policeman and the attorney's that you mention in the book. I know that what you write of, is real.
Thank God Tom is free, and I pray he is living a forgiving life now, even though he has been through so much. I too, am a Catholic, and I have found an even greater place with God, now I realize just how awful a life I could have had.
God Bless You and your family!
These are from other Homicide Survivors and Violent Crime victims. It means so much to me that victims might find healing and empowerment in banding together to remember our loved ones.
I recently finished reading your book—and also wanted to write and tell you thank you for sharing your story. My brother Joe Adams also wrote to you recently to say thank you—and shared a little of our family's tragedy to murder. My older brother John was murdered on May 12, 2002 by his landlord over a rent dispute....anyway, I am the youngest in our family of 7, and my brother John was my best friend and favorite big brother (6 years older than me). I miss him dearly. I found comfort in your book—I am so sorry for your loss. So many people do not understand—I am struggling with the fact that they cannot. Even people close to me—or at least who were close to me—friends who "should" understand, just cannot. It angers me that the murderers get the attention—like you spoke so clearly of—and that the victims are so easily forgotten. Thank you for being a voice for so many victims.
I passed the book to my dad, who is 82 years old. He and my mom go to POMC meetings regularly. He said he read the book in one afternoon—just couldn't put it down. He wanted me to pass along his condolences to you and your family—and he added some other words in Italian that I guess I won't repeat, but you can imagine what they were and who they were directed to. Anyways, thanks for listening. I know your cousins are with my brother—in a much better place and at peace. I have to believe that to continue this life without him.
Andrea Adams
St. Paul, Minnesota
I feel like I have personally met you and your family after reading your book. I am so sorry for your loss of Julie and Robin I lost my nephew on May 19th, 2004 to a homicide. I thought reading this book may be too close to home and way too soon. But I bought it and could not put it down. In some ways, your comforting words made me feel better and that our family is not out there alone. I now am about to tell my sister about your great website. I am sure that will help us with the upcoming trial and handling our continuing grief.
Thank you again,
Love, Cindee
I am not sure if the author of A Rip in Heaven will receive this, Jeanine Cummins, but I just had to write and say how beautiful and touching your book was to read. I just finished it. I really enjoyed your writing and the fact that this book is a voice for your cousins, your brother, and victims is so moving. I applaud you.
As a person who has also been directly affected by a murderer (in my case the murderer was my father and the victim was my mother), I truly appreciate the comfort your book has given me. As a legislative director, I work hard to help the growth of victim's right legislation, and will continue to do so. Bless you and your family for all you have been through!
Brianna Ziola
Michigan House of Representatives
Lansing, MI
Some were from people who were moved to action by my cousins' examples. What a vibrant tribute to Julie and Robin—that people are out there making a difference in their memory!
My name is Marshall Snyder and I just finished reading your book. I have never had such a flood of different emotions in my life. Your tale is heartbreaking and yet inspiring in so many ways. For years I have been contemplating going to college and earning a degree in criminal justice so I can gain entrance into a federal agency such as the F.B.I. or another facet of law enforcement. It's incomprehensible to me that people can have such a lack of love and respect for human life. The country is rampant with these kinds of crimes everyday but to hear about one in such an intimate way was downright shocking to me. Usually hearing about these horrible tragedies is done by reading a newspaper or turning on the six o' clock news. I would simply like to thank you for having the courage the right about an event so terrifying and full of anguish as the one that occurred in your life. I wish you well in your writing career and hope to be out there fighting to good fight within four years. May God bless you and your family, especially Julie, Robin and Tom.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Marshall L Snyder
P.S. I am the father of two young daughter, Hannah Beth (18 months) and Sarah Grace (six months), please continue your rigorous efforts to inform the public about these kinds of crimes. Thank you.
The author of this one asked to remain anonymous due to the fact that this person is a well-known death penalty opponent and activist:
I have just finished reading A Rip in Heaven and I found it to be honest, powerful, and amazing.
I did not know them, of course, but this book helped me immensely. I tend to oppose the death penalty for many policy reasons (as opposed to moral reasons) that I will not bore you with, but I have always been concerned with the abolition ovement's failure, with some exceptions, to embrace survivors of murder victims. Your book serves as a starck reminder of the importance—of the essentiality—of this contact, this dialogue.
One reason I am so glad I read your book is that there have been whispers in our movement that Reginald Clemons is innocent. Before your book came out, I would do Internet and Lexis searches to try to determine, on my own, whether he was guilty. And the truth is, I could not figure it out. The best conclusion I could come up with was that two beautiful young women were killed and it seemed pretty apparent that Reggie was there, but after that, what happened? Now, because of your book, I feel like at last I know the truth. And there is nothing more irksome to me than people in my movement who (usually with all the best intentions) make false claims of innocence about people on death row.
About two or three weeks ago, I heard of your book and immediately ordered it. I finally finished reading it this morning. In the aftermath that you wrote, you hint at the death penalty being an issue that is larger than us. I think you are right. And I know, with all the certainty in my being, that you are right when you say that we must remember the victims.
X
Thank you for writing this powerful book about this terrible family tragedy. I work in the correctional system and have placed your book in our jail library where inmates can read it. I believe it will have a significant impact on many of them. There are too few books available about the victims of crime and the terrible impact that crime has on their lives. Also I believe you give another good reason why capital punishment should be eliminated---it only adds misery to the already hurting families who are left. Again, thanks for sharing your family's painful story with us.
Rick Riddle
Correctional Program Mgr.
Lake County Jail, Waukegan, IL
My name is Linda Mowrer and I am the Community Service Coordinator of the Wayne County Common Pleas Court in Wooster, Ohio. The Judges of our court have allowed certain non-violent felony offenders to participate in a reading group as part of their community service obligation. We read six (6) books and have a dicussion about each one. Judge Wiest read your book while on vacation and recommended it for our book group. They loved it, and it was one of the best discussions we have ever had. They discussed the police interrogation techniques, the death penalty, etc. They were wondering what Tom is doing now and a further update on the legal status of the defendants. Especially, if Winfrey received parole this year.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. We enjoyed your book so much. We will be keeping it on the list for future reading groups.
Linda Mowrer
I work with a victim advocacy group in Canada. I just wanted to drop you a line and commend you on your book. It was one of the most powerful books I have ever read on the subject of crime victims. It will be required reading for all of our staff and volunteers.
Thank you for sharing your story
Steve
I finished reading, A Rip in Heaven last night and want to tell you how much your book touched my soul. That Robin & Julie were so soon forgotten in this horrible tragedy has inspired me to become a victim's advocate. I called the sheriff's department this morning to get the paper work sent to me to become a volunteer.
I wish your family much happiness and much calmer seas to travel in the future. I hope Tom has been able to let this all go, as much as possible, and go on with his life.
Thank you for such an inspirational, although heart breaking, book. You are quite the gifted writer!
Sincerely,
Debbie Krivickas
Deltona, FL
I am an advocate who works with victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The agency that I work for will be holding a candlelight vigil on August 25th to honor crime victims. I plan to make a banner in honor of your cousins.
I wanted to share with you that I thought your memoir was excellent. I was left with a feeling of connection to the victims and their families. I wish you continued success as you try to put the focus back on the victims and NOT the perpetrators—your book did just that!
Sincerely,
Michelle Martin
And so many diverse people simply wrote to express admiration for my amazing cousins, along with prayers and support for my family:
My name is Jamie and I'm from Ohio. I just finished reading your book and I would like to say you got your point across very clearly. It is sad how much attention the evil people get and the good ones are forgotten. I am so sorry that this tragedy came to your family. My prayers are that God will comfort you and help you to heal. I'm not gonna act like I know how you feel because I don't, but I hope that there will soon be justice for your cousins. It sounds like they made quite an impact in their world for the short time they were here. You did a great job on your book. Tell Ginna she'll be in someone's prayers in Ohio.
Jamie
13-years old
Ohio
I am writing to let you know how much your book moved me. I bought A Rip in Heaven yesterday and could not put it down. Today my husband and I walked the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge to remember...
Although I did not know Robin and Julie, I want to thank you for letting me know about them. My heart bleeds for your family. I hope comfort comes, knowing Robin and Julie are now in a better place. Thank you for the update on your brother, Tom. I am please to know he is living life as he should be. I will never forget.
Courtney
Illinois
I just finished reading your book today. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this after reading a book. I don't know what it was about this book that affected me like this. I can't even begin to imagine what you and your family have been going through since that night in April of 1991, but I wanted to let you know that my heart and my prayers are with Julie and Robin and the rest of your family.
After reading your story, I for one will never forget about Julie and Robin and other victims like them. I never realized how much the pain and suffering of the family members goes on so long after the tragedy. Thanks for sharing the story.
Robin Stauffer
Although I may not be the type of audience you were look for, I was captivated by your life story. Through your book I cam to know youf family and I was appalled at how inhuman those men were to do such a thing. Once again, I may not be your target audience because I am at a younger age, 12, but I felt I had to write you and congratulate you because I know that it must have been hard to relive those memories and then write them down.
P.S.—I will keep checking up on your site for information about the case.
Chelsea
I didn't know your cousins Julie or Robin...but I just wanted to send you a quick e-mail to let you know how much your book impacted me. It was really well written, incredibly thought-provoking, and it really made me reflect on my life. I know that the pain and grief from the loss of your cousins will never go away, but I hope that by writing this book, you and your brother and your entire family feel that you have made a significant contribution to the world, in terms of opening people's eyes to our legal and justice systems and their potential flaws/benefits...as well as truly reminding people that you only get one chance , and each and every day should be lived, enjoyed, and valued. Because you never know.
I actually read your book a few weeks ago on a plane ride home from visiting my parents in Arizona, and despite the incredible sadness that I felt upon finishing it, I insisted that my sister read it too. She called me last night to discuss it, and couldn't believe how "empty" she felt. She reminded me of a line that Tink said in the book about valuing each day as if it were your last. I also realized that I had never checked the website for any updates on the criminals who did this, so I did so today. I felt compelled to write you and tell you how much I admire what you did. Best of luck with your future, and my belated but still heartfelt condolences to your family.
Regards,
Pamela S. Jacobson
New York
I read A Rip in Heaven in one night. I cannot tell you how much it saddened me to know what your family, your brother, and Julie and Robin went through. I was numb when I finished the book at 2:45 am. In a world that glamourizes violence, your book speaks the truth of how crime affects families and ripples outward for years to come.
I teach sophomore English and am going to recommend to my department chair that this be required reading in our next textbook adoption. Please know that as your poignant words spread, your cousins' legacy for peace moves forward. Who says we can't change the world?
Elizabeth Althardt
Just finished reading your memoir. I fear anything I say will sound trite. So please allow me to simply thank you for sharing your love letter to your cousins, and to thank God for giving you the grace to heed Julie's advice . . . to "write."
My name is Erica Ryan and I live in Eugene, Oregon. I just finished reading your book last night and was very, very deeply moved by your story. Although I didn't personally know your cousins, I feel like I have been touched by their lives in a very profound way. My heart and soul goes out to you and your family...I hope that you are all healing in some form. I am a single mother of two small children and don't know what I would do if I were ever in your Aunt's position...she will be forever in my thoughts and prayers. I know I don't know you either, but I want to thank you for writing this book. You are so right... victims are too often forgotten and it is so unfair! I will never forget Julie and Robin. They were (and will always be) special, beautiful, talented, intelligent, compassionate, and REAL women! Thank you for blessing the world with their story!!
Sincerely,
Erica Ryan
Eugene, OR
My name is Robert Casey and just finished reading your book. I don't usually try to contact authors but I was so moved by your families' story I decided to. I am actually writing to you about the bridge. I bought the book because I saw the bridge on the cover in the new non-fiction section at the bookstore. I read the top quote from the book on the cover but failed to read the bottom portion of the title. I was compelled to buy the book because this is the bridge that my sister Beth Weber was married on to her husband Rusty Weber on September 6th, of 1998. None of us had heard of the terrible crimes that had happened seven years earlier. I did not know your cousins but I could imagine why Julie was drawn to the bridge to write her poem on it. I found it to be a beautiful and moving place out on the bridge. It was very hot in September and out over the river it was at least 10 degrees cooler. The wedding was a moving event. My sister and I are very close and I was actually in the wedding on her side. We walked the length of the bridge and looked over at intake castles in the rolling river and were amazing by river. I never understood what a rolling River was until I saw it there about that bridge. I found the little castles at the outlets to be whimsical and interesting. I say all this because I wonder if Julie saw the bridge as such a place of beauty and intrigue. We did not learn of what happened to her until your book came out so we never had a different more menacing view of the bridge. Firmly believe that people's spiritual energy can leave a lasting impression on location. I wonder if your Cousin Julie's beautiful poetry and positive energy left a positive impression there that outlasted the negative events that occurred. I would like to think so because the day my sister was married I felt very spiritually moved and uplifted. I wept tears of joy for my sister and the cool breeze on that hot day swept them away. I hope this isn't inappropriate to share I just felt so moved I felt I should share my thoughts. If this upset you or you were annoyed because I wrote when I didn't know your cousins please accept my deepest apologies. I know that I will remember this book for a long time and the names of your cousins. My mothers parents were murdered way back in 1963 and we as an extended family still feel the repercussions of that crime more then 40 years later. I felt that your book gave just a brief glimpse into the torrent of emotions and struggles that family and friend go through after a crime has been committed against loved ones. My Mother and her sisters who were attempted to be murdered by the same individual that killed my grandparents (whom I was never got to know) was released from a mental hospital only seven short years after he had committed his crimes. He now works for the State of Maine prisoner rights commission because he was so upset when he was shackled after he was arrested. My mother has only recently been able to find some peace with this fact. My whole family is going to read your book and I think that it will give them some strength. I am so glad I did not hear about your family's story from a different source like television. We have always been leery of the spin that news and television puts on stories of crime. It became even more apparent to me after the sniper shooting here in the DC area. I could not believe that they came out with a TV movie about it as well as court TV stories about it so quickly. The more shocking thing to me was that they had changed the story for their TV shows to suit their own interests. From them on I have stopped watching any kind of shows like that because I know the have been twisted to the point of being outright lies sometimes. I thank you for taking them time to hear my thoughts and I again apologize if this was in anyway annoying or bothering.
