Five years ago, Patricia Pollet began reading true crime novels. It wasn’t idle reading, though. She considered it research. Her husband’s grandparents, Pete Wallace and Wyona Chandlee, had just been murdered execution-style in their home.
“After their death, I wanted to learn why some people are so cold-blooded that they are able to kill others for no reason,” Patricia said.
Patricia was living paycheck-to-paycheck, and wondered whether she could live better as a writer. After a little prodding by her friend, Geneva Diamond, she decided to go back to school in 2004. She planned to major in Journalism and take psychology courses on the side. Becoming a writer was not just a dream for Patricia, it was also an investment.
“A more pressing reason for coming back to school is that I want to better the future for my daughter and myself,” Patricia said.
Patricia and GabbyPhoto: Samuel Lamb
Patricia has to balance being a student with her other responsibilities, including her daughter and her job. Patricia pays for her schooling by being a ticket-writer at the University Parking department.
“My job works with my school schedule,” said Patricia. “I've had to take time off work a lot this semester for schoolwork.”
At home, Patricia structures her day around her daughter, Gabrielle, who goes by ‘Gabby.’ Gabby is in grade school, and takes part in a youth bowling league, which Patricia coaches.
“Since working part-time, I see her more,” Patricia said. “I try and do my schoolwork either early in the morning while she's asleep or after she's gone to bed at night.”
Nobody in Patricia’s classes would realize that she was there because of a double murder. She describes herself as goofy, and lives up to it well. She still has to hold back tears when talking about Pete and Wyona, She explained to me that Gabby was their world.
“They were buried with a picture of Gabby,” she explained. “They were buried with their world.”
Patricia isn’t sure what she is going to do when she graduates. She doesn’t know anymore if she wants to write true crime novels. She is thinking about producing broadcast news.
“Maybe I will stick with that because I really do enjoy editing videos,” she said. “As with every student does at some point, I'm doubting myself. I'll get over it though, and keep in mind the eventual goal of graduating.”