Gary Michael Hartford: Army sergeant, 28, kills self after

HARTFORD

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/23/2015 at 10:44:02

Gary Michael Hartford: Army sergeant, 28, kills self after hostage-taking: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Ocala Star-Banner (FL) - Thursday, May 28, 1992
Deceased Name: Gary Michael Hartford: Army sergeant, 28, kills self after hostage-taking
WILLISTON -- A U.S. Army sergeant assaulted his estranged wife and then held her and the couple's two pre-school children at gunpoint Tuesday morning before finally committing suicide.

Gary Michael Hartford, 28, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest at 9:50 a.m. in the hallway of his in-laws' home, located 1 1/4 miles northeast of the intersection of Levy County roads 337 and 326, near Marion Lake.

The suicide occurred after Hartford had held his wife, Linda Catherine "Cathy" Hartford, and the couple's two children, Michael Thomas Hartford, 4, and Ashley Marie Hartford, 2 1/2, hostage with a sawed-off shotgun, the same weapon he turned on himself. They were not harmed.

The death ended an 18-month old, bitter divorce case between the man responsible for supervising the gymnasium at Fort Benning, Ga., and his unemployed wife. Hartford was scheduled to be discharged from the Army in August after 10 years of service.

Levy County Sheriff Ted Glass said Cathy Hartford and her children had been living with her parents, Linda and Brian Bailey, in a home owned by neigbor Bonnie Scott.

On Monday, Gary Hartford called the Bailey home and indicated he would be arriving there Tuesday. After Linda Bailey went to work, she called home and realized that Gary Hartford was there and was threatening Cathy and the children.

Bailey called the sheriff's department. Glass said the first officers to arrive saw Gary and Cathy Hartford standing in the yard outside the house. Gary Hartford moved his wife inside as soon as he saw the deputies. Officials said Hartford was carrying the gun and wearing a belt filled with ammunition. It was later learned that after arriving at the home, Hartford physically assaulted his wife.

When negotiations began between Levy County Capt. C.W. Dias and Gary Hartford shortly after 8 a.m., Cathy and the children were in the bathroom and Gary was in the hallway.

The 4-year-old, Michael, walked out the back door unharmed at 8:45 a.m., apparently without his father's knowledge, according to Glass. The little girl, Ashley, was handed through the bathroom window to Dias at 9:15 a.m. At 9:50 a.m., a single shot was fired. The deputies ran into the house and discovered Gary Hartford's body.

For the past year and a half, the Hartfords had reportedly been arguing over custody of the children, visitation rights and Gary Hartford's estimated $26,500 military retirement, which he would have been eligible to receive after his discharge.

Karen Voyles is a reporter for the Gainesville Sun.