A decade prior, Don had stated, “The one medicine I have is my family.”
Sarah Lorraine Spirit was the oldest child, and only daughter, of Don and Christine Spirit. In 2002, the family moved to a small town about 30 miles west of Gainesville, FL. The Spirits joined the approximate 450 other residents of Bell, FL. Sarah was about 16 when they settled into their mobile, which sat on 2 acres.
When Sarah and her brothers, Josh and Kyle, were growing up, the siblings had watched in horror as their father physically abused their mother. Sometimes he roughed them up a little too. Don was a regular in the prison system — having been booked for offenses such as theft, battery, drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident, unlawful firearm possession and felony marijuana possession. He had also been charged with depriving a child of food and shelter at one point. Don was eventually diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder, however he refused to take medication.
Don changed his mind about taking medicine though after a horrendous tragedy occurred on November 14, 2001. Don and his sons were at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area near Kenansville when Don’s rifle went off accidentally as he was looking at a rust spot on the barrel. A bullet discharged from the weapon, hitting eight year-old Kyle right in the head, killing him.
