Donna was such a sweet girl. She lived down the street from me and we hung out at each others house. She met her husband Gary and had a little son. Donna and Gary were shopping for Christmas for their son at Grandpa Pigeons and they were taken by 2 sob's and murdered. It makes me cry to this day to think how scared she must have been. God Bless you.
I worked at Denny's with her husband Gary he was a great cook, very strict but nice guy I always got in trouble for my handwriting lol he was very hard working and kept the place clean he would slam his pancake turner on grill if you didn't follow rules and pick your order up timely or your handwriting was bad~
I have found the entire murder case on the web it is so sad and tragic, I wonder how his son is doing now
My husband was a St.Louis City Police Officer at the time and knew details that were not stated pubickly too graphic to post but Donna went through tragic horror I so hope she is at peace now, I later worked at that store worse place ever too work very unorganized and non caring I quickly left
when I was 20 years old I was a manager at the IHOP close by Grandpa's and was robbed at gunpoint by a white man with a blue mask on had me open the safe and he took all the money then all the customers were told to lay there heads down on the table and myself and the waitress working we were told to lay on floor she had a nervous breakdown and sued the owner I continued to work needed money and loved working there the cooks ran up thru a attic roof top and got the robber's licence and he was caught down the highway so that gave us peace thanks to our cooks we were all good friends I had just got married my husband was a police officer for the city he and another cop would stop by in the evenings after the 3-11 shift sadly that night they were on a different shift. I ended up with PTSD disorder take lots of meds and get counseling but I went on in life to be assualted not by gunpoint years later and other trauma's I had 3 children and I to this day am very protective and my 6 grandchildren too I am known as the strongest woman ever as I have been going thru a tragedy for the last 4 years and continuing now still married to my husband he is so protective of me feel like he is my body guard he retired from the city now a cop at 63 for Wildwood Mo.lol he loves it works with a lot of retired cops, I stay in my house a lot as I developed it to be my safe place after the tragedies always looking behind my back with 4 eyes I will not be a victim but a survivor and have worked hard on that my doctor says I should write a book especially with a abusive Mother raised in a cult and attacked by a church member I have remarable strength and at 61 am still ready too beat anyone's butt if they would assualt me but the rath of my hubby and big so 6 foot 4 rock solid and guns would be their match so when Gary and Donna were murdered itwas a trauma for me, I think about them both often and pray I recently read all the newspaper clippings on the web there was a trial and the Black men went to prison for a long time so when Ferguson does all their violence and cop hashing what about what happened to Gary and Donna should I protest for them now I would love to walk around ferguson with banners on the event of Gary and Donna and their poor son, what I heard Gary was shot in the car right away Gary could be Verbal with some heat, I really would love to know how the son is doing for a few years they kept us updated on the news about him being raised by his Grandma, life is hard sometimes but I am strong, Valerie means the stromg and I live thru my name, thanks for reading my story look up the paper clippings on the net and remember to pray for the lovely Decker family who lost their lives too young shopping for Xmas presents sometimes I question God, may they have peace I am lucky to be alive, please keep the Decker's story alive and shame on the shootings and burnings in the Ferguson people black men weremurdering white folk way back then just ask my husband he worked in high crime and seen many murders by Black men in his days especially on Sunday nights after all day drinking the y would shoot family members drunk so I know the true story of what cops go through for many years my husband was a good cop and I don't know how me and my kids got thru it all because of his hours I felt like a single parent many times sadly he had little time for the kids but he was serving the safety of our people, Amen
I didn't know Donna, though I was working that night as a police officer and heard the all points bulletin on the kidnapping. The first report of the incident indicated two females were abducted. My sisters, Peggy and Kathy, used to shop there when they still lived at home, and they always "ran" together. I remember going back to the station to check on their whereabouts, and I was relieved to know they were at home. It was a terrible crime. If I am not mistaken, Donna's brother was a St. louis police officer at the time.
I remember Donna in study hall, but I did not know her. What a horrific crime that was committed against her and her husband who were coming out of the old Grandpa Pidgeon's with presents for Christmas. Very sad.
I had Donna in a few classes. Been so long I can't remember which ones they were. I've read all that has been posted and had no idea of what was happening to everybody. Right out of highschool I was in the Navy and wasn't back until 1975 June. My draft # was 36. They knocked on the front door in March of 72 to inform me of my induction date. It was almost like being subpoenaed to appear in court.
Such tragic news to hear. This just came in my email box today. Donna was a very sweet girl. The world has changed so much that it is very hard to recognise it from the one we grew up in. Be careful ever vigilant, everyone. And thank the Lord everyday that He allows you to wake up. I cannot praise Him enough for the extra days He has allowed me on Earth. Hopefully we all will be at God's house for supper.
This abduction and murder, of Donna and Gary, was tragic! I knew Donna, but mostly Gary, as I worked at Denny's where he was a cook. Great guy, wonderful people, you hear about these things, but never think it will be right at your own back door! Rest in peace!!!
Jacqueline E. Krebs (Burns)
Donna was such a sweet girl. She lived down the street from me and we hung out at each others house. She met her husband Gary and had a little son. Donna and Gary were shopping for Christmas for their son at Grandpa Pigeons and they were taken by 2 sob's and murdered. It makes me cry to this day to think how scared she must have been. God Bless you.
Gary S. Faupel
Yes Jackie,Donna and Gary were victims of a horrible end of life.The memory of that tragic event still bothers me.George Salsman
George Salsman.. I was working at the hospital where they brought them both in. Very shocking and horrible time for me. So senseless...
Valerie Vilbert (Karpinski)
I worked at Denny's with her husband Gary he was a great cook, very strict but nice guy I always got in trouble for my handwriting lol he was very hard working and kept the place clean he would slam his pancake turner on grill if you didn't follow rules and pick your order up timely or your handwriting was bad~
I have found the entire murder case on the web it is so sad and tragic, I wonder how his son is doing now
My husband was a St.Louis City Police Officer at the time and knew details that were not stated pubickly too graphic to post but Donna went through tragic horror I so hope she is at peace now, I later worked at that store worse place ever too work very unorganized and non caring I quickly left
when I was 20 years old I was a manager at the IHOP close by Grandpa's and was robbed at gunpoint by a white man with a blue mask on had me open the safe and he took all the money then all the customers were told to lay there heads down on the table and myself and the waitress working we were told to lay on floor she had a nervous breakdown and sued the owner I continued to work needed money and loved working there the cooks ran up thru a attic roof top and got the robber's licence and he was caught down the highway so that gave us peace thanks to our cooks we were all good friends I had just got married my husband was a police officer for the city he and another cop would stop by in the evenings after the 3-11 shift sadly that night they were on a different shift. I ended up with PTSD disorder take lots of meds and get counseling but I went on in life to be assualted not by gunpoint years later and other trauma's I had 3 children and I to this day am very protective and my 6 grandchildren too I am known as the strongest woman ever as I have been going thru a tragedy for the last 4 years and continuing now still married to my husband he is so protective of me feel like he is my body guard he retired from the city now a cop at 63 for Wildwood Mo.lol he loves it works with a lot of retired cops, I stay in my house a lot as I developed it to be my safe place after the tragedies always looking behind my back with 4 eyes I will not be a victim but a survivor and have worked hard on that my doctor says I should write a book especially with a abusive Mother raised in a cult and attacked by a church member I have remarable strength and at 61 am still ready too beat anyone's butt if they would assualt me but the rath of my hubby and big so 6 foot 4 rock solid and guns would be their match so when Gary and Donna were murdered itwas a trauma for me, I think about them both often and pray I recently read all the newspaper clippings on the web there was a trial and the Black men went to prison for a long time so when Ferguson does all their violence and cop hashing what about what happened to Gary and Donna should I protest for them now I would love to walk around ferguson with banners on the event of Gary and Donna and their poor son, what I heard Gary was shot in the car right away Gary could be Verbal with some heat, I really would love to know how the son is doing for a few years they kept us updated on the news about him being raised by his Grandma, life is hard sometimes but I am strong, Valerie means the stromg and I live thru my name, thanks for reading my story look up the paper clippings on the net and remember to pray for the lovely Decker family who lost their lives too young shopping for Xmas presents sometimes I question God, may they have peace I am lucky to be alive, please keep the Decker's story alive and shame on the shootings and burnings in the Ferguson people black men weremurdering white folk way back then just ask my husband he worked in high crime and seen many murders by Black men in his days especially on Sunday nights after all day drinking the y would shoot family members drunk so I know the true story of what cops go through for many years my husband was a good cop and I don't know how me and my kids got thru it all because of his hours I felt like a single parent many times sadly he had little time for the kids but he was serving the safety of our people, Amen
in loving memory, Valerie Vilbert Karpinski
Kevin Murphy
I didn't know Donna, though I was working that night as a police officer and heard the all points bulletin on the kidnapping. The first report of the incident indicated two females were abducted. My sisters, Peggy and Kathy, used to shop there when they still lived at home, and they always "ran" together. I remember going back to the station to check on their whereabouts, and I was relieved to know they were at home. It was a terrible crime. If I am not mistaken, Donna's brother was a St. louis police officer at the time.
May they rest in peace.
Dennis Sweeso
I still remember that day when it happen, I use to work with Gary at Walgreens and knew them both well, my memories are still with me
Randall Francin
I remember Donna in study hall, but I did not know her. What a horrific crime that was committed against her and her husband who were coming out of the old Grandpa Pidgeon's with presents for Christmas. Very sad.
Craig Pennington
I had Donna in a few classes. Been so long I can't remember which ones they were. I've read all that has been posted and had no idea of what was happening to everybody. Right out of highschool I was in the Navy and wasn't back until 1975 June. My draft # was 36. They knocked on the front door in March of 72 to inform me of my induction date. It was almost like being subpoenaed to appear in court.
Such tragic news to hear. This just came in my email box today. Donna was a very sweet girl. The world has changed so much that it is very hard to recognise it from the one we grew up in. Be careful ever vigilant, everyone. And thank the Lord everyday that He allows you to wake up. I cannot praise Him enough for the extra days He has allowed me on Earth. Hopefully we all will be at God's house for supper.
Thanks for telling me about this.
Craig Pennington
Gail Pilgrim (Kipp)
This abduction and murder, of Donna and Gary, was tragic! I knew Donna, but mostly Gary, as I worked at Denny's where he was a cook. Great guy, wonderful people, you hear about these things, but never think it will be right at your own back door! Rest in peace!!!