Alice Broom remembered

###Robert Freeman in Citra mobile home### Two dogs in the moile home that Robert Freeman lives in look out from inside his mobile home with fencing from inside. Freeman’s dogs killed Alice Broom, 81, in December 2003, in front of her home on Northeast 18th Avenue, Citra, Tuesday afternoon, May 10, 2005, Citra, FL, USA. (Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2005

###Robert Freeman in Citra mobile home### Mary Smothers, left, daughter of the late Alice Broom, cries, as her aunt Marjorie Daymon, sister of Broom, stand near the location of the burtial mauling in December 2003. Robert Freeman’s dogs killed Alice Broom, 81, in front of her home on Northeast 18th Aveunue, Tuesday afternoon, May 10, 2005, Citra, FL, USA. (Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2005

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### Here is an hand written noted signed by Helen Hector(cq) a sister of the late Alice Broom(cq) and Broom(cq)’s daughter Mary Smothers(cq). The undated photo is approximately 5 years olds, supplied by the family, including the late Alice Broom(cq), located in the upper right hand corner, or the top roll, right. Photo: Front or bottom row, left to right, Dorothy Munnerlyn(cq) sister of Broom(cq); Helen Hector(cq), daugther of Broom(cq) and Inez Henderson(cq), sister of Broom(cq). Back row, or top row, left to right: Marjorie Daymon(cq), sister of Broom(cq), Mary Smothers(cq) daughter of Broom(cq) and the late Alice Broom(cq). The dogs were owned by Robert Freeman(cq). The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq) owned six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### Here is one of the two hand written notes from the family about the life of the late Alice Broom(cq). This note is signed by Inez Henderson(cq), Dorothy Munnerlyn(cq) and Marjorie Daymon(cq) , all sisters of the late Alice Broom(cq) including a photo of the sisters and daugthers of Broom(cq). The dogs were owned by Robert Freeman(cq). The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq)’s s pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 25, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### A weeping Robert Freeman(cq) takes the witness stand as he is questioned about the mauling of the late Alice Broom(cq). The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq) owned six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### Robert Freeman(cq) takes the witness stand as he is questioned about the mauling of the late Alice Broom(cq). Here is a photo of the trail Freeman(cq) lived in with 7 pit bull dogs, held up by Candace Hawthorne(cq), defense attorney. The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq) owned six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### Assistant state attorneys Sarah Ritterhoff Williams(cq) left, passionately gestures with her arm with Jeremy Powers(cq) address Judge Hale Stancil(cq) before the lunch recess. Robert Freeman(cq) is seated right, with his attorney Candace Hawthorne(cq). The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq)’s six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### Mary Smothers(cq), the daughter of the late Alice Broom(cq) is recalled to the witness stand and questioned about the relationship between her mother and the Robert Freeman(cq). She was the last witness to take the stand in the trial. The trial of Robert Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq) ‘s six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### Helen Hector(cq) left, daugther of the late Alice Broom(cq) becomes emotional after the verdict was read. Right is Dorothy Munnerlyn(cq), one of the sisters of Broom(cq). The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq) owned six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006

###Ocala Star-Banner – Fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq) of Citra, Ocala, FL – Contact photographer at 352-598-7976. Photo Editor Alan Youngblood, 352-598-7967### It was dark the night I arrived at the home of the late Alice Broom(cq) in Citra in 2003 after she had been mauled by a pack of pit bulls dogs in front of her own home. I was present when a Marion County deputy told her family that she had died. It was a painful moment for the family so I waited a short time before I started to photograph them in their grief. I was also present when the owner of the dogs, Robert Freeman, was convicted in April 2006 by a jury of manslaughter with culpable negligence. This time I photographed Helen Hector, a daughter of the late Broom after she fainted in the Marion County Courtroom. There were several members of the media, but all the TV photographers had left the courtroom. Again, I did not photograph right away, waiting a few moments. Before Helen Hector fainted, she noted that she might have seen her late mother in her presence. This we will never know for certain, but certainly a family that had suffered during the past few years received resolution and perhaps a special grace that day from God in the courthouse. Helen Hector(cq) center, daughter of the late Alice Broom(cq) faints after the verdict was read. Right is Dorothy Munnerlyn(cq). Right is Marion County Sheriff Lt. Joe Wright Jr., holding her hand while Nancy Locke(cq) left, with the Victim Witness Program at the State Attorney’s Office helps. The trial of Freeman(cq) is in the court room of Judge Hale Stancil(cq) at the Marion County Courthouse. This is the fourth day of the trial of Robert Freeman(cq), of Citra. Freeman(cq) owned six pit bulls that mauled Alice Broom(cq) to death in front of her home in Citra, in 2003, Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2006, Ocala, FL. ( Photo by Jannet Walsh/Star-Banner)2006