By David Lohr
February 1, 2007
HURON, S. D. (Crime Library) — Huron High School is holding a memorial service today for Betty Jo Gilchrist, 49, and her son Josh, 16. The service comes nearly one week after Josh killed his mother with a three-foot long medieval sword, before being gunned down by police officers.
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| Josh Gilchrist |
Last Friday, four officers from the Huron Police Department were dispatched to the Gilchrist residence for an unknown disturbance. Upon arrival, officers found 14-year-old Rebekah Gilchrist sobbing and bleeding profusely from several cuts to her arms and hands. As officers went to the girl's aid, her brother Josh, who was wildly swinging a sword, attacked them. The sword struck one of the officers several times, before his partners fired a barrage of bullets and killed the young man.
As investigators secured the scene, they discovered the body of Betty Gilchrist and an injured foreign exchange student. The wounded officer and the student were both treated at a local hospital and released. Rebekah Gilchrist was admitted to a hospital in Sioux Falls. Authorities say they have no motive in the killings.
"We don't have any background or any events leading up to the assault this morning that would give any indication of a motive," Huron Police Chief Doug Schmitt told The Associated Press on Friday.
The day after the murder, Josh's father, Jon Gilchrist, released a statement to the press, which read: "To all those concerned and praying for Bekah Gilchrist, she is stable and improving with non life-threatening injuries. The family appreciates everyone who is keeping Bekah and our family in their prayers."
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| Josh Gilchrist |
As is becoming the norm with most teenagers, Josh had a profile on the social networking website MySpace.com. While the profile is not very informative, a comment posted by one of his closest friends just days before the murder seems to suggest he was dealing with some issues, which he came very close to sharing.
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