"c r i m e - t i m e" The Vanishing/Chapter One: by-tomevans:

"C R I M E - T I M E":

CHAPTER ONE: "THE VANISHING"/ I must admit, this isn't an easy story to tell- but admitting to my faults and character defects has been part of my recovery- It helped me to face the demons that I had struggled for so long to live with. It all began in February of 2002:

I was getting my stepson ready for school, as I attempted to get myself ready for work. My wife was at work and this fell into the category of things I became responsible to do. After having metal objects and profanity hurled at me by an ll-year old boy, with attention deficit disorders and pure mean-ness to spite- I whipped the boy. He climbed aboard his schoolbus and headed off to l0th street elementary, I headed off to my job at 2-Guys & a Truck
I arrived home that afternoon and had a request to talk with Officer Santo's of the Alexandria, Indiana police department, which I did, and where I was accused of basically trying to kill the child. The child was not examined by a doctor or nurse, and to top it off- his grandfather *who reported the abuse I supposedly inflicted on Steven, dropped Steven off at where-else? Yep, home with me and his mother. We spent the next 5-weeks moving to a new home in Anderson, Indiana (l5-miles away). No law enforcement agencies checked on the child's welfare, no child-protection services looked in on Steven, his grandfather didn't seem to be too concerned with me as the kid's stepfather- yet five weeks after I allegedly battered and bruised Steven- I was hauled to jail and charged with Felony Battery *(resulting in bodily injury).

Life fell together in our new home. I was put on probation for one-year and if nothing else occured, it would be dropped to a misdemenour. Our family was also put under months of the watchful eye of Child Protection Services, who visited our home 2-3 times weekly, until they closed our case with no concerns or doubts. Finally, Steven and my daughter, Lenzie Kay, my wife Lori, and myself settled down to a normal life. But normal was far from the reality of it all. I slowly turned into a drug-addict, with an addiction to pain-killers. I became a thief, a liar, and a self-centered (full of pity and shame) human being. I built a large wall around myself that no-one was allowed to penetrate, and I forgot how to be Tom Evans altogether. I loved my wife very much, and believe it or not, I had even began to develope a loving relationship with Steven. I have never loved anyone as much I do Lenzie Kay, still the arguments that escalated between me and Lori Ann- scared the little girl. Now I can understand why.

Without too many inferences to drugs and their effects, let me say, I didn't make it a year without screwing up big time! I violated my probation and almost 6-weeks later, on July 5th, 2003- two Madison County Deputies knocked on the door and escorted me to jail where I stayed for eleven days. I wasn't through going to jail yet, just 2-weeks later, yes- they came again, this time to my job and hauled me off to the jail. Finally after 20+ days in jail, my attorney offered me a program called "DRUG-COURT". My wife also decided to start seeing some new guy, during my final few days of incarceration in July. Once I began drug-court, I found out that she wanted me out of our home, and as far away as possible. I moved out at the beginning of August (*2003) and we filed for divorce at the beginning of November (*2003). The new boyfriend lives in the house we once shared, and he will be spending Christmas day there. My life had begun to burst into flames, but I surrendered to God and I put my head up and so the 'DRUG-COURT' adventure begins, but without my wife- who was always my best friend and my strength. She would not be there again and I see the damage my addictions inflicted on our relationship and our marriage. Through sickness and health wasn't part of her marriage vows- I go on loving her, she refuses to show any sign of love for me. I can't blame her, but man did I need her.......

Peace and love: Next up- Chapter 2 and "Drug-Court".................

tomevans.......