Murder victim's father: 'I couldn't go back in that house'
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RENTON, Wash. -- A family devastated by their 17-year-old's gruesome murder started tearing down their home in Renton on Thursday.
Nearly five months after the horror that unfolded inside, Jessica Scholl's friends are still dropping off bouquets. The violence that happened in the house shattered any sense of home and and now her parents are ready to let it go.
"I wouldn't feel right living in there again," said Jessica's father, Doug Scholl, as he took one last look at the home he lived in for 15 years.
Now the atrocities that unfolded in this split level stir anguish and anger.
"The whole reason we stayed in the house is so she could grow up here with her friends," he said.
Now he's going to build a new home.
"It's gotta be -- I couldn't go back in that house."
Before school one day in May, detectives suspect an ex-boyfriend beat and stabbed Jessica, then set a fire to cover the crime. Police later arrested Jarrod Lane in Oklahoma City.
Contractor and family friend Brad Moore says trails of Jessica's blood blanketed the home.
"What this kid did in there was horrific and whatever he gets he deserves," Moore said.
Jessica's dad himself gripped the track-hoe controls to take the first whack at demolishing the house too painful to repair, too stigmatized to resell.
"Settling with the insurance company I expected some light to be lifted," Doug Scholl said. "But losing your child, there isn't nothing that's gonna lift that light, ain't nothing."
Scholl's world came crashing in on him the day his only child died. Now he awaits Lane's murder and arson trial, and wonders how he'll afford to rebuild and replace what insurance won't cover, and how he'll find the strength to bury the haunting images of what happened in his home.
"A new house, try to start over," he said. "Tomorrow's a new day, it's about all you can do."
Doug Scholl says it was a four-month battle convincing the insurance company to rebuild and not just repair. And he says when he and his wife move in, Jessica will be with them.
Nearly five months after the horror that unfolded inside, Jessica Scholl's friends are still dropping off bouquets. The violence that happened in the house shattered any sense of home and and now her parents are ready to let it go.
"I wouldn't feel right living in there again," said Jessica's father, Doug Scholl, as he took one last look at the home he lived in for 15 years.
Now the atrocities that unfolded in this split level stir anguish and anger.
"The whole reason we stayed in the house is so she could grow up here with her friends," he said.
Now he's going to build a new home.
"It's gotta be -- I couldn't go back in that house."
Before school one day in May, detectives suspect an ex-boyfriend beat and stabbed Jessica, then set a fire to cover the crime. Police later arrested Jarrod Lane in Oklahoma City.
Contractor and family friend Brad Moore says trails of Jessica's blood blanketed the home.
"What this kid did in there was horrific and whatever he gets he deserves," Moore said.
Jessica's dad himself gripped the track-hoe controls to take the first whack at demolishing the house too painful to repair, too stigmatized to resell.
"Settling with the insurance company I expected some light to be lifted," Doug Scholl said. "But losing your child, there isn't nothing that's gonna lift that light, ain't nothing."
Scholl's world came crashing in on him the day his only child died. Now he awaits Lane's murder and arson trial, and wonders how he'll afford to rebuild and replace what insurance won't cover, and how he'll find the strength to bury the haunting images of what happened in his home.
"A new house, try to start over," he said. "Tomorrow's a new day, it's about all you can do."
Doug Scholl says it was a four-month battle convincing the insurance company to rebuild and not just repair. And he says when he and his wife move in, Jessica will be with them.
Donations can also be made to Doug and Stephanie Scholl P.O. Box 1942 Auburn Wa 98071 as well as at Boeing Credit Union.
@brksnbubbles We've also set up a donation site at GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/bringtheschollsbackhome
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There is an account set up at Boeing Credit Union ( BECU ) under Jessica Scholl. Unfortunately the insurance company thinks with their pocket book not their hearts. there isn't anything that will take their pain and loss away or bring sweet Jessica back, but having this house built will enable them to have a HOME where they can start to rebuild their lives. Â
how about a bank acct somewhere to donate to the family?
@Jane L Worden We've also set up a donation site at GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/bringtheschollsbackhome The Jessica Benevolent fund is set up to help with Domestic Awareness and Prevention.
 @Jane L Worden there is an account set up at Boeing Credit Union ( BECU) under Jessica Scholl.
At one time an account was set up at BECU to help with funeral costs, not sure if it is still going or not. You could probably send to Douglas and Stephanie Scholl at P.O. Box 1942; Auburn, WA 98071-1942.
found this from her memorial pagem the âJessica Scholl Benevolent Fundâ has been set up at BECU
To the Scholl family you are in my thoughts and prayers every day, I have not taken my bracelet off..... Jess was such a beautiful young woman that did not deserve this. I could've never lived in your old house either this definately is the right way to go, I look forward to seeing the memorial for Jess
Personally think the Scholls should SUE the Renton School District who knowingly moved a Sex offender from Hazen to Lindbergh. Unfortunately the school district only see's money signs on students. They will keep any and all students even if they are dangerous so they don't lose the state and federal money. The SAFETY of students should come first. Had they not transferred her ex boyfriend to Lindbergh, Jessica would stillbe alive, as no parent willingly would allow their child to date a known sex offender
This story just breaks my heart, I hope that rebuilding their home and their lives they can find some peace. I believe them when they say that Jessica will be with them, she sounded like she was very spirited and full of joy when she was alive. I think her spirit will carry over and offer comfort for her parents.
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RIP Jessica, may you know on the walls, to let your parents know that you are there and that you are watching over them.
oops a mistake, it should read "May you knock on the walls"
God bless his family and friends ! It will take times to heal up.....Â
People grieve and heal in different ways.  I hope for the sake of the family that this will help them start to be able to feel better.Â
They should strap the thug to the business end of the backhoe, and use his head to knock the walls down.
I couldn't even begin to imagine the pain and sadness this family must be going through. Â
 @jase @do1good You guys are spot on; just heart breaking. Not sure what else could be said. We're all a little poorer for having had this tragedy happen and to bear witness this family suffering so.
Just heartbreaking.
My heart breaks for you. I hope you can find peace through the coming years and remember all the good things about your daughter. If it were me, I would tear down the home too. Peace be with you. And may the bas$%rd get what he deserves.
Love and Peace to you and yours. I cry with you..hopefully laughter comes soon, healing laughter and light.
Sad. Instead of demolishing the house he should have contacted someone who communicates with the dead and cleared the house of negative energy. All things have energy, such as your house, car, etc. Everything. Demolishing the house does not clear the land of the energy. Â
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RIP Jessica. I hope you are at rest and your family finds peace.Â
If you listened to the audio you would have heard that her blood was found through out the house, also 5 months later the house would have to be full of mold after all the water that was used to put out the fire
@Northend I don't think that was the issue. She was MURDERED in that house. Did you read the part about her blood trailing throughout. I don't blame him one bit. I would not want to live somewhere a loved one was murdered either.
 @Anarchy  Yes I read that. But the energy is still in the land. Moving away would have been a better choice. He is still residing at the same address. Putting another structure on it doesn't solve the problem. Â
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There are also cleaners out that remove all evidence of a crime scene.Â
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Everyone grieves differently. I do hope after all of this he has some peace. It would be really sad if it didn't work.  He couldn't have easily sold it because in WA deaths have to be disclosed if they happened in the house.
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 @Northend  @Anarchy As a close family member I find your comment offensive.Â
 @Island Girl I am guessing you know nothing about energy and how it effects people and places?  Energy effects land and objects. Negative energy invites negative spirits. The land has a negative energy because of the trauma experienced there. Building a new home does not remove the negative energy.Â
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I get that you don't understand what energy is. I do hope for the family's sake the new home works miracles.Â
Northend, Why would you ASSume that you know you know what is "a better choice" for Mr. and Mrs. Scholl?????? Do you know them?
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I do know them and their choice was an emotional one made BY THEM and FOR THEM
Mr Scholl I am very, very sorry and RIP to your daughter also I agree she will be with you. Take careÂ
Every time I think of this girl and her family I get teary-eyed. It is not fair to have to die this way and it is less fair to have to watch your only child die mercilessly. RIP Jessica. I hope your family finds some peace in your memory.
I still think about them and everything every time I'm in that area, every time I go thru Lindbergh, even at the 40th anniversary party, we were talking about that. I've even wondered since that day how it would be like for the family in that house knowing what happened. Sounds like everything is gonna go right and I sure hope it does. Thoughts and prayers and good luck!
@Zoso We've set up a donation site at GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/bringtheschollsbackhome, you can help themin that way if you choose!
Thinking of you and Steph. Our prayers are with you always.
This is terrible. Good luck with your rebuild. I hope that waste-of-oxygen ex gets the death penalty. He deserves it.
Thoughts and prayers to this family. Tired of insurance companies behavior - they should have showed this family support and helped them.
@raven We've set up a donation site at GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/bringtheschollsbackhome , you can help themin that way if you choose!
It really doesn't get much worse that this. I mean really. I cannot say that I 'know' how he feels. I will never know how he feels. I can only make a guess. Your whole life ripped away from you, because your daughter was murdered.
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I wish you the best as you try to rebuild the 'house'. But I think we all know...that it will never be the 'home' it used to be. Condolences for you and your family.
I really feel for Mr Scholl for his loss. Others have suggested charities or Extreme Makeover as possible sources to help him rebuild. I would like to suggest that there be a Kickstarter project created to help him rebuild. Maybe KOMO could take the lead? Here's the URL: http://www.kickstarter.com/
@jac99Â We've set up a donation site at GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/bringtheschollsbackhome , you can help themin that way if you choose!
Oh my, peace and love to you and yours. Salt that piece of property before you rebuild.
Perhaps Extreme Makeover - Home Edition? Or, if they start up a collection, I would DEFINITELY contribute! Let's give our neighbors some support!!!  There are many things that 99% of us wonât experience â one of them being this horrific tragedy. Letâs gather together and give this family some support. God bless their daughter, and God bless them. I hope they find peace, and I hope our community can help them achieve that.Â
@KarleeW We've set up a donation site at GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/bringtheschollsbackhome , you can help themin that way if you choose!
 @KarleeW Extreme Home Makeover is a fabulous idea!!
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 @victory1  @KarleeW The show has been cancelled for almost two years, I am sure the community will rally with some fundraisers now that the article is out in the public, good luck to the partents and wishing pain and suffering to the POS who killed there daughter.
 @victory1  @KarleeW If they can afford it, I would imagine they'd like to make the home theirs and decorate it the way they'd like to honor their daughter the way they see fit, and have it feel like a home as much as that is possible at this point. While I like your suggestion on the surface, Extreme Makeover and its staff cannot pretend to understand what this family has gone through, and no matter how ostentatious a home they build them, it would not replace the loss of their child, and might just create some big empty spaces that would add to the emptiness of losing their only child. I'm not trying to diss your idea -- I know it came from a really nice place. And your idea of the community coming together to help them out is spot on. This is just my opinion though. I hope the Scholls can find solace in the kindness of people around them.
 @SusieQ  @victory1  @KarleeW I agree with you and like the other post someone made regarding kickstarter .
 @SusieQI wish I could give you 10 TU's, you are spot on.
Mr Scholl, I can't imagine the pain you are feeling right now. I too have daughters and have thought about what I would do if someone did to THEM, what THIS subhuman piece of trash did to yours. The conclusions I came up with in my head scared me. I pray that somehow you find peace, and that your daughter's killer meets TRUE justice. God's speed Sir.
RIP Jessica. May her parents find peace. You are in my prayers.
It sounds like the insurance company would have paid $X to repair the home, but has agreed to pay it toward rebuilding, not paying out more but allowing it to be used toward a rebuild instead.  ââ¦wonders how he'll afford to rebuild and replace what insurance won't coverâ¦â. At any rate, I donât blame him. If it were me, I would likely have rebuild, sold and moved. The problem is that who would want to buy it with itâs recent history.Â
@oldster70 I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that realize the house & location had nothing to do with the tragedy that occured there. It's not like it was a meth lab or had really crappy neighbors. A rebuilt house should sell just as quickly as any other comparable house that didn't have a murder happen in it.