I am a neutral party here, I do not live in Kilgore, nor did I know the Vickers family, but as someone who has read the comments I have come to understand the outrage, anger, hurt and disbelief over the article. I would just like to say this.. Good works do not get you to heaven any more than bad ones send you to hell. ALL men will be judged by their creator who is gracious and forgiving. Which is more than I can say for some human beings. I'll just throw this out there and hopefully it will hit its intended mark.... YOU TOO WILL BE JUDGED as you have judged and caused others to judge. I hope your Judge is kinder to you than you were to Mr. Vickers. My deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends. To his children... I offer you this, you were blessed by God with a wonderful father who loved you and cared for you, that is all that matters. Remeber his love and his smile and the things he taught you and you will keep him alive forever.

Teresa and I have been best friends for 30 years, and I have been friends with Jason about the same amount of time. Here's what I think. I am not usually one to judge people, so what I am going to do, is ask the Good Lord to forgive me for what I am about to say. On this day a mother lost her son, a wife lost her husband, children lost a father, and friends lost a friend! If that's not bad enough, the reporter messed up! Mind you, I have been an editor, and it is the editor's job to make sure that what goes out are only facts about the issue at hand. Well, that's not what happened here, is it? What happened to compassion? Is there any left when it comes to making the mighty buck? Not here! The retraction is not enough! There needs to be a formal appology, on the front page, appologizing to Jason, as well as his family and friends. If that doesn't happen, you will probably have the whole graduating class of the 80's sending you more comments! We all might even show up on a picket line! What is right is right. This family has suffered a great loss, and out of respect to them, I urge you to do the right thing! That's the least you could do! Oh, and might I say, "Pay attention to what you print, words are hard to take back!" And remember this, next time this reporter writes another story, it might be somebody else we love!

I am sickened by the reporting in the knh. I would hate to think that my past, or anyone elses would or could play a part in a murder. Even in trial situations, past crimes are not able to be brought up unless they are directly related to the case at hand. And that law is in place to protect the accused, not the victim! Jason was the victim here. For someone to suggest that writing a bad check- or anything else, could cause a murder 10 years later is ridiculous. Please give the family peace and respect and give a full, public apology.

I Hope The Person Who Wrote This Is Happy .. They Have Dont Nothing But Bring Up His Past ! We Are In The Future & You Made Him Look Like a Bad Guy When Really He Was One Of The Best People Ever !!! I Do Believe The Kilgore News Paper Need To Say Sorry To The Vickers Family... Because They Have Hurt Them Even More Then They Already Are.. I Do Believe They Are Going Through A Hard Time & The Kilgore Newspaper Writing That About Him Has Started Rumors & Lies About Him & has made it harder for the kids to go to school With people thinking thats the kind of family They Came From.. Thanks ..

I went through a similar situation after the death of my husband. A woman slandered has name by embellishing his past mistakes and made up some out right lies. Unfortunately all of the slander made it's way back to the ears of my innocent children. I was so hurt for my children and outraged at the stupidity and heartlessness of that woman...so I beat the sh_t out of her. Maybe This paper should think back to 9-11 and what happened to the man at a local gas station when he made remarks about how America got what she deserved....some "good-ole-boys" gave him what he deserved. We live in BUBBALAND and I'm proud to say so. You DO NOT cross certain bounderies here. WE STICK TOGETHER. You could have reported with compassion and relevence. I think you should remember where you live and who you're reporting to and for.

I came across the Facebook page requesting Kilgore News Herald's apology this morning and have a few things to say. Yes the tragedy of losing a loved one is devastating. I've been there, we all have. I agree that the first article which misstated his criminal history in Smith County is wrong, very very wrong. But what is not wrong is his criminal history in Gregg County. I feel for the Vicker's family because although Mr. Vickers has made some bad decisions in his life, it shouldn't ever affect his family. Well sadly, it has, they've lost their father, husband, son, brother and friend. No where in the revised article does it say that his criminal history contributed to his death. But to believe it didn't is simply lying to yourself. As of right now, their shouldn't be any anger towards the Kilgore News Herald, the incorrect information has been taken off and I'm pretty sure the person who found this incorrect information will be handled with properly. The crimes Mr. Vickers committed are not the Kilgore News Hearlds fault, they were Mr. Vickers decision. As of right now, the truth is being stated and it is not the Kilgore News Herald responsibility to censor it's readers from the truth, it is their responsibility to give them the truth.

I can not believe that the paper of a man who has lived in Kilgore all his life would drag up his past that has no releveance to the horrible way this great man was KILLED and print it. Obviously you have no feeling or concern for the heartbroken and greiving family and friends of this wonderful man. You owe The family a HUGE apology for being so insenstive and disrespectful. Jason was a great man and a even better friend, who was killed in cold blood, MURDERED, taken from his wife, children and friedns way to early, and this is the kind of crap you want to print. I have not lived in Kilgore in over 20 years but I am ashamed that the hometown paper would do such an injustice to the memory of the VICTIM of such a horrible crime. Are you that cold that you didn't care that you would hurt the family and friends who are already hurting from the loss of their loved one? I hope that the hometown people who subscribed to your paper decide that they don't want to read such tabloid like articles and quit buying your rag you want to call a paper.

Shame on you!!! How dare you do this to his two kids. I know both of his kids and they do not deserve to see or hear what was put in the article in the very beginning. Apologize, Apologize, Apologize!!! Jason Vickers was a good man and to slander his name in this way is unacceptable!!!

I hope the Vickers family files a slander law suit against the Kilgore Snooze Herald. Your reporting is pathetic.

Very sad to see the horrible journalism in this town that I called home for 15 years. You should seriously be ashamed of yourselves. Were the families feelings ever taken into consideration? You owe this family and his friends a HUGE APOLOIGY!!!!!!

I have a request. If something happens to me or a member of my family, please do not bother sticking your nose in our business. I do not care to have all 5 of your readers hearing some kind of sensationalism put forth by your tabloid about any of us. Your paper is pathetic and I hope people will cancel their subscription until you decide to apologize for your pathetic reporting. When I studied mass communications we used things like this to show what not to do in reporting news.

Unbelievable, I have not lived in Kilgore for 25 years, but I am ashamed, to read such a horrible article. Wasn't Mr. Vickers the victim here???? Kilgore Herald should be ashamed of the poor journalism on this article. You owe this family a huge apology!!!!!!!

thank yall so much for taking up for my father!!! that means so much to us, these lies about my dad are BULLSHIT. my mother was married to him and i think she'd know if my father was missing for 160 days ??? don't ya think so! i sure do.. well thanks for trying to trash my fathers name, ain't gonna happen buddy!

To the Reporter, Editor and Owner of the Kilgore News Herald, I absolutely fail to understand the mentality that went into the details you printed regarding Jason's criminal past/history. I am surprised you did not mention that he may have been caught cheating on a spelling test he took in fourth grade. I do not only blame the reporter, but the editor of this publication as well, who undoubtedly had to approve the article before it went to print. There was absolutely no evidence whatsoever that would have lead anyone to believe that his past had anything to do with his cold-blooded murder. His wife, children and family all deserve a formal printed apology by your publication (I use the word publication very loosely) for the totally irresponsible manner in which they handled reporting/printing the information. Just for a second, you need to put yourselves in Mr Vickers place and see how would you feel if your family and friends had to read about you being murdered on your way to a store, or a movie and then have the article to go so off the mark as to mention that you had a DUI several years ago or wrote a bad check over a decade ago. If the owner of this publication has any respect for his publications readers and the family and friends of Mr Vickers, I would expect you to demand that the reporter and editor print an apology for the careless use of information and both sign the apology personally. Otherwise, I would advise the readers to be sure they do not die in Kilgore, for they may risk their past history being printed in the same irresponsible manner. That being said, I hope you will all keep the family of Jason in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with this difficult time and pray that the person responsible for this horrific tragedy is apprehended and brought to justice. Mike Olexa Paducah KY

I am just shocked. It is surreal that a reporter would include a mention of criminal history in this story. I was born in Kilgore and I don't think the city is in any way some particularly bad place. I just can't imagine what the reporter was thinking when he/she wrote that???

This rag of a newspaper is very consistent with what i've experienced with Kilgore and what i knew a long time ago. Absolutley no class. I'm not suprised in the slightest. It's Kilgore. I have a criminal record and have changed over the last twenty years having been a practicing nurse the last 15. I admit openly that i have been wrong in the past but i'm sure the only topics to surface with this small-town ridiculous paper would be my criminal record. I realize that the circumstances being what they were with Jason's death may have led you to treat this article impersonally and coldly but it's not too late. I think the mayor of Kilgore and the editor of the "rag" should apologize personally to the family as well as print a retraction/apology. Jason was a real person and is so much better than you. See you up there sometime Jason. And yes sir, we're still fighting with a$$holes down here.

It is a known fact that when a rapist, killer, or kidnapper, even a gossiper, assualts a person they do not feel the pain, suffering, and hurt they are impelling upon their victim......This rule also applies for anyone who writes...A successful writer and or newspaper writes first and foremost for it's readers who are their customers, but the moment they write to get noticed and or for rankings or money is the beginning of an unsuccessful writer, newspaper, etc. When Kilgore Newspaper publicly publishes an apology to Jason's family and friends....feel the hurt and pain you have caused upon a murder victims family and friends and you will perhaps write a passionate apology.....if not please find someone who can write such a passionate article for his friends and family. Because if they don't feel your heart while reading the apology then you have failed...the point of writing is that when you write you give a part of yourself to others regardless of what you write. Kigore News Herald do the right thing...properly.

This article has created such a mess and has our community outraged....and justly so. A murder victim should not have to be defended by his friends and family. HELLO...Kilgore News Herald! Jason is the victim here. For you to insinuate that his criminal history had a bearing on his murder is wrong. Someone's bad choices does not justify them being murdered in cold blood. Isn't it bad enough that his children have had their father ripped from their lives? They should not have to defend, to anyone, ever, his past. The judicial system played its roll in that....which is why it was possible to even post his criminal background on here. I wish that it would have been reported by The Kilgore News Herald with the facts about the murder.....and I'll bet the reporter wishes the same. My deepest condolences to the family....May God wrap his arms around you and lift you in this tragic time.

I am pissed off at the Kilgore Newspaper, if you are going to report the news get your facts straight. I have been friends with Jason and worked along side of him at Goodyear for over 20 years. It was strange that you listed him as serving time in jail for 160 days in 1998, he never missed 160 days from his job, I know because he worked beside me every day. You have tarnished and slandered Jason's good name based on f@@@ing lies. If you will go back and do research of the Smith County Judical Records(this is where you previously reported getting your info from)you will noticed the crimes you listed were in fact not Jason Neil Vickers. Case #1 Poss. of Marijuana-Defendant Jason P. Vickers of Troup. Case #2 Motion to Revoke Probation 160 days confinment-Defendant Jason P. Vickers of Troup. Case #3Burglary of Building-Defendant Jason P. Vickers of Troup. Jason P Vickers DOB 1/26/1975(Jason Neil Vickers was born in 1965) Case #4 Theft by Check- Defendant Jason Vickers of Elkhart DOB 10/08/1970. So whoever said it was not the reported fault about the article is full of shit, this reporter told nothing but lies. I am not a reporter just someone who cares and loves their dear friend and wants to protect his reputation and his family, but it didnt take me long to find the acutual facts. Someone said in a previous comment the reported deserved an apology hell no, the reported needs to apologize to Jason, and his family for slandering Jason's good name. Jason, I love you man your were a great friend.

This is one more example of why I do not and will not read the ever disgusting Kilgore News Herald....I remember Jason as a fun guy from years ago and am sickened by his brutal murder. It further appalls me to read his character smeared after his death by a narrow-minded, backwards newspaper that doesn't remotely border upon true journalism. The best way to eradicate this vicious gossip column is to simply not purchase their propaganda...allow them to be eliminated entirely by our lovely economic system. I pray that peace and solitude will be with the Vickers family during this horrible time and may love surround them thru friends and family.

Jason Vickers was a well liked and well known, life long resident of Kilgore who was shot and killed in a cold blooded murder! His past criminal record should NOT be mentioned because it is irrelevant! HE IS A MURDER VICTIM!!!!! You OWE an apology to Jason's family, friends and everyone else who has been offended.

to those that think that it is ok to post this kind of crap...lets try this....today we lost a friend...insert name of your significant other here....though promiscuous in their younger days they have since turned their life around and is a joy to be around. wow just how enlightening to their memory would that be? who cares if he had made mistakes...i am sure each and every one of you have made mistakes and have skeletons in your closet. would you like for those to come out to the public in this manner? i didnt think so...give this man and his family the respect they deserve...

Im really annoyed @ this & Im not believing that Im reading this garbage in our so called Home News Paper...This is not only disrespectful to Jason's children & family but to his memory! He was a person who was part of our community..he went to school here, grew up here, worked here, and still has a wife,kids,sister,aunts,uncles,& a whole lot more people here that you have totaly pissed off!!! He is a murder victim in his own cold blood while the killer is free!!! Why dont ya write about that? We are supposed to stand behind our community and have some respect of peoples values and morals nomatter who we are!!! This was very tacky & inappropriate to say the least and K.N.H. owes an appology to his family & to its readers, "us the people" for without us yall dont have a job!!! This writer should have never ever bn allowed to publish this story the way it has been worded!!! Im very upset and disappointed in the whole story and the News Herald! Jason Vickers was a wonderful blessing from God & created equal just as you & I...God makes no mistakes! Jason didnt have a choice in being murdered it just happened! His past criminal record is no ones business as Im sure all of us have things we have all done thats noted somewhere in Gods book...not the home news paper!!! Grow up... God is the only one who can judge him!!! This is very distasteful and makes me sick!!! Report he was murdered and leave the rest to the local law enforcement who has there hands full with real issues as his murder and the facts!!! Ive known Jason all my life and he was a loving,caring and dear person who worked hard and played hard and loved his family and would give the shirt off his back to a stranger not alone his friends! He was a person whom has bn taken from us now and murdered!!! No one deserves that...None of us or perfect but we are all human!!! I hope they find the person responsible for this & soon! God bless his family and may Jason Vickers R.I.P.

I do not understand the complete carelessness of this reporter. You should never have said any of this when reporting a horrible murder! What were you thinking? You need some more training. Go back to where you came from before you damage any more people. Jason was murdered,that is all that should have been included in this and that the circumstances surrounding it were not known. Tell the family that you are sorry for their loss and that you will report with such passion the person who killed him. And for the Kilgore Paper what the hell were you idiots thinking? This is definately a law suit. I am so sorry for his family that they had to read this crap and know that the people of the newspaper do not give a damn about anyone!!

I am not only offended by the fact that there was mention of his prior criminal record but also by the negative portions of the comments from the anonymous acquaintance. "It was something he did, not who he was. He was somebody you respected, sombody you liked to be around, somebody who made a bad choice". This comment left me asking "What did he do and what bad choice did he make?" Adding this person’s comments was in poor taste because this is someone's opinion and these vague comments cast an unfair, negative light on Jason. The only thing we do know is that Jason was murdered and that was not a choice! The responsible thing to do is to respect the victim and his family and to ONLY report positive comments and FACTS, which are released by the investigating law enforcement! No negative comments or information should EVER be injected into ANY story about ANY murder victim unless they are FACTS provided by law enforcement. Responsible news on matters such as this should be always based on facts! This article is irresponsible and an apology should be extended to the family and friends of Jason Vickers.

Jason Vickers was a well liked and well known, life long resident of Kilgore who was shot and killed in a cold blooded murder! His past criminal record should NOT be mentioned because it is irrelevant! There is no need for adding anything but the facts to this article, which should ONLY be the information that has been released by the law enforcement investigating his murder! As for the irresponsible addition of the comment that contained "It was something he did, not who he was" and "he was somebody who made a bad choice", leaves me asking questions! What does that mean? Was getting murdered something he did, not who he was? What was the bad choice that he made? HE IS A MURDER VICTIM!!!!! These comments are reckless and leave negative impressions about Jason that maybe someones opinions, but are NOT FACTS and are NOT FAIR! ONLY AFTER the FACTS are released by law enforcement, should ANY negative light be shed on ANY story involving ANYONE who was been vicously murdered. You OWE an apology to Jason's family, friends and everyone else who has been offened by this tasteless, unprofessional article!

Kilgore News Herald obviously has a bunch of insensitive jackasses working for them. Unbelievable. If they don't have the common courtesy to apologize to Jason's family and friends for the article they posted (which has since been changed), I would like to apologize for them. I don't want people to think this is the way Kilgore is, it's not. There are people here that love with their whole hearts, pray with their complete soul, and are willing to step up when someone has a need without judging or complaining. May God heap blessings on Jason's family and everyone his life has touched RIP Jason Vickers 

I appreciate the rewrite of the article about Jason Vickers. To bring up the past of any crime victim is uncalled for. But when the victim is murdered and has two teenaged children it is especially asinine. Please let the Vickers family grieve in peace. As for Ms. Larson...lesson learned?

It is truly a shame that in the aftermatch of such a tragedy for Jason's family and friends, that our "hometown" paper sees fit to publish his old mistakes but makes not one mention of his present rights. I can only hope the reporter who felt compelled to "beef" up this poor excuse for an article will have the courage to apologize to the family. Whatever his past may or may not have been it has no place in the current context of his murder. Maybe the paper can spend some time on a refresher course in basic journalism, i.e. sources for quotes.

Jason was murdered in cold blood. His criminal history had no meaning,what so ever, to this back woods article. So instead of being disrespectful of the dead and his family why not help catch the person or persons that did this????? A cold blooded murderer is out there and you want to make a MURDER VICTIM look like it was his fault that he died?!!? Do you know the situation in which he was murdered? Do you know details? Until you.... do please show class and repect.

Jason was murdered in cold blood. His criminal history had no meaning,what so ever, to this back woods article. So instead of being disrespectful of the dead and his family why not help catch the person or persons that did this????? A cold blooded murderer is out there and you want to make a MURDER VICTIM look like it was his fault that he died?!!? Do you know the situation in which he was murdered? Do you know details? Until you.... do please show class and repect.

The article listed criminal history that wasn't even the Jason Vickers from Kilgore. I thougt that the newspaper would have enough since to research the information that they have been given before it is put in print for all the world to see. I am ashamed of the so called news paper in Kilgore for stooping so low. Jason's children should not be subjected to their Dad's name being tarnished the way that it has. Jason was a good father that loved his children dearly. SHAME ON YOU!!!!

You should be ashamed of yourselves. You call this reporting, by bringing up old news of a mistake made in the past as justification for the senseless murder of this young man. When will reporters start reporting the facts at hand and not the past. It's like blaming the rape victom for being raped on what she wears. It is apalling that you would use this man's past, and that is just what it is the past, when he isn't even here to defend himself. God help you.

You should be ashamed of yourselves. You call this reporting, by bringing up old news? This young man isn't here to defend himself. What does making a mistake or an error in judgement at a time in a person's life have to do with the sensless murder of this young man? You should be questioning the person who did this not the victom. Seems to me like you were emplying that he was doing something wrong for this to happen. Like saying a Rape victom deserved it because of the way she is dressed. Why don't you focus on reporting what happened to him instead of hashing up old news! This is appalling.

I am Jason's second cousin...and I appreciate everybodys need to show him some respect because this paper showed none...Jason was a great guy....The family is still in shock and it is unbeiviable....This is something no one will think would ever happen to there own family and to try to discrace him by posting stuff about his past is disrespectful....I trust that our justice system will work for Jason and the family....No matter anybodys flaws they do not deserve to be brutally murdered and that is exactly what happened....There is visitation tonight at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore Tx from 6pm to 8pm....We love you Jason and Rest in Peace

Irresponsible reporting !!!! there is NO excuse for printing negative past history of a CRIME VICTIM.... Jason Vickers is NOT here to defend anything said about him...and should NOT even have to! But to put these things in print for his grieving family to have to read, and defend for him is RIDICULOUS !!!! Kilgore News Herald MUST print an apology to this family, and to the memory of Jason Vickers!!!!!

Hey Larson go back to Waxahachie or better yet just go back to Canada and take Bill Woodall with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ye who is without sin be the first to cast stones John:8 At this time of mourning for his family, friends and Jason this is WHAT you decided to put in print about the man that was MURDERED???? Shame on you Kilgore News Herald !!! You owe the Vickers family and Kilgore an apology for such utter discrespect to all those who loved Jason.

Everyone needs to give the writer a break, they wrote what was quoted! They are not the bad guy. When you sleep with dogs you get fleas!