She was a community stalwart whose life had been devoted to music and the church in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. So when popular Darlene Sitler was brutally gunned down by her ex-husband in front of the congregation in December 2012, the community was left horror-struck…
As Pastor Evon Lloyd opened her Bible to read from Corinthians, the shrouded figure strode forward, pulled out a gun, levelled it at 53-year-old choir director and organist Darlene, and fired four shots. She fell into the organ pit, blood spurting from multiple wounds, and for a few moments no one in the stunned congregation moved.
In the shocked silence that followed, the shooter walked back the way he’d come in, waving the gun and muttering.
Evon threw down the Bible and shouted: “Gregory, stop!” then rushed over to Darlene, who was still breathing, but close to death. Other people put a cushion under her head, and covered her with a blanket…