The Notification

The Notification

This is what law enforcement calls it,"The Notification", code word for informing you that your life just ended, and would never be the same again. Code word for a defining part of your life was gone, and would never be coming home again.

The Fateful Night

My husband and I were getting worried about our 44 year old son, who had moved home with us after his wife suddenly died.

He had gotten a job in a restaurant twenty minutes away. He couldn't face staying in his house that his wife died in, or at the job he had, so he moved back home with us and got a new job.

He was late that night, and I layed awake in bed with Rick's puppy Comfort that we had bought him. We thought maybe he was sent to the beach store, to set it up, but he was even late for that senario, so my husband was getting ready to call the police--he was sitting in the chair in the living room.

The Faint Knock At The Door

At 3:30 am, on March 28, 2015, a faint knock at our door. When my husband answered it, he saw five men and one women standing on our front porch. They were all dressed in dress street clothes, with badges on their waists.

They identified themselves as "The Delaware State Police". My husband said he got a "feeling of impending doom" and his stomach turned, as he asked, "Where is my son? Is he okay?" They answered by saying, "Can we come in?" My husband replied, Where is my son? Is my son in trouble?" They repeated, "Can we come in?" My husband replied, not until you tell me where my son is?"

The Notification On The Porch

Finally, the homicide Sgt, said this, "We are sorry to inform you, that your son, Richard L Jacobs Jr, was shot multiple times tonight and is dead." Yes, those are the exact words. Those are the words you will never forget and take with you, beyond this life. Then they asked again, "Can we come in?"

My husband stumbled backward as he in a low voice said, "Yes".

I was still in the bedroom, awake, and I heard voices. I thought "yes", he is home safe and sound, and I yelled from the bedroom, "Rick, come get your puppy", but Rick didn't come.

Instead, my husband yelled from the bedroom, "come quick and help me, Ricky is dead." I screamed, "NO-NO-NO", as I sprang out of bed and entered my living room. Through tearful eyes, I muttered, "What happened did he have an accident?" No one replied.

I Demanded An Answer

You could hear a pin drop, and then I raised my voice and said, "What happened?" Silence still prevailed. I raised my voice another octave and demanded, "What happened to my son?"

The lady who was standing with the four men, finally spoke. I repeated, "Did he have an accident"? She simply replied, "No, he was shot"! I later found out that she was the Captain of the homicide unit.

My Reaction

My reaction was one of disbelief, horror and heartbreaking questions. My initial reaction and question to them, and I never forget the words used, it has a tendency to stick with you. I will take that night, far beyond this world. "Shot ? Shot? Who would want to to shoot Richard, everyone loved Richard?" During their investigation they found out most everyone did love Richard Jacobs, except one person. I, along with the authorities would spend the rest of ten and a half months finding out who exactly did this. I would spend the best part of almost a decade to find out why, Why did this happen? How could this happen?, -Why did this happen to my child?

They Should Have Been Forewarned

I suppose they should have been forewarned, law enforcement that is, however, they were not. I guess they deal with so many of these cases, they just shrugged it off as another as "another one".

When I asked that night if someone was going to pay for this, they just simply said "yes", we will do our best.

However, would their best be good enough, for Rick's Mom, and what would Rick's Mom find out during her journey on the streets?

On Notification Night I Asked

"Where is my son's phone"? They said, "we have it, however it has a passcode on it, and it will take the FBI quite awhile to unlock it, unless you know the passcode. I did know the passcode, and they opened the phone. During the course of the next ten months, law enforcement found out, that I not only knew the passcode, but I also knew my son. And that would change the dynamics of the investigation completly.

The Sgt. Asked The Question

"What was his daughters date of birth? Maybe he used that as a passcode." Make a note of that question, because it would serve as a clue, to finding answers to what, where and why my son was slaughtered like a sacrificial .lamb.

My Journey

My journey did not end with Anthony McDonald being found dead in that lake, however, I spent the best part of the next decade searching for answers to "Why? -Why this happened to my son, to my child. And we did find those answers.

This article was published by my wife Susan Payton on Medium on July 31, 2024.

This article is in loving memory of my step son Richard L Jacobs Jr

"Forever Loved - Never Forgotten"