FROM THE LOCHTEFELD FAMILY
Last Friday, Judy Lochtefeld, mother of the late Elizabeth "Beth" Lochtefeld, said that the victim statement about her daughter's death that was read in court by her other daughter Catherine following the guilty verdicts against Thomas Toolan, III, represented a statement compiled by the family and signified their feelings. Still, Mrs. Lochtefeld spoke further about the outcome of the trial and how the family is coping now that they have had some degree of closure.

"The families met in the judge's chambers after the trial to try to keep the strength and keep the faith," she said of speaking with the Toolans. "We commiserated with each other about having lost a child. Mr. Toolan said he hopes in the future more will be done to help people with mental problems so this doesn't happen. It was very poignant and it left me without any guilt. We're just two mothers of two ordinary families who felt they needed to reach out to each other. It's a tragedy for two families.

"On the other hand, we are very grateful to the jury, we couldn't have asked for a better judge, and we're very grateful to the press for being respectful to us. At the end, everyone was very quiet. No one mobbed us or pushed us."

Mrs. Lochtefeld said that with the support of her children and nephews and with deep appreciation for the outpouring of care extended to the family by the community, she and her husband John are starting to put their lives back together.

Mr. Thomas Toolan, II, and Mrs. Dolores Toolan

declined to be interviewed. I

- Mary Lancaster