why, oh why, does this keep happening? why do they have to take everyone with them? if they are sick of life then go on ahead and kill yourself... but why the whole family???

I hope this filthy christian pastor burns in hell eternally. These filthy preachers who can not live up to their responsibilities do far more to hurt the name of religion than a million drunkards. Everytime I think I'll go back to a church I read something like this and it reminds me that my faith in a higher power does not depend on going to a church to listen to these filthy shyster hyprocrites. Also I'm far less forgiving than what they preach anyway.

i think these men that kill their family and then themself are all mentally ill. how can anyone justify taking the lives of the people closest to them because they can't deal with life? cowards commit suicide, and ass hole cowards take their family with them when they do.

First of all, he wasn't a pastor...he was a deacon...he apparently had some mental issues and the family was attempting to get him help only the night before. He had been acting strange for a while and it came to a head in his head. I agree he shouldn't have taken his family with him but we don't know what his mind was processing...it may have been his only choice. That doesn't justify it but it does explain it.

Voicing your opinion is a good for you, but judging now you've put yourself in God's place, just know Jesus said we live in a wicked and perverse generation.

"it may have been his only choice." ???? Really?

I agree with the first post. Why do they have to take others down to the grave with them? He had to be about to lose everything he had and it would have humiliated him. That realization caused him more pain than death would (in his mind)....even though, to me, this is unthinkable.

Money is TOO important in America. I heard his wife was wealthy also (on her own). He was losing everything and she threatened to leave him because of it. And he snapped. So, obviously, he was going to have to take his kids out of private school, lose his house, etc. He would be embarassing his family, kids, friends, etc. All over money.

It makes me so sad that this is what money accomplishes. People strive and strive for more, more, more. Yes, some do it successfully. But often, it erodes SOMETHING in life when it takes over every decision, motive, and every other aspect of life. This is a reminder to not see the grass as greener on the other side. When you see families with so much, remember, often there's a price to pay. When some are wearing new clothes every week, or have a new car every year, or in private school, or prominent members of society because of their wealth, or live in the right neighborhood, or buy expensive Christmas presents every year when you can barely make it.....remember not to compare your life to theirs. This has bothered me so much (what has happened to this family, especially the wife and kids) to the point that I've lost sleep. My prayers are now with the people closest to them for much comfort.

EVERYONE SHOULD WALK IN EVERYONE ELSE'S SHOES BEFORE JUDGING... MAYBE HE FELT HE LOVED HIS FAMILY TOO MUCH
TO LEAVE THEM, MAYBE A CRAZY WAY TO THINK BUT YOU DONT
KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH ! CRAZY, BUT
HE PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WAS SPARING THEM PAIN !

Please, Father, wrap your loving arms around us as we grieve the loss of this family. I can't pretend to understand why he took the life's of his family and himself. That being said, I ask that you would fill us with Your love and understanding. Just as we learned as a congregation on Sunday, I am faithful you will use this tragedy as a time to bring Your children Sustaining Grace. I know that Your children are not the only ones with a broken heart right now. I am certain You as well feel sorrow for this situation and dissapointment that it ever happened. Please forgive those of us who are quick to pass judgement on things we don't even understand. Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. Keep our faith in Your will strong and write your name on the hearts of those who have yet to accept you. Give us all shelter in You, please. Amen

Thank you to armywife4life23.

In God's Name we pray.

Amen.

Amen to armywife4life23! Rather than offering her opinion, she offered a prayer to our Creator...the only one who is able to see the hearts of men.

They were an amazing family. The Maxwell's will always be remembered as loving and caring, including Mr. Billy! He does not deserve the rude comments y'all are making! He was a great person, and that's how he will be remembered to those of us who knew him. RIP Maxwell Family

Please do not judge this man. Simply pray for those left behind that will forever be impacted by this event and pray that you ( those who are so quick to judge) are never put in this situation.

This family ,church family and friends will need the support of this community if they are ever to heal from this. What they do not need are negative comments and the opinions of those who have no idea what was going on in the life of this family. Send your love to them and if you can't, keep your negative opinions and gossip to yourself, it helps no one.

I am so tired of people saying" He was a good man. He loved his family." The evidence proves quite the opposite.If he was a good man and loved his family this would not have happened. He obviously was a very self-centered man who decided to play God. I myself am a spiritual man, not a religious one.I also have worked in the Mental Health field.It just sickens me to see hear the "religious" folks somehow to justify his actions. How in your minds can you possibly justify that? Regardless of what emotion situation he might have been in.Just because he had money, lived in a very nice neighborhood, was a deacon in his church doesn't change the facts.Whether "church folks and friends" want to accept it or attempt to justify it, the fact remains the same: William Maxwell was a cold blooded killer. And in my opinion the worst kind. The brutal slaughter of his own children.Rude comments??? He brutally murdered his wife and kids.C'mon folks. Lets get real here.

Ok that is enough he did love his family. He loved his family so much that he wanted to take them to a better place. If that isn't love i don't know what is. He thought the world was dangerous so instead of just letting him enjoy heaven he took his family with him. That is an amazing sacrifice. So for all of ya'l who keep insulting him and calling him evil, murderer think about it he was trying to take them to a better place and that's exactly what he did...

and what if there is no heaven or god...then where did he take them? 6 feet under. what a shame these beautiful children couldn't experience life and all that comes with it. i have no sympathy for the murderer. he doesn't get to decide when his family dies! for the religious ones, how on earth can you give this man praise? he loved them so much he wanted to take them with him? that's sick and depraved and based on mythical assumptions that there is a heaven. well if there is a heaven, may he rot in hell.

and if you are religious, what does the bible tell you about suicide? I'm thinking if there is a heaven and hell, he'll be in the basement, and the rest of his family will be located in the attic!

I am on board with Jerrell AND sick and tired of the "religious" among us believing that they are justified in anything and everything it crosses their mind to do. Also ... why does "Mr. Billy" have his hand on his daughter's ass in the family picture?

Close Friend said:
Ok that is enough he did love his family. He loved his family so much that he wanted to take them to a better place. If that isn't love i don't know what is. He thought the world was dangerous so instead of just letting him enjoy heaven he took his family with him. That is an amazing sacrifice. So for all of ya'l who keep insulting him and calling him evil, murderer think about it he was trying to take them to a better place and that's exactly what he did...

Close Friend, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?! I have always believed that too much religion was a lot worse than no religion and I am standing by that this time!
You say "Mr. Billy" loved his family. Yet, he took a gun and killed his wife and his two children. Wonder if he shot them in the back like a true coward or if he looked them in the eyes and saw the horror he inflicted! You say he thought the world was dangerous. Sorry, "Mr. Billy" was the evil, nasty, dangerous, YET SACRIFICIAL, force to be feared. You say he wanted to take them to a better place. I thought that God determines all that. Guess you think that "Mr. Billy" in his ultimate wisdom knew better than God.
Now, if you truly believe the cock and bull you just wrote, then you are just as dangerous as your beloved "Mr. Billy".
GET A CLUE!

The maxwell family will always be in my heart. I loved them dearly, and will always remember the joy they brought to everyone's life they entered. It was not but three weeks ago when I sat beside Mr. Billy at a soccer game and spoke with him. I enjoyed this time of conversation, but wished it was not my last. I love them all and only God above knows the reasoning behind this. We are not to judge but to pray for wisdom and faith.

No, we are not to judge what was in his heart. But the fruit that came out of him was murder. The Bible does say we are to judge someone by their fruit. You guys have got to get real. The community is grieving just like those closest to them. Why? Because we have seen an injustice done to the kids and his wife who still had their entire lives ahead of them. The kids didn't ask to be their fathers' children. They had no choice in this matter. And he took their lives away and any kids lives that they were to have on their own. If we can say abortion is wrong for these reasons, why can't we say this gruesome way to take out a family was HORRIBLY wrong and evil? It's horrible. It's evil. It's sin. It's murder. That's what it is. I am infuriated any time I see an injustice no matter WHO it is.

Mental Illness is a serious problem in our world. That is what we need to get a clue about. This man loved his family. It makes me sick to see all of you condemn this man. Yes, he did wrong, but mental illness is a SERIOUS disease. Just like cancer or heart disease or anything else! Get a grip and show this family some grace and most importantly courtesy!

To the friends of the Maxwell family that have come upon this page, I send my condolences. Having said that... I feel compelled to warn you that this is probably not the best place for you to get input or debate your case. This is a true crime forum, and as such, many folks don't censor their speech with the victim's family in mind. You will most likely be hurt and offended while reading the comments on this thread. No matter what you say, there are some whose opinions will never be swayed. Please don't waste your energy and grief here. Just know that there are indeed those that care, and in the end, your memories and experiences are all that matter.

With deepest sympathy,
Greenback
Tennessee

What happened is horribly tragic. I've never known anyone personally who snapped and took the lives of others, I've only seen it on the news.
My daughter, however, knew the Maxwells pretty well and saw them Sunday at church. She's know them for quite some time, in fact,Kathryn Maxwell taught my granddaughter's Sunday school class.
Everything my daughter and other friends have known of this man was that he was a loving, devoted family man. At the end, he was showing signs that something was terribly wrong and people in his family and church family were trying to help him. No one could have seen what was going to happen next.
Isn't it possible that something happened that caused him to do this? Maybe he was very sick, if the changes occured so suddenly isn't it possible that he was no longer in control of his actions?
No one may ever know what really was going on inside his head, maybe only God will ever know, but, who better to know? God knows this man's heart and God has the power of perfect forgiveness. We are far from perfect, but God is perfection defined.
All we can hope is that this family is in God's loving arms, and we can pray for all those who have been hurt by this. We're all sinners and all of us are capable of doing horrible things. And God loves us and forgives us anyway.
I hope that anyone reading this can somehow find peace through all of this, if we're not able to make sense of it. My daughter is armywife4life23 and is grieving terribly for her friends. I'm so proud of her for the way she's handling this, and I will be praying for her tomorrow while she's at the funeral. Wish I could fly in from Texas to be there to hold and hug her and her little family through all this.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers.

This kind of thing has happened before, and will undoubtedly happen again. A man with strong religious beliefs persuades himself that he's saving his family a lot of grief by killing them and assuring their entrance into heaven. The only good that could come from tragedies like this would be if we learned how to prevent them in the future by recognizing the signs in advance. Several friends or family members have said that Mr. was showing signs that something was terribly wrong." What were those signs?

Regardless of what was going on in his head or in his life, you should never take the once's closest to you even more so the kids you spent years raising and loving. To take there future from them for what ever reason was unneccesary.

Okay I think it's ridiculous how you all are trying to give him somewhat of an excuse...There is no excuse. He killed his innocent family, over his selfishness. NO EXCUSE

I agree with :
N/A said:
(Regardless of what was going on in his head or in his life, you should never take the once's closest to you even more so the kids you spent years raising and loving. To take there future from them for what ever reason was unneccesary.

Posted 11/06/2009 at 09:01:03 AM0)
its a sad world we live in. Pray for the relatives and friends who are left dealing with this tragedy. Pray for your fellow American's.

Close Friend: "He loved his family so much that he wanted to take them to a better place. If that isn't love i don't know what is. He thought the world was dangerous"

What is more dangerous than murder to a child? Especially when it is your father! Besides, that decision was not his to make. Think of the Grandparents and Sisters and Aunts etc who will have to live without this family. Do you think his wife's parents feel he did a wonderful thing? Do you think his parents do?

We are all "good" until we do something bad. (None of us are really good - read your Bibles).

Why is it up to him to make that decision? And the evil he was taking them away from was worse than what he did? The children knowing in their last breaths that their father was killing them?

I pray god has mercy on us all, God is real and majestic, God knows all the answers and we need to trust in Him. This family will suffer forever, but you assinigned people commenting on this pitiful family, remember their precious survivors and friends will have to endure enough pain. Have compassion, don't judge and remember this family in your prayers. And yes he was a good man, keep your comments to yourself. Judge not lest ye be judged. God Bless

As tragic as this chapter was, perhaps what is nealy as tragic is the "what-if" factor. Neighbors had visited earlier in the afternoon to see if they could help. What if that triggered the episode? Perhaps Billy was blindsided by the visit, embarrassed that they knew something about him, and reacted as such. In that community, perception is everything. Also, the in-laws found the family 90 minutes after the shooting...how did they know to show up? Were they tipped off by a phone call? Was it just coincidence that they happened upon the door at 8:00? The 911 tape reveals a woman (presumably Katherine's mom)screaming "I knew it, I knew it" in the background. What did she know? That this was about to happen? Were they called and warned before hand? Should they have called the police rather than go there by themselves? Was the embarrassment of involving the police too much to deal with? Maybe we'll just take a ride over and see for ourselves? And what about the Church? As days went on, it was revealed that this man had mental issues and was even referred to as "sick". Why was he coaching the basketball team, ministering to others, and working in youth groups? Was he really harmless? Really? The truth is that behind the rolling hills, manicured landscapes and million dollar homes in Haymount, people have issues just like ayone else might. I find it hard to believe that nobody really saw this coming. How'd he get a concealed license, by the way? If people "knew it", why'd he even have a gun? We'll never know how that night unfolded. As Mom Dad and Son were found in the kitchen area, we can assume it was around dinner time. Daughter was found in the closet and probably was the original 911 caller. Was she chased down and shot? Was Billy so embarrassed by the neighbor's visit, people knowing his issues, that he confronted his family to find out who said something? Again, we'll never know. But please, please, for the love of all that is good - stop maing this man out to be a martyr - he killed his family, and now we'll never know what could have been. In that neighborhood, people would rather take matters n to their own hands than see flashing blues coming down Rush Road and heading into West Park. As it turned out, it looks like they got both. I weep for the kids and the Mom. But for Billy and anyone who suspected he could do harm and took no action, I have to wonder if it was worth it.

One more thing - and I am not taking any pleasure in writing this - but if this very same situation occurred in a middle-class neighborhood with an average family of public school kids, just geting by on middle-class income...would we still say he was a "good man"? Does this guy get a free pass because his rich friends can vouch for him? It isn't OK! All anyone can do is specultae now. Of course, to do so makes we, as posters, bad and evil. Yet you will defend this man who killed his kids. Tell me the folks that are coming to the aid of his "legacy" would do the same if this happened on Fort Bragg, in Tiffany Pines, or in some trailer park off of 301. These are the same people who condemn someone like Mike Vick, then quickly and irrationally defend one of their own. What now? Who is coming to the aid of the kids and Mom? You know who you are, and you were too late in your "assistance" to the family, and you are grossly miscalculated in your defense of the perpetrator.

Look i have heard about this and read all the blogs.I am ot religious but i no right from wrong and this is the worst yet.I have two children and i cant imagine doing anything to harm them.No im not rich but i have a sickness to and being rich makes it all better tio help with sickness. I have PTSD and i got help when i started seeing the signs with medicaid it is embarrasing but i feel better now im getting help.So what he did is not an excuse.As far as him being that religious and he was having problem a marriage vows say richer or poorer sickness and health,so tell me what happen to when your in trouble what happened about the GOD beleaf leave it in GOD hands he will make away matter what the situation is so as far as him being a chritian i dont believe that cause,Because no matter what he was going through he should have went to GOD not the other three letter word a GUN.and as far the pepole defending him if thats what chritianity is about then i dont think i want to go to church maybe ill be better off doing it my way.cause i know one thing suicide is one of the number one key to HELL.If he was having money trouble whos to say his family would have still not came on top but we will never no cause he was to selfish for the worl and GOD to see.I feel so sorry for the family and my prayers are with you and the friends.

It appears Mr Maxwell was paranoid schizophrenic. He didn't know the names of his family, thought someone was tracing their cell phones, shot a window out the night before. He had a surveilance system install on the property months before. The two children and wife should have not been allowed to stay in that house with him. What were they waiting for? He should have been committed the Sunday night before the murders.

Cynthia Said:

It is so nice to finally read a post from someone that has common sense. I am so in aggreeance with you. Mrs. Maxwell may have not known exactly what was wrong with him, but she knew the behavior he was displaying was out of character, unstable, and unsafe. I have asked that one question all week, why did she not remove herself and the children from the home, only to be accused of kicking the dead.

Everyone is so quick to judge billy and the unthinkable, but really think about why she did not do something.

When you have a 2 parent home and one of them is out of control it is the other parents responsibility to make sure those children are safe.

I am not saying it is Mrs. Maxwell's fault this happened by no means, but I feel like maybe this tragedy could have been avoided if she would have removed herself and the children from the home especially after he shot his windows out of his home.

Ranger33,
The most powerful, truthful and intelligent post about this subject I have yet to read!

Jamie,
You were following right along beside with you intelligent post!

If what your "book" says is correct then he didn't take his family with him when he KILLED HIMSELF CAUSE IF YOU COMMIT SUICIDE YOU GO TO HELL! Right?

If he killed them they went to "heaven" but his sorry arse didn't!!

He was nuts, no doubt but he was a coward for "taking his family with him" cause that isn't what happened. They are not going to the same place. Again, thats if your book is true.

yvonne Not judgeing,just trying to figure out the nightmare

Ranger33, Amen to you!!

What this "man" did is no different than what the FT Hood sniper did. Killing innocents regardless if they are strangers or family is wrong, wrong, wrong!! The FT Hood sniper was mentally ill as well so should it be o.k.? He was a man of faith under pressure so should be make excuses?? Give me a break. What a bunch of self indulged hypocites the rich elite are.

This man was ill, should have gotten help. The problem with many of the wealthy is that they get caught up. It's all about image, material things, what kind of car u drive, where you go to church, what private school you're in...etc. All flash and no substance. No real meaning of life just keeping up appearances.

I just wish people would stop being fooled by what we see on TV or in movies. Life doesn't have to be "perfect". You don't have to scrape every nickle to afford your $500,00 house. Yes you can be happy in a 3 bedroom condo! You don't have to wear yourself out with events, games, social activites, church functions, etc. All in the name of putting up a good front.

Mr.Billy was like a dad to me and Mama K was my second mom! Cameron was my best friend and Conner was and still is my sister! There were the perfect american christan family. If you ever got the chance to just talk to them, you would have fell inlove with this family. Mr. Billy had struggled with depression for about 2 years. He struggled with mental illness and that day he promised to seek professional help, if you think about it he did. He went to God and got help. But the reason he took his family with him is because he thought he was protecting them. He REALLY thought people were out to get him and kill his family. I'm sure that if he didn't kill his family, they couldn't live without their day let alone face the fact that he killed himself. They're forever with me and in my heart. I miss you SOOO much Maxwells and I wish you could come back, but I know you're in a BETTER place now looking down thinking about ALL this awful comments that have not help me or everyone else that has cried their eyes out every night and that has struggled with the griefing process. I love you soo much Cameron, Connor, Mr.Billy, and Mama K!!! Xoxo

Forever and always,
Very close friend who's in pain!!! Ilyy!! Xoxo

P.S.- please stop with the rude comments, when you don't know what you're talking about and when you don't know how bad you're making things worst!! Thank you and god bless you all!!

Proverbs 17:17- "A friend loves at all times."
R.I.P - Maxwells (November 2, 2009)

If you did not know the Maxwells, then you should not be making those comments. The Maxwells were a great Christian family, including Mr. Billy. We love you Cameron, Connor, Mama K, and Mr Billy. You are in such a better place now, and we miss you.

R.I.P Maxwell Family - Forever In Our Hearts
11-2-09
Proverbs 17:17