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Diversity People’s Picnic helps ‘bridge that gap’

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Luzerne County woman finally pays off hefty back-tax debt

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Tuesday was an emotion-filled day for me.</p><p>I was assigned to cover the opening day of testimony in the retrial of Melissa Scholl, the woman charged with attempting to kill her two children in an apparent murder-suicide try. She was convicted by a jury Friday.</p><p>I covered the incident on the night it happened. It was Dec. 9, 2015, and I was working the late shift to cover for another reporter. It was supposed to be a slow night, but it was anything but slow.</p><p>The police scanner that blares in our newsroom was filled with chatter about something going on at a bus company in Wilkes-Barre Township. We were able to determine that whatever was going on was happening on Blackman Street. So I decided to drive up there.</p><p>When I drove by the Williams Bus Line, I noticed a car parked between a group of yellow school buses. As I pulled into the lot, my headlights shined on a car and I immediately noticed a hose protruding from the tailpipe. Nobody was in the car. Our photographer arrived shortly after.</p><p>I tried to get some information from the police, but nobody was talking. We soon learned there was going to be an arraignment and we hurried there.</p><p>I can still see Melissa Scholl being brought in &#8212; she was wearing a long coat. She looked distraught. We learned that Scholl had her two children, Julian and Vera, then 7 and 5, in the car with her. We heard the charges and we watched as Scholl was taken to jail.</p><p>Now, as Scholl&#8217;s second trial began &#8212; the first trial ended in a hung jury &#8212; we waited for testimony to begin to see if anything had changed since June. The prosecution called its first witness &#8212; the defendant&#8217;s son, Julian, now 9.</p><p>As the door opened to Courtroom 4, in walked the young boy, dressed smartly in a blue polo shirt, his light hair combed neatly. Spectators could hardly see Julian as he raised his right hand and swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.</p><p>It was difficult to fathom this young boy saying anything other than what he knows to be the truth.</p><p>And as he started to speak, doing his best to project his voice into the microphone in front of him, his mother sat at the defense table. It was uncomfortable to watch a son testify for the prosecution at his mother&#8217;s trial.</p><p>The young boy got through direct examination and struggled as his mother&#8217;s attorney asked more questions.</p><p>When Julian was finished, he walked out of the courtroom wondering, I&#8217;m sure, what would happen to his mother.</p><p>The prosecution then played a videotape of Julian being interviewed at the Luzerne County Child Advocacy Center in 2015, shortly after the incident that Julian has called &#8220;that dreadful night.&#8221; Julian can be seen drawing on a large white board and jumping around the room. He politely answered all of the questions he was asked and, occasionally, Julian smiled.</p><p>Like I said, this was an emotionally trying day for a lot of people, especially Julian and Melissa Scholl.</p><p>When it was over, I returned to the newsroom to write the story. When I was done, I decided to head over to Valley Dog to visit with my new kitten &#8212; her name is Lilac and she is a 4-week-old orange and white cutie. I held Lilac, talked to her and petted her. For the most part, Lilac meowed, obviously telling anyone who would listen that she was hungry.</p><p>Lilac must remain with her siblings &#8212; all boys &#8212; for a few more weeks. And then she will be welcomed into a home where she will be the queen. Just like Lily, my other cat who died earlier this year at age 19 1/2.</p><p>As I looked at Lilac and her brothers, I thought about Julian and his sister, Vera, and I wondered if they would like to be at Valley Dog playing with the kittens. I wondered if they would be laughing and talking to them, enjoying the time away from the real world.</p><p>I don&#8217;t know if Julian and Vera have any pets. I don&#8217;t know if they would want any. But I am pretty sure they would like to be smiling more these days &#8212; putting as many happy memories between now and &#8220;that dreadful night.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">O&#8217;Boyle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Columnshot-1-1-1-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>O&#8217;Boyle </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Scholl.cropped-7.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scholl </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Scholl.cropped-7.jpg</photo1><caption1>Scholl </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at boboyle@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Beyond the Byline: Dealing with ‘that dreadful night’