ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210033
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA AND LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITERS
note: above
A few years ago when a friend described herself as a single mother, Angie Knowles responded, ``I'm a single mother who's married.''
A cadre of Knowles' female friends gathered at the hospital Wednesday morning to offer support to her four children, her mother and each other.
They stood in a small semi-circle sharing glimpses of Knowles' character, life and the signals of her impending death. Tears streamed from some of the women's eyes with each recollection, others stood frozen by the morning's shock.
Lenore Jackson of Christiansburg reached under her glasses to wipe her eyes and said, ``She just wanted some peace, that's all she said to me.''
Knowles' search for peace sprung from a troubled 22-year marriage to a man she described to her friends as abusive - both physically and mentally.
As recently as Saturday, Jackson said, Michael Knowles showed up at his estranged wife's home to deliver child-support money. He requested an electric screwdriver. Angie Knowles asked him to remain outside while she got the screwdriver, but he entered and left with their computer.
Jackson said Michael Knowles had two more computers at home and only took his wife's to hurt her again.
Friends said Angie Knowles' domestic troubles were not reflected in her personality.
``She was the most fun, delightful and cheerful person,'' said Kathy Habeeb of Christiansburg.
Habeeb, however, said only one word describes Michael Knowles - ``monster.''
Angie Knowles, who was 43, was an active member of four PTAs and helped coach her sons' soccer and baseball teams as well as her daughter's softball and basketball teams. She helped begin the high school's post-prom party in 1990 and continued to work on the alcohol-free event.
Friends recalled images of her in a station wagon with a load of children headed to a sporting event. Her father, who died last month, attended many of the games with her. He offered support to his daughter, grandchildren and other children in his native Spanish.
Angie Acebal-Knowles arrived in New York City with her family from Spain when she was a child.
``She was always willing to help us in any way," said Art Price, director of the Christiansburg Department of Parks and Recreation. "She was one of those types of parents who lived to make life enjoyable for her kids.''
Knowles' children - John Michael, a James Madison University student; Vanessa, a high school senior; Dylan, a ninth-grader; and Ryan, a seventh-grader - have no one to turn to now, Jackson and Habeeb said.
``They are all alone except for friends,'' Habeeb said.
Betty Ashbrook, one of Angie Knowles' closest friends, has opened her home to the children for now, friends said.
Before she moved a month ago, Knowles took care of others' children at her home.
Debby Barbour, whose son Aaron used to be in her day care, said Knowles did wonders.
She said when Aaron sees anyone misbehaving, he says, "That would make Angie very sad if you did that."
Connie Lowe, the Christiansburg High School PTA president, said Knowles kept people laughing no matter what the problem.
"A lot of us fell back on Angie's humor and her smile," she said. "I don't have that now, [Michael Knowles has] robbed me of that. For whatever reason, he's taken that from me."
Michael Knowles, being held without bond in the county jail Wednesday night, was born and raised in Christiansburg. After attending Virginia Western Community College for two years, he joined the Navy and met his future bride in New York City.
They moved to Christiansburg when Angie Knowles became pregnant with her first child because "he didn't want to raise children in Brooklyn," said Pat Horne, Michael Knowles' sister.
Horne said her brother worked two or three jobs to support not only his wife and children, but Angie Knowles' brother and parents, who lived with them for many years.
"I know Angie is well thought of and she achieved a great deal, but she couldn't have done it without him working so hard to support them," Horne said.
Eventually, Knowles dropped his other jobs and worked full time for the post office, delivering mail on the rural roads of Craig Mountain.
Christiansburg Postmaster Arthur Duarte said the 19-year veteran was quiet, but dedicated.
"He cares a lot about his customers," he said. "I wish all my employees were as conscientious as Michael."
Horne, who is part owner in the Richardson-Horne Funeral Home in Christiansburg, said she and her brother have never been close. Still, she knew there were a lot of problems in his marriage.
She said his family had been in an upheaval and he left for his trip to Israel to try to "find himself and try to get things back to an even keel."
When he returned, on Valentine's Day, Angie Knowles had moved out.
Horne said the family "expected him to kill himself because he was so distraught, but never did we dream he would take someone else's life."
She said she thought her brother had accepted the separation; he had an appointment Wednesday with a lawyer and had put his house up for sale. She said he wanted to be a part of his children's lives, but would never try to take the children away from Angie Knowles.
"I think he just snapped," she said, closing her eyes. "What he did was wrong and it's devastating to everyone. ... He'll suffer his entire life for this and then by the hand of God."
Michael Knowles wrote stories as a hobby, and sent several letters to the editor of The Roanoke Times. Letters published in the newspaper encouraged the government to take a larger role in childrens' health care coverage, praised the movie "Schindler's List" for its educational value for children and suggested, possibly tongue-in-cheek, that the more effective way to beat Iraq during the Gulf War was to hypnotize the Iraqis with American soap operas.
"All I really know is this:" he wrote in another letter, "once you judge another you invariably have to judge yourself, and nobody is perfect."
"Try to remember that the next time you get upset. And for those lucky few who can forgive, Peace."
Staff writer Ray Cox contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Long : 115 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB