The Tyrone community has banded together to help the family of a murdered six-year-old boy and others affected by his death and the rape and beating of his mother on Dec. 26.
The man accused of the murder, 25-year-old Nathan Todd Shaw, sits in Blair County Prison without bail awaiting a preliminary hearing on Jan. 27 on murder, rape and a variety of other charges. However, the Tyrone community has not sat still in dealing with the crime’s aftermath.
Efforts have included fundraising to assist the family. Collection cans have been visible at area businesses and a benefit dance was held on Saturday night at the Hookies Fire Company.
The school where Jared Klein had attended, St. Matthew Elementary, has held counseling for both students and parents. St. Matthew Church was the location for the local mass of Christian burial. Students who wanted to were able to attend the service. Klein’s classmates also made a memorial box with some items the boy had at the school along with pictures and other items they created in the boy’s memory.
The church and school hosted a program on domestic violence last week that was open to the general public. According to the program’s moderator Cheryl Gonsman of Family Services Incorporated, more than two dozen people attended the gathering.
Gonsman’s presentation included the latest statistics, early warning signs and factors involved in domestic abuse. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period. Gonsman said last week’s event was also attended by other representatives of the non-profit organization.
She said the most important thing that can be done to prevent domestic violence is education. She said the community needed to be educated on the subject. She also said those who are abusers need to be educated.
Gonsman asked, “When are these people going to be held accountable for themselves?”
Family Services offers a number of ways to help people including a 24-hour hotline, a shelter and counseling. They also are available to assist a person seeking protection from abuse orders or support during court hearings. Assistance is available for welfare and medical matters.
Information posted on the organization’s web site noted that its legal advocacy staff are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice or referrals to specific attorneys.
Family Services also offers community and student awareness programs like the one held last week. Topics include domestic violence and teen dating violence.
The organization’s regular hours are 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number is 814-693-0130. The 24-hour crisis hotline number is 814- 944-3585 or 1-800-500-2849.
The Protection from Abuse office is located in Suite 365 on the 3rd floor of the older portion of Blair County Court House at 423 Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg.
