Two murder-suicides just weeks apart last fall involving children and parents connected to Skyview Middle School in Oakdale were troubling for city residents and devastating for students.
The Rev. John Stiles of nearby Holy Cross Lutheran Church knew he had to do something to bring hope and encouragement to kids and lift up the community.
This month he's putting the final touches on "We Are the Children," a gospel album chock-full of songs that are laced with positive messages from some of the Twin Cities' finest singers and even kids in a Head Start program.
It's due out in May, and Stiles plans to sell it and use the proceeds to benefit victims of domestic violence and fund a popular tutoring program for school-age children.
"When something like this happens, we are affected in a deep way," said Stiles, the guitar-playing pastor of the church that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. "The goal is to find common solidarity with these families and try to bring hope to the community. Oakdale has had some bad press lately, and there is so much good that needs to be lifted up."
Stiles came up with the idea in the wake of two tragedies. The first occurred on Sept. 15, when a 6-year-old Skyview student found her parents dead at home. Her mother, Cintia Guadalupe Ornelas Bustos, 28, and babysitter, Angela Uscanga Gonzalez, had been shot. Her father, Jaime Anival Almaras Velasquez, 32, had committed suicide.
In the second, authorities said that Anthony DeHaven, 35, shot and killed his children -- 11-year-old son Jace and 5-year-old daughter Jersey, who were students at Skyview Middle and Skyview Elementary schools -- then killed himself. Their bodies were found in a burned-out motor home near the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Stiles, a self-professed Lionel Richie fan and fan club member, reached out to the superstar to be a part of the project, but never heard back from him. He did hear from several church members and local artists, however, who were eager to jump on board.
