ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 16, 1997 TAG: 9702140087
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: ANN LANDERS
SOURCE: ANN LANDERS
Note to readers:
This letter involves the slaying of Angie Knowles of Christiansburg, whose husband is awaiting trial on a charge of murder. For the story of how this letter ended up in Ann Landers' column and comments from the prosecutor, defense attorney and others in this case, please see our story on Page A1.
DEAR ANN: Today is my wife's 44th birthday, but she is not around to celebrate it. I took her life because of an affair that started on the Internet.
We had been married for 22 years and had four children. I worked hard all my life and lived up to my responsibilities. My most recent job was for the U.S. Postal Department, where I was employed for 19 years. In all our married years, I was never unfaithful to my wife.
I suspected something unusual was going on when I saw $1,000 phone bills and $1,500 credit card charges. When I asked about these charges, she said that they were for the PTA and that she would be reimbursed.
I decided to take a trip to the Holy Land to clear my head and perhaps get some divine guidance. When I returned on Valentine's Day, I found a note. It simply said she had left for good and her lawyer would be in touch with me.
After checking with a lawyer myself, I had all the facts. Did you know a woman can leave her home and take her children without giving any specific reason? Well, she can - and she did. The court ordered me to give her $410 every two weeks. I thought about how unjust this was and decided to kill her.
As you can see from the postmark on this envelope, I am in the Montgomery County Jail and will probably be behind bars for the rest of my life. I am happy to say that the kind people in my hometown have taken our children to their hearts, and for that, I am grateful.
I am writing in the hope that you will let your readers know the Internet can be a dangerous place to meet people.
M.K., CHRISTIANSBURG, VA.
DEAR M.K.: Several months ago, when I warned my readers that the Internet could lead to ``trouble,'' I never imagined a letter like yours.
While the Internet may increase the opportunities for an affair, the danger to your wife came from YOU, not the computer. Blaming the Internet is a cop-out. You killed your wife because she left you.
Read on for another letter about marriage and the Internet.
DEAR ANN: I read with interest your column about the perils of the Internet. ``Heartbreak in California'' wrote, ``If there were problems in my marriage, I didn't know it.''
After 16 years of marriage, I left my husband. The catalyst was a relationship that began on the Internet. For many years, I was unhappy because my husband refused to communicate. His excuse was ``I'm not a talker.'' I gave up and concluded that I couldn't change him. I wasn't looking, but I found a terrific communicator on the Internet. He made me aware of what I had been missing.
Of course, my husband blames the Internet for the breakup of our marriage, but actually, the Internet simply opened my eyes. P.S.: No, I didn't marry my on-line heartthrob, but we have a wonderful friendship.
CYBER BABE IN KENNER, LA.
DEAR CYBER BABE: Please write again in six months, and let me know where you are in cyberspace. Meanwhile, tomorrow I'm going to print some excerpts of letters from readers who give the Internet high marks for alerting people to employment opportunities, worldwide weather reports and more. The real trash, they say, is our daytime soap operas and made-for-TV movies. Happy surfing.
GEM OF THE DAY: Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend - and inside a dog, it's too dark to read.- Groucho Marx
- Creators Syndicate
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB