Out of the Darkness into the Light

It all began in 1985 in Salem Mass. James and Betsey Willard sweethearts as long back as highschool now married and living on a horse farm left to Betsey by her decessed parents.

James Willard was a commercial fisherman and Betsey Willard a school teacher.

A cold January night James Willard and shipmates had just docked after two months out to sea fishing.

Their catch had been very profitable this trip, so all decided to go celebrate at a local bar called Snyders.

The crew ordered rounds of drinks for hours. James was leaving to get home to Betsey his love of his life when a man approached him in the parking lot of the pub.

The man demanded James to give him his money and car keyes.

James refused and fought with the man. The mans gun went off in the shuffle with James holding the gun.

James, had been sentenced to five years in prison for the mans murder.

Betsey very distraught. She did not know how she could keep up their horse farm without him.