This dad wants guns after family massacred  ‘I’ve lost 1 little girl and I’m not going to lose  another’

It was a Thanksgiving Day that forever changed one family.

Paul Michael Merhige finished his dinner, left his cousin’s home, returned  with a handgun and executed five of his own family members in Jupiter, Fla.,  including an unborn baby and a 6-year-old girl asleep in her bed.

The 35-year-old, mentally ill shooter didn’t say a word as he mercilessly  pulled the trigger.                                                                    Makayla Joy Sittona

Merhige shot and killed his twin sisters, one of whom was pregnant. He fired  a  bullet into his brother-in-law’s head. He shot his aunt and tried to shoot his  uncle, but the gun jammed.

And then the cold-blooded killer did something even more unthinkable.

He walked into his 6-year-old cousin’s bedroom and shot her dead while she  slept. Just hours earlier, that same little girl had prayed and given thanks to  God as she shared Thanksgiving dinner with her killer, several relatives and  guests.

9-1-1 call: ‘He shot  multiple people’ (Warning graphic content)

The media refer to it as “The Thanksgiving Day massacre” of 2009.

Jim Sitton will always remember it as the day he lost his little girl,  Makayla, to an evil madman with a gun.

Jim Sitton and wife, Muriel, in Makayla’s  room

Now, a little more than three years after his tragic loss, Sitton, a  photojournalist for WPTV-TV, the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach, Fla., has a  powerful message for lawmakers and citizens who advocate restricting the Second  Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans:

“[I understand] what it’s like to be completely helpless and powerless when  someone attacks your family with a gun.

“For me, it comes down very simply to, when someone bursts into your home  with murderous intent in their heart, wanting to kill you and your family, you  have a choice: You either choose to be armed and trained to protect yourself –  or you choose not to arm and protect yourself and your family.”

However, Sitton condemns attempts to prevent other Americans from arming and  protecting themselves.

“That’s the worst choice of all,” he said, “and it seems that’s what this  government is intent on doing.

Paul Michael Merhige

Sitton was a gun owner at the time of the shootings, but he said he didn’t  have time that night to access his firearm.

“I did have a shotgun in my closet, but I wasn’t able to get to it. The  gunman was between me and it with a gun, shooting, so I couldn’t go that way.  But I’d never owned a handgun up until that point. The first word out of my  mouth was ‘run,’ and the second words were to my son, ‘Do you have your  gun?’”

Sitton said his son had left his handgun at his home.

“When it comes down to it, everything happened so fast,” he said. “The only  thing that will stop a bad man with a gun is a good guy with a gun.  Unfortunately, none of the good guys had guns that night.

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WND asked Sitton for his thoughts on Congress’ recent proposal for background  checks at gun shows and for Internet sales. He agreed that background checks are  not foolproof, as there are still many holes in the system. He questions efforts  to pass new gun-control laws when the laws already on the books aren’t being  enforced.

“Merhige was on the loose for almost a month after killing my family,” he  said. “As you can imagine, I ended up buying some guns for protection during  that time. And every gun purchase I made – at either at a gun store or at a gun  show – I had to go through background checks. I had to go through a background  check to get my concealed-carry license.”

Despite the shooter’s history of mental illness, Sitton said Merhige simply  lied on all his forms to obtain guns.

Sitton explained: “The state had issued him a concealed-carry license, and he  bought guns legally just in the weeks leading up to that Thanksgiving. He lied  on his concealed-carry form about his history, and he also lied on every  [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] form that he filled out for each of  those five guns.

“The government had five opportunities to check this guy’s background, and  the state didn’t check when they gave him the license. The federal government  didn’t check his background whenever he bought the five guns. If they had, they  would have seen that he had previously used a gun to shoot himself in the  shoulder in a supposed suicide attempt.”

 “The only reason we’re standing is by the grace of  God”

Sitton told WND the shooter had been involuntarily committed for mental  examinations twice, and police had been called to his parents’ residence on  calls of domestic events.

“His sister had a restraining order against him when he threatened to slash  her throat with a knife,” Sitton added. “He had told his psychiatrist he wanted  to kill his entire family. And the state or the federal government, I guess no  one checked the police records to see his background.”

Asked if he believes strengthening the gun laws will do any good, Sitton  replied: “I think everyone agrees that when you buy a gun, you should go through  a background check. That doesn’t mean that [should] put you on a universal list  by the government, but to use the laws we have in place today. … I just think  that the state should do its due diligence for each and every individual  form.

“I don’t know if this is really about saving lives. I think it’s more about  people control than it is about gun control.”

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/father-of-murdered-child-defends-gun-rights/#zd86gMC4JBFEgpec.99

Muriel and Jim Sitton lost their six-year-old daughter Makayla when Paul Merhige opened fire at the Sitton’s home in Jupiter in 2009. Little Maykala and three other family members were killed.

While they’ll never get over the grief of losing their daughter, the Sitton’s decided to have another child. That child was born just before 1:00 p.m. Monday. Her name is Natalia Grace, according to WPEC in Palm Beach County.

Before she was born, Jim Sitton had nicknamed her “our rainbow baby” and wrote a beautiful poem to her, saying she was the rainbow God sent them after a terrible storm. She brings colors into their black and blue lives.

The Sittons chose the name Natalia because it was Makayla’s favorite name and because it means “Christ’s birthday” or “born on Christmas” and that was Makayla’s favorite time of year. Her middle name is “Grace” to celebrate God’s grace on them.

As for Merhige, he pleaded guilty to the murders in October 2011 and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences.

The parents of Paul Merhige have filed a counter-lawsuit against Jim and Muriel Sitton and Muriel’s father, Dr. Antoine Joseph.

The Sittons and Dr. Joseph, filed suit first against Michael and Carole Merhige in September 2011 which claimed they knew their son Paul Merhige was unstable and potentially violent and did nothing to warn them that he would be attending their Thanksgiving dinner in 2009.

The lawsuit claimed the gunman’s parents were negligent because they knew their son was planning to attend the Thanksgiving event, even though he was unwanted and uninvited.

Tuesday, Merhige’s parents filed a lawsuit of their own which claims wrongful death and defamation.

In a statement released by attorney Allen Rossin, Michael and Carole Merhige only filed the counter-suit because, “Jim Sitton has chosen to make unfair and untrue statements about Michael and Carole Merhige which has added unnecessarily to their anguish and suffering.”

Michael and Carole Merhige claim Jim and Muriel Sitton and Dr. Antoine Joseph knew that Michael was going to attend the Thanksgiving dinner and that they were well aware of his mental health conditions, including any dangerous behavior.

In papers filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, the elder Merhige’s claim if the Sittons hadn’t allow Paul Merhige into their home, he wouldn’t have been able to open fire on the guests.

In addition, Michael and Carole claim Dr. Antoine Joseph not only knew of Paul Merhige’s mental health conditions, as his uncle, but also had been his physician and treated him for a variety of medical conditions over the years.

They claim that prior to Thanksgiving 2009, Dr. Joseph had expressed his concerns to others that Paul Merhige may “hurt” someone and on one occasion refused to allow Paul Merhige to attend a family function at his home.

Michael and Carole Merhige also accuse Jim Sitton of defamation claiming they did not know Paul posed a danger to others and for repeatedly claiming they invited their son to the Thanksgiving dinner without telling other family members.

The night of the massacre, Merhige was having dinner in his cousin Muriel’s home when he got a gun from his car and opened fire at his relatives inside the house. He killed his twin sisters Carla and Lisa; who was pregnant, his aunt Raymonde Joseph, and 6-year-old cousin Makayla while she slept in her bed.

After a five-week manhunt, he was captured on January 2nd, 2010 on Long Key.

In October 2011, Merhige pleaded guilty to the murders. In return for his plea, he was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences.

Tuesday afternoon, after learning about the countersuit, Jim and Muriel Sitton released a statement through their attorney David Prather which stated they are “outraged and devastated by the far flung allegations against them. The Sittons had not seen the killer for 13 years before he arrived on their doorstep, uninvited by them, but invited by his parents and with the knowledge of his sisters.”

The statement continued, “The Sittons and Josephs were certainly aware that the Merhige’s were dysfunctional, but had no idea whatsoever as to the extent of that dysfunction or the depth of the killer’s mental illness. The Merighes however, were acutely aware of it.   While the Merighes are  certainly  grieving the loss of their family, sadly, they were the ones with the power to have prevented this unspeakable tragedy.  For them to now turn around and blame the Sittons and Dr. Joseph is the ultimate in adding the proverbial insult to injury.”

Two years ago on Thanksgiving, Paul Michael Merhige shattered the lives of his family, when he opened fire at his cousin’s Thanksgiving dinner in Jupiter and killed four family members including a 6-year-old girl.

Merhige was at the home of Jim and Muriel Sitton enjoying a Thanksgiving feast. As the dinner was winding down, police say he got a gun from his car and opened fire on his relatives inside the house.

After a five-week manhunt, he was finally captured on January 2nd, 2010 on Long Key.

In October 2011, a bombshell dropped on the Sitton family. Merhige pleaded guilty to killing his aunt Raymonde Joseph, 76, twin sisters Lisa Knight and Carla Merhige, and his cousin’s daughter, Makayla Sitton, 6.

In return for his plea, he was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences and is currently in a state corrections facility in Miami-Dade where he’s undergoing intensive medical and psychological testing.

Merhige will remain at the Doral facility until he’s assigned to a prison.

The Sittons wanted Merhige to face a jury and were not happy with the decision to allow him to make a plea deal.

While the Sittons were upset about the plea deal, they do have a reason to celebrate.

The Sittons are expecting another child. Muriel, 50, is six months pregnant with a girl.

They say the baby will move into Makayla’s room sharing her toys and clothes and bringing happiness to her thrilled parents.  But it’s still bittersweet as the Sittons will never forget the little girl they’ll never hold again.

Makayla Sitton was shot and killed by her cousin Paul Merhige, she just met him that day. Merhige was sentenced Thursday to 7 life sentences.

The Sitton famiy is furious Merhige did not stand trial, or face a possible death sentence.

“He slaughtered us!” said Jim Sitton, Makayla’s father.  “I wanted the whole world to see what that bastard did to my child.”

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Also murdered in the family massacre was Makayla’s grandmother and twin cousins.  It happened t the Sitton’s Jupiter home on Thanksgiving 2009, where the family had been celebrating and singing around the piano.

“The killer,” Sitton told CBS 4’s Ted Scouten,  “he had us trapped in this room right here and he just started shooting,” he explained while showing Scouten where the murder happened inside their home.

Sitton told Scouten he remembers that terrifying night  and the helpless feeling when he tried to save his daughter.   “I heard my daughter gasp, “ he said, “and then pow, pow, pow.”   “He walked up and he shot her point blank in the head, in the heart and in the chest,” Sitton explained while standing over his daughter’s bed.  “I just started compressing her chest and begging. I was begging her, ‘don’t go baby, please don’t go’,” he cried.

Gone forever is Makayla’s laughter, but the Sittons say they will not live in bitterness and defeat.  They’re moving forward.  In fact, they’re expecting another baby in March, a little girl.

“This house used to be a home and now it’s just a house that’s just listen, it’s deadly silent!” he said. “This baby is going to bring laughter and joy into our home. “  They still haven’t agreed on a name yet.  Jim is leading toward “Natalie.”  That was the name of Makayla’s favorite doll.

The baby will move into Makayla’s room sharing her toys and clothes and bringing happiness to her thrilled parents.  But it’s still bittersweet as the Sittons will never forget the little girl they’ll never hold again.

The Sittons are keeping Makayla’s memory alive by setting up a website, that helps children enjoy the things Makayla enjoyed, like singing, dancing and reading.

Prosecutors have reportedly reached a plea deal which would spare the death sentence for Paul Michael Merhige, 37. He will plead guilty to murder and attempted murder charges in exchange for seven life sentences.

Merhige is accused of gunning down relatives inside his cousin’s home as Thanksgiving dinner was winding down in 2009. Those who didn’t survive the massacre included Merhige’s sisters, twins Lisa Knight and Carla Merhige; their aunt, Raymonde Joseph, 76, and their cousin’s daughter, Makayla Sitton, 6. Lisa Knight was also pregnant.

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Knight’s husband, Patrick, was also shot in the stomach and spent three months in a medically induced coma. He wasn’t expected to survive. If the plea deal is not executed, he’s expected to be the star witness at Merhige’s trial.

After the shooting, Merhige vanished. He fled to the Florida Keys where he reportedly planned to commit suicide. After a five-week manhunt, Merhige was finally taken into custody January 2nd, 2010 on Long Key when the Pfaff family, who own of the Edgewater Resort, saw his face on the local news and recognized him as one of their customers.

Two lawsuits have been filed against Merhige’s parents, Michael and Carole, one from Patrick Knight and the other by the parents of Makayla Sitton. Both parties allege the Merhige’s knew of their son’s “dangerous propensities” and failed to protect their relatives during the Thanksgiving get-together from him.

The Merhiges deny the claim.

Knight was also wounded during the shooting and spent three months in a coma after the mass shooting allegedly carried out by Merhige.

Knight claimed that the Merhige’s knew of their son’s “dangerous propensities” and failed to protect guests at the 2009 Thanksgiving get-together from him.

It’s the second lawsuit filed against Merhige’s parents, Michael and Carole Merhige. A similar suit making the same claims was filed last week by three other survivors of the shooting.

Paul Merhige has pleaded not guilty to the killings. He was captured in the Florida Keys after a massive manhunt took place in the days after the shootings.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Muriel and Jim Sitton, and Antoine Joseph, whose wife was also killed, have filed suit against the parents of Paul Merhige claiming they knew he was unstable and potentially violent and did nothing to warn them that he would be attending their Thanksgiving dinner in 2009.

The lawsuit claims Michael and Carole Merhige were negligent because they knew their son was planning to attend the Thanksgiving event, even though he was unwanted and uninvited.

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According to the lawsuit, his mother told her daughter she hoped he wouldn’t “come and kill us all” in advance of Thanksgiving.

It was during Thanksgiving dinner that Merhige, Muriel Sitton’s cousin, is accused of shooting to death his twin sisters Carla and Lisa, his aunt Raymonde Joseph, and 6-year-old cousin Makayla while she slept in her bed in her Jupiter home.

The suit also claims his parents “had some sense that he might kill people that day”, but did nothing to stop him.

“The reason we are bringing this case is because the Merhige’s knew that and our clients didn’t,” said attorney Julie Littky-Rubin. “Had our clients known that, they would have said, ‘No, he cannot come.’ Instead he showed up. Muriel had one minutes’ notice that Paul was on his way. Had she known, had Jim known, had Dr. Joseph known, had anyone known, they would have prevented him from being there.”

The Sitton’s also said that Paul Merhige’s father was a former CIA agent and he had opportunity because of his past training, to prevent his daughters from being shot.

After the massacre, Merhige fled the Sittons Jupiter home and eventually ended up in Islamorada, where he hid for a month in a waterfront motel.

A tip to America’s Most Wanted led to his capture and ended a nationwide manhunt.

Merhige had a long history of problems with other members of his family, and was said to have mental health issues for which he was medicated. Prosecutors claim he planned his attack carefully, purchasing 4 guns and ammunition, taking $12 thousand out of the bank, and even buying a cover for his car, which was eventually used to hide it from view while he was on the run.

Paul Merhige is awaiting trial on four counts of First-Degree Murder and has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

“This house used to be a home, you know, it used to be full of little girl giggles and now it’s just silent,” said Jim Sitton.

On Thanksgiving night, 2009, Jim and his wife Muriel tucked their 6-year old daughter Makayla into bed and kissed her goodnight. Little did they know their lives were about to change forever when a cousin, Paul Merhige, went on a shooting spree inside their Jupiter home. Those who didn’t survive include Makayla, Merhige’s twin sisters Lisa Knight and Carla Merhige and their aunt 76-year old Raymonde Joseph.

“It’s day by day and a lot of times it’s like ‘How do we go on’,” said Muriel Sitton.

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The couple said they found comfort in Makayla’s bedroom, reading her journals and watching home videos of Makayla doing what she loved; dancing, playing music and telling stories.

One of the thing’s Muriel Sitton said she loved the most was listening to a recording of Makayla telling the story of The Bear’s Castle which she wrote; Muriel said she would listen to it nightly.

“Jim would be crying and couldn’t listen, but for me, I needed to hear her voice,” said Muriel Sitton.

When illustrator Tyler Hollis heard about the tragedy, she offered to do a single book. Hollis said she lost her own daughter years earlier and hoped the book would ease the pain.

“It takes away some of the darkness, it shines a little bit of light into the darkness,” said Hollis.

It did much more.

The Sittons decided to publish The Bear’s Castle last summer. So far, the story of the young bear and unicorn has sold more than a thousand copies, a gift which the Sittons said they never expected. So they set up a scholarship fund in Makayla’s name.

“We always knew great things would come from her life,” said Jim Sitton.

Great things like helping 13-year old Anna Splendorillo get music lessons.

Splendrillo said is the scholarship didn’t’ happen she would never had been able take lessons because “My daddy doesn’t have a job right now.”

“When you see the children and you see the good coming out of this, it doesn’t make up for it, but it makes you say ‘Okay, there is something good coming out of this’.”

Something good out of tragedy, the closest thing this family could find to a storybook ending.

Bill is truly a Renaissance man—skilled in so many artistic disciplines. While he is a very talented illustrator, painter, and stained glass artist, I especially liked his pottery. I collect Raku and he had some lovely pieces in his home, all created during his incarnation as a professional potter in his studio, Mountain Pond Pottery, at Lake Lanier and Lake Nottley. I felt an immediate kinship with him because like me, he loves acquiring and applying new creative skills. Graphic design, painting, drawing, printmaking, marketing, writing, pottery, stained glass painting—he does them all and he does them well.

Born in Atlanta, GA, Bill now lives in Greenville, S.C., where he creates portrait paintings and drawings on commission. I found his diverse career fascinating and he graciously agreed to be interviewed and share his career and works with my readers.

When did you first discover your creative talents?
I began drawing and painting immediately after eye surgery at age three. I could see individual leaves on trees, birds, distance and most important—single, not double images. That progressed to an impromptu crayon and paint mural on the lengthy hallway to my bedroom. Needless to say, at first Mom was upset but fell into gales of laughter.

Where did you study art?
I continued drawing and painting through high school. I had no formal training until my first classes at Georgia State University, where I majored in visual arts. I studied under the remarkable and late Jim Sitton. Additionally, I took painting courses under the late Joseph Perrin, printmaking under Jim McLean (Editor’s note: McLean retired in 1994 and has since illustrated 11 books, most of them with well-known language guru and punmeister, Richard Lederer), and pottery under a man named Potter.

Did you inherit your artistic talents from your parents?
Short answer—maybe. Late in life my mother surprised us all with a seemingly sudden and remarkable interest and talent in multiple-layer painting and firing on porcelain, which shares some characteristics with stained glass painting. Her work was beautiful.

My father, Bill Sr., was head of the Meteorology Department for Eastern Airlines, and in WWII he taught American and British pilots weather and navigation. After his retirement, photography became his hobby and lasted until he lost vision. My sister, Sydney, is a highly creative interior designer and her daughter, Lea, is a gifted jewelry designer.

What other creative mediums have you worked in?
First and foremost—drawing and painting in all painting mediums—from watercolor to oil, acrylic to tempera. That’s the most consistent media—especially watercolor—which is the most ancient and long-lasting medium. I’ve enjoyed printmaking—especially old techniques of etching and woodblock printing. I’m still an enthusiastic stained glass fan, but had to close my shop due to illness. The physicality was too demanding and I couldn’t do any work for over two years. Now I occasionally work primarily in watercolor.

Tell us about the evolution of your career.
I worked in the graphic design field for 17 years, specializing in visual tools to aid in teaching, illustration, printing, promotional and marketing materials, writing and heading an award-winning design team of artists and photographers. During my GSU tenure, I completely designed the then new Educational Media facility from the ground up with the universities chief architect. The facility design included plans for HAVAC, electrical, space usage, and a complete layout for departments of Graphics/Photography, Film/Video, Distribution, Audio and supportive staff.

I left GSU to develop award-winning consumer catalogs for an importer. Concurrently and five years prior, I developed Mountain Pond Pottery, creating one-of-a-kind and limited edition raku and stoneware. I liked raku because it’s an art with such an exciting process. (The creative process of Raku as practiced today has evolved from methods developed in Japan in the sixteenth century. A Korean tile maker’s hand-pinched tea ceremony bowls so impressed the Japanese emperor that he named the tile maker, Raku, meaning pleasure. The Raku family practices pottery to this day. Westerners have built on that simple and elegant approach by making a wide variety of forms and formulating more distinctive color glazes. After forming, bisque firing then glazing, the piece is thrust into a preheated red-hot kiln at nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. At the time of glaze maturity, when the piece is close to transparent red, the piece is lifted out of the kiln with tongs and/or gloves, then plunged into a container of sawdust, straw, or a combustible material like oil rags. The piece is tightly covered and sealed to allow carbons released from the combustibles to penetrate the glaze and clay body which produces the characteristic black clay body and individual and surprisingly unpredictable glaze results now characteristic of Raku—each finished piece is scrubbed when cooled to remove soot, and bears the distinctive marks of tongs or gloves adding character to the form.)

After working with the importer, I was Resident Potter at the John C. Campbell Folk School, while also heading the marketing department there. I also taught and authored a history of the Brass Town Carvers, a then 60+ year old program at JCCS patterned after Winter Work in carving by Danish farmers.

After JC Campbell I traveled west to California to work at the former Pocket Ranch Institute and the Star Foundation. High in the mountains above the vineyards surrounding Geyserville, I produced marketing materials and a motivational video. I was also on the management team for the large 2,000 acre retreat and psychotherapeutic facility.

After several years I returned to the southeast and soon worked as Operations Director and Music Personnel Manager for the Greenville Symphony, in Greenville, S.C. Four years later I had to get back into art and left the Symphony. I took some time off and subsequently returned to my first love—the visual arts. I took a short drive to Tryon, N.C. and came upon a glass studio—Tryon Decorative Glass—owned by stained glass artist Michael Kitchen. We hit it off discussing art and art glass. I was amazed with his work.

Under Kitchen’s instruction, I learned the art of glass painting with multiple layers—painting with ground glass mixed with bonding agents, which remain on the painted glass surface long enough to place in kiln. This assured the ground glass would stay on the painted glass through handling and firing; the pieces were then fired in special glass kilns. I also learned window design and fabrication with Kitchen. At that time he was contracted to create windows for many United House Of Prayer cathedrals and small churches throughout the East and Midwest. These projects were more than inspiring. Kitchen now works with Glass Works Stained Glass Studio in Charlotte, N.C.

Two years later, in January 1998, I ventured out on my own to create Biggers Glass Painting & Stained Glass Design, with glass studio customers throughout the U.S. Throughout my career incarnations, I continued to create portraits, drawings, and products for communications, business, crafts and the arts—my specialty and passion remains portraits. (View Bill’s stained glass painting and design portfolio here.)

Do you draw every day? What is your favorite medium? 
Yes, if you include doodling. Usually it is just a couple of minutes of sketching per day because my stamina is greatly reduced. When I feel capable, I do full drawings and paintings in acrylics and primarily watercolor.

My favorite medium is watercolor—the oldest painting medium. Chemically, watercolors are pigments made from ground minerals and dyed inert powder, held together generally with gum arabic made from the acacia tree. Watercolors capture luminosity and offer a range equal to and often exceeding that of other mediums. I’ve devoted a page to the history of watercolor here on my website.

On average, how long does it take to complete a work?
The time to create a work varies enormously. Paintings take longer than drawings. Other major factors include the amount of detail and style, number of subjects and size. The time is quite variable, especially since I can only paint for short durations.

Can you explain the process on a portrait commission from start to finish? Which commissions do you enjoy the most?
It can vary by medium—oils and acrylic paintings take longer—yet a watercolor can easily be as time-consuming. First comes the initial contact and commission. I ask many questions of my client to get as much verbal information as possible to determine their needs and hopes. A portrait is special to people and I like to give them that opportunity to co-create in the beginning. Ideally I like to work on a thumbnail sketch and feature detail of a live model, and take photographs of the desired position, and from all angles. From there, I take photos of the subject and retire to my studio to begin working. For out-of-town commissions, I rely entirely on photos—requesting not only the preferred sitting, but also as many photos as possible of the subject to get a more complete feeling for the portrait.

It is hard to distinguish which commissions I like most as “I’ve never met a commission I didn’t like!” I like portraits of men, women, children and pets… the rare and occasional landscape or still life… and respect for the nuances of watercolor seem to outweigh any other medium.

How would you describe your illustration/painting style?
I “play” in every style I’m aware of, but for commissions I generally lean heavily toward “new realism,” with intense detail—at least as much detail as I can muster.

What are your influences? What artists inspire you?
Truthfully, that is the most difficult question. As a child I was amazed by artists like Norman Rockwell, Leger, Wyatt—the work of 1950s realists that I saw in magazines and in museums and galleries. As I matured, the love for these artists continued, but a mountain of other artists flooded in—from Expressionists to Impressionists, late 19th century realists to cubists, Fauves—almost every style and within those styles, many artists. 

My likes increased exponentially—I am a great lover of Monet, Manet and Van Gogh. My tastes jump back to the great 15th century European painters and sculptors. Later came appreciation for watercolor’s resurgence in the 2oth century and on to artists like Dali and other surrealists, and Picasso to Braque. Additionally, Motherwell, Frankenthaler, Pollock and just about every major artist known on the Abstract Expressionist scene—their creativity exploded into my artistic consciousness. Then there are conceptual artists like Christo and Oldenburg. A few of my favorites are the minimalists.

I have to mention the giants in stained glass design and painting from the 13th century to the 20th century—the late, great national treasure, Dick Millard. He was a friend, mentor and wild man spirit who died in March of this year. He is missed by his wife, Vicki, and literally thousands of fans worldwide.

My paintings don’t seem to reflect these many appreciations and love for visual diversity. However, I do think that these various movements expanded awareness and somehow enriched my experience as an artist. Additionally, living and working in California, Arizona, and the southeast has really influenced my work. (Above: Bill created this stained glass painting, “Prayer for Nation & The World,” to honor the 9/11 victims.)

How do you keep your work fresh and how did you come to formulate your style? Does it progress naturally? What is your creative motivation?
In a word—I try, but sometimes fail. I work at seeing things as they are in the moment. As to style, it seems to have matured to some extent. Opening my eyes each morning and scanning the room, I’m motivated and inspired by everything that surrounds me—shape, form, details and color—as much as my awareness can conceive. That wasn’t always a good characteristic—I was often described as a daydreamer in my primary school days. Catching up was swift and exciting at the college level.

What are you working on at present?
I’ve spent several months sketching and thinking about a personal project—something challenging—a young lady, hand draped over the back of a wooden chair, heavily lit from one side, only slight bounce of light on deeply shadowed part of face and form.

In the last couple of months I have worked on two caricature pieces for a niece—one for a mud run benefit that eventually was transferred to their team’s T-shirts. Another project was a caricature of her friend and co-worker’s Bon Voyage party. An occasional simple piece for a family member or friend keeps the cobwebs away. My niece suggested I render the Markley Chapel at Greenville’s 200-year-old Christ Church (right). The original artwork was sold at a silent auction to benefit the church’s school. Additionally, I made a few Giclée prints from the image, as well as notecard packages.

I noticed you have wide range of artwork on the walls in your home. Whose works do you admire and collect?
First, Jim Sitton, who was one of my university professors. He was a master of giant drawings with details, scratches and usually indistinguishable tiny forms of near microscopic size covering an entire piece. I also have a photolithograph by Jim McLean, one of the printing instructors at GSU. I was fortunate to visit China in late 1994 and acquired two contemporary Chinese paintings, one of the “Venice Of China” (an intaglio print), and a colorful primitive interior with several people. Both are outstanding and unfortunately, I do not know the artists. The three week+ trip expanded awareness and amazement of my favorite subject—other people. Photo © Bill Biggers

There are other works—photography by friends, a large print from another. My favorite pieces, which I would love to possess, are Dick Millard’s glass paintings and panels.

Tell me about your work with the Greenville Symphony.
After three interviews over three months, I was awarded the position of both Music Personnel Director and Operations Director. I managed the Symphony’s budget, attended all rehearsals and performances, contracted musicians and coordinated blind auditions. I supervised the Symphony’s music librarian and was responsible to the Music Director-conductor, David Pollitt. I suppose I enjoyed the rehearsals the most—seeing a piece be interpreted, then evolve into a performance. I also contracted numerous guest artist performers until the last few months there. In late 1994 Maestro Pollitt was offered a cultural conducting exchange with the conductor of the Shanghai Symphony. Three people were going and a benefactor paid to have me included. In all, I worked no more than three partial days followed by at least 10 days of travel. We first explored Shanghai, then Beijing, then went north to the emperor’s tombs and the Great Wall. Initially, we landed in Hong Kong, but didn’t explore until our last two days in China. A strong memory was the enormous bird market, spanning alley after alley, with species of birds I’ve never seen before nor since. I also enjoyed the Jade Market in Hong Kong. Outside the tents were old Chinese men with cloths covering the ground and many ancient jade pieces. The harbor in Shanghai was incredibly scenic and beautiful. The Chinese food was remarkable, with little similarity to Chinese food in the U.S.

How does the word passion relate to an artist?
First, I think any work, field or endeavor should done with some passion and not always with the major goal of producing income. If you are good at something, you can be a success in many ways. The key is to find that thing—or things—that jets your juices and stirs your passion enough to make each day an adventure.

If you weren’t an artist what would you be?
That’s easy—a writer and a psychologist.

Describe yourself in three words.
Curious, listener, friend

My Favorite…
Words: Peace & tranquility
Colors: Yellow & blue
Foods: Fish & pizza
Music: Mozart, Lennon, Tyler
Authors: Michener & Dickens, plus a few contemporary authors
Actors: Anthony Hopkins & Javier Bardem
Movies: To Kill A Mockingbird & Schindler’s List

No interview would be complete without the requisite “you’re stranded on a deserted island” question—what five things must you have with you?
Books, music, My Spiritual Path writings, nail clippers, and several pairs of reading and distance glasses (two pair of bifocals)

(Editor’s note: Interesting—he didn’t even mention art supplies! My answer was always something like: cheese, chocolate (never mind how they’re going to be kept fresh), a horde of fine black sharpie markers, a stack of sketchpads, and a guitar for entertainment (I could finally teach myself to play—something I’ve wanted to do for years). Then the obvious question is—why do we not say, “a boat,” so we won’t be stranded any longer!?)

I will never forget: Any slight inkling, step or expansion of awareness, and those whom I’ve loved

I wish I could: No wishes—I like to be surprised.

What is one thing you most want people to remember about you?
I guess, “He lived for a time.”

To see more of Bill’s portrait work, visit www.PortraitsByBiggers.com.

To see more of his glass painting, visit www.BiggersGlassPainting.com.

Both websites were designed by Windy Airey of Windy’s Design Studio.

Bill can be reached at Bill@PortraitsByBiggers.com or WilliamBiggers@gmail.com.

The show has been rescued before. In 1996, an outpouring of support from fans, politicians and law enforcement compelled Fox executives to reconsider after they announced they were taking the show off the air, and a handful of Facebook pages aim to recapture that groundswell of support.

“Criminals all over America will be rejoicing if AMW is cancelled,” said Jim Sitton, who credits the show for catching the man suspected of killing his 6-year-old daughter and three other relatives on Thanksgiving 2009.

Sitton created the Save AMW page because he believed he owed it to the program and its host, John Walsh.

The show helped capture Paul Michael Merhige, who disappeared after the shootings. Merhige was found after a couple who owned a Long Key, Fla., motel saw a promotion for the show during a January 2010 college football game and recognized him as a guest.

Hours later, Merhige was arrested. His trial is set for later this year.

On Tuesday, a day after the announcement that the show is being canceled, Sitton’s page had 500 followers. Hundreds of others had “liked” or commented on other websites and pages dedicated to saving the show.

“I think somehow, some way America needs the service that John Walsh provides,” Sitton said. “He can bring the heat on criminals like nobody else.”

The show says it has helped catch more than 1,150 fugitives — including 17 of the FBI’s most wanted — and find more than 50 missing children.

“With his help, we’ve made a lot of arrests and taken a lot of bad people off the street,” said Louie McKinney, a former acting director of the U.S. Marshal’s Service and a special investigator with the FBI. “I often said in the Marshal’s Service ‘You can run but you can’t hide.’ That’s what John Walsh did — he made sure that if you committed a crime you’re going to get caught.”

The program has been a great tool for law enforcement, especially as budget cuts trim the number of officers on the streets, said John Parizeau, police chief in Westfield, N.J., an affluent city of 30,000 not far from New York City. His department is down 12 percent in the past two years.

Fox dropped the show in 1996. At that point, the program had assisted in the capture of more than 430 fugitives. The success prompted thousands of fans, law enforcement agencies and the governors of 37 states to bombard the network with letters urging executives to keep the series alive. The FBI even weighed in with a statement saying the show “empowered millions of Americans to safely and constructively combat crime.”

This time, though, the FBI’s statement sounded more like a heartfelt goodbye.

“Few television shows have aired for so long. Even fewer have provided such a worthy public service, or have made such a lasting impact on the American public,” said Michael P. Kortan, an FBI spokesman. “John and his team have always understood the power of the people in helping to bring criminals to justice. Their tenacity, their unwavering dedication to victims of crime and violence, and their commitment to law enforcement will be missed.”

The show started when Walsh heard about David James Roberts, a convicted rapist who, while out on parole, killed a young Indiana family. A year later, Roberts abducted a woman and her infant, and sexually assaulted the woman before leaving the 5-month-old boy on the side of the road. The baby died of exposure.

Roberts was convicted, but escaped in 1986 while being taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Walsh’s 6-year-old son, Adam, was kidnapped and kidnapped and murdered in 1981 and the killer was never captured. Walsh saw the Roberts case as a chance to catch a child killer.

By the first commercial break, the show’s hot lines were abuzz with tips. Roberts, who was listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, was arrested four days later in Staten Island, N.Y., where he ran a homeless shelter.

“We caught David James Roberts when the FBI couldn’t catch him, and we’ve been doing it ever since,” Walsh said.

The show turns down 50 or so cases each week, Walsh said. Now he questions where police and victims’ families will go when the trail turns cold. In 2008, police closed the Walsh case saying that a deceased drifter, Ottis Toole, had killed the boy.

The network says it will replace the weekly shows with four, two-hour specials throughout the year. Walsh said he hopes those will convince Fox to reinstate the show.

“It’s powerful, important television,” he said. “I hope maybe that public outcry will change Fox’s mind or we’ll do something else.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Merhige was at the home of Jim and Muriel Sitton enjoying a Thanksgiving feast. As the dinner was winding down, police say he got a gun from his car and opened fire on his relatives inside the house.

Those who didn’t survive the massacre included Merhige’s sisters, twins Lisa Knight and Carla Merhige; their aunt, Raymonde Joseph, 76, and their cousin’s daughter, Makayla Sitton, 6. Lisa Knight was also pregnant.

Knight’s husband, Patrick, was also shot in the stomach and spent three months in a medically induced coma. He wasn’t expected to survive. After coming out of the coma, he had to relearn basic skills and since then, has made what he calls an amazing recovery. He has returned to work as a lawyer and has even argued trials. He is also a motivational speaker. He will eventually be the star witness at Merhige’s trial.

After the shooting, Merhige vanished. He fled to the Florida Keys where he reportedly planned to commit suicide. After a five-week manhunt, Merhige was finally taken into custody January 2nd, 2010 on Long Key when the Pfaff family, who own of the Edgewater Resort, saw his face on the local news and recognized him as one of their customers.

Palm Beach County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. His public defenders are expected to pursue an insanity defense. A year after the murders, a trial date has not been set.