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2007 11 30

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v04n24)

Tribute to Jane Pepper: Broad Ripple resident - By H.L. Herman

posted: Nov. 30, 2007

By H.L. Herman

Editor's Note: While the Broad Ripple Gazette wished to participate in the coverage of Jane Pepper's death on October 25, 2007, we felt that we could not do justice in keeping the community updated on a daily basis. However, when a concerned resident contacted us asking to write a tribute article about the person she was, rather than the victim she became, we saw it as the perfect opportunity to introduce her to fellow village residents and neighbors that may not have known her as someone who loved what she did and cared about her community. We hope you read Ms. Herman's piece in the last issue. This is the second and final part.

After reading Jane Ellen Pepper's obituary in the Sunday, November 4 issue of The Star, I went online to Routsong Funeral Home's web site. Several days later, I decided to attend Jane's memorial service in Kettering, Ohio.

To be honest, I arrived late enough that it didn't seem right to go into the sanctuary midway through the service. Even more than that, not having known Jane, or anyone connected with her, I wasn't sure I should listen to the intimate memories the mourners were recalling. So, I waited for an opportunity to express condolences; this time, in person.

While waiting, several people spoke to me kindly. This made me feel more comfortable and welcome. The first person who spoke to me was Don, an usher at the church who knew the family. The others were two college friends of Jane's, one of whom had a sweet baby, and the parents of the lady with the baby. I waited in line with these nice people. They were very kind and conversation was easy.

As we talked, various comments about Jane from friends and family all over the country were repeated. I was told the Routsong web site was the source of these comments. More details on that subject later.

The Church sanctuary had been full - hundreds of people came to the memorial service. Consequently, the line was long. While waiting, I overheard numerous people say how Jane was always singing and what a good voice she had. (She occasionally sang with bands here in Indy.)

As I got closer to greeting the family, there were pictures of Jane at all ages and stages of life. They were of her alone as well as with family members. What a beautiful person she was, inside and out. The pictures portrayed family love. And the words spoken by the family expressed pride in the generous and humble spirited woman Jane had become.

Finally, I got the opportunity to shake the hands of Jane's family members and tell them that despite not having known Jane, she somehow got to me. It was a privilege to meet them and be able to say how sorry I was for their loss. They appreciated this and thanked me for coming.

The day of her death, Jane had worked a full day at her job as an Administrative Assistant at Buchanan Counseling Center, Methodist Hospital. Then, she spent that evening at The PourHouse fundraiser.

In a later news report, we learn that when she arrived home, she was talking to her mother. We are not told exactly what time that was. Knowing how she had spent her day, it can't have been much before 10 p.m. This seems to be the last time anyone spoke to her.

Jane did not show up for work the next day, Friday, October 26, nor did she meet her friends in Lafayette the next day for Purdue's homecoming game. She was found in her apartment the following Monday.

These, in a nut-shell, are the facts. There is more, of course, although repeating those details here would serve no purpose. All the rest is speculation. Was someone she didn't know watching Jane for any length of time? Did this person use the ground-level window she kept partly open for her cats? Was it random, unplanned and on the spur of the moment? Perhaps she did know this person; perhaps she invited him (or her?) in. From all accounts, Jane thought the best of everyone and may not have recognized that someone she knew casually or not well was a danger to her.

There are many questions. If IMPD knows more than they are telling, it's for good reason. However, given all the possible scenarios, it's easy to see why some little thing someone saw or heard could be very important. IMPD specifically are interested in information concerning activity in the alley (southern side of the building, I believe). Something overheard by a passerby could be important. At some point, a vehicle may have been parked in the alley which seemed out of place. These are but a few examples.

Government Mule played at the Vogue that night. Fans attending concerts come from out of town as well as locally. Broad Ripple's nightlife and shops draw in non-residents. The inevitable foot traffic represents a prospective source of information. Could one of these people have seen or heard something?

Merchants and neighbors in the immediate area should make customers or visitors aware of what happened and when, if they have not already done so. They must resist any urge to put their proverbial heads in the sand. Until the person who perpetrated this crime is caught, no one in Broad Ripple should forget or pretend it didn't happen.

In addition to thinking back to the night of October 25, think also of the recent past. People working temporarily in Broad Ripple may also be potential witnesses. This summer, there was a lot of activity in Broad Ripple, including road work (curb replacement) on College Avenue. Some of the work began near Wellington Square Apartments then moved north. Toward the end of the project, I believe they returned to just north of the canal.

On the Routsong website, some comments are private and not accessible to the public. However, there are at least 50 tributes to Jane which are public. More may be added. To view them and send one if desired, go to routsong.com and click on "Send Condolences". Because the service is no longer current, it is necessary to search Memorials. When the memorial appears, click on Guestbook at the bottom of the page.

Broad Ripple folks may be especially interested in condolences from two Indy residents (both give last names and email addresses. However, only their first names are referenced here). A condolence from Bob, dated November 9, talks of an Indy Memorial and later a fundraiser with proceeds going to the reward fund. A condolence posted by Jane's neighbor, Margo, dated November 9, also caught my attention. I exchanged several emails with Bob and Margo. The local memorial services occurred the weekend of November 17. Details of the fundraiser are presently unknown.

Thanks to Margo, I am pleased to provide an update on the kitties, Josie and Bear. They were finally caught and are now probably in their new home with a friend of Jane's.

Murder is a tragic fact of life. According to some, we should care equally for the victims. Who they were, how or when they died isn't supposed to matter. However, I think as individuals, those things do matter. It's human nature to mourn for those people when they are someone we can relate to in a personal way despite not actually knowing them.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers, 262-TIPS.

I have a friend who lives on several acres of woods. His home is a modern version of log cabin. My friend says his home is the "center of the universe". Of course, this is merely his personal point of view. I wonder if Jane Pepper had similar feelings about Wellington Square Apartments.

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