When I first met Christine Righthouse and her husband, I was astonished at how young they were. They had come to ask Mayhaven to publish a book about their daughter, Lena. I was not prepared for the scope of this book. Lena: Murder in Southern Indiana is, in a sense, a biography. It is also a true crime, nonfiction record of the murder and subsequent events surrounding this case. Every loss is horrible. There is no true understanding of the loss of this sweet girl, and the agony and bitter education her parents received in the aftermath.

In addition to this book, Cosmopolitan magazine wrote an article on the murder of Lena in their Oct. 2002 issue—from the perspective of her sister, Alicia.

Christine, you wrote Lena: Murder in Southern Indiana. Much of it is from your personal journals, kept throughout the ordeal. What caused you to record the events?

I don't have a very good memory, so that's why I started writing. I wanted to write down all about Lena's young life. I started writing my memories about Lena so I would never forget. I started just a few days after her death. I also wrote about her death so I would have the story right. When the police or anyone told me anything about her death, I wrote it down. I never want her to be forgotten. She was special. Not just because she was our baby. She was special to so many. There was just something about her that drew people to her.

Had you always kept a journal?

No, I never kept a journal until Lena died.

You and your husband were very young when you married and started a family. Had there been time for much education?

I quit high school when I was in the 10th grade. I hated school. I just wanted to be a wife and have children.

When did you decide to publish this book?

I had my book published after I wrote almost everyday for about one year. I wrote around 500 pages by hand. I knew that it was the truth, and also I wanted to help other families who suffer because of their child being murdered. I also wanted to help young people to be more careful who they hang around with, and also to never open their door when they are home alone.

Before you completed the book, you also sought other ways to relieve your great anxiety. You write about some it of in Lena. Would you share those with us?

My anxiety is that I want to be in control. I won't even ride in a car unless I drive or my husband does. I have anxiety attacks if I get nervous. Sometimes even when I drive, I get nervous and feel anxiety coming on, but I'm able to control it, beccause I'm in control of the car. For a long time I couldn't get in an elevator. I don't like closed-in spaces. I've overcome that, but I still face it just before I get in the elevator. To some people, this probably sounds crazy, but losing a child because someone murdered them is a bad form of having no control. I couldn't control what happened. I believe my anxiety did get worse after Lena was murdered, because my nerves got in bad shape. If I can keep from getting nervous, I've found out my anxiety is less.

I was impressed, not only with the writing and candor of your journals, but also with your wonderful ability to organize the materials. What kinds of work have you done in your life?

I've not had much work experience besides being a housewife, except for my factory job. I only work part time since Lena was murdered. I also babysit my grandson and granddaughter.

I am a compulsive person. When I do something I want it right. I care about what poele think of me, but I also care about making sure if someone is following me, or working with me on something, that I do it right, because I won't leave a mess for someone else to clean up.

Over all, you have a cheerful, outgoing nature. I remember you visiting Mayhaven and how, at lunch, people clustered around to hear you talk. You seemed at ease, though you were talking about a devastating event. In fact, you seemed to put the audience at ease, and you did not turn away from their questions. Have you had experience speaking before other groups?

I've been teaching Sunday school for many years, so I speak in front of small crowds, but I don't like to be the center of attention, unless I'm in control. I am a people person. I love people. Because I am a Sunday sxhool teacher, I know the love of God and God wants us to love everybody. I like to encouarge people. I like to give compliments. I will even put myself down, if it will help someone else feel good about themselves.

How did writing the book change your life?

Writing about Lena was a joy to me. She came alive in my mind when I wrote. My life was changed the day Lena was murdered. It was turned upside down—inside out. It was like someone tore my heart out, chopped it in pieces, and threw it on the ground. But thank God I'm a Christian because God put it back together. God picked it up, made it whole, and put it back in place. But there are inner scars. Sometimes my heart gets tender and it bleeds all over again.

My writing helped get rid of stress and helped all my emotions. I would advise everyone to write

I know you are working on a work of fiction for young people. Is it quite different than writing Lena?

Yes, the new work I'm doing is different. It's not about Lena. It's a story, but it's also a teaching tool to help young people and parents realize how dangerous it is to open their doors to the wrong people.

And it also shows that the people you think you can trust are sometimes the ones that you really can't trust. I believe that some people have secret evils. Something that only comes out when they want it to. An angry temper is one evil. A lot of young people have this, especially if it's mixed with drugs or alcohol. These combinations are like a walking time bomb.

A wild animal can only be caged for so long a time because when it gets the right opportunity, it will either kill or be killed.

Young people should listen to their instincts. If someone makes them feel uncomfortable, they should stay away from them.

Why did you select fiction this time?

I don't know why I made up this new story. Well, that's not totally true. I wrote this because I guess I have a gift for writing. I pray and ask God to help me write, and these are the stories that come to my mind. I just write the thoughts down as they come to me.

What would you tell others, who want to write about real-life events or fiction?

I would tell them to go for it. To try it. We never know until we try. I'm a terrible speller, so I never imagined I could write, but I look up words and I ask other people how to spell things. My husband Gary is my walking dictionary. My daughter and niece do a lot of my typing. I have a lot of help. All the writing is mine, but my corrections are theirs. I really believe I have a gift to write, but like I said, I'm compulsive. So when I write a big story, I want to finish it fast. I don't want to drag it out for months. When this happens, I lose interest in it. I'm a today kind of person because I've learned from hard experiences that tomorrow may never come. For Lena, tomorrow did not come. Get the most out of today. Let tomorrow take care of itself. The bible shows us to always say: "If it's the Lord's will," because we can never know what tomorrow will bring.