Two days ago, my brother James Chapman was brutally murdered at his home in Columbus. His body lay in his yard all afternoon, his faithful dog Popeye lying next to it. In just two days, James' murderer was arrested and confessed to the crime. A foster child of James' dear friend, Arnie, 20 year-old Jamie was so loved by my brother he would forego his favorite pasttime, eating out at nice restaurants, to have money to give to Jamie for lunch and bus fare to get to school. Jamie was part of our family. My sister Debra bought him a cell phone when his died and had planned to get him a bus pass this week. James had a routine of picking Jamie up on the to rehearse with his actors. Jamie spent time during those rehearsals playing games on James' iPhone 4. After rehearsal, James dropped Jamie off at one of several places. The day James was murdered Jamie went home with him. But they never got inside. For reasons unknown, Jamie beat and stabbed and possibly shot James to death when they exited from James' car in his garage. Jamie took James' iPhone, his Rolex watch, three credit cards, rings, and other jewelry and left him dead in his back yard. We may never know why James was killed. But thanks to the exemplary work of homicide detectives in the Columbus Police Department, we at least know who murdered him.
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One last thing. James helped the hi
Sleds and received awards for his work he lived in a neighborhood that is poor. The people in his neighborhood came forward to assist the police telling them James was a good neighbor and they wanted to help. My sister inherited James' theatre company and will continue his work. My brother Joseph is the CFO and has a MBA. I'll go help train actors and I'm thinking of volunteering to be tour director to travel with the actors on the road. We are determined to get James' shows on Broadway. When you see James' face on his OS page, you'll see why we were called twins" even though I'm nine years older. He turned 50 in April and said he didn't expect to be alive by fall. He had a death wish because of the unbelievable injustice he suffered just because he was gay (I'll write about that in another post). Now. he's at peace. My siblings and I all agree that when the muscular man that he loved like a son was beating and stabbing him in his stomach and head, the only words James would have said to him were, "I forgive you."
I am sorry to read this but am happy to hear that your brother's work will be carried onward. Hugs girl. A brother dying is a hard lick to take. I hope healing and peace comes your way soon. For all involved in this tragety.
May God lift your spirits towards peace in your hearts.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.
Now James has been given to him also.
I pray for all of you.
Linda
I am so sorry but am gratified that it is not an unsolved crime. My best to you and your family.
You have my deepest condolences.
It would have been much easier to read this post had the killer been a total stranger. This is unconscionable. I pray for all of you and may God rest his benevolent soul.
Lezlie