By James Bowler

Tisdale feels the hurt following murder-suicide

Apr 22, 2015 | 5:48 PM

A normally sleepy, close-knit community, has been rocked, shaken and completely devastated following the discovery of a quadruple homicide. 

Especially in the small trailer park where the bodies of 27-year-old Latasha Gosling and her three childrenwere found, residents are sad, angry and just overall confused with many questions left unanswered.

One main question on the lips of many was asked by neighbour Diane Derenowski as she broke down over the news of the deaths.

“Who kills their kids?” said Derenowski with tears in her eyes. “I just think of the grandparents.”

Another neighbour and a grandmother herself, Lorna Townsend, said she can’t believe this happened in her area.

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“It’s just devastating, it’s just heartbreaking, it just makes you feel just sick to your stomach,” said Townsend.

She added that she’s been a resident in the small trailer park community for about two years and has never had any trouble with any of her neighbours.

Derenowski said she can barely remember the last time there was a murder in Tisdale.

“The last murder was about 25 years ago,” said Derenowski. “It’s scary and it’s mind-boggling.”

The general consensus from most of the neighbours was the family that lived in that home was always quiet and seemed nice; their children were often seen playing outside with other kids from the area.

However, one neighbour who wished to remain nameless said he had heard of a disturbance a few nights before the bodies were discovered.

He said there had been some yelling and fighting heard at the home and police were called for the domestic disturbance, however nothing came of it after that, until recently.

While many seem to be sad or confused, the anger is showing as well, especially towards media as reporters attempted to speak to neighbours and community members to piece together this tragic puzzle.

Mayor Al Jellicoe made a few quick comments to the media regarding the murders. 

“I wish to express our great sadness for this tragic, and shocking event, our hearts go out to the families and friends,” said Jellicoe. “We’re a very close-knit community here and when a tragic event happens here, it affects us all.”

However, already the community is coming together to lend a hand to the family of the victims, a GoFundMe account has been set up and has already tripled the requested $5,000 amount.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim