Prom party out of hand? Why are Loudon County kids going to Farragut?

Submitted by Pickens on Mon, 2007/05/14 - 8:36pm.

So what's going on here? Are one of the parents lying about the party?

This could've been another Adam Downen situation where adults provided alcohol to a teenager who went out and got killed. Thankfully it didn't.

And, here's a factor in your Farragut High overcrowding: the Farragut High girl and her family live in LOUDON COUNTY.

Link...



Farragut High parties get a

Farragut High parties get a lot of pub, eh?
Anybody else recall the one a few years back when some boys decided to go out and get a hooker -- and killed her, just for a laugh? I believe that one was in Loudon County, too.

"some boys decided to go out

"some boys decided to go out and get a hooker -- and killed her, just for a laugh?"

...and if I remember correctly, the boys served little or no jail time.

Adrift in the Sea of Humility

Loundon County Kids at Farragut

As a family just booted from Farragut High School, we would like to know how big of problem this really is. If anyone knows of someone doing this, they need to contact Mike Reynolds the prinicpal at FHS. He is obligated to verify residency. Below is the link to the school policy on residence. Proof of residency is not an annual process.

Obviously this bugs me since I am affected, but why would any Knox County taxpayer want to pay to educate children from Loudon County. I understand that we also have some Anderson County children attending Knox County schools.

Link...

Curious -- what year was a few years back that the murder occured?

PT, any idea?

Since she's not a Knox County resident, is the Loudon County family to pay back the Knox County School system?

I'm bad on dates, but I

I'm bad on dates, but I think it was around 2000, maybe?

The boys drove to East Knoxville, picked up a prostitute, took her back to the party, then tied her up (I believed duct taping her mouth was involved) and dumped her out somewhere by the lake.

As I said, I'm fuzzy on details, but clear on certain 'big picture' stuff -- i.e. the woman ended up dead.

I had just done a Metro Pulse story about a little girl who lived on 5th Avenue, and her sister was interviewed on TV about the murder (she was a friend of the murdered woman's).

Out of County Students

Obviously this bugs me since I am affected, but why would any Knox County taxpayer want to pay to educate children from Loudon County. I understand that we also have some Anderson County children attending Knox County schools.

As a matter of fact, kids from out of county attending Loudon County schools is one of the reasons Loudon County's school are so overcrowded, thus bringing the recent MPA study and capital projects to the forefront. Unlike Knox County, however, Loudon County does not have a policy against accepting out-of-county students; only NEW out-of-county student.

I know...I'm off track. I know a lot of people in that community and they say the parents are very well thought of and respected. My guess is either a REALLY bad laspe of judgement, or, they're telling the truth.

She?

Not sure who the she is -- I am a Knox County resident. My reference to being booted meant, I was just rezoned to HVHS. So I think you were referring to me because of the way I wrote my post.

If you meant the families who go to Knox County schools who shouldn't, you raise an interesting point. Maybe there should be a fine associated to doing this. I have heard many parents say they plan to rent apartments or buy property in the zone to keep their kids going to FHS.

I don't support doing that. I have already sent a note to Mullins and my school board member asking them to change the policy to an annual acknowledgement of residence.

Left Of The Dial's picture
to answer the question

To answer the question: I believe both parents are lying. I don't believe the father "went to bed" while strangers were showing up at his home. While the mother's busy cooking breakfast for everyone, no apparent effort was made to turn away the so-called party crashers. No part of their story really rings true.

I tend to agree. Mrs.

I tend to agree. Mrs. Butturini would have us believe she was June Cleaver(ever seen an empty kitchen at a party?) and I don't know about you folks but a function with that many guests there is no one going to sleep, unless Mr. Butturini has the worlds most powerful case of narcolepsy or an isolation tank.

To the larger point of Loudon County parents having kids in Knox Co schools, after reading that article I think the sentinel could have done a better job covering/explaining that. A co-worker that just read that article commented to me that it doesn't mention if the home in question was the couple's primary residence or a lake cabin. I think it's implied, but who knows?

CathyMcCaughan's picture
I have had enough slumber

I have had enough slumber parties (sans alcohol) to know that it is completely possible for parents to take turns sleeping. Dad could easily have gone to bed while his wife cooked and chatted in the kitchen. I always tell my teenagers that if they feel they must try alcohol, they should try it at home. I also tell them that they can call for a ride home if they or their driver have been drinking and there will be no consequences. I haven't had to put my money where my mouth is yet. I suspect that this story started out very similarly.

I did some checking and they

I did some checking and they do have a home in Knox Co. somewhere off George Williams Rd.

Ms. McCaughan, Sans alcohol

Ms. McCaughan,

Sans alcohol is the key to what you said. I can't buy for a minute they didn't know or it wasn't loud as all get out. Just my 2 cents.

Agree with Ennui. It's a

Agree with Ennui.

It's a stretch to be asked to believe that what was behind "Door #2" came as a shock to the parents. It's illegal for homeowners to provide alcohol for, or to allow underage kids to drink, so at the very least it looks like the parents were negligent. They're just lucky that the cops showed up on a disturbing the peace call, rather than to tell them that somebody'd left their home and caused a fatal traffic accident.

This part of the story is pretty persuasive:

"Scarbrough said Katharine Butturini "thought she'd done a good deed by keeping them there and letting them drink."

The warrants charging the couple allege Scarbrough "found about 50 underage subjects at this residence, that had been drinking alcohol beverages while at the residence."

"Several of the underage people had made statements that the alcoholic beverages was (sic) provided by the home owners," the warrants state.

Someone sent me a link to Mr. Butturini's web site, and he holds himself out as an example of "conservative" values.

Link...

At any rate, we'll see what

At any rate, we'll see what happens in court. With that many kids and recently minted 18 year olds, someone will spill the beans to save their keister from an angry parent.

Someone always talks. Always.

Seems to be the case.

Seems to be the case. Someone spilled the beans.

Carole Borges's picture
Sad to think parents believe teen drinking at home is okay

I know this happens everywhere all the time. In a misguided attempt to be "good parents" these adults allow themselves to be brought into a really ugly scene. When arrested they have no defense save to say it's safer to be drinking at home. This kind of high tolerance is in fact criminal and for good reason; when teens comsume too much alcohol, fights often break out, automobile accidents occur, and sometimes rape.

Our culture of thinking that "guzzling til you puke" is fun is responsible for these parents' warped mentality. It represents a strong disbelief in the ability we all have to ewnjoy ourselves when we're not on some kind of intoxicant.

You have to feel sorry for the parents because they are so brainwashed by the culture we live in. They obviously think teenage drinking is not only okay, it is mandatory in order to have a memorable time. Still, they have to be held responsible. Their embarassment and shame will teach them a harsh lesson. Let's hope they learn it rather than blame the officers who broke up the party.

I'm not a big fan of policemen who act like Nazis, and too many of them do, but the anger the parents feel should be directed at themselves not the law.

Any parent who encourages teenage drinking, who pay to send their daughters or their sons off to Cancun, Ft. Lauderdale, or Aruba to spend days in the sun drinking until they are blind drunk, can't really pretend they never thought something bad could happen. They just never thought it would until it does. They just took a gamble.

Too often, in cases like this everyone loses.

WhitesCreek's picture
We had our oldest son's

We had our oldest son's senior party at our house and dealt with the drinking thing fairly easily. We told our son and his friends to spread the word that if we catch anyone drinking they would not be allowed to leave and that we would call their parents to come get them.

No problem and a great party. I refereed the mud wrestling.

Bearden Zone

The Knox County zone is for Bearden High School.

I did some checking and they

I did some checking and they do have a home in Knox Co. somewhere off George Williams Rd.

I may be wrong about this. What I found listed a Jack R. and Shirley, not a Jack and Katherine. I'll try to dig deeper later on.

R. Neal's picture
Look, this is a bad deal all

Look, this is a bad deal all around, and some interesting questions have been raised.

But I'm not sure it's cool to be digging around property tax records and posting stuff about people's personal business on the internet. They aren't public figures, despite being on the front page of the paper.

If you want to solve the mystery, simply call the people up and ask them where they live and why their kid is going to Farragut.

If you aren't willing to do that, maybe you shouldn't be snooping around their records and posting them anonymously on the internet under anonymous names?

(Yeah, I know the info is available to the public on government websites. So let the public look it up if they are that interested. Or the media. Or if you want to play real journlist, post your real name and talk the people and report what you find out instead of speculating.)

Farragut students

I have a student at Farragut and she told me two days before this happened that 13 students had been arrested (at least 11 ON campus) for selling pot. She called me at lunch describing this in detail. I asked two other students and they swear that this is true and their stories were identical. What I wonder is why there is no news of this? How do they keep this stuff quiet?

"How do they keep this stuff

"How do they keep this stuff quiet?"

Money.

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

"How do they keep this stuff

"How do they keep this stuff quiet?"

Money.

IMO, that's oversimplification. All of the high schools, whether north, south, east or west, public or private, have their violence and drug issues. Just because you haven't heard of it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

There's an alternative high school in Knox County that has lots of kids in it. And the public has probably never heard of the reasons (that is, the events) these kids were involved in that got them sent to this school. And kids from all over the county go there.

And talk to West, Bearden and Farragut parents about how they get the kids who are booted for problems from private schools and then get enrolled in their public schools.

CathyMcCaughan's picture
There are arrests on most

There are arrests on most high school campuses several times a week (primarily for assaults), especially as the end of year approaches. They are charged as juveniles and the records are not public. If you want to compare schools like that, compare the suspension and expulsion data.

djuggler's picture
"There's an alternative high

"There's an alternative high school in Knox County"

KAEC (Knoxville Adaptive Eduction Center) serves more than just high school. It just happens to be IN an old high school. Generally speaking, KAEC students are there for behavioral issues or because "we can't find a place for your child." (which should never be a reason for sending a child to KAEC)

Doug McCaughan
Link...

I assumed Cletus was talking

I assumed Cletus was talking about Laurel High -- or maybe Doris Walker Academy.

edens's picture
Lord, I'd forgotten about

Lord, I'd forgotten about the "Farragut kids kill prostitute as a prank" incident. Certainly did disappear from the media, though.

What was the outcome on that one?

i've been wracking my

i've been wracking my elderly brain over that one, and asking around. I cannot even remember any names so I can Google it -- but my friend the lawyer who lives out in Choto tells me that the boys copped some kind of plea bargain and got off with a light spanking.
He also says they drowned her. Maybe threw her into the water after they duct taped her mouth, hands and feet.
It was a horrible, premeditated crime that came to light when one of the kids present had an attack of conscience the next day or so and told her parents what had happened.
Scary to think that the other kids who witnessed this for shits and giggles are about 25 years old and still running loose. Chipman Street's not the only place where evil lurks.

edens's picture
>Chipman Street's not the

>Chipman Street's not the only place where evil lurks.

Yeah, but I doubt those guys&girl will get off with a light spanking.

If memory serves, the prostitute in the Farragut case was white, no? If not, it'd be interesting to know in light of all the "hate crime" criticism regarding handling/coverage of the Chipman Street case.

i've been wracking my

i've been wracking my elderly brain over that one, and asking around. I cannot even remember any names so I can Google it -- but my friend the lawyer who lives out in Choto tells me that the boys copped some kind of plea bargain and got off with a light spanking.
He also says they drowned her. Maybe threw her into the water after they duct taped her mouth, hands and feet.
It was a horrible, premeditated crime that came to light when one of the kids present had an attack of conscience the next day or so and told her parents what had happened.
Scary to think that the other kids who witnessed this for shits and giggles are about 25 years old and still running loose. Chipman Street's not the only place where evil lurks.

There was a case in 2001

There was a case in 2001 where a couple of kids picked up a prostitute and killed her. Her name was Sheila Gardner and the kids were William Phillips and Travis Hancock. They beat her up and then drowned her in Ft. Loudon Lake.

I'm not sure if it's the same case y'all are talking about because they pleaded guilty in 2003. Phillips got 28 years and Hancock got 33 years.

edens's picture
>Phillips got 28 years and

>Phillips got 28 years and Hancock got 33 years

so much for a "light spanking"

I'm not sure if it's the

I'm not sure if it's the same case y'all are talking about because they pleaded guilty in 2003. Phillips got 28 years and Hancock got 33 years.--

I, too, stand corrected -- although 28/33 years will probably amount to less than half that in time served, which doesn't seem too stiff a sentence considering that they commited a cold-blooded, premeditated murder. Wonder where they are now?

CathyMcCaughan's picture
And talk to West, Bearden

And talk to West, Bearden and Farragut parents about how they get the kids who are booted for problems from private schools and then get enrolled in their public schools.

There are just as many zero tolerance students from Knox County who get sent to private schools as there are private school students transferring to public school. Laurel (in today's paper, btw) and Doris Walker are both private schools.

Another example

of bbeanster not getting it right.

bbeanster said: "that the boys copped some kind of plea bargain and got off with a light spanking."

CL reports the facts: "they pleaded guilty in 2003. Phillips got 28 years and Hancock got 33 years."

As Pamela Treacy said a few weeks ago. "you should start screening the bean. she passes to much gas!!"

R. Neal's picture
"you should start screening

"you should start screening the bean. she passes to much gas!!"

I'm just curious whether you think this is the sort of demeaning comment that should be banned?

That would

be your call. It is your forum.

R. Neal's picture
It is your forum. No, it's

It is your forum.

No, it's my website. And as per site rules, all posters and commenters assume all responsibility for what they post.

Is this the point I can make

Is this the point I can make a point about how some people were banned because they couldn't help themselves when posting drunk? Just asking....

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler

Richard Yoakley

"There's an alternative high school in Knox County"

KAEC (Knoxville Adaptive Eduction Center) serves more than just high school. It just happens to be IN an old high school. Generally speaking, KAEC students are there for behavioral issues or because "we can't find a place for your child." (which should never be a reason for sending a child to KAEC)

I think the writer was referring to the Richard Yoakley School at the site of the old Alice Bell Elementary School on Washington Pike.

Factchecker's picture
...Pamela Treacy said a few

...Pamela Treacy said a few weeks ago. "you should start screening the bean. she passes to much gas!!"

Now where have I seen that kind of punctuation before? Besides from the guy who has devoted his life to public education?

P.S. That was really good

P.S.
That was really good work, CL. My hat's off to ya!

Found

Found this:

Link...

He's still in the slammer.

"I, too, stand corrected --

"I, too, stand corrected -- although 28/33 years will probably amount to less than half that in time served, which doesn't seem too stiff a sentence considering that they commited a cold-blooded, premeditated murder?"

Not to put too fine a point on it, but according to what I read about the sentencing, they have to serve at least 85 percent of those sentences under their guilty pleas to second-degree murder and kidnapping.

Why the govt didn't go for first-degree and drop the hammer on them is not immediately clear to me.

Interesting news about Loudon County Schools

Watcher -- could you provide more information or source of overcrowding Loudon County schools due to out of county residents? This is the first I have heard of the problem going in that direction.

Thanks.

It's a contributing factor,

It's a contributing factor, not the sole factor. According to the MPC study, there are about 600 out-of-county students. That's out of a total of 7200. So, 8% is not an insignificant number. The policy was just changed, however, to only accept children of employees and siblings.

Follow-up

Sorry...been out of town. In addition to Smalc's comments about sibs, etc. I believe the current out of town students are being grandfathered as well. The link to the study is Link....

Kids copping pleas. Bad news

Kids copping pleas. Bad news for the Butterinis.

Link...

A coworker of mine was

A coworker of mine was telling me that the Butturinis were recently the object of a multi-millions dollar lawsuit stemming from the death of a kid at one of their camps.

When it rains, it pours.

CathyMcCaughan's picture
That was a drowning

That was a drowning accident. Completely unrelated.

I didn't say it was, I was

I didn't say it was, I was just saying that they have a spell of bad luck (for lack of a better word).

Smalc didn't say it stemmed from the same incident-

Just that these folks seem to have more than their share of legal problems.

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