ROWLETT Police are trying to get to the bottom of an apparent murder-suicide involving a local judge.
Investigators say it was a text message from the son of Belinda Loveland that sent them to the Rowlett home. When officers arrived at their home in the 3200 block of Sunrise Drive, they found her and husband Richard Loveland dead.
Richard was self-employed and owned several businesses. Belinda was an attorney and juvenile court judge.
Belinda Loveland left a legacy with children from good families and broken homes.
She was the founder of Camp ROCK, a mentoring program for junior high students. The camp included fun activities like bowling to coach them on the game of life.
Many of the students were waiting for Loveland to arrive at Bowl-a-Rama Monday when they learned that their favorite judge had been the victim in a murder-suicide.
She was awesome, said camp participant Stephanie Palmer. I loved her.
The youngsters in the program just have one question: Why?
Rowlett police don't yet have an answer. They concluded that Richard Loveland shot and killed his wife, and then turned the gun on himself on Sunday afternoon.
Camp ROCK counselors who worked with Judge Loveland side-by-side for several years saw no signs of marital problems.
I don't understand it at all, said Clayton Lowery.
Tiffini Miller, who was Loveland's case worker, is equally perplexed. Because Judge Belinda... everything she touched turned to gold, basically.
Miller said Loveland inspired children at-risk children who ended up in her juvenile court. Many of her colleagues' children saw the results first-hand.
She didn't blame them, but she gave them more courage, and loved to know they can do it, said Taylor Jenkins, another camp participant.
The students danced in Loveland's memory at the bowling alley on Monday, saying she wouldn't want them to cry, but to laugh.
It is her gentle, fun-loving spirit they will remember most.
E-mail ddenmon@wfaa.com
