, from Cincinnati.com, doesn’t say anything about race. It just shows us the photos of the accused and his female victim, those silent photos telling the truth that is never breathed in public in contemporary America. For every hundred news stories involving black on white violence, maybe one mentions the race of the victims and perpetrators.
And the motive for the attack? According to officials, the defendant, James Terry, was “unable to cope with his recent breakup with Kelly O’Keefe.” This is the genesis of untold male on female violence, among all races. (Which, as I’ve pointed out, is one of the reasons for the institution of marriage.) But such violence, as we see in one news story after another, is much more likely when a white woman gets involved with a black man and then rejects him.
HAMILTON—Before he was accused in the near-fatal attacks of his ex-girlfriend and her brother, James Terry V had a troubled history as a public employee who was eventually fired, Butler County records show.
Terry’s problems included a workplace confrontation with one of his alleged victims, Assistant Prosecutor Kelly O’Keefe, several years ago.
Jailed in lieu of $5 million bond, Terry, 43, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Wednesday on charges that he stabbed and beat Kelly O’Keefe, 32, and her 27-year-old brother, attorney James “Danny” O’Keefe in their Fairfield home.
Terry had also stayed part time in the house until recently, and apparently was unable to cope with his recent breakup with Kelly O’Keefe, officials said.
Both victims remain in an undisclosed hospital.
Judge Craig Hedric ordered competency and mental health evaluations for Terry, and set his next hearing for June 22.
James Terry V
Kelly O’Keefe
New details about the attack, Terry’s background and his association with the O’Keefes have surfaced.
The brother and sister not only were stabbed but also beaten, said Megan Shanahan, an assistant prosecutor from Hamilton County who has been appointed as a special prosecutor for this case. They lay undiscovered for about eight hours after the attack until a relative found them May 6. Worried co-workers had contacted the O’Keefes’ family after the pair failed to show up for work that day, Shanahan said.
She declined to reveal the extent of their injuries but said, “Their lives have been irrevocably changed.”
The attack left blood “throughout the residence,” police said. Kelly O’Keefe identified Terry as her attacker before a medical helicopter flew her and her brother to the hospital.
Terry is accused of nine charges: two counts of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, four counts of felonious assault and a count of tampering with evidence.
Terry allegedly concealed and/or cleaned up the weapon or weapons used in the attack, his clothing and his vehicle, Shanahan said. She declined to reveal whether authorities found any weapons.
If convicted of all charges, Terry faces up to 61 years in prison.
Terry moved out of the O’Keefes’ home within the past couple months after he and Kelly O’Keefe split up, Shanahan said, saying the motive for the attack was “clearly an inability to deal with the ending of that relationship.”
Terry’s history with Kelly O’Keefe dates to at least 2005, possibly earlier.
Terry was Judge Patricia Oney’s law clerk from 2000-2006; O’Keefe was hired as an assistant prosecutor in August 2005 but had served internships in the courts in prior years.
Terry had received counseling sessions, warnings and reprimands since 2002. Complaints included unprofessional behavior, insubordination, using juror parking passes or staying past business hours so he didn’t have to pay fees at the county garage, harassment of O’Keefe and violations of the absence policy, county records show.
In July 2005, Court Administrator Gary Yates wrote a letter to Terry, attached a copy of the court’s policy on harassment and ordered Terry “to cease any discussions or confrontations with Kelly O’Keefe regarding your personal relationship while on county time.”
Yates also warned Terry about repeated failures to report to work or even to call in and report himself absent.
In September 2005, Terry completed an anti-sexual-harassment training program—but he was fired a few months later for smacking a female court reporter on the buttocks, records show.
The March 2006 incident happened in public view at a reception window, leaving the woman feeling embarrassed, county records show.
Although the woman said she didn’t interpret the contact as “sexual,” she did view it as “inappropriate,” and “bizarre.” County officials said the act violated the county’s policy prohibiting “sexual and other forms of illegal harassment,” records show.
After he caught wind that he would be disciplined, Terry confronted the woman and followed her until a supervisor stepped into his path to block Terry from the coworker, records say.
Jim C. writes:
Jim C. writes:
Julian C. writes: