i just heard the whole thing on msnbc...if anyone has a link to the audio, please post it. it's chilling.

 

5 year old calls 911, reports parents' shootings

 

By MARK I. JOHNSON

Staff Writer

 

Last update: March 29, 2005

 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- "I think they're dead."

 

With those words, 5-year-old Tia Hernlen described finding the bleeding bodies of her mother and father to a Sheriff's Office dispatcher early Monday morning.

 

Thirty-one year old Julie Hernlen was dead in the bedroom of the family's Ellison Avenue home. Her 29-year-old husband, Aeneas, was critically wounded. Both had been shot multiple times.

 

Volusia County sheriff's investigators believe the couple were the victims of David Edward Johnson, 33, whom they had accused of stalking them because he believed they had turned him in for drug activity.

 

Deputies believe he broke into the Hernlen home, which is just outside city limits, shortly before 3 a.m. and shot the couple as their daughter slept in the next room. Johnson then returned to his Swan Avenue residence and killed himself, deputies said.

 

The couple had filed complaints against Johnson, accusing him of stalking them because he believed they had turned him in to law enforcement for drug activity, public records show. Investigators said Monday the Hernlens had given them no information on Johnson.

 

But it was a little girl's taped 911 call at 2:58 a.m., after being awakened by the gunshots, that told the personal story of the tragedy. While her name is omitted from the recordings of the 911 tape released Monday afternoon, deputies at the scene confirmed her name.

 

"I think there is a bullet on the floor," the youngster told sheriff's 911 dispatcher Donna Choufani. "There is blood coming out of my dad's mouth and he fell off the bed."

 

"Where is your mommy?" Choufani asked in a soothing voice.

 

"I don't know. I think they're dead," Tia replied. "I said 'mommy and daddy' and they didn't even answer. I didn't see a gun, but I am scared."

 

The youngster told Choufani she never saw her parents' assailant.

 

Choufani used her voice to keep the youngster calm and on the line until a deputy arrived about four minutes later.

 

Sheriff Ben Johnson described the recorded conversation as "chilling" during a news conference at the scene Monday afternoon.

 

"The little girl did a magnificent job," he said. "And the dispatcher did a wonderful job."

 

Investigators believe Johnson forced his way into the back of the Hernlens' small, single-story yellow house in the 100 block of Ellison Avenue and walked into the couple's bedroom. There, he shot them with an undisclosed type of gun then fled back to his home.

 

Several hours after finding the couple, deputies went to Johnson's Swan Avenue home. Investigators have not disclosed what linked the double shooting to Johnson. When they entered his home, they found him dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

 

Aeneas Hernlen was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he remained in critical condition Monday night.

 

David Johnson was no stranger to the Hernlen family, deputies said.

 

The unemployed New Smyrna Beach resident was accused in court documents of stalking the couple and threatening their family in December and January. Julie Hernlen told deputies Johnson had driven by the house several times and harassed them because he thought she and her husband had informed on him to law enforcement about drug activity at the Swan Avenue residence, Davidson said.

 

Johnson had been arrested in November on charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of steroids and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was scheduled for trial May 9, according to court records. The trial on the stalking charge was set for May 2.

 

Neighbors along both quiet streets, which lie only a few miles apart, were taken aback by the triple shooting.

 

Agnus McKellar, who was staying with his daughter in the house across from Johnson's, said he didn't know what to think when officers with guns drawn descended on Swan Avenue shortly after 10 a.m.

 

"I wondered what in the world was going on," he said. "I had no idea until a cop came out and told my daughter that he (Johnson) had died."

 

Coni McKellar said David Johnson was neighborly, and she never noticed any problems at the house.

 

"He seemed like a nice guy," she said.

 

Most of the Hernlens' neighbors, many of whom did not wish to be identified, were also shocked. "This is a very quiet neighborhood," Lake Drive resident Pete Hornby said. "Nothing happens here."

 

Sheriff Johnson said Tia Hernlen is with family members.

 

[email protected]

 

911 TRANSCRIPT

 

This is the transcript of the Monday morning 911 call 5-year-old Tia Hernlen made after she found her mother dead or dying and father badly hurt in the bedroom of their New Smyrna Beach home:

 

OPERATOR: 911, what is your emergency?

 

CHILD:Um, hello.

 

OPERATOR: Hello. Is everything OK?

 

CHILD: My mommy and daddy

 

OPERATOR: Uh-huh.

 

CHILD: I think there is a bullet on the floor.

 

OPERATOR: And the what?

 

CHILD: And there is blood, coming out of my dad's mouth and he fell off the bed.

 

OPERATOR: He did? Where's mommy at?

 

CHILD: She is, I don't know, I think they're dead.

 

OPERATOR: What do you mean sweetheart?

 

CHILD: I don't know.

 

OPERATOR: OK, your daddy's on the floor. How old are you?

 

CHILD: I'm 5 years old and I have a dog in a house.

 

OPERATOR: OK baby, OK. Let me get someone right over to you. Did you, did you go in your mommy and daddy's room?

 

CHILD: Uh-huh, and there is blood.

 

OPERATOR: All over the place?

 

CHILD: Not all over. There's blood on the plant and blood on the floor.

 

OPERATOR: Oh my goodness and you have your little doggie with you?

 

CHILD: And three cats.

 

OPERATOR: And three cats too?

 

CHILD: Three cats and one dog.

 

OPERATOR: OK, are you the the only one there besides mommy and daddy?

 

CHILD: Well I said "Mommy" and "Daddy" and they didn't even answer.

 

OPERATOR: OK, OK, what I want you to do honey. I want you to stay on the phone with me. What is your name?

 

CHILD: (tells operator her name)

 

OPERATOR: Oh that is a very pretty name.

 

CHILD: (blocked out)

 

OPERATOR: Oh, I'm so sorry, that is a beautiful name. What is your doggie's name?

 

CHILD: Lizzah

 

OPERATOR: OK, and what made you wake up tonight?

 

CHILD: There was, I think I heard a gunshot.

 

OPERATOR: You heard a gun?

 

CHILD: Yes, and I see a bullet lying on the floor. I think it's a bullet.

 

OPERATOR: Really!

 

CHILD: Mmm-hmm

 

OPERATOR: Who has a gun in the house?

 

CHILD: I don't see a gun but I'm scared.

 

OPERATOR: Oh sweetheart! . . . I will not let anything happen to you.

 

CHILD: Can you send a deputy down here?

 

OPERATOR: I promise I will . . . and you're only 5 years old?

 

CHILD: Mmm-hmm

 

OPERATOR: You are so smart for 5 years old. Wow! . . . are you off from school this week?

 

CHILD: Um, no, I go to school next year.

 

OPERATOR: You do? Oh my gosh, you're not even in kindergarten yet?

 

CHILD: Nope.

 

OPERATOR: Oh, what's your doggie's name?

 

CHILD: Lizzah

 

OPERATOR: Lizzah, what kind of doggie is she? CHILD: She's a lab.

 

OPERATOR: Oh my God, I love those. Those are so beautiful. Is she a black lab or is she a yellow lab?

 

CHILD: A black lab.

 

OPERATOR: Oh, you are so smart.

 

CHILD: With, um, brown eyes.

 

OPERATOR: Oh my goodness, how old is she?

 

CHILD: She is like 3 years old, or, 2 years old, I don't really know.

 

OPERATOR: Wow! . . . You can remember for a really long time.

 

CHILD: Yup.

 

OPERATOR: Oh my goodness. Was there anybody else in the house tonight besides you and mommy and daddy tonight? Like an uncle or anything?

 

CHILD: No, there's no robber in the house.

 

OPERATOR: OK, well I didn't think there would be a robber sweetheart. Did you have anybody staying over the night with you guys tonight?

 

CHILD: Nnn- nnn

 

OPERATOR: OK. So and the doors are all locked? And everything like that . . . Where are you in the house?

 

CHILD: Well, I was in my room sleeping till I heard a noise shot and it woke me up.

 

OPERATOR: Oh my goodness. Uh, what part of the house are you in at now?

 

CHILD: I'm in the one, it's yellow, all yellow house, of green, green with it, a little bit of green, and a pink door.

 

OPERATOR: Oh my goodness, that sounds really cool. Did you pick out the pink door?

 

CHILD: Um, no, my mom picked out the door.

 

OPERATOR: Look, I bet you that is beautiful. Does mommy and daddy have a car in the driveway?

 

CHILD: Mmm-hmm, two cars.

 

OPERATOR: Two cars? What kind of cars do they have?

 

CHILD: Umm, my mom has a Toyota

 

OPERATOR: What color is that Toyota?

 

CHILD: Umm

 

OPERATOR: Is it dark, or grey, or silver?

 

CHILD: It's um red.

 

OPERATOR: Red? OK, what kind of car does daddy have?

 

CHILD: He has a Jeep. It's black and . . .

 

OPERATOR: OK, listen to me (name). Is your phone the type that you can take with you and walk around?

 

CHILD: Um, this . . .

 

OPERATOR: There should be an officer at your front door. I need for you to take your phone with you and walk over to the door and open it for me, OK? And I will stay on the phone with you, OK?

 

CHILD: But um . . .

 

OPERATOR: I will not hang up.

 

CHILD: I'm naked.

 

OPERATOR: Oh, well do you want to grab a towel or something? I don't think the officer's going to care baby. We just want to make sure that mommy and daddy are OK, all right?

 

CHILD: Mmm-hmm.

 

OPERATOR: Grab a blanket or something. Stay on the phone with me, stay on the phone, alright?

 

CHILD: OK.

 

OPERATOR: My name is Donna, by the way. You are doing a wonderful job (blocked), wonderful job.

 

CHILD: And I know what to do for (incoherent)

 

OPERATOR: You did great!

 

CHILD: I knew

 

OPERATOR: You were wonderful, absolutely wonderful. You should be very proud of yourself.

 

CHILD: I'm to the door, I'm unlocking it.

 

OPERATOR: OK, you let me know when the officer talks to you. OK you go ahead (blocked), talk to the officer.

 

OFFICER: (background) You talking to the dispatcher? OK, tell her I'm here now and you can hang up.

 

OPERATOR: Bye sweetheart.

 

CHILD: Um, he's here.

 

OPERATOR: OK sweetheart, you be good, OK? Bye-bye.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJour...EAD01032905.htm

 

wowowowow

I heard this on Fox News this afternoon. Talk about heartbreaking. I can't believe how calm that little girl was.

What's worse is that the parents tried to get a restraining order against the suspected murderer but was denied - even with all the harassment - by a certain judge named Greer... :confused

Oh my goodness Oh my goodness Oh my goodness beautiful beautiful beautiful beautiful sweetheart sweetheart sweetheart. I think Miss Cleo found a new job.

 

I wonder how the guy ran out of the house so fast and the girl didn't hear, if the girl was woken up by the gunshot.

chilling. Hopefully her dad lives so she isnt orphaned.

What's worse is that the parents tried to get a restraining order against the suspected murderer but was denied - even with all the harassment - by a certain judge named Greer... :confused

724572[/snapback]

Are you serious?

 

This idiot Greer has got to go.

What's worse is that the parents tried to get a restraining order against the suspected murderer but was denied - even with all the harassment - by a certain judge named Greer... :confused

724572[/snapback]

Are you serious?

 

This idiot Greer has got to go.

724623[/snapback]

 

Yes because restraining orders stop murders.

 

I like how people make comments about things they have no idea about.

I'm pretty damn sure it would have helped. Do you have something against restraining orders or something?

The couple apparently feared the suspect and tried to get a court-ordered injunction to keep him away from their family. However, a judge denied the request on account that there was not enough evidence to support the stalking charge.

 

The judge, in denying the case, said "no violence was alleged and it was hard to prove stalking with the allegations" presented, according to court papers.

 

"Looking back on it, I would have liked to have done it differently," Circuit Judge Richard Graham said. "But you review each case on a case-by-case basis."

 

link

 

 

LEARN TO READ. LEARN TO THINK ON YOUR OWN AND NOT BELIEVE WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU.

 

Sometimes I wonder why America is in trouble. Then I remember why, we believe what we are told and base our assumptions on the immediately, at least some of us.

 

If you want to hate on someone fine. But don't hate on them for something they didn't do, and don't lie about them.

I'm pretty damn sure it would have helped. Do you have something against restraining orders or something?

724637[/snapback]

 

If someone wants to kill someone else, they aren't going to think "well geez if they see me over there they might call the cops on me."

 

Cause I am pretty sure if they wanted a restraining order against the guy, if they saw him at their house they would call the cops immediately.

 

I don't see how a piece of paper would stop someone wanting to murder another.

I'm pretty damn sure it would have helped. Do you have something against restraining orders or something?

724637[/snapback]

 

If someone wants to kill someone else, they aren't going to think "well geez if they see me over there they might call the cops on me."

 

Cause I am pretty sure if they wanted a restraining order against the guy, if they saw him at their house they would call the cops immediately.

 

I don't see how a piece of paper would stop someone wanting to murder another.

724640[/snapback]

 

What horrible logic.

 

I guess we should make it legal to run red lights as long as there are no cops around, hell while we're at it, let's just make everything that is currently illegal, legal on the condition that you can do it only when cops aren't around to enforce it.

 

I like how people make comments about things they have no idea about.

724629[/snapback]

Then you must really like all of your own posts :thumbup .

What's worse is that the parents tried to get a restraining order against the suspected murderer but was denied - even with all the harassment - by a certain judge named Greer... :confused

724572[/snapback]

Are you serious?

 

This idiot Greer has got to go.

724623[/snapback]

 

Yes because restraining orders stop murders.

 

I like how people make comments about things they have no idea about.

724629[/snapback]

Then you must really like all of your own posts :thumbup .

724646[/snapback]

 

You're the one who agreed that Greer denied the restraining order.

 

And do you know about this restraining order case? I don't. I never said if the restraining order would have been the right thing, or wrong thing. But you seem to have an opinion, so I assume you followed the restraining order case and the specifics?

I'm pretty damn sure it would have helped. Do you have something against restraining orders or something?

724637[/snapback]

 

If someone wants to kill someone else, they aren't going to think "well geez if they see me over there they might call the cops on me."

 

Cause I am pretty sure if they wanted a restraining order against the guy, if they saw him at their house they would call the cops immediately.

 

I don't see how a piece of paper would stop someone wanting to murder another.

724640[/snapback]

 

What horrible logic.

 

I guess we should make it legal to run red lights as long as there are no cops around, hell while we're at it, let's just make everything that is currently illegal, legal on the condition that you can do it only when cops aren't around to enforce it.

724649[/snapback]

 

Learn to read, I see you have the problem by this thread.

 

I said I don't see how the paper would stop someone from murdering another. I am still waiting for the evidence how.

 

I never said not giving the order was the right thing, I just don't see how a piece of paper stops a bullet, even if its laminated, glossy, fancy paper.

I'm pretty damn sure it would have helped. Do you have something against restraining orders or something?

724637[/snapback]

 

If someone wants to kill someone else, they aren't going to think "well geez if they see me over there they might call the cops on me."

 

Cause I am pretty sure if they wanted a restraining order against the guy, if they saw him at their house they would call the cops immediately.

 

I don't see how a piece of paper would stop someone wanting to murder another.

724640[/snapback]

 

What horrible logic.

 

I guess we should make it legal to run red lights as long as there are no cops around, hell while we're at it, let's just make everything that is currently illegal, legal on the condition that you can do it only when cops aren't around to enforce it.

724649[/snapback]

 

Learn to read, I see you have the problem by this thread.

 

I said I don't see how the paper would stop someone from murdering another. I am still waiting for the evidence how.

 

I never said not giving the order was the right thing, I just don't see how a piece of paper stops a bullet, even if its laminated, glossy, fancy paper.

724652[/snapback]

 

LOL, and you're the one telling me to learn how to read? The logic in my last post followed the identical logic you're using in your ridiculous "how does a piece of paper stop a bullet" argument.

 

How does a simple colored light stop a 4,000 pound vehicle?

 

No difference.

LOL, and you're the one telling me to learn how to read? The logic in my last post followed the identical logic you're using in your ridiculous "how does a piece of paper stop a bullet" argument.

 

How does a simple colored light stop a 4,000 pound vehicle?

 

No difference.

724656[/snapback]

 

 

No it doesn't follow the logic. You see most people are law abiding citizens. They will stop at the red light because they know it means stop. And you are assuming they are law abiding citzens because you say they will stop. Those who are not law abiding citizens will run right through the light.

 

Anyway back to the case at hand.

 

This guy obviously is not a law abiding citizen, he knows what a restraining order, or would have been taught, but I don't see what would stop him from breaking the law and killing the people.

 

It is understandable the judge says he would have done things differently but I don't see how it would have made a difference, unless the guy was thrown in jail, but that is not what a restraining order does. I am not saying the judgement was right or wrong, I just don't see how even if there was a restraining order how it would stop this from happening.

 

And you still haven't told me how it would . Please, tell me. I mean you seem to think there is a way it would have stopped the murder, so please enlighten me and the others who may not see it.

I really don't think that the restraining order would have prevented this situation.

Restraining orders are pointless, I thought everybody knew that.

 

Oh, and that little girl is awesome, I hope she can overcome this.

Sorry for my mistake. Regardless of who the judge was, rejecting the parents' request for a restraining order was ludicrous. I think stalking is a serious enough offense to warrant one, even though it might have been hard to prove definitively. While a restraining order probably would not have stopped the murders in the end, it is rather sad commentary on the level of protection some people receive.

 

Believe it or not, I know how to read. I can comprehend what I read. I can even think on my own. But sometimes people do make mistakes ? in this case, I fully admit that I made one.

chilling. Hopefully her dad lives so she isnt orphaned.

724587[/snapback]

 

agreed. Really hope he makes it... What an awful story.

 

Kids sure can amaze you sometimes though. Seems like the 911 operator did a good job too, for whatever that's worth.

the dad died last night.

 

that poor girl...i guess the only good thing is that it seems she can't grasp the concept of death yet.

Wow what a brave little girl! So sad both of her parents are dead though. I hope the best for her.

poor kid..

 

 

Restraining orders are somewhat helpful in that if you violate them once, you can't violate them again. Maybe not in this situation, but in many, restraining orders prevent lots of trouble.

 

 

Restraining orders are somewhat helpful in that if you violate them once, you can't violate them again. Maybe not in this situation, but in many, restraining orders prevent lots of trouble.

725462[/snapback]

 

Restraining orders prevent people who are likely to be scared by authority and will respect it. A killer would not worry about it. Still doesn't make it any less tragic.

A killer is not always a killer - in many cases, a first violation of a restraining order (stalking or confrontation) would prevent a second violation of a restraining order (murder).