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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Monday, December 22, 2008 10:45 AM

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

The gravestone of Tonie Standley stands at Woodlawn Cemetery, west of Pomona.

Killing remains unsolved

Two years later, children of slain woman lament lack of progress on murder case

By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer

Tonie Standley’s killer has yet to answer for his or her crime.

And that thought fills Standley’s children with anger and sadness.

“I just don’t understand how the person who has done this is able to go on with their life for the last two years,” Wanda Clifton, Standley’s daughter, said. “I know the person who did this awful crime cannot be resting easy at night knowing that he or she has taken the life of someone.”

Two years ago to this day, the body of Standley, 47, a longtime Quenemo resident, was found by hunters in a remote rural area between Quenemo and Pomona. She was last seen Dec. 7, 2006, and was reported missing two days later.

Investigating officers ruled her death a homicide, but the cause of death hasn’t been released.

“I wonder if they will ever tell us how she died,” Danny Clifton, Standley’s son, said. “At least they could give us that peace.

“Instead I’m left with rumors and people gossiping about how my mother died. And there is nothing worse then hearing someone speculate about my mother’s murder.”

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency on Standley’s case and is working jointly with the Osage County Sheriff’s Department.

“We need a break,” Franklin County Sheriff Craig Davis said, referring to a break in the case.

In the meantime, Standley’s children live their lives without their mother. Christmas is especially difficult, they said, because it was Standley’s favorite holiday.

“You just try to go on,” Nora Hower, her daughter, said. “Life keeps moving even though you feel like your whole world has ended.”

Danny Clifton said for him, there is no coping.

“I get up every day. I get dressed. I go to work. I spend time with my family. But there is no coping,” he said. “Every day, I am reminded of everything my mother is missing.”

A Franklin County Crime Stoppers award up to $1,000 remains available for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest, Davis said.

He said cases often come together with a tip or a small piece of information that may not seem significant at the time.

“There’s somebody out there who knows something,” he said. “We need that person to come forward.”

Diane Priddy, Standley’s sister-in-law, remains steadfast in her belief that Standley’s killer will be brought to justice.

“I think it will be solved. I do,” she said. “We just have to keep it out there.”

Standley’s children said they will never forget or give up until that day comes.

Jodie Garcia can be reached at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.