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Kyle Gulledge was born December 22, 1958, in Ogden, Utah. His life was ended on January 6, 1997 by a bullet through his back while preparing dinner in his kitchen in rural Ray County, Missouri.
Kyle was the son of Mary and Robert Gulledge, the last born of three. He was the brother of Keith Gulledge and Julie Wade, the father of 14 year old Bryan Gulledge. He was a grandson, a nephew, an uncle, and friend of many, but especially Allen Morgan, Chris Veach and Suzanne Scott. Kyle loved riding his horse, fishing and hunting with his dogs. He particularly admired eagles and had started a collection of them.
Kyle lived alone except for every other weekend when his 14 year old son Bryan visited him. He had been married for 13 years then divorced for 6 years. More than anything he wanted a happy family life. He was terribly lonely and depressed and almost desperate to find someone to share his life.
He thought he had found that woman a couple of years previously. She moved in with him and lived there for 1 1/2 years. They were planning to be married. However, it was a troubled relationship from the beginning. They fought and she moved out. Then, that summer, Kyle lost his job. This was another crushing blow for him. He was still seeing the woman on and off but began drinking heavily causing further problems. She told him if he would get counseling and help for his problems she would come back. He agreed and she made an appointment for him at Tri-County Mental Health where he attended group therapy for two weeks. He was diagnosed as manic depressive and put on medication. After two weeks he was released to a therapist named Randy McMasters for additional counseling. Randy agreed to sessions at Kyle's home because Kyle had lost his drivers license due to the drinking. At this time, the woman he had been with told him she wasn't coming back and wanted to end the relationship.
Kyle confided to Randy how lonely he was and how much he wanted to meet someone. Randy told him he knew three women he could introduce to Kyle; one a 22 year old he had treated in the past, Angela Gillis. He told Kyle how nice and sweet she was and he would be interested in her himself if he wasn't engaged.
Kyle agreed to meet Angela and early in November, 1996, she called him and they arranged to meet in a public place, along with Kyle's son and Angela's 4 year old daughter. They saw each other every day and Kyle enthusiastically described her to me along with his high hopes for a permanent relationship with her. I cautioned him to take his time, to not rush into anything. I was uneasy because of Kyle's problems and I knew she had problems of her own. I didn't think Randy should introduce two people he was counseling. Nevertheless, two weeks later Angela and her daughter moved in with Kyle. He brought her to our house for Thanksgiving and we met her and Hope, the daughter. The next day Kyle called me and was anxious for my opinion of Angela. There was little I could say after one meeting except she had seemed sweet and polite. I didn't tell him that my granddaughter, his niece, told us she believed this woman was evil and wanted us to warn Kyle.
Angela worked nights and had been using a babysitter, but now, since Kyle wasn't working, he took care of Hope, did the housework, cooking, etc. When Kyle asked Angela for a little help with the utility and food bills, she was outraged. She began to spend more and more time sleeping, going to work late, then missing a lot of work. She wouldn't help with the child's care or any of the chores at home. Kyle said she was "flipping out" over everything and nothing at all. She was fired from her job and things worsened between them.
About a week before Christmas Kyle told me he was going to ask Angela to leave but wanted to wait until after Christmas for Hope's sake. He also told Angela he thought they should part after Christmas. She became very angry and began screaming and hitting him, throwing canned goods and such from the cabinets. She said she was leaving and taking these things with her. When Kyle put his arm around her and tried to calm her, she kicked him hard in the groin. At that point he threw her to the floor. She then calmed down and decided to stay the night. The next morning she packed and moved out.
Shortly after moving out, Angela went to the police and filed an assault charge against Kyle. Two weeks later she called him and begged him to met her at a King's store under the pretense that Hope missed him and wanted to see him. When Kyle got to the Kings store he was surrounded by police and arrested on the assault charge plus driving with a revoked license. A court date of January 14, 1997 was set and he was released on bond. He made an appointment with his attorney for January 10, 1997 to discuss the charges.
On Saturday, January 4, Randy, the therapist called Kyle. He was upset and told Kyle there was something he needed to tell him but couldn't. He said if Kyle guessed what it was he would say yes. Kyle asked him if it concerned his arrest or something in the past. Randy said no, it hadn't happened yet. Kyle couldn't guess what it was and he was very concerned about it.
I began trying to call Kyle on Tuesday, January 7, to see if he needed a ride for his appointment with the attorney. His sister, Julie Wade and myself tried calling all week without success. I was really worried because I knew he wouldn't drive himself anywhere. On Friday, January 10, I called his attorney to see if he kept the appointment and was told he hadn't shown up. That appointment was so important to him. I knew something was wrong. Julie and her son, Danny, picked up a couple of Kyle's friends and went to Kyle's house, which was about 75 miles from us. The house was locked but when Danny looked through the back door leading into the kitchen he saw Kyle on the floor and there was no doubt that he was dead. They believed he had committed suicide because he had threatened to do so in the past. They called 911 from a cell phone and reported a possible suicide. When the detectives and coroner arrived it was determined to be a homicide. Kyle had been shot through the back, the bullet being fired from the front porch through a window in the front door, which was in a direct line to the kitchen. Kyle had been standing there preparing his dinner. He had been dead since the previous Monday night. The killers then broke into the house and ransacked it. Nothing was taken except two guns from a rather valuable collection. The following Monday, January 13, a major case squad was formed and began their investigation. Early on Angela Gillis was a suspect. On Tuesday, January 14, Angela and two male companions, Richard Duckworth, 24, and Scot Abel, 18 were arrested in California and charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action. When the arrest was made Angela had her 4 year old daughter with her. She was placed in temporary care until a grandmother could pick her up. They were extradited; Angela and Scot to Richmond, MO and Richard to Lexington, MO. The prosecutor said he would seek the death penalty for Richard Duckworth, who it was determined was the trigger man. Through interviews with Angela's babysitter and other friends of the three, it was learned they had been plotting the murder for two weeks prior to the shooting. The babysitter had taken care of Hope while the three went to do "the job" as they called it. She didn't tell anyone what was happening because she said she didn't believe they would actually do it. She was the one person who could have prevented his death. She was also the one who contacted the police when she saw a news report of Kyle's murder.
Subsequently, Richard Duckworth has pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed criminal action and is serving two concurrent life terms (30 years), and will be eligible for parole after serving 25.5 years. Angela Gillis has also pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed criminal action and is serving two concurrent 29 year terms, will be eligible for parole after serving 24.5 years. Scot Abel finally pleaded guilty to second degree murder and armed criminal action and received 20 years and must serve at least 17.
We think about Kyle every day and it hurts so much. He'll always be in our hearts and we'll be there when each of his killers comes up for parole, armed with hundreds of petitions to keep them locked up for their full terms.
No pain, no fears or worry He's in Great Spirits hands... being held lovingly carressed by the sun, wind and a gentle breeze.
He soars with the eagles now his soul is set free... gliding on a feathered wing.
Many burdens and strife... much sorrow and pain... He'd felt in his life
This journey was filled with many lessons to learn, so many times his voice left unheard... Rest peacefully, our dear Kyle... now a child of the earth.
