visited long-time friends in Lebanon
and Thorntown, Indiana
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The two RV Gypsies did not know that this would be the last 4th of July they will ever celebrate due to the worst tragedy their family could ever imagine! |
Old Mill Run RV Park |
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Note: The two RV Gypsies stayed at this campground again in 2020 so they could visit their friends. For more campground information, visit that page now, but be sure to return here. |
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Lee Duquette and friends of the two RV Gypsies - Sharon was Karen's room-mate in the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor and also the maid-of-honor at Karen and Lee's wedding in 1966. |
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Below: Zionsville, Indiana - this is just one of the pretty spots in the shopping area of this quaint historic town. |
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Below: The two RV Gypsies at the Dickerson's annual 4th of July party. |
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Sharon and Karen relaxing
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Lee Duquette playing bean bag toss |
Below: The party tables |
Karen Duquette ready for the 4th of
July parade! |
Below: 4th
of July Parade - a big event in Lebanon, Indiana |
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Below: Terry Dickerson
in the parade - throwing out candy |
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After the parade, Karen and Lee Duquette called their son Brian Duquette in Orlando to wish him a Happy 4th of July. When he did not answer his phone, Karen got worried and left him a message to call her, as soon as possible. Brian always answered his mom's phone calls, no matter where he was (even if at work). |
July 5, 2008 - In the early morning hours, the two RV Gypsies were woken up by a phone call. Karen knew it was too early in the morning to be her son. A detective informed them that their son, Brian Duquette, was robbed and MURDERED in his own home in Orlando, Florida. (use the BRIAN button above for details and updates). While Lee Duquette talked to the detective on the telephone, Karen went outside in the campground and screamed and screamed and screamed some more. NONE of the nearby campers came outside to see if she was okay. Then her friends Sharon and Terry Dickerson came to the campground because Lee had called them with the awful news. So they said good-bye to their friends and drove their RV from Indiana to Orlando, Florida in one day, stopping now and then to hug each other and cry. While in Orlando, Karen Duquette got blood clots in both her lungs and almost died herself. Lee Duquette took her to a local hospital. Doctors say that the blood clots may have been from the stress. |
So, they parked their RV at Thousand Trails in Clermont for awhile, while checking on Brian's house, paperwork, caring for Brian's dog China, and making funeral arrangements. They were in constant touch with the detective trying to solve Brian's murder. In the meantime, they did a few local things just to try to keep from going insane. |