Why didn’t those in the know react responsibly?

The recent news of the Florida Highway Patrol trooper involved in a murder-suicide in Citrus County, involving himself and his wife, smacks of similar conditions surrounding the recent deaths of Dr. Robert Blackburn and his wife, Sarah, in Spring Hill.

Both couples represented law-abiding citizens, well known and respected in the community.

However, in the case of Dr. Blackburn, domestic abuse toward his wife was well known and over an extensive period of time, by, of all people, the wives of both the Hernando County Sheriff and the fire chief, who were close friends.

In the case of Florida State Trooper Eddie Silcox and his wife, Sandra, of Floral City, it must have been known that they had recently separated after 30 years of marriage and that he had moved out of their home one week prior to the incident. Plus, 911 reports indicated he said he was depressed, apparently over the separation from his longtime marriage. The circumstances had to be known, at least to either family members or close friends, in this case as well.

Where were these citizens if they knew about such conditions, especially regarding the illegal domestic violence that was going on over a long period of time with the Blackburns? In fact, one of the wife friends of Sarah Blackburn urged Mrs. Blackburn to delay informing her husband of her recent actions to file for divorce, for fear by both women of the doctor’s probable violent reaction.

Should not authorities been advised; or at the least, the wife should have left on her own or been removed from the situation immediately, in light of their full knowledge of the dangers involved?

Where were these so-called pillars of our society, who knew firsthand from their own husbands or immediate families of the risks and dangers involved in both situations? The signs were obviously there, but no action was taken.

Are people so concerned about appearances or public reaction that they hesitate, delay or postpone any responsible action indefinitely until it is too late? They decide to not get involved because of the public pressures of “appearing all is well” when it really is not; or of “not getting involved” when we really should, if they value their friendship, and more importantly, their well-being. We now have a tragedy of losing four precious lives, and their teenage children being orphaned and scarred for life.

Where was the community that knew of such dangerous conditions, and why did they not act?

Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill, Florida