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‘They needed love more’

Collier friends sympathetic to alleged killers

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Norma Chamblee and Jeannette Abernathy are long-time friends of Carl and Sarah Collier.

But Thursday morning, their hearts went out to the Colliers’ accused killers also: Their granddaughter Holly Ann Harvey and her friend, Sandy Ketchum, who police say brutally stabbed the Colliers in an ambush attack at their north Fayette home Aug. 2.

Harvey and Ketchum made an appearance at a bond hearing before Fayette County Chief Superior Court Judge Paschal A. English on Thursday morning. English denied bond for both girls.

“They need a hug and someone to say, ‘I love you no matter what you’ve done,’” Chamblee said. “... I pray for them every day, both of them. I just wanted to go up and hug ‘em.”

Holly spent almost the entire hearing with her head resting on the table in front of her as her attorney, Judy Chidester, attempted to console her.

Sandy used a tissue to wipe away tears, and she nearly lost her composure when her father took the witness stand and told the court that yes, Sandy was his daughter.

After the hearing, Chamblee said she was familiar with some of the trouble the Colliers had with their rebelling granddaughter —Êwho they attempted to care for after her mother was sent to prison on drug charges.

Both Chamblee and Abernathy, who are now great-grandparents, said they, too, had troubles with raising their kids, so they could identify with the Colliers and their struggles with Holly. According to friends and family, Holly and Sandy ran away together earlier this summer.

“If there’s some way, something could help these girls later on ...” said Chamblee.

From what she knew, Chamblee said Holly led a troubled life. And from testimony given in court on Thursday, it was made apparent that Sandy had been faced with a difficult life as well.

“Just spare them when they are incarcerated,” Abernathy said. “They didn’t have a chance with their background. They need to be rehabilitated.

“They needed love more.”