The 5
members of the Avery Family members were murdered by a cult group leader, Jeffrey Don Lundgren on April 17, 1989 in
Ohio. He was executed by lethal injection in Ohio on October 24, 2006. Let us
not forget this family.
Summary: Lundgren
and about two dozen followers had broken away from the Reorganized Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now called the Community of Christ, a small
church that splintered from the mainstream Mormon church. His group believed
doomsday was near. Lundgren killed the Avery family both because of a message
he felt he got from God and because he saw the family as disloyal for not
pooling their finances into a common church fund. After inviting Dennis and
Cheryl Avery and their three daughters over for dinner, each was led
individually out to the barn, where each was bound and gagged by a group of
men. After they had placed each Avery family member into the pit, Lundgren shot
each person two or three times with a .45 caliber semiautomatic weapon. The men
then filled the pit with dirt and stones. Afterwards, Lundgren and the others
went back to the farmhouse and held a prayer meeting.
ACCOMPLICES:
Alice Lundgren - Aggravated Murder (5 counts), Kidnapping (5 counts) - 150 years to Life.
Damon Lundgren - Aggravated Murder (4 counts), Kidnapping (4 counts) - 120 years to Life.
Alice Lundgren - Aggravated Murder (5 counts), Kidnapping (5 counts) - 150 years to Life.
Damon Lundgren - Aggravated Murder (4 counts), Kidnapping (4 counts) - 120 years to Life.
Ronald Luff
- Aggravated Murder (5 counts), Kidnapping (5 counts) - 170 years to
Life.
Daniel
Kraft - Aggravated Murder (5 counts), Kidnapping (3 counts) - 50 years to
Life.
Gregory
Winship - Murder (5 counts), 15 years to Life.
Richard
Brand - Murder (5 counts) - 15 years to Life.
Sharon
Bluntschly - Conspiracy to Aggravated Murder - 7-25 years.
Deborah
Olivarez - Conspiracy to Aggravated Murder - 7-25 years.
Susan Luff
- Conspiracy to Aggravated Murder and was sentenced to 7-25 years.
Kathryn R.
Johnson - Obstructing Justice - 1 year.
Dennis
Patrick - Obstructing Justice - 18 months, sentence suspended and placed on 1
year probation.
Tonya
Patrick - Obstructing Justice - 18 months, sentence suspended and placed on 1
year probation.
QUOTE: "He got what he deserved,"
said Bailey, who said the family has suffered depression and nightmares from
the horror. In a written statement, Bailey said he was convinced that Lundgren
would kill again if he were released from prison. "There
is only one sure way to make sure this never happens again: To be sure his life
is forfeited for the terrible deeds he has done. The memories of his victims
and the welfare of society and demands of justice all dictate this final act of
cleansing," Bailey wrote. "My only
regret is that he has but one life to give."
AUTHOR: Donald Bailey is the brother of Cheryl Avery - the
Avery family who were murdered by Jeffrey Don Lundgren and his accomplices on
April 17, 1989. He was executed by lethal injection in Ohio on October 24,
2006.
I grew up with the Avery family in my childhood congregation in the 1970s. It has always bothered me that they are described in most accounts as having been mousy, wimpy, nerdy, etc. They were shy, quiet people and did not deserve what happened to them. Jeffrey Lundgren was a monster and I'm glad he paid for what he did with his own life.
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