Member-only story
Its Not Supposed to Happen
When Murder Hits Close
*Having known the Abernathy family for our entire lives, this case hits close to home for us.*
Life is supposed to be safe in a wealthy city, in Contra Costa County, situated along the coast of the San Pablo bay, Hercules is the kind of place many of us strive for, a place where doors could be left unlocked and people felt safe.
Its not the Kind of place, you expect to hear about a murder, yet alone a double murder of a forty three year old Father, Neal, and his twelve year old Son, Brendan,but this was the reality that unfolded on February.19.1997, just two weeks prior Neal had celebrated his forty third birthday with his loving family, and Brendan was a bright young man who had his entire life ahead of him.
Neal, Susan, and Brendan were family friends, and they were more like family to us than mere friends. They provided words of encouragement and wisdom when necessary, especially Susan, who reminds us daily that life is important, since they are gone, but she is not, and they wouldn’t want her to be paralyzed by grief forever. There are so many people who aren’t afraid to criticize a stranger, but I know her now, and I knew her then. Despite her choices not being anyone’s business, many are not afraid to criticize her.
