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Family of Craigslist killing victim Jim Sanders feuds over funds

BY Alyssa Kleven  on November 28, 2012 @ 3:33 pm (Updated: 5:35 am - 11/29/12 )

JimSanders.jpg
Two years after the tragic death of Jim Sanders, his family is having to turn to the court for help regarding money raised in his name. (Family Photo/File)
He was 14-years-old and one of the victims of a brutal home invasion attack. He heard the gunshot that killed his father, when four intruders posing as interested buyers of a ring posted for sale on Craigslist held his family hostage.

Jimmy Sanders, now 16, told KIRO TV he has PTSD. It's not surprising. He, his stepmother Charlene, and his then-11-year-old stepbrother Chandler witnessed the violent escalation that led to his father's death.

But his uncle, Derek, said the family just wants him back. A short time after his father died, Jimmy moved back in with his mother, Pam Knoll. Together, Jimmy and Knoll have filed a lawsuit against Charlene, because Jimmy hasn't received any money from a fund set up in Jim Sanders' name.

They say he should get half, because donations to the fund were expected to go to the family, not just Charlene. Charlene was set up as the beneficiary of the fund established at the salon where she worked.

Jimmy told KIRO TV that he would use the money for a new car, college, and maybe one day his wedding.

According to Derek, there just isn't that kind of money in the fund.

"There was originally, probably enough to replace a couple months of my brothers wages," Derek told The Ron & Don Show. "[Charlene] used that to pay bills, a couple credit cards - debt things that they had, because she knew she was going to be on a single person's income going forward."

What money is left in the fund now has not been disclosed to the public.

Attorney Anne Bremner, who does not represent Knoll and Jimmy in the lawsuit filed against Charlene, but who is helping determine whether a separate lawsuit should be filed, said the amount of money doesn't matter.

"We've never really heard from Pam in the past, but she's Jimmy's mom," Bremner told Ron & Don. "They're simply saying that they're part of the family too," whether it's $5 or $5,000.

Derek was eager to tell the other side of the story. When the initial report was aired Tuesday, TV crews had not yet been able to speak to Charlene Sanders, who was working that day.

For Derek, there are concerns that it's only about money - and it's not about family. He said that's how it's been since day one. While he can't speak to his brother's relationship with his ex-wife, or any other family member's relationship with Knoll, Derek said that the actions he's observed have been "vengeful."

The lawsuit filed against Charlene isn't the only lawsuit in the works. Derek said that Charlene has already declined to file a lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Corrections. "We're not interested in turning Jim's death into profit."

While Derek said that Knoll and Jimmy were moving forward with the other lawsuit, Bremner, who is working on that case, said that Charlene is still considering action, if any is even taken regarding the DOC.

In the past two years since Jim passed away, Derek said he's only seen Jimmy about 10 times. Several of those occasions took place at the criminal court proceedings of those found guilty for Jim's death.

But Derek wants more of a relationship with his nephew.

"We have told Jimmy that we would love to have a relationship with him, we would love to be able to see him. We care about him, we pray about him on a regular basis. But it's going to have to be him stepping up to his mom saying, 'I know what I need. I need family and I need support.'"

Derek said that Charlene hopes that mediation is an option. It's the process they're trying to move forward with now.

As for things Jimmy wants to pay for - the car, college, his wedding - Derek said he hopes Jimmy will realize that he should live by his father's example.

He wants Jimmy to think about the way his dad raised him. "He's going to have to stand up and become a man."

Exterior Photo: AP Photo/The News Tribune, Drew Perine

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (24)


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  • Shplunker wrote...
    Look up what it says....
    November 28, 2012 7:39 pm
    ...in the Dictionary under "EX-WIFE": See vengeful, money-grubbing Biatch.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Exactly Shplunker
    November 28, 2012 9:09 pm
    Why on earth does the ex-wife have to Do with this? Nothing like a greedy vengeful manipulator to through even more salt on an open wound.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Throw salt
    November 28, 2012 9:12 pm
    Dang iPad auto correct....
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  • Shplunker wrote...
    I can hear her in court from here...
    November 29, 2012 6:52 am
    .."I'm ENTITLED to that money because I was ENTITLED to everything after we were divorced, because I was ENTITLED to everything before we were divorced. So even though he's dead, and I had nothing to do with any of this....I'm still ENTITLED."
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  • CH wrote...
    Don't worry mapleleaf . . . .
    November 29, 2012 5:16 am
    xkop is the site spell checker. To bad he can't spell.
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  • BocaBob1 wrote...
    Really?
    November 29, 2012 5:28 am
    I heard this story yesterday. How sad people are and what they do for a fes bucks.The son is a tool!
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  • 2112 wrote...
    And why is the DOC responsible?
    November 29, 2012 9:11 am
    Oh, I forgot, they have the deep pockets (Taxpayers). Do the taxpayers have to be financially responsible for every ex-con or derelict? Wait, I can answer that; as long as there are multi-millionaire lawyers out there who specialize in suing government and getting 40% of the lottery winnings, the answer is YES.
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  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    Jimmy needs to be realistic
    November 29, 2012 9:15 am
    I'm all for him getting a portion of the money, and I do think he's entitled to it. However, I don't think he should get cash to spend it however he wants. I'm sure he's traumatized, but he's still a 16 yr. old kid with no concept of how money really works. His share of the money should go towards counseling sessions and furthering his education, and his mother shouldn't be allowed to touch any of it. If there is enough money in the fund to spare, I think it would be ok to give the kid a basic car to get around in, as well. Nothing special, just a reliable used car. Anything more than that is excess, and it doesn't sound like Charlene and their family can afford to give away excess.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    Glad to see.......
    November 29, 2012 10:17 am
    The ambulance chasers are still busy looking for any opportunity..........please to all involved including the media, take your dirty laundry out somewhere and off the radar.
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  • cobain501 wrote...
    Geez
    November 29, 2012 10:17 am
    Jimmy and his mom are entitled to nothing. Jim's wife was the beneficiary, not his ex wife and his son. What his wife does with the money is her business alone. If she doesn't give any to Jimmy that's her right. Anne Bremner and the rest of the Seattle are attorneys drive me crazy. Ron and Don, why is she a friend of the show? If we never had to hear from Bremner again, the R&D nation would be happy with it.
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  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    Cobain
    November 29, 2012 10:50 am
    Though I agree that the Ex shouldn't see a dime of that money, I think it's unfair to say that the son deserves nothing. I don't believe that he should get a wad of cash to do with as he pleases, but he should get some percentage of it set aside to give him a chance at a college education. Not only was he witness to the whole situation (frankly I can't imagine how traumatizing that would be for anyone, let alone someone so young), but he IS the guy's kid. He didn't divorce his dad, his mom did. She chose to leave that all behind, but he didn't. I don't blame him at all for leaving after that. I'm not sure I would want to be around anyone else involved in that either, as it would be too painful to relive all the time. As for the money, I think he's being manipulated by his mom and their attorney into thinking that he should get more than he deserves. I bet if the step mom told him that his share of the money would be used to pay for college tuition and expenses, that he would be ok with it.
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  • shark75 wrote...
    Jimmy is just a typical American 16-year old
    November 29, 2012 12:15 pm
    He wants his money for nothin' and his chicks for free. BTW, Ron and Don, in the land of idiots are King. And the Ron and Don Nation, well...they get their news form Ron and Don. These idiots dont know shiite from shinola and Jimmy Cater is their favorite prez. Plus their show? It SUCKS.
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  • allchik wrote...
    EX or no EX....
    November 29, 2012 12:40 pm
    The kid is living with his mom, therefore there are expenses, clothes, food, medical bills, sports, occasional treats/gifts. All of that costs money! It's not easy being a single mom, I think that the step mom is being selfish by not thinking of her step son and didn't settle this outside of courts. I say go for it and get if not half at least a good portion of the money that was given. HATERS!!!
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Why should the widow give up a penny?
    November 29, 2012 12:52 pm
    She's not the woman who birthed the boy. The mom is just fulfilling her duty as a mother.

    It's the widow...not the boy...that had her partner taken from her.

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  • dot77 wrote...
    Social security bennies for Jimmy
    November 30, 2012 3:54 pm
    @allchik: FYI, if a child's parent dies before they are 18, the remaining parent is entitled to social security survivor's benefits. These benefits include a monthly payment and also medical for the minor child. If the child goes to school full time, the benefits continue as long as they are in school and do not get married. The ex wife is probably receiving these benefits for her son. (Incidentally, the average monthly payout for a surviving child is about $1000 a month). So for the ex wife to be crying poverty is pretty laughable at this point. I wonder if her son even KNOWS the SS benefits exist? The way he talked in the interview, he seemed to be not aware of them.
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  • allchik wrote...
    Why does the widow...
    November 29, 2012 1:13 pm
    And the widow's son Chandler get to have all the money yet the blood son gets squat. BS! The widow can get remarried Jimmy is the one that lost his dad.
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  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    The son should get something, but...
    November 29, 2012 1:38 pm
    The mother willingly took him on, including all the expenses that go with him. It doesn't sound to me like she's hurting for funds here, and she has her son living with her. That's a gift in and of itself. The widow and the two boys are the ones who suffered here, but Jimmy is already having his needs meet, so help Charlene and her son since they have the greatest need. Like I said earlier, though, Jimmy should be entitled to some financial help in the form of college funds or a basic vehicle to help him get around.
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  • The Dude Abides wrote...
    By the way...
    November 29, 2012 1:40 pm
    If Jimmy's mom is hurting financially to the point where she can't support him, then he should return to his step family. It sounds like they view him as part of their family, not just a stepkid, and I bet they would take good care of him.
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Pam Knoll can get remarried!
    November 29, 2012 1:44 pm
    ...if she isn't already.

    The fundraising effort was to help the widow cover expenses. From all reports it was barely enough money to help cover expenses for a very short period.

    It's sad that Pam Knoll is dragging her son through all this publicly. A woman scorned...

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