2-year-old killed over spilled milk
Neighbors at Lake Seminole Estates, a mobile home park in Seminole, Florida, could not believe the news when they heard that police had arrested 74-year-old Shirley Skinner as she emerged from a Clearwater restaurant on Monday. She was charged with putting a gun to her granddaughter's estranged husband's head and pulling the trigger. 
Police Mug Shot Shirley Skinner was arrested in Florida in connection with the shooting death of granddaughter's estranged husband.
They didn't know whether the kindly 5'3" great-grandmother, who liked to play in the community pool with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was simply a crazy old woman who had suddenly gone off her rocker or a cold-blooded killer who lacked a conscience. But when the cops placed her in the Pinellas County Jail and a judge set bail for $5,000,000 on a warrant out of Illinois, the locals heard that the old lady had allegedly shot Steve Watkins, 32, in the head when he showed up at his ex-wife's Ashland, Illinois home in November 2008 to pick up his young daughter for a court-ordered visit...
The shooting, say relatives, was due to a bitter custody battle between Watkins and his ex-wife, Jennifer over their daughter, Skinner's great-granddaughter, who was only one-year-old at the time.
Steve Watkins' mother, Penny Watkins, told reporters from ABC and NBC news affiliates that she was relieved that an arrest had finally been made in her son's death. She said that her son had been married to Skinner's granddaughter, Jennifer, 31, for only a short time.
"I'm as happy as I can be," Penny Watkins said. "Steven was in my soul. He was a part of me. There's still that part of you missing that will never return."
Investigators are contending that Skinner walked up to her granddaughter's ex, put a gun to his head, and pulled the trigger--execution style--shortly after Watkins arrived to pick up his child.
Although Skinner showed up at her first court appearance on Tuesday of this week and waived extradition to Illinois, the case may not be over just yet. There were only two adults inside the house besides Steve--granny Skinner and ex-wife Jennifer. So far, Jennifer has not been charged with anything, but the investigation is ongoing.
"It is possible that additional arrests could be made as we continue
our investigation," Captain Scott Compton with the Illinois State
Police said.







Finally!!!!!! After almost a year with NOTHING being done! Do you know that he has another daughter named Alex from a previous marriage who he had FULL custody of? Now she lives with her grandparents cause he daddy is gone.
I sure hope there are more arrests made and I hoe Jenny is arrested and custody of Sydney is given to Steven's parents.
Posted 10/07/2009 at 12:44:23 PMWhat her good friends in Florida don't know is that this kindly grandmother carried a loaded gun in her purse......for years.......and lived in a town of around a thousand residents. No matter who pulled the trigger, her or her granddaughter, it's murder. The man was shot in the back of the head. Also, their first call to 911 wasn't to report that they'd killed someone. No, it was because "kindly" was having some sort of panic attack. The child needs to be with her sister and paternal grandparents. The highest price has already been paid.
Posted 10/08/2009 at 08:33:05 AMThis article says only two other adults were in the house besides Steve. Are they sure? What about the grandfather, Kenny. Why wouldn't everyone in the house be arrested if someone was murdered in cold blood. wouldn't they be concidered accomplist? It's been nearly a year one would think at the very least they could be arrested for obstruction not to mention a whole array of other charges? it's a crazy world and I wouldn't simply say Shirley was a crazy old woman who had suddenly gone off her rocker. Steve was obviously being distracted not to notice her.
Posted 10/15/2009 at 01:10:22 AMI'm glad they finally arrested Skinner for Steve's murder. It gives his family some peace.
Posted 10/30/2009 at 11:19:33 PMMurder is a crime and it's also against God's commandments for our lives, but I'm certain there is MUCH more to this story than Grandma went crazy. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. There is always two sides to every story and sadly, he won't be around to face what trouble he created in this situation. He had been married and had a child once before and it didn't work out. Now he remarries and only for long enough to have a child? Then gets another divorce? Just because the guy is dead, doesn't make him a saint!! Why so many marriages? What kind of guy was he? Was he verbally, mentally, or physically abusive? Did he threaten the mother to leave with the child, never to return? Was he playing games with her head? Things like that can make people desperate. And the love a mother has for a child...she'll do anything to protect her child. Did he want custody because the mother was truly unfit, or was it just to hurt the mother?
Posted 12/17/2009 at 09:45:18 AMI've been through a terrible divorce that involved two children. My ex-husband was a great person on the surface. Everyone loved him. Behind closed doors, he was evil. He was abusive in every way. It took a lot of years and a lot of courage for me to leave him. Once I did, the abuse continued in anyway he could think of. He threatened me with our children. He knew the only way to hurt me was through them. So he did. He didn't realize that he was also hurting our children...he just wanted to hurt me!
If any of these scenarios I just mentioned were happening during this couples divorce/custody battle, I can completely understand why a grandmother would take the man's life. I don't excuse it, but can understand it. I too wished for my ex to be dead. I then realized that if he would die, that this is what would've happened too! Everyone would feel sorry for him and that I would've been the "bad guy"!! Even though I was the one abused, even though I was the one who called the cops (who never did a thing!), even though he was the one who made our whole families lives a living hell...I would've been the evil one and he would've been dead with everyone talking about how great of guy he was!
So I can understand the love of a grandma wanting her granddaughter's pain to stop. I can see the logic...she probably thought if she got rid of the guy, that her great grand daughter could live with her mommy and that the man creating all the pain would go away. She knew the consequences, but was too old to care.
So before you go judging this woman for her actions, think about it. You don't know the whole story. I'd like to reiterate that I don't condone murder, but I can certainly understand how a highly stressful situation can push someone over the edge. Don't say you know what you'd do, be cause you don't!!! If abuse hasn't happened to you, you have no idea what you'd do. The law doesn't always work for the victim!!!!
Saddest part is now he's hailed as a martyr and no one will ever actually get to fully understand both sides. Grandma really didn't do her any favors.
How dare you say those things Roxann. I have known both sidea for a long time and Steven was not the abusive type.
Posted 12/21/2009 at 10:54:45 PMHe was a very loving person to his family and friends you dont find those kind of people NOT like him.As for granny and her family they are CRAZY and always have been. I think the reason they did it and yes I said they cause it was a conspiracy is because they new Steven would getcustody!! So shame on you roxann you havent got a clue !!
I have to agree with Friend of Steven. You have got to be the CRAZY one to say what you did. How do we know you didn't verbally or mentally abuse your ex husband and thats why he divorced you? Maybe you wanted to like an angel and you wanted people to think you were and instead a real bitch behind closed doors. Are you married again?? Do you have children by another marriage?? You know they always say that things you say and do will always come back to bite you in the ass..........and you know what? I got a big ass so it can bite all it wants. wants.....
Posted 12/22/2009 at 03:57:04 PMI agree some people should really think before they speak! Besides that if they new Steve they would understand why we are all so outraged!! Rest in Peace we will keep your spirit alive here on earth! We will shout from the highest mountains in your name!
Posted 12/22/2009 at 11:51:37 PM